I had a ball. Pentecost Sunday was party time – a great celebration of the bursting forth of the Holy Spirit bringing God’s love in Christ to all people! I delighted in worship with God’s people and, in particular, with “the bride of my youth”. We received prayer ministry and we wore red – lots of it!

In the evening we watched a program on ABC’s ‘Compass’ showing the stories of some young adults who had left Hasidic Jewish communities in New York and Jerusalem. Their desire to find freedom from the very strict Hasidic rules for every aspect of daily life was costly as it meant that they had to leave their families and communities.

Finding a new way is never easy. There was much to think about.

For me on Pentecost Sunday, I reflected on the freedom given through the Holy Spirit to be transformed into the image of Christ. This is life giving freedom from human structures (including religious ones!) into the freedom of the way of Christ.

Pentecost in Jerusalem 2000 years ago brought many gifts; that’s why I party! As this Pentecost Sunday celebration closed I thanked God for the way of freedom gained in following the One who is the way, the truth and the life.