Pentecost
By Dennis Bratcher

Exerpts from an article in CRI/Voice, Institute, Copyright © 2006 CRI/Voice, Institute
For the complete article please visit the CRI website at http://www.crivoice.org/cypentecost.html

Pentecost was originally an Old Testament festival, since the time of Josephus
calculated as beginning on the fiftieth day after the beginning of Passover.
In the Christian calendar, it falls on the seventh Sunday after Easter. It was called
the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), and in the Old Testament was originally an
agricultural festival celebrating and giving thanks for the "first fruits" of the early
spring harvest (Lev 23, Exod 23, 34).

The word “pentecost” means “fiftieth day.” In most Christian traditions, Pentecost
Sunday occurs 50 days following Easter Sunday (counting Easter Sunday since it is
the first day of the week). Those 50 days span seven Sundays after Easter, so
Pentecost is the seventh Sunday after Easter (7 weeks times 7 days = 49 days,
plus Pentecost Sunday). Since Easter is a “movable feast,” meaning that it occurs
on different days in different years (it is tied to the lunar cycle while the calendar is
solar based), Pentecost is also moveable. It can occur as early as May 10 and as late
as June 13 (see The Church Year for current dates). Some Christian traditions,
Eastern Orthodox for example, use a different religious calendar and so have different
dates for much of the Christian Year.

The sanctuary color for Pentecost Sunday is red, the color of the church. Technically,
red is used only for the Sunday of Pentecost, although some churches use red for the
Sundays between Easter and Pentecost Sunday. The red symbolizes both the fire of
Pentecost as well as the apostles and early followers of Jesus who were gathered in
the Upper Room for the empowerment from God to proclaim the Gospel throughout
the world.

For Christians, Pentecost Sunday is a day to celebrate hope, a hope evoked by the
knowledge that God through His Holy Spirit is at work among His people. It is a
celebration of newness, of recreation, of renewal of purpose, mission, and calling
as God’s people. It is a celebration of God’s ongoing work in the world. Yet, it is
also a recognition that His work is done through His people as He pours out His
presence upon them.