The Lutheran Church of Madison, Connecticut
9 Britton Lane, Madison, CT 06443; 203-245-4145
A congregation of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
Pastor Volker Heide
LCofMadison@aol.com
OUR SUMMER SCHEDULE: (FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST);
SUNDAY WORSHIP, 9:00 AM.
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY ON REVELATION, 8:00 AM. (No class on June 8.)
SATURDAY WORSHIP, 5:00 PM. (No Service on June 7 & August 2.)
TAG, PLANT & BAKE SALE: SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 8:30-1:00 PM.
NIGHT OF WORSHIP, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 7:00 PM.
9 Britton Lane, Madison, CT 06443; 203-245-4145
A congregation of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
Pastor Volker Heide
LCofMadison@aol.com
OUR SUMMER SCHEDULE: (FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST);
SUNDAY WORSHIP, 9:00 AM.
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY ON REVELATION, 8:00 AM. (No class on June 8.)
SATURDAY WORSHIP, 5:00 PM. (No Service on June 7 & August 2.)
TAG, PLANT & BAKE SALE: SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 8:30-1:00 PM.
NIGHT OF WORSHIP, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 7:00 PM.
"FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT": A Sermon for Pentecost on Acts 2:1-21
A father took his son for his first worship service at a local church. When it was over the father asked his son, “Well, how did you like the service?” The boy replied, “It was great! I can hardly wait to go again.” The father was surprised, so he asked, “What did you like best? Was it the sermon?” The boy shook his head and said, “No.” “Was it the people?” “No.” “Was it the music and hymns?” “No.” “Well then, what was it?” asked the father. The boy smiled and said, “When they passed around those plates, I got twenty dollars. What did you get?”
Clearly, here is a case of miscommunication. There is a lot of that going on today. Even though we live in a world of smartphones, emails, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, there is still so much misunderstanding and confusion. It’s very hard to communicate with others in a way that is clear, concise and comprehensible.
Do you remember the story of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11? When God created humanity, there was only one language, a common speech that all of humanity shared. Back then, we could communicate effectively because everyone spoke the same language.
I am sure you have had that experience of trying to learn a foreign language. Most of us have tried to learn a language in junior high or even earlier. We had our Spanish or French classes. You know how frustrating that can be, trying to learn to communicate effectively through a foreign language. Our original parents did not have this problem. Adam and Eve, and all of their descendants after them, had one common language. (I am guessing that was Hebrew.)
Yet, the tower of Babel reveals how we used our communication abilities to once again rebel against our Creator. We joined together to worship ourselves. We turned away from the God who made us and united our efforts to try to elevate ourselves above our Maker.
Therefore, the Lord God intervened into that situation and the common speech of humanity was disrupted. God mixed up the language of all the people there, and because people could not communicate effectively anymore, they were scattered all over the earth. From now on, humanity will be divided into different cultures, societies, languages, and dialects. Such a division would lead to a lack of communication. It would also lead to disunity, conflict, prejudice, hatred and discord – all those things that are so familiar to us today.
But now, something extraordinary occurs. We are told that on the Day of Pentecost, there were staying in Jerusalem, people from every nation under heaven. You had folks from all over the world who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the great festival of Pentecost (also known as the Feast of Weeks). This was a harvest festival that occurred seven weeks after the Passover. It was a time of celebration of God’s creation and his rich blessings. It was a time of joy and thanksgiving. The first-fruits of the harvest would be dedicated to the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Luke says, “When the day of Pentecost arrived, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
The Day of Pentecost is marked by God’s gift. There came directly from heaven the mighty gift of the promised Holy Spirit. The Spirit comes with wind and fire. That wind is the very breath of life that makes us living beings. The flames of fire are the real presence of God, just like the pillar of fire that led the people of Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. And the Holy Spirit bestows upon the disciples the gift of tongues.
Tongues are that ability to suddenly speak a new foreign language. And all of these people visiting Jerusalem hear the disciples speaking in their own language. They said, “We hear them talking in our own tongues and declaring the mighty works of God.” And all of these people were perplexed and amazed. They said, “What does this all mean?”
That is when Peter stood up and addressed the crowd. Peter quotes from the prophet Joel to show that God is doing a new thing here. God is overcoming the confusion that occurred at the tower of Babel. Peter says that the Holy Spirit of God will be poured out on all people – upon our sons and daughters, upon young and old, male and female – upon all people of this entire world. And we shall now speak of the mighty wonders of God. We will tell of the great works of our Creator. We will share the good news of the gospel with everyone.
The Holy Spirit will overcome all the barriers and boundaries that separate people today. The Spirit of God will overcome all the things that divide us, and together we will declare the great wonders of God. That is the Holy Spirit’s work, that is his job. He enables us to hear the gospel and believe the message about Jesus. Then, we are able to share the gift we have received. We can communicate God’s message to others. We share the gospel with all people – with everyone.
That is what Pentecost is all about. The Holy Spirit overcomes the differences that separate us, and he creates a unity in the faith we share. Just look at our congregation. We all come from many different backgrounds and cultures. We were all born in different places and at different times. Some of us grew up in loving, warm, and caring families. Others had a childhood filled with hurt and pain. Some have a happy marriage; others have experienced broken relationships. Some of us have had successful careers; others have experienced frustration and disappointment. Some have been healthy all their life; others have experienced multiple health problems. Some of us are happy and content; others are having a hard time and struggle each day.
Yet, by the grace of God, we are all here together to hear the Word of God. We have gathered to worship our Savior and to give thanks for his many blessings. And as we worship and hear the Word of God, the Holy Spirit is poured out upon us. We personally experience the mighty works of God. We are filled with the Holy Spirit. Grace is bestowed and sins are forgiven.
God does his mighty work in us, and the Holy Spirit leads us to the cross of Jesus. There, on Mount Calvary, we clearly see the love of God revealed as the Son of God gives himself for us. We see how our Lord wins for us that gift of forgiveness. Jesus gave himself for us as he died on the cross.
Then, the Holy Spirit leads us to the empty tomb, and we discover that Christ has risen from the dead. Our Lord has conquered death for us. He has broken the power of evil and has defeated the devil. Through his resurrection, we now have the victory. The risen Lord is the first-fruits of the resurrection, and he bestows this gift of a new life upon all who believe in him.
The Holy Spirit now takes us to the ascension of our Lord, and we watch how Jesus returns to the Father, he ascends into the skies. He goes to prepare a place for us in heaven. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see all the wonders of God’s grace, and he opens our hearts to receive God’s love. That love of God, so powerfully revealed through the cross and resurrection of his Son, now flows into our hearts like streams of living water. We now discover that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
By faith, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit unites us in the faith we share. We are the communion of saints. The Spirit brings us together in the universal church, which covers the entire world. We are joined together with Christians all around the globe, in Africa and Australia, in America and the Far East, in South America and the Pacific islands – in every nation on this earth. The Spirit has been able to overcome all the barriers and boundaries of a divided humanity.
The Holy Spirit creates the one language of faith, the language of the cross, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Now, we all speak the same tongue, this new speech of faith in Jesus. The communication is clear. You now comprehend this message: God loves you! God forgives you. He erases and removes all the mistakes and failures of your life that bother you so much. That is gone. For the sake of Christ, you are forgiven!
And the Father now gives you a new life – a life that will never end, a life where the fire of God’s presence burns brightly in your heart. A mighty rushing wind sweeps away your fears, and you once again discover that you have the courage and strength you need to deal with all the problems you are facing right now. The risen Lord bestows his power and grace upon you. These are the mighty works of God, which we experience by faith.
We have experienced the wonders of God. We have heard the Word. The message has been received. God’s communication to us today is clear and direct. We listen, hear and comprehend what the Lord is telling us. We believe the gospel and call upon the name of the Lord. We are saved and born again.
Today is our Pentecost. Let us now join together and with one voice give thanks to our God and Savior. Let us rejoice in our Creator and celebrate that we are filled with the Holy Spirit. And let us tell others of the good news of a Savior who loved us and who gave himself for us. We now declare with one tongue, the mighty works of God, the Maker of heaven and earth. We tell others that there is hope - there is a powerful hope for a world divided by hatred and discord - there is the promised Holy Spirit, the gift the Father bestows upon lost sinners like you and me.
By the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, we become different people, people who now follow the way of Christ. This is the way of love and forgiveness, the way of grace and mercy, the way of service and sacrifice, the way of humility and peace. We now share this good news with all people.
We want to share God’s message with the entire world. We seek for everyone to hear, comprehend and believe the gospel message of God’s love in Christ. We tell others about God’s gift. We speak and declare to all people that Christ has risen. We communicate that powerful promise that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Amen!
A father took his son for his first worship service at a local church. When it was over the father asked his son, “Well, how did you like the service?” The boy replied, “It was great! I can hardly wait to go again.” The father was surprised, so he asked, “What did you like best? Was it the sermon?” The boy shook his head and said, “No.” “Was it the people?” “No.” “Was it the music and hymns?” “No.” “Well then, what was it?” asked the father. The boy smiled and said, “When they passed around those plates, I got twenty dollars. What did you get?”
Clearly, here is a case of miscommunication. There is a lot of that going on today. Even though we live in a world of smartphones, emails, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, there is still so much misunderstanding and confusion. It’s very hard to communicate with others in a way that is clear, concise and comprehensible.
Do you remember the story of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11? When God created humanity, there was only one language, a common speech that all of humanity shared. Back then, we could communicate effectively because everyone spoke the same language.
I am sure you have had that experience of trying to learn a foreign language. Most of us have tried to learn a language in junior high or even earlier. We had our Spanish or French classes. You know how frustrating that can be, trying to learn to communicate effectively through a foreign language. Our original parents did not have this problem. Adam and Eve, and all of their descendants after them, had one common language. (I am guessing that was Hebrew.)
Yet, the tower of Babel reveals how we used our communication abilities to once again rebel against our Creator. We joined together to worship ourselves. We turned away from the God who made us and united our efforts to try to elevate ourselves above our Maker.
Therefore, the Lord God intervened into that situation and the common speech of humanity was disrupted. God mixed up the language of all the people there, and because people could not communicate effectively anymore, they were scattered all over the earth. From now on, humanity will be divided into different cultures, societies, languages, and dialects. Such a division would lead to a lack of communication. It would also lead to disunity, conflict, prejudice, hatred and discord – all those things that are so familiar to us today.
But now, something extraordinary occurs. We are told that on the Day of Pentecost, there were staying in Jerusalem, people from every nation under heaven. You had folks from all over the world who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the great festival of Pentecost (also known as the Feast of Weeks). This was a harvest festival that occurred seven weeks after the Passover. It was a time of celebration of God’s creation and his rich blessings. It was a time of joy and thanksgiving. The first-fruits of the harvest would be dedicated to the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Luke says, “When the day of Pentecost arrived, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
The Day of Pentecost is marked by God’s gift. There came directly from heaven the mighty gift of the promised Holy Spirit. The Spirit comes with wind and fire. That wind is the very breath of life that makes us living beings. The flames of fire are the real presence of God, just like the pillar of fire that led the people of Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. And the Holy Spirit bestows upon the disciples the gift of tongues.
Tongues are that ability to suddenly speak a new foreign language. And all of these people visiting Jerusalem hear the disciples speaking in their own language. They said, “We hear them talking in our own tongues and declaring the mighty works of God.” And all of these people were perplexed and amazed. They said, “What does this all mean?”
That is when Peter stood up and addressed the crowd. Peter quotes from the prophet Joel to show that God is doing a new thing here. God is overcoming the confusion that occurred at the tower of Babel. Peter says that the Holy Spirit of God will be poured out on all people – upon our sons and daughters, upon young and old, male and female – upon all people of this entire world. And we shall now speak of the mighty wonders of God. We will tell of the great works of our Creator. We will share the good news of the gospel with everyone.
The Holy Spirit will overcome all the barriers and boundaries that separate people today. The Spirit of God will overcome all the things that divide us, and together we will declare the great wonders of God. That is the Holy Spirit’s work, that is his job. He enables us to hear the gospel and believe the message about Jesus. Then, we are able to share the gift we have received. We can communicate God’s message to others. We share the gospel with all people – with everyone.
That is what Pentecost is all about. The Holy Spirit overcomes the differences that separate us, and he creates a unity in the faith we share. Just look at our congregation. We all come from many different backgrounds and cultures. We were all born in different places and at different times. Some of us grew up in loving, warm, and caring families. Others had a childhood filled with hurt and pain. Some have a happy marriage; others have experienced broken relationships. Some of us have had successful careers; others have experienced frustration and disappointment. Some have been healthy all their life; others have experienced multiple health problems. Some of us are happy and content; others are having a hard time and struggle each day.
Yet, by the grace of God, we are all here together to hear the Word of God. We have gathered to worship our Savior and to give thanks for his many blessings. And as we worship and hear the Word of God, the Holy Spirit is poured out upon us. We personally experience the mighty works of God. We are filled with the Holy Spirit. Grace is bestowed and sins are forgiven.
God does his mighty work in us, and the Holy Spirit leads us to the cross of Jesus. There, on Mount Calvary, we clearly see the love of God revealed as the Son of God gives himself for us. We see how our Lord wins for us that gift of forgiveness. Jesus gave himself for us as he died on the cross.
Then, the Holy Spirit leads us to the empty tomb, and we discover that Christ has risen from the dead. Our Lord has conquered death for us. He has broken the power of evil and has defeated the devil. Through his resurrection, we now have the victory. The risen Lord is the first-fruits of the resurrection, and he bestows this gift of a new life upon all who believe in him.
The Holy Spirit now takes us to the ascension of our Lord, and we watch how Jesus returns to the Father, he ascends into the skies. He goes to prepare a place for us in heaven. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see all the wonders of God’s grace, and he opens our hearts to receive God’s love. That love of God, so powerfully revealed through the cross and resurrection of his Son, now flows into our hearts like streams of living water. We now discover that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
By faith, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit unites us in the faith we share. We are the communion of saints. The Spirit brings us together in the universal church, which covers the entire world. We are joined together with Christians all around the globe, in Africa and Australia, in America and the Far East, in South America and the Pacific islands – in every nation on this earth. The Spirit has been able to overcome all the barriers and boundaries of a divided humanity.
The Holy Spirit creates the one language of faith, the language of the cross, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Now, we all speak the same tongue, this new speech of faith in Jesus. The communication is clear. You now comprehend this message: God loves you! God forgives you. He erases and removes all the mistakes and failures of your life that bother you so much. That is gone. For the sake of Christ, you are forgiven!
And the Father now gives you a new life – a life that will never end, a life where the fire of God’s presence burns brightly in your heart. A mighty rushing wind sweeps away your fears, and you once again discover that you have the courage and strength you need to deal with all the problems you are facing right now. The risen Lord bestows his power and grace upon you. These are the mighty works of God, which we experience by faith.
We have experienced the wonders of God. We have heard the Word. The message has been received. God’s communication to us today is clear and direct. We listen, hear and comprehend what the Lord is telling us. We believe the gospel and call upon the name of the Lord. We are saved and born again.
Today is our Pentecost. Let us now join together and with one voice give thanks to our God and Savior. Let us rejoice in our Creator and celebrate that we are filled with the Holy Spirit. And let us tell others of the good news of a Savior who loved us and who gave himself for us. We now declare with one tongue, the mighty works of God, the Maker of heaven and earth. We tell others that there is hope - there is a powerful hope for a world divided by hatred and discord - there is the promised Holy Spirit, the gift the Father bestows upon lost sinners like you and me.
By the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, we become different people, people who now follow the way of Christ. This is the way of love and forgiveness, the way of grace and mercy, the way of service and sacrifice, the way of humility and peace. We now share this good news with all people.
We want to share God’s message with the entire world. We seek for everyone to hear, comprehend and believe the gospel message of God’s love in Christ. We tell others about God’s gift. We speak and declare to all people that Christ has risen. We communicate that powerful promise that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Amen!
We celebrate the Lord’s Supper on the First, Third, & Fifth Sundays of the month, and also on Festivals. Please note:
(1) With deep thanksgiving for God’s gift of forgiveness, we receive the true body and blood of Christ in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The risen Lord is truly present in his Supper.
(2) Before we partake of the Sacrament, we should spiritually examine ourselves. This means we repent of our sins and trust our Lord’s promise that his body and blood are truly present in this Sacrament.
(3) If you have never been instructed in the Lutheran faith concerning Holy Communion, please consult with the Pastor before partaking of the Sacrament. Feel free to call him at 203-245-4145 or by email.
(4) Grape juice is available for those who cannot partake of regular wine for health reasons (see the center individual cups with the light-colored grape juice).
(5) To partake of the Common Cup, come forward with the last group of Communicants. Hold the bottom of the cup, as it is tilted towards you.
(6) If you are not ready to partake of Communion presently, but would like to receive a blessing, come forward and cross your arms over your chest. Pastor will bless you.
If you have a question about our church or our schedule, please email us.
Click the button below.
OUR CHURCH HOME IS:
- A PLACE FOR WORSHIP: We meet together to worship Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We joyfully give Christ our praise, adoration and thanksgiving. We come to receive his blessing and gifts. Worship is a special time of spiritual refreshment and renewal. Join us this weekend! Receive God's peace in Christ.
- A PLACE FOR LEARNING: Studying the Bible is vital. We believe its message and accept it as God’s Word. The Bible is truthful, alive and relevant to life today. Learning the Scriptures together is a thrilling adventure. We offer several different Bible Studies every week to strengthen your spiritual life.
- A PLACE FOR ENRICHMENT: For every person at every age level, we offer a wealth of opportunities – special programs, service projects and events for children, youth and adults. You can be sure that in this kaleidoscope of activities there’s more than one place where you can be personally enriched.
- A PLACE FOR FRIENDSHIP: Nothing quite compares to the joy of Christian friendship. That’s why we make it a priority to build lasting bonds between the members of our church family – bonds of concern and genuine commitment to one another. Best of all, this circle of care is ever widening. We’d love for it to include you, too!
- A PLACE FOR SERVICE: Just as our Lord Jesus Christ came "not to be served, but to serve," we accept our calling to reach out to others in mercy and compassion. We seek to serve our Lord and our community. We are called to serve all people with love, mercy, and compassion. Join us as we work together to glorify God's name!
Pastor Heide posts Sermons and Bible Studies regularly on his Substack.
Click the link below to check it out.
His blog is called, "Jesus Christ Is Alive."
Click the link below to check it out.
His blog is called, "Jesus Christ Is Alive."
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