I don’t think that this is the case today, because in each of our readings, questions are being asked that still, to this day, we ourselves are asking.

The questions Ezekiel’s contemporaries ask, we ask. Can these dry bones live? Can the dead be born again? Can those without hope regain a sense of a future? Can isolated individuals be brought together in community once more, and together enjoy a sense of abundant life?

The questions those early followers of Jesus, huddled together in that upper room in Jerusalem, ask, we ask. Can a people who in fear and doubt retreat behind four walls find new life dancing in the streets? Can those who some have termed “God’s Frozen People”, be so intoxicated by the power of the Spirit that others might wonder whether we are drunk? Can we experience life in a new way such that people might look at us and see, in us, God’s mighty deeds of power? In a world where many feel a sense of aimlessness, of lack of purpose, of wondering if there is anything more, can others look at us and say, “I want some of what they’ve got”?

Today, Pentecost, is often spoken of as “the birthday” of the church. And yet for many of us, I believe there is a sense that this is a birthday without joy, without hope, without a sense of the promise of good things to come. In some ways, we are like that valley of dry bones from Ezekiel, and like those fearful disciples in Acts. In our homes, in our private lives, we nervously struggle with economic uncertainty and challenges: some have lost their jobs, others worry they will soon do so; some have reduced income, others have had savings plans cut in half; some worry if they will be able to remain on Cape, others worry about children returning to the nest; some struggle to forgive a family member, others cannot seem to let go of the grief. In our church, in our life together in this gathered worship community, we anxiously grapple with a huge budget deficit this year, even as we try to put together a budget for the year begin July 1 that in no way repeats those unsustainable losses; we lament long-time members moving away, we are concerned that demographics work again increasing our membership, we wonder why our church school population is dwindling, we look around for others to share in the work. And we wonder, can we, can we as individuals, can we as this community, summon up the energy to meet all these challenges?

Friends, let me be blunt with you: I am not sure that we can. It is not for lack of effort, and it is not for lack of will – I know you too well to ever accuse you of lack of either.

But the good news for us all is that what we don’t have, God will provide; where we fall short, God will step up; where we say, “I just can’t”, God says to us, “O dry bones, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.”

You see, we are a spirit-powered community. Just as God sent God’s Holy Spirit upon those early disciples, just as God knit together the dry bones of the ancient community of Israel, so too God gives to us the gifts of life, empowerment, vision, and strength, that we might proclaim God’s message of love to all people, as a gathered community, and in our individual lives.

I take great comfort in our being a spirit-powered community. Of course I do, everyone knows I over-function, that I take on too much, that through my actions I proclaim that what really matters is the doing, not the being. But when I can remember, with the help of passages from Scripture like these, that the engine that runs this community is God’s spirit, not our efforts, then like a fellow settling into a hammock after mowing the lawn, I can relax back into God’s grace.

You know what I am talking about here. It’s like that Mardi Gras fund-raising dinner we had back in February, to support the rebuilding of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. Rebecca and her crew were set to cook a nice meal, the tables were set, we were even going to have the Rev. Fred Meade come to talk about his time as a pastor down in New Orleans. Turns out the night before a fellow and his wife, new to the Cape, are in bed together, and the wife is leafing through the Cape Cod Times when she sees an announcement that West Parish is having a fund-raiser the next evening. She turns to her husband, and says “Bob, we have family and friends down in New Orleans, and you have a Cajun band, why don’t you ever do fundraisers like these people at West Parish?” Next thing you know Cajun Bob is on the phone to Lily Tu, he comes the following evening to the dinner with his six-piece band, and a sedate church potluck turns into an unforgettable evening of dancing and joy. We try to thank Cajun Bob and his band, but he knows how he had come to be with us, and who deserves the thanks. He tells us, “The Spirit brought me to you, and as for thanks, we need to thank you, for you are the ones who are helping our brothers and sisters down in New Orleans.”

We are a spirit-powered community.

Again, you know what I am talking about here. A few minutes ago you heard Lily Haselton read her award-winning poem, “One World”, and you heard her meditation on the meaning of adoption. If you listened carefully, you could not help but be stunned by how Lily came to be with us, how this community came to be blessed by not only her and her sister, Emma, but also by Ilia, who Lee Haselton is guardian of, and guardian angel to, as well. It is hard not to see God’s spirit in this remarkable story, as an adopted four year old child, supposed to be watching Barney while her mother is in the shower, instead watches a program on dying Chinese babies; as her mother, a member of this congregation, embarks on the arduous process of adopting Lily, and then, later, having that life-changing encounter with a teenager from Belarus.

We are, indeed, a spirit-powered community. Again, you know what I am talking about here. Many of you have experienced this – those times when all has seemed lost, when you have come to the end of your strength, your planning, your striving, when there was just no way forward, no way out – and then, surprise – a door has been opened, a way ahead found, and the Holy Spirit has prevailed. Maybe it was a battle with an addiction; maybe it was an inability to forgive a family member for a terrible hurt long ago; maybe it was a time when you had given up on love. And then God’s spirit gusted into your life, and you could make it through that first day without a drink, or you could forgive what you had thought was unforgiveable, or new love found you.

We are a spirit-driven community.

On birthdays, it is the custom that the one having the birthday receive gifts, and indeed that was what happened on that first Pentecost long ago, as the church not only was born, but also was gifted, empowered by God with all it needed to be and to grow and to carry on its mission. And so it is today, and each day, for God continues to gift God’s church and God’s people will all they need to be, to grow, and to carry on our mission. And so we face challenges in our everyday lives – but when haven’t we faced challenges? – and yet God will provide. And so we face challenges as local communities, as a commonwealth, as a nation – and yet when haven’t we faced challenges? – and yet God will provide. And we face challenges as a church, as a community of faith – but when haven’t God gathered people known challenges? – and yet God will provide.

Can these dry bones live? Listen to God’s words to us, for this day, and for every day: “O my people, I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live….”

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