Pentecost (or Whit Sunday) - 11th May
Pentecost means "fiftieth day" and is celebrated fifty days after Easter. It marks the event when the apostles received the power and courage of the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel to the world.
Luke continues his story in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2: "When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim." (Acts 2:1-4).
The tradition of some churches in ancient times was to baptise adult converts to the faith on Pentecost. The newly baptised catechumens would wear white robes on that day, so Pentecost was often called "Whitsunday" or "White Sunday" after these white baptismal garments.
Red is the liturgical colour for this day. Red recalls the tongues of flame in which the Holy Spirit descended on the first Pentecost. The colour red also reminds us of the blood of the martyrs. These are the believers of every generation who by the power of the Holy Spirit hold firm to the true faith even at the cost of their lives.
Trinity Sunday - 18th May
Trinity Sunday marks the Christian belief in the nature of God. God's presence is in all things and is a mystery beyond human understanding. The Christian belief is in One God; that God is in three persons - a triune God in complete unity.
God is designer of creation before time (the Creator and Father of all); manifest in human form (in Jesus Christ, the Son, through whom the love of God is expressed in sacrifice); and active in all things and at all times (Holy Spirit).
For seasonal services try the Seasonal Diary.