Every month we submit an article to Great Shelford's monthly magazine. Here is our latest contribution for the May 2026 edition.

Celebrating a Birthday?
 

In my family, May is known as ‘The Birthday Month’ as during this month my sister, niece, daughter, daughter-in-law and three of my grandchildren all celebrate their birthdays which I think is a lovely time of year for such an important celebration!

When my daughter was growing up, we always planned an ‘outdoor’ birthday party with her friends in the garden, which meant we had room to include all her classmates with no-one being left out.  Over the years we’ve had bouncy castles, picnics, treasure hunts, and barbecues as part of the celebrations, alongside the obligatory cake and candles, but within our planning would always be prayers for a fine day, and in this regard, God never disappointed us!

This year towards the end of May we also celebrate an additional birthday: the birthday of the Church, a birthday which, unlike yours and mine, doesn’t have the same date each year because Pentecost is a movable feast, always falling 50 days after Easter.

Pentecost is a festival which commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus after his ascension, and therefore also marks the birth of the Church as a gathering of those who believed in the Risen Jesus and who were committed to following in His way. When the Spirit came, His presence and power was marked by a mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire, and new languages which were spoken by the disciples which enabled everyone who was gathered to hear the good news of Jesus in a language they understood. Everyone was included!

This festival which recognises the birthday of the church is not one we normally celebrate with balloons and cake and bouncy castles (although perhaps we should) but we do celebrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit and recognise that He Himself is always the greatest gift – the presence of Jesus with us!

This year Pentecost Sunday fells on 24th May and we would love for you to come and join with us for a service of Praise, Prayer and Thanksgiving at 6.30pm as we celebrate God’s good provision and precious gifts. Just as everyone was included in hearing the good news of Jesus when the church was born, so everyone is still welcome today!

“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Acts 2:2-4
 
God Bless
Diana Parr
Pastor