On Pentecost, Peter declares, “‘In the last days it will be,’ God declares, ‘that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves (servants), both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy…’” (Acts 2:17-18), starting a sermon to those in Jerusalem about the Spirit giving the disciples tongues of different languages so that the good news of Jesus Christ being declared. Prior to Peter interpreting this event, some people considered that the disciples were just drunk (v13). What Peter interprets for them is really why the Spirit is being poured out: the turning of a new era in creation’s relationship with God. Are you ready for a new thing in your relationship with God? And what would that look like?

Peter’s sermon focuses on what would have been a familiar text for his audience, an apocalyptic section from the prophet Joel about the Day of the LORD, when God will do such new things that it will appear like the destruction of what we know. Here’s the rest of what Peter quotes, “(The LORD speaking) ‘And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the LORD’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’” How would you react if the Sun turned to darkness and the moon to blood, and more? The imagery the prophet gives is just that, a reordering of creation. And Peter wants to tell those watching that this is that reordering. What would you change about the world?

While we’ve had eclipses that make us witness darkening of the sun or the reddening of the moon; what Peter picks up on is the Spirit’s outpouring; especially that people of a variety of ages are conveying God’s message to all gathered across where God’s people now dwell. And the Spirit has not stopped since. How is the Spirit pouring itself into you, into us? What dreams do you have for St. James? Do you dream of us welcoming any and everyone? Do you dream of only the return of former members, or perhaps the community welcoming new ones here? Do you dream of groups meeting throughout the week such that Sunday isn’t even our busiest day of the week? What dreams do you have that go beyond St. James that reaches into the heart of Red Bank so that God’s love, grace, and embrace can be known?

Now I invite you to consider praying for the Spirit’s guidance in making those dreams both being made known to others in the church and community as well as the steps that might be needed to make the dream a reality. Dreams can become the reality we live; if we build them together. And it is never too late to have dreams or act upon them. Almost every year, I hear at least one story of someone who is older finishing a college degree or checking something amazing off of a bucket list. Many of the Ancestors were older when God called them to make God’s dreams become a reality (Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Moses to name a few). What dreams do you have that could change your experience of creation and your relationship with God? Holy Spirit, come: Fill us with your dreams, strengthen us for your work, and enliven us to make God’s love, grace, and embrace known to all. Amen.