It Wasn’t Jesus
What’s easily lost in the excitement of Pentecost in the upper room two thousand years ago is that in all that followed in that rapid-pace story, Jesus is not present. The excitement, the 3,000 who are converted, the healings that follow, the church pulling their resources together to make sure all have enough—Jesus is nowhere to be found.
It was the Holy Spirit—present in the hearts and lives of the believers—who animated all of that incredible outreach and achievement … and all of them volunteers. There were no clergy, no paid staff, no church buildings; just people who knew the unconditional love of the risen Christ, determined to share that same unconditional love with all. They were doing the miraculous: loving on others!
I think about that as I reflect with thanksgiving on the last two weeks in the life of FUMC Plano:
Dozens of our member volunteers preparing and carrying off a Vacation Bible Camp for 200 kids
A dozen Yardbirds and landscape volunteers beautifying our grounds for company last week (as they do every week)
Dozens of our member volunteers preparing and hosting a successful Clergy Session for some 600 clergy and friends from across Texas
Lay volunteers going to camp, on mission trips, and choir tour
Still more volunteers collecting, organizing, and getting food to neighbors in our community who experience food scarcity
More trained volunteers running a high-quality livestream operation so that hundreds can join us in worship weekly
People volunteering their financial gifts that have cut our debt in half in just six weeks
You begin to get the idea. It wasn’t people waiting for Jesus to do something. It always is faithful people understanding that the Spirit of the living Christ is resting on them taking advantage of their opportunity to be Jesus to those around them, starting with the church–just like those volunteers did at Pentecost 2,000 years ago.
Thank you for being FUMC Plano. Thank you for being a Pentecost church. I am so proud to be among you as your pastor starting my 10th year. Thank you for living the love of the risen Christ for others in his name. Amen.
Matt Gaston
Lead Pastor
Clockwise from top: About 175 women clergy gathered for dinner following the Clergy Session, where FUMC Plano hosted nearly 600 clergy; top right, Carolyn Ellis, Pam Turner, and Sue Hunter prepare for Clergy Session as part of the decorating committee; bottom right, Pastor Matt with Nick Gray and JT Henry attending to final exterior details in preparation for Clergy Session; center, our Crossfire Youth Choir on tour in Atlanta, sharing their gifts and faith through music; bottom left, Lisa Wilson, Barbara Edhlund, and Cammy Gaston welcome campers during last week’s Vacation Bible Camp.
