On Sunday we celebrated Pentecost, or what many people often called Whit Sunday. This was the time after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension into heaven (as witnessed by the disciples) that the Holy Spirit came down to Earth and                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      gave each of them the ability to speak in a different language. Then this now meant that they could travel to different countries and be able to tell the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness for all who follow Him. And this they did! All that happened to them and the miracles they performed, many words they spoke, were then written down, which we now read in the various books of the New Testament. So now we give thanks for the beginning of the Church, God’s people here on Earth, describing all that they saw and experienced- the birth of the Church-Gods people!

As I wrote initially, on Sunday we gave thanks for this day. When I was a young child, we called it Whit Sunday, which I thought meant we were demonstrating our witness for the church as God had sent His Son Jesus to Earth to save us. I read though recently that the word “Whit” links to the word White because when you are baptised you usually wear white to show your purity. So, we are representing Gods purity.

I have many wonderful memories of Whit Sunday, or in my case, Whit Friday. Why Friday, not Sunday? Well, I grew up in Bury, and Whit Sunday was the day the Roman Catholic Churches walked into town. The following Friday was the day the Church of England and then the Non-Conformists walked.

It was such a special day! Each church’s congregation met up in the morning and set off walking on the road to the town centre. The cross and the choir and the minister(s) were at the front, then the church banner and all the different sections of the congregation including the Sunday School children (walking in two lines holding onto a rope) followed on. Of course some children were in Uniformed Organisations, eg, Scouts, Guides  and so on. Most churches walked to the sound of a Brass Band that they had hired for the day.

Then as we got closer to the town centre, there were crowds of people lining the pavements waiting to see us. When we arrived in the town centre, we met up with the congregations of other churches and met together on a large open space. Then a Service was held where we all gave thanks to God, singing hymns and offering our prayers. There were hundreds of people joining in, and hundreds on the pavements as we walked in and out of the town centre.

When we got home, after lunch, my church then met together again, initially for a fun sports day on the school-field. Some years later, we went each year to Southport for the rest of the day to do whatever we wished. We travelled by train from Bury, then when that station closed, we travelled on a hired double-decker bus. A full day together for all of us.

Many of you will have your own memories of this special day. After coming to St Matthew’s, I recall the walks our congregation took part in. We walked on the roads and streets of the parish to the accompaniment of a band, and residents would come out to watch and listen. In later years, we walked and met up with other churches from Chadderton for a joint service in Chadderton Hall Park. The previous day we had held a Family Fun Day together in the park. It was only when the Government decided it was too dangerous to walk on roads, unless you were willing to pay for traffic control etc., that it all stopped.  

Pentecost/Whit Sunday is a time for the churches to be together in worship; all of God’s family, giving thanks and celebrations for the start of His Church here on Earth!  Alleluia! Amen