St Mary's Church, Dymock

The church divides the year into eight main Seasons, each with one or more Major Festivals, that remind us of the important times in the life and work of God and Jesus, and consequently have major significance for his followers, so are usually observed by most Christians.

As well as the Seasons and Major Festivals, the church celebrates several 'Special Days' throughout the year to remember, honour or support our work in God's world. Celebration of the Special Days is usually optional, Christians chose which they want to include. Click here to view the 'Special Days'.

Pentecost (Whitsun)

The Festival of Pentecost occurs towards the end of the season of Easter, 50 days after Easter Sunday and 10 days after Ascension. The name comes from 'Pentekoste', the Greek for 'fiftieth day'. Pentecost was originally the old Jewish festival of 'Shavuoth' or the 'Festival of Weeks', a form of Harvest Festival giving thanks for the first fruits of that year's crop, which the Jews celebrated 50 days (7 weeks) after the festival of 'Passover'. Over the years, it had changed into a festival celebrating the giving of the 'Law' to Moses (the Ten Commandments), which forms a major basis of the Jewish religion (Exodus Chapters 19 & 20).
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The Apostles, and many other disciples including members of Jesus' own family, were gathered together to celebrate Shavuoth. Just before his ascension back to heaven, Jesus had told them to wait in Jerusalem for a 'comforter', a source of strength and guidance (Luke 24:49). The festival of Pentecost celebrates that gift, the gift of God's Holy Spirit, which changed the old Jewish Festival of Shavuoth into the Christian Festival of Pentecost.
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It revolutionised their whole existence. From a demoralised group hiding in fear from the religious authorities, they were transformed into a confident group spreading the message of the Gospel throughout the world ('Gospel' = Greek for 'good news').

As the Disciples were gathered together, the Bible tells us that there came a noise like a rushing wind and something like tongues of fire landed on their heads. They were filled with courage and went outside to preach the Gospel to the large crowd that were gathered for the Festival. Those that heard them speaking, heard them in their own language, even though the disciples were not from those countries. As a result, more than 3,000 were baptised into the Christian church on that day; Pentecost is therefore reckoned by many to be the birthday of the Christian Church. (Return to top)

Other Pentecost Customs

Whitsun: In the past, it had become a custom to hold a special 'Confirmation Service' on Pentecost Day, thereby enabling children who had been baptised when they were still a baby to 'confirm' for themselves the baptism vows made for them by their parents and Godparents, and so enter into full membership of the Church. It was part of that custom that girls wore white dresses, so the day became known as 'White Sunday', shortened into 'Whit Sunday' and eventually 'Whitsun'. Such Services are still held on that day but many are now held at other times - the term 'Whitsun' has therefore tended to be replaced by the more basic 'Pentecost'.
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Pentecost Party: Most churches hold a special Service to celebrate Pentecost, but as the feast can be regarded as the birthday of the church, some churches now also hold a party on this day to celebrate that fact. The 'party' may be held before or after the Festival Service and may include communal food, party games, etc.
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Outreach Event (Evangelism): As the disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, went out and preached the Gospel, so some churches organise an 'outreach' event around the time of Pentecost to share the Gospel with church members and/or outsiders. This may take many different forms, such as a party as described above but at which the Gospel is preached as one of the activities, a quiz or car relay where questions on the Bible are featured, or a traditional 'Evangelistic Campaign' inviting non-churchgoers to hear the Christian message. (Evangelism is a term used to describe the preaching of the Christian Gospel and is derived from 'Evangel' which is an old word for 'Gospel'). (Return to top)