Recently my computer informed me I needed to download a new dialler. Unfortunately, in the process, at the click of a mouse, the whole thing shut down and would not let me back in. I could not even communicate with it to ask it what I should do. To cut a (very!) long story short, I eventually got through to a live human voice on the phone who actually stayed with me to sort out the problem. Most importantly he was able to remind me of the password I had chosen when the system was originally installed but which I had forgotten! Once I used this I was connected again and the whole system came to life. I had access to the world wide web and was able to keep in touch by sending and receiving emails.

Perhaps what happens in the physical, material world through computers, is not a bad illustration of the important spiritual connections we link in to in May. Thursday 9 May is Ascension Day. Jesus came to earth to live among us and show us how to connect with God. If we follow the example of his life and teaching we find we live in harmony with God and his purposes for creation. Ascension means that Jesus not only lived a perfect life on earth at one time and place, but that he has established an eternal connection for us to be in touch with God. It also means his life and teaching becomes the blueprint for life in God’s world and carries ultimate authority. Ascension means that Jesus is our password which gives us access to God.

As Jesus ascended to heaven, he told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for his promised gift of the Spirit. If they remained in touch with him, the gift of the Spirit would follow his Ascension naturally and spontaneously. So, on Sunday 19 May, Whitsunday, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. Acts 2 tells us the wonderful story of how the Holy Spirit came upon the first disciples with a noise like a strong driving wind and as tongues of fire resting on each one. At once they came alive and were driven out by the power of the Spirit and found barriers of language, race and culture fell away as they shared the good news of the wonderful things God had done. Pentecost was the birth of the Church, but ever since the Spirit has been alive in the Church to build up the world wide web of those who are united to Christ. Still we celebrate the life and power of the Spirit, alive in the Church today, to empower us to spread the good news, and share in the task of building God’s Kingdom.

Appropriately Whitsunday will be the first Sunday following the Confirmation at St James by the Bishop of Birkenhead on Thursday 16 May. As we pray for those to be Confirmed we welcome them into the world wide fellowship of those who seek God’s power and purpose in their lives, and share together as members of Christ’s body in the life of the Church.

Ascension gives us the password of ‘Jesus’, authenticating his life and teaching as God’s purpose for his creation. Pentecost gives us the connection to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, not only to link into the world wide web of the Church, but to carry out God’s purposes in the mission of the Church. Part of this mission finds its focus in Christian Aid Week from 12-18 May. A particular emphasis this year for Christian Aid Week is to work for fair trade. This is not the Church being political. It is the Church responding to the command of our Ascended Lord to work for righteousness and social justice: to call everyone to acknowledge the world and its resources as God’s gift, to be used and shared and honoured for the well being of all his people. It also acknowledges that we belong together in the world wide web of our global village, and are called to love our neighbour as ourselves and recognise the dignity and sanctity that God gives to each one.

May is a good month to get connected! Jesus gives us the password to link us to God and through God with all his people. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to come alive as God’s people, that we may keep in touch and carry out his purposes here, and across the world wide web.


Yours sincerely

Peter Lee