Today is the fiftieth day after Easter, the day called Pentecost. I love Pentecost because it celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the followers of Jesus. With all kinds of people praying in all kinds of strange languages, this Disneyesque, magical blast of a day became known as the birthday of the Christian Church. With so many references to fire and blood, red is the color of the day.

Here are some verbal images from the story in Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV) and some visual images from my church at the Pentecost celebration today: