PENTECOST
We welcome you to join us as we celebrate Pentecost together on Thursday evening the 25th of May at Kingdom Church (29/211 Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters)
What is pentecost?
Pentecost is a wonderful celebration that we are all invited to partake in perpetually. This festival, which means 50, takes place 50 days after the festival of first fruits, when Jesus was resurrected. It is one of the SEVEN major festivals of God and has a rich history that dates back to the giving of the Torah. According to tradition, the Israelites received the Torah from God on the exact day of Pentecost, amid flames of fire and voices and power upon the mountain.
As we fast forward to the time of Jesus, we see Him walking the streets of Jerusalem, proclaiming the Kingdom of God and promising a restored (New) covenant. Jesus assured the people that they would not walk alone in their desire to live in the Kingdom, and He would send His Holy Spirit to write the Torah of God on the hearts of man. Jesus would later be brutally killed on Passover, only to rise again on the festival of first fruits, another appointment of God.
Before ascending into the heavens, Jesus charged His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the giving of the Holy Spirit, a sign of the New Covenant. The disciples counted the Omer and the weeks leading up to Pentecost, as commanded in Leviticus 23. As they prayed in the Upper Room of the Temple Portico, something incredible began to happen. The room began to shake, and the same fire that had shown up at Mt Sinai filled the room, and the tongues and voices that were heard began to come out as utterance from the disciple’s mouths. People everywhere began to hear about Jesus, the Messiah, in their own language. It was a truly amazing experience that marks the festival of gifts from God, the festival of expectation – Pentecost. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this incredible festival!
Pentecost is A festival of gifts
The Torah – FirstFruits – The Holy Spirit – Bread – Food and Desserts – Fellowship – Flowers – Praise – Worship – Incense – Fun
your invitation
You’re invited to celebrate Pentecost with us at Kingdom Church! We’re excited to host this special event on Thursday evening, 25th of May, where we’ll start with delicious food and cheesecake at the back of the auditorium before enjoying a powerful time of worship and Holy Spirit encounter service. Our worship team will introduce a brand new song, and we’ll even be treated to a beautiful dance performance.
6:00pm – Cheesecake, dessert, tea and coffee
7:00pm – Service begins
8:30pm – Close of service
The event will last about 2.5 hours, with plenty of time to enjoy coffee and tea. Bring your friends and family along for an unforgettable celebration of this important occasion!
Pentecost in Israel is a pilgrimage event where people would travel in to Jerusalem, bringing their FirstFruits, staying within Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost (Shavuot), praying together and enjoying the fellowship of other passionate believers. In addition, we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as a pledge of the New Covenant and are expectant as to what He will do in and through us.
Below, you can discover what you will need to bring with you to celebrate Pentecost with us.
1. BRING 2 CHALLAH (PLAITED BREADSTICKS)per family.
People bring Challah at Pentecost as a symbolic representation of Jew and Gentile as one in Messiah, which is based on the Scripture in Leviticus 23:17. The two loaves of bread made of fine flour and baked with leaven as firstfruits were to be brought as a wave offering to the Lord.
As a tradition, bringing Challah bread is a way to celebrate the unity and oneness in the body of Christ. If you would like to participate in this tradition, you can bring Challah bread or plaited breadsticks with you to the Pentecost event.
2. BRING cheesecake, Mediterranean-inspired side/dessert, or other dairy-based items.
Get ready to indulge in a delicious tradition that’s sure to delight your taste buds! It’s true, we love our cheesecake, cheese, olives, and Mediterranean-inspired delights before the service – who doesn’t? But there’s more to this tasty tradition than just good eats. Did you know that it’s actually deeply rooted in the biblical promise land? The land flowing with milk and honey is a sign of abundance and prosperity, which we believe will return during Jesus’ reign. So, why not bring along a homemade cheesecake, some mouth-watering olives and hummus, or a sweet treat like honey and apple? Plus, it’s a perfect way to get the kids excited about the service – who wouldn’t love dessert before the main event? Don’t miss out on this scrumptious tradition – come join us for a pre-service feast that’s sure to leave you satisfied and happy.
3. BRING a $50 or $100 gift card and free will offering
Join us in a special act of compassion and generosity at Pentecost by bringing a $50 or $100 Aldi/Coles/Woolworths gift card as an offering for the poor. These gift cards are dedicated to each store and cannot be used to purchase alcohol or other items, ensuring that they will be used to provide essential food and supplies to those in need.
The practice of bringing second tithes to the temple at the time of Pentecost (Shavuot) was a way to support the poor and vulnerable members of the community. This same spirit of generosity and compassion is still alive today, and we can continue to honour this tradition by giving generously to those who are struggling.
As the Scriptures tell us, “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed” (Proverbs 19:17). In the New Testament, we are also reminded of the importance of caring for those in need: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).
By bringing a gift card to Pentecost, you have the opportunity to show your love and concern for your fellow human beings, and to make a tangible difference in their lives – a true act of Chesed (act of kindness). Your act of kindness will be a powerful testament to the love of Christ and the power of community, and it will bring hope and healing to those who need it most. So please, join us in this important and inspiring act of giving, and let us work together to make the world a better, more compassionate place.
