Pentecost

What is Pentecost you say? Remember from long ago when you were in religion classes you learned that Pentecost is the day the Holy Spirit came down on the apostles? And you must remember the pictures of the apostles with flames above their heads right? Is there more to it than that?

Of course there is Pentecost is when we celebrate the birth of the Church. The apostles seemed to have instant understanding and use that understanding to proclaim the Good News to all who were within hearing even those who did not speak the language of the apostles. (Remember the last post on the Tower of Babel?)

On Pentecost (June 8 this year) we can celebrate the fire of the Spirit by wearing the bright colors of fire: red, orange, and hot pink. Or by having a Pentecost party and decorating your yard/house with these colors. Have sparklers for everyone to celebrate the fire and to celebrate the wind have wind chimes, wind socks and flags or maybe even have kites to fly.

Invite your family, friends and neighbors for a barbecue. Have a fire theme by renaming your barbecue specialties with a fire oriented name…i.e. flame kissed burgers. And you can make this dessert to serve, Flame Berries, recipe below.

On Saturday, (the day before Pentecost) gather your ingredients for Flame Berries: 30 large strawberries (or however many you need for your party just remember to adjust the rest of the recipe as well), wash them and dry them. You will need a regular box of vanilla pudding, a cup of milk, ½ pint of whipping cream and 1 orange.

On Sunday, before you are going to serve the Flame Berries, mix the pudding and the cup of milk together. Whip the cream and fold it into the pudding. Grate the orange peel onto a sheet of wax paper. Then line the strawberries pointed side up and cut an X half way down. With a spoon fill the X with the pudding, mounding it over the top and then sprinkle each of the berry flames with the grated orange peel and refrigerate until you are ready to serve. (Recipe from “Take Me Home,” “A Fiery Finale”)