Birthday

ON THE DAY THE CHURCH BEGAN
THE APOSTLES WERE GATHERED IN THE UPPER ROOM
TO CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF SHABUOTH

IT WAS A HARVEST FESTIVAL
IT WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF OUR THANKSGIVING DAY

THEY FELT THEY HAD LITTLE TO CELEBRATE

JESUS HAD GONE HOME
LEAVING THEM FEELING LIKE ORPHANS

BUT THEY WERE LOYAL JEWS
THEY OBSERVED THE LAW

THE LAW SAID
THANK GOD GOOD TIMES AND BAD
ESPECIALLY ON THIS DAY
FIFTY DAYS AFTER PASSOVER
FOR IT COMMEMORATED THE FIRST HARVEST
THEY HAD AS FREE MEN

BUT PETER WAS PUZZLED
AS HE OFTEN WAS

AS THE OTHERS OFTEN WERE

FOR JESUS HAD SAID TO THEM BEFORE HE LEFT
JESUS HAD SAID
WHILE HE WAS EATING WITH THEM

I GIVE YOU THIS COMMAND
THAT YOU DO NOT LEAVE JERUSALEM

BUT WAIT FOR THE GIFT MY FATHER PROMISED
WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK ABOUT

JOHN BAPTIZED YOU WITH WATER
BUT IN A FEW DAYS YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

AND PETER THOUGHT
I AM WELL NAMED ROCK

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE MEANT

AFTER THREE YEARS AND HIS LEAVING
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE MEANT

AND SO THOUGHT ALL THE OTHER APOSTLES

GATHERED TOGETHER
IN THE UPPER ROOM
TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE HARVEST
WHICH WAS
YET TO COME