Yellowstone was created in part to keep one of the world’s most awe-inspiring places pristine; to demonstrate our faithfulness in protecting God’s creation. It is, after all, what we were created to do.

It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High!

We gather here as Jesus invites us, saying the words of the Apostles’ Creed, the baptismal statement of faith from the early church. We gather at this gateway to a lifelong journey of growth in faith to remember that our baptisms are only the beginning.

Pentecost is the story of the new world— of the inbreaking of God’s kingdom by means of the Holy Spirit: the “unseen-ness of God” working among us.

We too are given power by the Spirit to tell the truth about what we have seen and heard from Jesus Christ — how he teaches us to love our neighbor and feed the hungry and welcome the stranger and bring healing to broken places — and to set the record straight when we see that truth obscured by lies.

If we truly believe in the universal nature of God’s love and grace, then we are compelled, like Paul, to reach across aisles towards greater love and empathy toward the people we experience as different. To find common ground on which to stand — and talk.

Stephen shows us that speaking from our hearts — speaking the truth of our convictions and experiences — is part of our call as people of God.

What would the world look like if we were all a little more ready to share the gifts we have — gifts of time, talent, and treasure — to draw people to life together and life itself and away from death and despair?