The Festival of Pentecost long has been neglected within American Protestantism. Often coinciding with Memorial Day weekend, it tends to be overshadowed by parades and visits to cemeteries and memories of those loved long since and lost a while. Even more than that, it is overshadowed by the official opening of summer for those of us in northern states. Memorial weekend is for opening cottages, launching boats and for getting a good start on a summer tan.

But the Festival of Pentecost has been around about 19 centuries longer than Memorial Day (which was begun in 1868) and no doubt will be observed long after Memorial Day is itself dead and forgotten. Pentecost means 50, and refers to the 50th day following Easter. According to the Gospels and Book of Acts, for 40 days the resurrected Jesu…