Newsletter June 2025
The Vicar’s Thoughts
Last Sunday, a week ago, I was in Sydney attending a church service. I took the train into the city, and when I arrived, I took a short walk to the church. And suddenly, it got so cold. Out of nowhere, a strong headwind started blowing and heavy raindrops hit my face. A bit like little spikes!
As I walked there, struggling against the wind and freezing, the whole walk somehow felt like a picture of life. Headwinds and tailwinds, joy, sorrow, worry, expectation, longing, celebration and everyday life, work and rest. All mixed together and sometimes all at once. Because that’s how it is: life’s conditions can change very quickly.
Some people who knew all about that were Jesus’ disciples. Since Easter and Jesus’ resurrection, they’ve been trying to understand what has happened and everything they’ve experienced. They’ve swung from despair and sorrow to feeling like life has never been better!
Now, a week before Pentecost, they are waiting. They’re waiting for what Jesus promised when he said: Do not be afraid. You are not alone. Help is on the way.
Have you ever experienced that slightly uneasy feeling
of waiting for something? Something you don’t quite know what it is, or how long you’ll have to wait?
The disciples are waiting together for something they don’t fully understand, because no one can imagine or grasp how Jesus can still be close to them after he’s left them.
It sounds so strange. There are many question marks. But there’s also an expectation, a hope or a sense of something, because Jesus hinted that he would be even closer to his disciples – however that may be possible – through his Holy Spirit.
Now they are waiting for the Spirit, God’s invisible presence among us. The Spirit who is also sometimes called the helper.
What comes to mind when you hear the word helper? Personally, I think of something comforting and hopeful. It’s such a relief to have someone who helps you.
On Pentecost, something wonderful happens. The Spirit comes and the helper that God has given us is now with us always. Then and now.
I’ll end with the beautiful words from the hymn “The Wind We Do Not See.”
The wind we do not see, but we hear its voice
whispering or roaring like a mighty choir.
The Spirit we do not see, but we hear his voice
speak in our hearts words of light and comfort.
From a world that none of us has seen
comes the Spirit to us and gives us his help.
— Hymn 54, Swedish Hymnal
Katja Lin
Vicar, Church of Sweden in Australia, Melbourne