May: Mother's Day, Pentecost, and more

     Mother's Day is May 12—Although a holiday celebrating motherhood dates back to ancient Egypt, the U.S. observance is credited to a West Virginia Methodist woman Anna M. Jarvis, who campaigned for the creation of an official Mother’s Day in remembrance of her mother and in honor of peace. In 1908, Anna petitioned the superintendent of the church where her mother had spent twenty years teaching Sunday School, and May 10, 1908, the first official Mother's Day celebration took place at Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, W. Va., and a church in Philadelphia, Pa. Anna Jarvis arranged for white carnations — her Mother’s favorite flower — to adorn the patrons. Two carnations were given to every Mother in attendance. Today, white carnations are used to honor deceased Mothers, while pink or red carnations pay tribute to Mothers who are still alive. At Hobson, we celebrate a special Mother's Day with the birth of Kareena Stockard (mom is Danaya Blanks), shown here with big brother Trace. That's the third Hobson baby this year, after Catherine Craig and Josh Dean!

     Pentecost is May 19—Acts 2 in the New Testament recounts the story of the original Pentecost. Jews from all over were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish feast. On that Sunday, ten days after Jesus had ascended to heaven, the Apostles  were gathered in the Upper Room, where they had seen Christ after His Resurrection, "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. [Acts 2:2-4].

     Christ had promised His Apostles that He would sent His Holy Spirit, and, on Pentecost, they were granted the gifts of the Spirit. The Apostles began to preach the Gospel in all of the languages that the Jews who were gathered there spoke, and about 3,000 people were converted and baptized that day. That is why Pentecost is often called "the birthday of the Church."

Also in May:

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
• National Mental Health Awareness Month.
• Ascension of the Lord (May 9), which marks Christ's rising to heaven after his Resurrection.
• Aldersgate Day, a celebraton of Methodism founder John Wesley "heart-warming" experience that inspired him to push for a spiritual and social renewal in the Anglican Church.