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Getting a hard-boiled egg into a narrow necked bottle and out again

Good morning. Do you remember the name of last Sunday? Ascension Sunday, which, was about Jesus' values being uplifted to all the earth and we being uplifted by them. And this Sunday is? Pentecost. Jesus was born at Christmas, dies on Good Friday, rose on Easter, ascended on Ascension day 10 days ago, and came to us in spirit on the Jewish festival of Pentecost -to energize us, inspire us, direct us and walk with us. Pente? Know why the Pentagon is called the Pentagon? –Perhaps you've heard of the Pentateuch -1st 5 books of the Bible?. Pentecost is 50 days after Easter. Its about newness, hope, energy, imagination

I've brought an egg with me this morning. This one is hard-boiled and without a shell. We seem to have a fascination with eggs in the church? Why eggs at Easter? There's a lot to use up if yuopu don't eat them during Lent so we paint them etc.

Eggs don't appear all that ready to burst into new life, but from what looks like a stone, they do hatch into something much more wonderful, don't they, -that's much more lively and beautiful, and that sings.

Well let's say this egg is a human being. Even with all that Easter hope, do you ever get lonely? What would you say is the best cure for loneliness? That's right. Find a friend.

Well this bottle here, could be the church, where the friends are and God and fullness. (I use an ancient milk bottle, but a juice bottle whose opening is just a little smaller than the egg is as good, with perhaps a touch of oil on the opening)

Let's say this egg is a human being. Even with all that Easter hope, do you ever get lonely? What would you say is the best cure for loneliness? That's right. Find a friend.

Well this bottle here, could be the church, where the friends are and God and fullness. (I use an ancient milk bottle, but a juice bottle whose opening is just a little smaller than the egg is just as good, with perhaps a touch of oil on the opening)

So shall we see if we can get this lonely egg into this fellowship? It doesn't seem to want to go! If I push, what will happen? If it was you, would you want me to push? We'd have a Humpty Dumpty, or scrambled eggs; and we do want her to get in, in one piece don't we.

Well, the Pentecost story has the disciples gathered in a room, and there is a mighty wind, and tongues of fire on their heads whatever that was, and they experienced Gods’ spirit. God put a spark in them. I'd like to use to show you, God's spark, God's Fire and Wind, how God’s spirit helps us to be happier and live fuller lives. First, we'll roll up a little piece of paper, light it to make fire, and drop in into the bottle. Now when we set the egg on top, she just kind of slips in, or is pulled in, on her own. -Swoosh. Wow! Wind!

Now Jesus said that the full life is in going in and coming out (John 10). Did any of you bring your sleeping bags with you? You mean you're not staying over night? Of course not. We come here to be with friends with one another and God, -in order to leave again. We come in, in order to go out. That's our sense of call, to go out into the world to make a difference. So how are we going to get this egg out in one piece. It won't fall out will it? I can't pull it out. It's still bigger than the opening. The way is narrow. If it was you would you want me to stick a fork in to try to pull you out? Well God’s Pentecost wind or breath shows how God's spirit helps us move in -and out into the world.

(Turn the bottle upside down so the egg rests in the neck, touching on all sides. Now strongly blow air up past the egg, and the egg acting like a valve will plop out intact into your hand.) Well she’s a little damaged, but getting born again is no piece of cake, and this is no easy birth canal; Jesus spoke of the narrow way. When God's breath is allowed into God's fellowship, God's people are inspired to come in to find friends, and to go out to be friends. May we enjoy coming, and may we enjoy going, as disciples.

A similar approach would be to use a corn popper, with heat and air transforming cold & hard corns to light, fluffy, dynamic, nurturing, accessible, fun.