CHRISTIANS TO CELEBRATE THIRD ELEMENT OF TRINITY IN PENTECOST.

Byline: Tracy Valeri Daily News Staff Writer

Many San Fernando Valley churches will celebrate Pentecost this week by remembering Christ's words to the church concerning the Holy Spirit: ``And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever'' (John 14:16).

Pentecost is the feast that marks the end of the 50-day Christian observance of Easter and the celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit, the third in the trinity of the Godhead.

Originally, the feast celebrated both Christ's ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit. But, in the fourth century, the Ascension came to be a separate observance.

During early church history, the term Pentecost referred not only to the 50th day, but to the entire period of 50 days following Easter, the time of the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus.

In ancient Israel, Pentecost was the celebration of the wheat harvest held 50 days after the festival of Passover. Since biblical times, the celebration also commemorates the day the Ten Commandments were revealed to Moses. In Judaism, this event is observed in the holiday of Shabuot in May or June.

The Rev. James W. Page of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in La Crescenta says Pentecost remembers the Holy Spirit as well as the Father and Son.

``Pentecost is the day that Jesus gave his Holy Spirit to the church and his disciples to go out and teach the good news,'' Page explained. ``People know it as the day we celebrate our Savior's Spirit, a very real Person in the Trinity of God.''

Red is a central color on Pentecost, with congregants often wearing the color.

Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 2723 Orange Ave., La Crescenta, will observe Pentecost at a 10:30 a.m. worship service Sunday. Information is available by calling [phone].

Elsewhere, the Rev. Anthony Rasch and the vestry at St. Mary The Virgin Anglican Catholic Church, 22601 Lassen St., Chatsworth, will have the congregation wear red at the 10 a.m. Sunday service. Call [phone] for more information.

``Membership Benefits'' will be the Pentecost sermon given by the Rev. Philip Longfellow Anderson at the 10 a.m. Sunday service at Church of the Lighted Window, 1200 Foothill Blvd., La Canada Flintridge, [phone].

The Rev. Robert Claiborne will deliver the sermon, ``A Commitment to Change the World'' at the 10 a.m. Pentecost Sunday service at Trinity Lutheran Church, 18425 Kittridge St., Reseda, [phone].

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 9440 Balboa Blvd., Northridge, will have congregants wearing red as the Rev. Robert Varblow gives the sermon, ``Can Pentecost Happen Again?'' at the 9 a.m. Sunday service. Call [phone].

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, 1920 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale, will have the Rev. Keith Banwart teaching at the 10 a.m. Pentecost Sunday service. Call [phone].

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Photo: The Rev. James Page will lead Pentecost services at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in La Crescenta.

David R. Crane/Daily News