Acts 2:1-3 — And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

In many churches today there will be a recognition of the feast of Pentecost. The recognition will vary … From a full on celebration in some, to little more than a passing nod in others. For myself I think it is a pity to neglect it.
We should remember that Pentecost was first an annual Jewish Feast. The name Pentecost refers to the fact that the feast was held fifty days (seven weeks) after Passover. For the Jews, the feast had three purposes: First, it recalls the giving of the Law to Moses — being fifty days after Passover and recalling the fifty days between the exodus from Egypt and the arrival in Sinai; second, it was a time of thanksgiving to God for the harvest; and third, it was the occasion of the offering of the first fruits of the grain harvest, the acknowledgment of God’s ownership of the whole harvest.
Christians might well look at Pentecost as the day “the Church” was truly established and took up it’s evangelical mission. It’s relationship to Easter is like the relationship between Passover and Pentecost for the Jews … The sealing of the covenant after the freeing from bondage. The Jesus had told His disciples, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49 KJVA) Now we see the promise being fulfilled.
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on the church in power. Those touched by the Spirit turned to preaching and teaching (Acts 2:4, 6, 14). As a result of their activities about three thousand people were added to the church (Acts 2:41).
First the Holy Spirit was heard like a rushing mighty wind (if you have ever heard one,nothing if the sound of a tornado!). Yet that sound did not herald a disruptive storm, but the arrival if a visual symbol — the seeming tongue of fire which separated to fill each believer with the power of the Spirit and send them rushing out to spread the Gospel.
I can’t help feeling that the neglect of Pentecost somehow related to the neglect of the Holy Spirit. It often seems that we are more comfortable with the Father and the Son than with the third person of the Trinity — who should literally inspire us. For my part, I love the Holy Spirit, and many of my favorite hymns celebrate Him — like this simple beauty from Edwin Hatch

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.
No matter how your church looks at it, please find a place for Pentecost in your heart — and perhaps a time to seek again the filling of the Holy Spirit.