On Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2015, members of Christ Community Church in Cortland, NY gathered outside to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit by releasing Eastern Monarch butterflies.
![Release of Eastern Monarch butterflies](/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/christcommunitycortlandnypentecost2015monarchsinbasket_medium300.jpg)
Rev. Dr. Janet Adair Hansen, Pastor, explains, “we’ve had butterflies as a theme all Easter season, and passed out information on having ‘butterfly gardens’ (with plants for both caterpillar stage and butterfly stage) at a Plant Sale. The National Association of Conservation Districts had picked ‘Pollinators’ as this year’s theme for Soil & Water Stewardship week, so I’d been able to pick up free bulletin covers & inserts and look at ideas.”
![Rev. Hansen with butterfly basket](/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/christcommunitycortlandnypentecost2015monarchs_medium300.jpg)
The congregation was very excited about this effort. Rev. Hansen hopes it becomes an annual tradition for the church.