Good Morning, and Welcome. Today is the BIRTHDAY OF THE
CHURCH!
Since the events of Holy Week, we have been carefully following
the swings and roundabouts of the Jesus story - arrested,
condemned, executed. Buried, and risen again. Meeting with the
disciples in various places. And all the time we have been thinking
about how that band of followers were feeling. On this day of
Pentecost, Peter stands up and says, "And let me tell you about the
Messiah, who is the eternal protection for all of humanity. Let me tell
you who he is." And so Pentecost becomes this marker in history to
really what many people would say, "And that's the moment that
church is born.”
That is when thousands come into the faith. And it goes from this
little sect of believers who followed a Jewish rabbi from Nazareth
who died and rose again, and suddenly the church breaks forth into
culture. Suddenly it is that unstoppable force that no one can really
deny any longer. Pentecost has taken on a new significance for us.
It was an historical memory. Now it is the living reality of the
moment that the spirit of God seemingly burst forth.
As the bells fall silent, our virtual choir will sing of the Holy Spirit -
“Breath on me breath of God."
HYMN: Breathe on me, breath of God
PRAYER
Jesus Christ whom we worship, is our crucified, risen and
ascended Lord and we have walked with him through his
journey of love. We have faced the agony of his suffering and
death on a cross. We have rejoiced at his bursting free from the
bonds of death. We have enjoyed his risen presence with us
and his revelation of himself through the breaking of bread. We
have seen his return to the throne before which every knee
shall bow and every tongue confess that this Jesus is Lord.
And now, with followers of his own time, we await the coming of
the promised Holy Spirit, his gift to his people, through whom
we make Christ known to the world.
As we long for your refreshing, fill us with your Spirit.
As we long for your renewing, fill us with your Spirit.
As we long for your empowerment, fill us with your Spirit.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
HYMN: Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost
LESSON
Acts 2; 1-13
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one
place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came
from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and
came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled
them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from
every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd
came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own
language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all
these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us
hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and
Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts
of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and
converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring
the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this
mean?”
Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too
much wine."
Reflection
PRAYER
Loving God we ask for the gift of your Holy Spirit to help us
pray as we ought.
Come Holy Spirit, direct the rulers of the world. Fill our leaders
with talents and discernment to seek the common good.
Inspire our artists and musicians, writers and craftspeople.
We ask for your energy and vision for those who are tiring in
the battle against injustice and oppression, those exhausted
by the struggle with poverty and hunger.
And especially in our world riven by pandemic, we pray for all
those whose lives are threatened by Coronavirus, for those
who grieve the loss of loved ones, for those who work to
care for the sick, and for those who struggle in research to
bring better treatment and greater hope in this crisis.
We pray for people working for peace in our world. And let us
bring our prayers especially for those caught up in the
situation in Palestine and Israel. So many innocent lives lost
in a centuries old conflict. Bring succour to the those whose
lives are threatened.
Spirit of God, show us all how to bring peace and justice and
unity to the nations.
For in your name and through your Spirit, we seek together for
a better world.
Amen.
Hymn: Come down, O love divine
THE BLESSING and BENEDICTION
With unflagging zeal; aglow with the Spirit; serve the Lord.
And the blessing of God Almighty
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you today and in all the days to come.
AMEN
Voluntary
Thank you everyone for another lovely service. It is very much appreciated.
Lovely service,thanks to all and to Willie Nicoll for enabling this to happen.