Gathering

The coming of the Spirit transforms the Christian community. Locked doors are opened. Fear is replaced by courage. Peace is proclaimed. The power to forgive sins is present. Those who were afraid now speak up boldly. Thousands hear the message in their own language.

We join with our Christian siblings around the world to praise God and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Hymn

Confession & Words of Assurance

You call us to be Your voices in this world and we stay silent.
You call us to be Your hands in this world and we keep them hidden.
You call us to be Your feet in this world and we go our own way.
When we meet those who are doubting and say nothing, forgive us.
When we meet those who need Your touch and do nothing, forgive us.
When we are called to take up Your cross and carry nothing, forgive us.
Breathe life into these bones, bring freedom to these lives that we might declare with heart and soul and voice that You are our Lord and our God. Amen

Hear the great good news of our faith: The Spirit is alive and here with us always. Children of God, breathe the fresh winds of the Spirit, and know you are new creations in God’s love and forgiveness.

Story Time

Scripture

Pentecost

Acts 2 When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place.² Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. ⁴ They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

⁵ There were pious Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages. ⁷ They were surprised and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them? ⁸ How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; as well as residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya bordering Cyrene; and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own languages!” ¹² They were all surprised and bewildered. Some asked each other, “What does this mean?” ¹³ Others jeered at them, saying, “They’re full of new wine!”

¹⁴ Peter stood with the other eleven apostles. He raised his voice and declared, “Judeans and everyone living in Jerusalem! Know this! Listen carefully to my words! ¹⁵ These people aren’t drunk, as you suspect; after all, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! ¹⁶ Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

¹⁷ In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
    Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
    Your young will see visions.
    Your elders will dream dreams.
¹⁸     Even upon my servants, men and women,
        I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
        and they will prophesy.
¹⁹ I will cause wonders to occur in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
        blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.
²⁰ The sun will be changed into darkness,
    and the moon will be changed into blood,
        before the great and spectacular day of the Lord comes.
²¹ And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Sermon

 Prayers

God of fire and action, we feel Your Spirit move through us this day and we wish to hold onto the fire that makes us feel we could do anything. Help us channel that sense of possibility into all the sadness and need we see in the world around us

We pray for those still struggling with Covid, whether as medical staff, family or patients. Give them Your strength to endure whatever comes their way, and the knowledge that we hold all of them in our prayers.

We pray for those in Gaza and other places of ethnic cleansing. Lead us to know how to support Your children and stand for them against authoritarian regimes. Steady our hands as we work on our own governments to stop supporting this destruction.

We pray for governments who are still unsure how to move forward, caught between the distraction of economic arguments and the safety of their citizens. Help them make wise choices in this time of uncertainty.

We pray for the earth. In this time of pandemic it is easy to forget the wider crisis that still hangs over every action and reaction. Make us wise in the ways of nurturing the land, and lead us to push those in authority to pass legislation that benefits the planet.

All of these prayers and so may more we pull together and pray the prayer tradition has taught us…

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.