The Gathering
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful; and kindle in us the fire of your love.
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Greeting
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you.
And also with you.
cf 1 Timothy 1.2
Alleluia, Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Introduction
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.
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 we rejoice in the coming of the Holy Spirit and how in these days of separation we are united as an Easter people.
Prayers of Penitence
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”
John 16.13
Let us open ourselves to the Lord calling to mind the untruths of our time and our life and pray for healing as we confess our sins in penitence and faith.
Most merciful God
we confess to you,
before the whole company of heaven and one another,
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed
and in what we have failed to do.
Forgive us our sins,
heal us by your Spirit
and raise us to new life in Christ.
Amen.
May the Father forgive us
by the death of his Son
and strengthen us
to live in the power of the Spirit
all our days.
Amen.
Peruvian Gloria
Led by Members of Whitkirk Arts Guild.
Please join in the parts in bold.
Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest.
Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest
To God be glory for ever.
To God be glory for ever.
Alleluia, amen,
alleluia, amen,
alleluia, amen,
alleluia, amen.
Glory to God, glory to God, Son of the Father.
Glory to God, glory to God, Son of the Father.
To God be glory for ever.
To God be glory for ever.
Alleluia, amen,
alleluia, amen,
alleluia, amen,
alleluia, amen.
Glory to God, glory to God, glory to the Spirit.
Glory to God, glory to God, glory to the Spirit.
To God be glory for ever.
To God be glory for ever.
Alleluia, amen,
alleluia, amen,
alleluia, amen,
alleluia, amen,
alleluia, amen,
alleluia, amen,
alleluia, amen,
alleluia, amen.
The Collect
Let us pray that the Spirit will work through our lives to bring Christ to the world.
Silence is kept.
Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,
ignite in us your holy fire;
strengthen your children with the gift of faith,
revive your church with the breath of love,
and renew the face of the earth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.
And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs – in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’
All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.
No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”’
Acts 2: 1-21
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here;
come, bow before him now, with reverence and fear.
In him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;
he burns with holy fire, with splendour he is crowned.
How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of Light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.
Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place,
he comes to cleanse and heal, to minster his grace.
No work too hard for him, in faith receive from him;
be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.
Gospel Reading
There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
by the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body.
Alleluia.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
John 20.19-23
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
The Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Written by Cynthia Grice
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
The Peace
God has made us one in Christ.
He has set his seal upon us and, as a pledge of what is to come, has given the Spirit to dwell in our hearts. Alleluia.
cf Ephesians 1.13,14
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
Preparation of the Table
Taking of the Bread and Wine
Hymn
During which the bread and wine are brought to the altar.
O thou who camest from above,
the pure celestial fire to impart,
kindle a flame of sacred love
on the mean altar of my heart.
There let it for thy glory burn
with inextinguishable blaze,
and trembling to its source return
in humble prayer and fervent praise.
Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire
to work, and speak, and think for thee;
still let me guard the holy fire
and still stir up thy gift in me.
Ready for all thy perfect will,
my acts of faith and love repeat,
till death thy endless mercies seal,
and make my sacrifice complete.
Open the heavens, Lord our God,
and send your transforming Spirit
on us and on these gifts.
May we who are baptised into Christ
be ready to share his cup of suffering
and strengthened to serve him for ever.
Amen.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
God of surprises, your Spirit brooded over the waters at creation and lived among your chosen people in wilderness, exile and promised land.
Your Spirit filled Mary’s womb at the moment of Jesus’ conception and came upon him like a dove at his baptism.
When Christ died on the cross your power raised him from the tomb on the third day, and that same evening he breathed your forgiving grace on those who had deserted him.
On the day of Pentecost you sent your Spirit upon the fearful disciples, filling them with fire, with power, with wonder and joy, and making them your church.
And so we gladly thank you, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, singing the hymn of your unending praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
God of comfort and strength, we look to your Holy Spirit to be with us in sorrow and in contentment, in crisis and in abiding stillness.
Come among us now through the power of your Spirit, that we may be transformed into your image and that these gifts of bread and wine may become for us the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
Who, at supper with his disciples, took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying,
“Take eat: this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
After supper he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying,
“Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Jesus Christ is Lord:
Lord, by your cross and resurrection
you have set us free.
You are the Saviour of the world.
God of dreams and prophet, send down upon us your gifts of wisdom, knowledge and faith; of healing, discernment and interpretation, that your church may be built up in the likeness of your Son.
Let anyone who is hungry find in you the bread of life, and anyone who is thirsty find in you the rivers of living water.
Speak your Word to all who are alone and in fear or despair, and let each one of your children hear your voice in their own language, whether that language be art or science, work or play.
Sanctify your groaning creation, that your universe may breathe your breath and be filled with your life anew, that we may love what you love and do what you would do, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, ever one God.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Being made one by the power of the Spirit, let us pray with confidence as our Saviour 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.
Breaking of the Bread
The president breaks the consecrated bread.
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.
Giving of Communion
The president says the invitation to communion
Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
All present receive the sacrament.
Prayer after Communion
Faithful God,
who fulfilled the promises of Easter
by sending us your Holy Spirit
and opening to every race and nation
the way of life eternal:
open our lips by your Spirit,
that every tongue may tell of your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
If you have a candle please light it now.
The Dismissal
Blessing of Light
Blessed are you, sovereign God, overflowing in love.
With Pentecost dawns the age of the Spirit.
Now the flame of heaven rests on every believer.
Strong and weak, women and men tell out your word;
the young receive visions, the old receive dreams.
With the new wine of the Spirit
they proclaim your reign of love.
Amid the birth pangs of the new creation
the way of light is made known.
Source of freedom, giver of life,
blessed are you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Commission
For fifty days we have celebrated the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ over the powers of sin and death.
We have proclaimed God’s mighty acts and we have prayed that the power that was at work when God raised Jesus from the dead might be at work in us.
As part of God’s Church here in Colton and Whitkirk, I call upon you to live out what you proclaim.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, will you dare to walk into God’s future, trusting him to be your guide?
By the Spirit’s power, we will.
Will you dare to embrace each other and grow together in love?
We will.
Will you dare to share your riches in common and minister to each other in need?
We will.
Will you dare to pray for each other until your hearts beat with the longings of God?
We will.
Will you dare to carry the light of Christ into the world’s dark places?
We will.
Conclusion
The president says
The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.
Today we have remembered the coming of God’s power on the disciples and we invite that same Spirit to sustain us, guide and strengthen us daily as we journey on.
Hymn
Come down, O Love divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardour glowing;
O Comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
and o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.
And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the pow’r of human telling;
for none can guess its grace,
till we become the place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.
May the Spirit,
who hovered over the waters when the world was created,
breathe into you the life he gives.
Amen.
May the Spirit,
who overshadowed the Virgin
when the eternal Son came among us,
make you joyful in the service of the Lord.
Amen.
May the Spirit,
who set the Church on fire upon the Day of Pentecost,
bring the world alive with the love of the risen Christ.
Amen.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you, your homes, your loved ones
and remain with you always.
Amen.
Filled with the Spirit’s power,
go in the light and peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
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Blessing (Pentecost, Solemn)
© Michael Perham for St George’s Church, Oakdale (Adapted)
Some material included in this service is copyright:
© The Archbishops’ Council 2000
Some material included in this service is copyright:
© The Archbishops’ Council 2002
“Be Still”
© 1986 Thankyou Music
“Come Down O Love Divine”
Music © Oxford University Press
CCL licence: 668063