Today’s service continues our Easter witness series. Our reading is taken from Acts 2: 1-4 as we look at Pentecost and the Holy Spirit. The service is designed to be used in conjunction with the order of service email earlier but also available to download here.
Watch the whole service on YouTube by following this link.
Welcome and Call to worship
Welcome to our 11th virtual Sunday morning service as we celebrate the day of Pentecost – the day when the church was born anew with the power of God; the day when a lifeless, frightened bunch of disciples were changed into people bold enough to take the Gospel across the world, regardless of what dangers lay ahead. Today the same Holy Spirit empowers us to live as Christians and show in our lives that Jesus is alive. As the Apostle Paul – once the prime persecutor of the fledgling Christian church – expressed it his letter to the Romans, chapter 5 verse 5, the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Opening prayer
Almighty God, helps us today to be open to your Spirit, to hear your word, proclaim your glory, and celebrate the Good News of Jesus Christ. Through the light of your Holy Spirit, grant us a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoice in your holy comfort through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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.
Confession
We confess to you our selfishness and lack of love: fill us with your Spirit. Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
We confess to you our fear and failure in sharing our faith: fill us with your Spirit. Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
We confess to you our stubbornness and lack of trust: fill us with your Spirit. Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
May the Father forgive us by the death of his Son and strengthen us to live in the power of the Spirit all of our days.
Amen. Thanks be to God.
Opening song
Reading
Acts 2:1-4 New English Translation (NET Bible)
The Holy Spirit and the Day of Pentecost
2 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.
Reflection
The Holy Spirit arrives
Prayers of intercession
Almighty and Everlasting God, look with favour upon your people. As on this day you sent upon the first disciples the gift of your Holy Spirit, so pour that Spirit out upon us this day. Open our hearts to your living power. Cleanse us from every impurity and forgive our sin as you have promised. Lead us and teach us and grace us with your presence. Grant us the dreams and visions you have promised and make us messengers of the good news of Christ Jesus our Lord. Unite us through the power of your Spirit so that all people may be moved by the witness we make and so that songs of praise may rise to you here and everywhere, both now and for ever more.
Lord, lead us to be peace-makers, building connections between individuals, focusing on what unites people rather than on what separates us and highlights our differences. Particularly in these unique and challenging times, Lord, it’s easy to harm relationships; forgive us the divisions and bitterness that we have created in our homes and families and with friends and colleagues. Enable us to seek for a fresh start and give us the power of your Spirit to use opportunities to build up and make new the bonds between people.
Gracious God, Spirit of Life, surging freely, loving generously, seeking endlessly, move upon the face of our world and embrace all its creatures with grace. Startle the powerful and the humble with your power and tenderness, your purpose and determination, your patience and mercy. Hear our prayers of thankfulness and our requests for your intercession. Amen.
Being made one in the power of the Holy Spirit, let us pray with confidence as we say together the prayer that Jesus taught us:
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory
are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
Closing song
If you would like to pause the service again and open our closing song, you can join in or if you prefer simply listen to Shout to the lord.
Closing prayer and blessing
Come, Holy Spirit, and make us Pentecost people. Let your wisdom and right judgement guide our decisions and temper our impulses. Let knowledge and understanding increase our capacity for empathy and compassion. Let reverence and awe fill us with gratitude and respect for all of creation. Give us the courage to witness boldly to our faith in word and deed.
Through and with and in Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
And may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us, with all those we love, all those we care for, and all those we pray for, this day and evermore. Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ Amen