Image from the Church of England

Welcome to our Pentecost sequence

It has been put together by church members and is here for you to enjoy at Pentecost itself or at any other time. Dip into readings, reflections, prayers and song and invite others.

With thanks to Sandra, Sarah, Geraldine, Josephine, Anne, Barrie, Ginny, Jan, Mike, David, Kay, Grant, Colin and Janet.

Quiet preparation

If you can, light a candle and then take a few moments to sit quietly and allow a spirit of stillness and expectation to enter as you listen to Breathe on me breath of God.

Performed by Geraldine (clarinet) and Sarah (piano)

Prayer from the Faith and Worship website, read by Sandra
Image from TED radio hour

A prayer of confession

We ask for your forgiveness, Lord,
when we forget
the power that lies within,
and trust instead
upon our human strength.
Remind us of that glorious day
when your Spirit
transformed the lives of those
who hid in fear,
into men of power.
Renew these hearts which have grown cold
with flames of fire,
as on that Pentecost,
that this might be
the church that you desire.

The Spirit of the Lord
Is on me now,
Poured out like oil over me,
For the Lord has called
And anointed me
To preach good news to the poor.
To bind the broken heart,
To free the captive soul,
Open blind eyes,
Make broken people whole.
And I know this is the hour
Of His favour and His power,
And His Spirit is upon me now.

Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1997 Make Way Music,

The promise of forgiveness.

An inspiring video of images collected from and shared on our lockdown WhatsApp group. The soundtrack is Graham Kendrick’s The Spirit of the Lord.

Music by Graham Kendrick. Video created by Sandra.

Image from lutheranworld.org

The Lord’s Prayer said together

Words by Margaret V. Old
© Scripture Union.
Played by Geraldine and Sarah.

Image from cosmofunnel.com

Join in singing ‘Spirit of God, unseen as the wind.’

Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove,
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour’s love.

1 You spoke to us long, long ago,
gave us the written word;
we read it still, needing its truth,
through it God’s voice is heard.

Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove,
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour’s love.

2 Without your help we fail our Lord,
we cannot live his way;
we need your power, we need your strength,
following Christ each day.

Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove,
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour’s love.

Psalm 104 from the New International Version of the Bible, read by Josephine.

© Pasquale R. Mingarelli

Psalm 104, verses 24 – 34.

24 How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number — living things both large and small. 26 There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. 27 All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. 28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. 29 When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. 30 When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground. 31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works — 32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke. 33 I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. Praise the Lord, my soul. Praise the Lord.

Liturgy from the Faith and Worship website read by Anne and Barrie

Image from The Value of Sparrows

A liturgy with lighting of a candle

When was the last time that we heard the wind of your Spirit roar through this place? When was the last time your fire lit up this room? When was the last time we took you at your word and met together in expectation of your Spirit filling this place, and these lives with your Glory and Power?

Lord, you challenge us with Pentecost.
Do we believe that this was a once in eternity experience, never to be repeated? That the Holy Spirit was poured out on your followers for a single purpose, and ended His work at that instant? If so, then maybe that is why the Church seems so powerless in this age, helpless when faced with the needs both spiritual and physical, that we see in the world.

Lord, as we worship together, and celebrate once again the memory of that first Pentecost, may it be for us as it was then a moment of empowerment, an awareness of your Glory in this dark world, a life changing experience.

We light a candle, and enjoy the flickering light, the fragrance and warmth it creates. But without the spark that ignites, there will be no flame. Without the wax, the source of power, the wick will not burn. Without the flame, there will be no fragrance, no warmth, no light.

And so with us, Lord. You are the catalyst that ignites us, and the fuel that sustains us. You fill us with your fragrance as you enter our lives. You empower us to carry your flame in our hearts, to be the fragrance, warmth, and light of your love, in this dark world.

Glorious Trinity, make your presence known to us, through our worship our prayer, the reading of your Word. Father, Son, Holy Spirit, within whose unity lies all that is you, perfect love, justice, peace, and power.

Lord, gather your body, your church throughout this world, fill our outstretched hearts with your spirit, encircle us with your love. Make yourself known to us in new ways, exciting ways, challenging ways. Empower us, inspire us, Glorious Trinity!

Poem by unknown author, read by Ginny

Image from holinesstoday.org

Pentecost Poem: When the spirit comes

Before the Spirit came, you were just words on a page,
Black on white and yellowed with age.
Simply a story of long ago,
Of a man who had so much love to show;
Who healed the sick and cured the lame;
Took our guilt and bore our shame.
It sounded so good, but it just couldn’t last.
It was not for today but locked in the past.
Until the Spirit came.

Now the Spirit has come, you are here at my side,
Larger than life and ready to guide;
Making real to me all that you said
And doing through me the things that I read.
I am the glove that your hand has filled;
I am the cup into which you have spilled
All the love and the power which you promised would come,
Right now in the present and for everyone.
Since the Spirit came.

The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2, read by Jan and Mike

Image from Abundant Days

The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost – reading from Acts, 2:1-21

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by 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 men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

I was there at Pentecost written by Ralph F. Wilson and read by David

An imagined account of someone present as the Spirit came at Pentecost

Sit back, close your eyes and imagine with him.

A filmed dramatisation of events from Ascension to Pentecost

Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1993 Make Way Music

Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart

Listen or sing with this track by Graham Kendrick.

Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart
Teach me to move in the power of your Spirit
Teach me to walk in the light of your presence
Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart
Teach me to love with your heart of compassion
Teach me to trust in the word of your promise
Teach me to hope in the day of your coming
Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart
You wrote the rhythm of life
Created heaven and earth
In You is joy without measure
So, like a child in your sight
I dance to see your delight
For I was made for your pleasure
Pleasure
Let all my movements express
A heart that loves to say ‘yes’
A will that leaps to obey you
Let all my energy blaze
To see the joy in your face
Let my whole being praise you
Praise you.

Prayers for our world at Pentecost

Intercessory prayers are offered by Kay (filmed by Grant).

Read by Colin and Janet

© John Janaro

A Litany on the Holy Spirit

Spirit of life
Fill our emptiness with your fullness

Spirit of power
Stir our hearts afresh

Spirit of love
Touch us, and through us, our neighbour

Spirit of Creativity
Enable and empower the gifts you have given

Spirit of Eternity
Draw us ever deeper into your Kingdom

Played by Geraldine and Sarah

Damian Lundy (1944–1996)
Words and Music: © 1978, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, Buxhall, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 3BW

Image from mymodernmet.com

A final hymn – the Spirit lives to set us free

Make a joyful noise to the Lord with hands, feet, voices, timbrel and dance!

(The musical introduction is the length of the first four lines.)

1 The Spirit lives to set us free,
walk, walk in the light;
he binds us all in unity,
walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light, walk in the light,
walk in the light, walk in the light of the Lord.

2 Jesus promised life to all,
walk, walk in the light;
the dead were wakened by his call,
walk, walk in the light.

3 He died in pain on Calvary,
walk, walk in the light;
to save the lost like you and me,
walk, walk in the light.

4 We know his death was not the end,
walk, walk in the light;
he gave his Spirit to be our friend,
walk, walk in the light.

5 By Jesus’ love our wounds are healed,
walk, walk in the light;
the Father’s kindness is revealed,
walk, walk in the light.

6 The Spirit lives in you and me,
walk, walk in the light;
his light will shine for all to see,
walk, walk in the light.

The Blessing

Although apart we are united, as we say together –

God of power,
may the boldness of your Spirit transform us,
may the gentleness of your Spirit lead us,
and may the gifts of your Spirit equip us
to serve and worship you
now and always. Amen.

[from the Methodist Worship Book]

Music by Leslie Bricusse, performed by Geraldine and Sarah

Painting – the most wonderful day
by Nicky Chubb

Final music – on a wonderful day like today

Feel free to share the link to the Power of Pentecost, 2020.