Pentecost Whit Sunday 23rd May 2021

 BURTON JOYCE 

COMMUNITY CHURCH

Sunday 23 May 2021 

PENTECOST

Prepared by Deacon Jenny Jones for 

Nottingham North East Circuit of the Methodist Church 

and edited by Phil Colbourn. 

Hymns: Songs of Fellowship

Call to Worship 

God declares: I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh and then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people, and kindle in us the fire of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 

Hymn: SoF 1202 

Come down, O Love divine  

Let us pray 

Faithful God, you fulfilled the promise of Easter by sending your Holy Spirit and opening the way of eternal life to all the human race. 

Keep us in your Spirit, that every tongue may tell of your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you, Eternal Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Hymn: SoF 510 

Spirit of the living God

Bible Readings: Acts 2 

Reflection: The Spirit Comes

On the day of Pentecost when the winds and fire of the Spirit flowed through Jerusalem and the disciples were filled and began to speak in various languages, they could rejoice. Jesus had told them what to expect when they shared a meal the night before his crucifixion. The word Jesus used then (paraclete in Greek) means someone who stands alongside a friend in court or in some other kind of trouble. 

Imagine for a moment the Father had not sent the Holy Spirit. Would they have stayed locked away, afraid of what the authorities would do to them for being followers of Jesus? Would they have been just a short-lived sect instead of spreading across the world taking and sharing the Good News? We sometimes overlook the work of the Holy Spirit, but without the Holy Spirit the message of love, in the teaching and life of Jesus, would not have gone anywhere. 

As we emerge from lockdown carefully, let’s not allow our fears to hinder the work of the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Friend. It is important that we stay open to the Spirit of Jesus working in us: dreaming dreams, seeing visions, being prophetic, living love, establishing his Kingdom, allowing God to be glorified. Amen. 

Hymn: SoF 377 

Love divine, all loves excelling

Prayers

Gracious Spirit of God, help us in our weakness and guide us in our prayers as we pray for the Church and for the world. 

Renew the life of the Church; strengthen our witness; make us one in Christ. Grant that all who confess Christ may be faithful in service and filled with the Spirit, that the whole world may turn to you. 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Guide the nations in the ways of justice, liberty and peace; and help them to seek the unity and welfare of all people. Give to all in authority wisdom to know and strength to do what is right. 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Comfort those in sorrow; heal the sick in body or in mind and deliver the oppressed. Grant us compassion for all who suffer, help us so to carry one another’s burdens that we may fulfil the law of Christ. 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

Receive our thanks and praise for all who have served you faithfully here on earth, and especially those who have revealed to us your grace in Christ. May we and all your people share the life and joy of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Hymn: SoF 51 

Breathe on me, Breath of God

A Blessing 

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

We go into the world in the power of the Spirit to fulfil our high calling as servants of Christ. Thanks be to God. Amen

Whit Sunday - Pentecost

Whit Sunday - Pentecost

 Burton Joyce Community Church

Nottingham North East Circuit

Sunday 31st May 2020 Pentecost

This short act of worship has been adapted from material kindly provided by Rev John Wiseman. Spend a few moments with God, other people are sharing in this act of worship too.

Let’s begin by singing: Come down, O Love divine! [SoF 1202]

Opening Prayers

God of fire and flame, hurricane and gentle breath, we come to worship you, our God of hope. God of love, we praise you this morning. We thank you for the gifts and fruit of your Spirit which fill our lives helping transform strangers into neighbours and enemies into friends.

Forgive us that we pursue self-interest instead of hospitality. Forgive us that we plunder the earth instead of cherishing it. Come to each of us as we hear you say: ‘Your sins are forgiven’

Our Father...

Today’s bible reading: Act 2:1-17

The Holy Spirit comes

We sing again: Breathe on me, breath of God [SoF 51]

Today’s message

The disciples of Jesus are gathered in Jerusalem. Jesus has risen from the dead, appeared to them, spent time with them and then just when they were beginning to think everything was ok, Jesus has gone again. Telling them to wait. And so, they wait. Wait for heaven knows what. Then there is a sound like wind, a storm, the heavens splitting open and tongues of fire appear.

The Holy Spirit had arrived. Pentecost is about breaking down barriers. People opening their homes for worship, breaking bread, talking about Jesus and praying. People shared their property and possessions with anyone who was in need. People gathered together to teach and to learn.

The promise of Pentecost is that everyone can be ignited by the Spirit for a deeper and a more powerful way of life. The Spirit is alive and active in people like you and me, guiding, inspiring and re-making us in the likeness of God. The question for the Church today is the same as it was for the Church then. Will we let the Spirit transform us? Will we have the strength and compassion, to declare the story that needs to be told? Will we pass on the ‘good news’ of Jesus until it goes viral?

Prayers of Intercession

Today we pray for...

All those who speak the language of love into troubled situations

All those struggling to find the right words to communicate with family, friends or strangers.

For the scattered church.

For loved ones you are separated from.

For yourself

Loving God, gather together all our thoughts and prayers, offered in the power of your Holy Spirit and in Jesus name. Amen

Let's sing:  Rejoice the Lord is king (Songs of Fellowship 482)

A blessing...

May the Holy Spirit, who hovered over the waters when the world was created, breathe into you the life he gives. And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen

 

It's Summer

It's Summer

And Pentecost is only a week away on Sunday June 9th.

Traditionally, this is Whit Sunday or simply Whitsun. 

We used to have a Whit Monday Bank Holiday but all that was changed by interfering politicians a long time ago now. 

Like the May Day Bank Holiday on the First of May with its festivities and its dancing round the Maypole, Whitsun has been consigned to history and we have lost another one of our connections with the past. Another of our roots cut off by political (economic) expediency.

End of rant.

So, what is Pentecost?

PENTECOST
Gk: pentecoste, Fiftieth
A festival taking place fifty days after

Easter Sunday

to celebrate the day the Holy Spirit
came like the WIND
to comfort & help the friends of
JESUS

 This year, Pentecost happens to be our fifth anniversary:

BURTON JOYCE COMMUNITY CHURCH is five years old!

Come and join us as we celebrate the coming of the HOLY SPIRIT:
10.30 Sunday morning, 9th June