Pentecost Sunday

Lord God Almighty,  pour upon us your Spirit,  and set us on fire with love for you, that we may bring forth the fruits of love, joy and peace,  and live to the praise of your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Come Holy Spirit, come

renew the face of the earth.

Holy Spirit, bringing order out of chaos,  

bring order to our actions 

and purpose to our lives.                                                                            

Come, renew the face of the earth.

Holy Spirit, moving in the deep places of creation,                              

move in the depths of our hearts.                                                                   

Come, renew the face of the earth.

Holy Spirit, breathing life into all creatures,                                          

refresh, renew, restore your people.                                                      

Come, renew the face of the earth.

Holy Spirit, giver of all good gifts,                                                                         

help us to use our talents and abilities aright.                                            

Come, renew the face of the earth.

Holy Spirit, giving life to dry bones,                                                                  

give hope and joy to all who are weary.                                                      

Restore the lives which without you are dead.                                            

Come, renew the face of the earth.

Holy Spirit, giver of love,               
kindle the hearts which without you are dull and cold.  

Fill your church, our hearts, and minds with love. 
Come, renew the face of the earth.    
Come, Holy Spirit, upon all bishops, priests, and all in ministry,  
and upon all who seek to serve you.  
Come upon all who strive to proclaim your power and your presence.  
Come upon the powerless and the oppressed. 
Come, be known among the poor and the exploited.  
Come and comfort the anxious, the fearful and the broken-hearted. 
Come and give strength to the ill and the dying. 
Come, renew the face of the earth.

Our Bible readings for this week:

Acts 2: 1-21

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 and addressed them, “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.’

John 20: 19-23

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.”