Croeso i addoli Dydd Sul Welcome to you all as we celebrate Pentecost - the coming of the Holy Spirit.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit AMEN
Our opening hymn today is: Jesus is Lord
Heavenly Father, all hearts are open to you.
No secrets are hidden from you.
Purify us with the love of your Holy Spirit
That we may love and worship you faithfully,
through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen
Lord, have mercy Lord, have Mercy
Christ, have mercy Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy
Heavenly Father,
we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
and have failed to do
what we ought to have done.
We are sorry and truly repent.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ
who died for us, forgive us all that is past,
and lead us in his way
to walk as children of light. AMEN
May God our Father,
who by the Lord Jesus Christ
has reconciled the world to himself
and forgives the sins of all who truly repent,
pardon and deliver us from all our sins,
and grant us the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. AMEN
The Gloria.
Glory to God in the highest
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
Almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer,
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. AMEN
The Collect for Pentecost
God, who at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people
by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things
and evermore to rejoice in his 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
Readings.
Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV) 2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 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. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14 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. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 ‘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. 18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia!
John 20:19-23 (NRSV) 19 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.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Reflection
I remember when I was in primary school and in reception learning about Pentecost or Whitsun as it was normally called back then. I drew a picture of the tongues of fire on the heads of those gathered in that safe room. I recall I thought I had created a masterpiece and remember crayoning in each tongue of fire with heavy wax crayon. I thought the whole event was amazing and how could it be. It seemed mystical and almost magical to a five year old and certainly way beyond my comprehension. As I went through the school, I always thought the Rector, who visited the school weekly, and then there was also the weekly church service, would uncover these mysteries at some point: he didn't!
Our reading from Acts describes the experience of the disciples. This is not just a historical account, but is an account written by Luke, a theologian and a skilled preacher. Luke knows that God's redemptive life of the Church and the world continues through those who believe and follow in the Church. There is nothing just merely amazing, in the growth of the Church, for it is of God and is God's plan for His world. Luke's Gospel was written and it is generally thought that the Acts of the Apostles was written shortly afterwards. The purpose, was all those years after Christ, was to speak about the relationship of the Jesus of history and the Church. Time was passing swiftly and many people would not have know Christ personally or maybe even witnessed him.
The beginning of Acts describes how the church came to be, with the coming of the Holy Spirit and equips it with Godly power so it can fulfil its mission. The gift of the Holy Spirit turns those frightened, fearful folk into bold, courageous individuals, who could go forth and do as God wanted.
So today is the birthday of the church, but it is also when we are reminded by the power of the Holy Spirit we are all equipped to enable the church to develop and grow, so that all might know of God's love for his creation. I remember one priest who was very charismatic in all her dealings and ways. I recall her saying once to the local congregation,
"O you just want what I have got," ie she spoke in tongues and the people saying
"No, we don't! We want to go forth, enabled by God's Spirit to do His will here on earth and through His church." She shut up then! Remember, we are all enabled through the Holy Spirit to have courage and boldness to do as we are called and we are not left alone.
The Creed
I believe and trust in God the father,
who created all that is.
I believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ,
who redeemed humankind.
I believe and trust in his Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God.
I believe in and trust in one God,
father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN
Prayers of intercession:
Spirit of God, breath into our lives:
Breath into the church, breath into the world.
We are here worshipping you O Lord,
You have gathered us together from all places and communities
And now
We bring ourselves to you,
Laying ourselves open
To your Holy Spirit.
Use us, strengthen us,
use us in your love, to be what you want us to be.
We give thanks for the Holy Church,
for all its bishops,priests and deacons
for the whole body of the Church, clergy and laity.
For being a part of the Church together, yet a part.
Your Holy Spirit has breathed into us,
Help us to proclaim your love, hope and joy for all.
Spirit of God, breath into our lives:
Breath into the church, breath into the world.
We bring before you O Lord,
the sick,
the frightened and fearful,
the abused and anxious,
the distressed and the neglected,
We pray for those who have died: Stephen,
and those who funerals have been this week past
for Ian, Phil and Edward
May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
Come Holy Spirit, bring comfort and peace.
Spirit of God, breath into our lives:
Breath into the church, breath into the world.
We bring to you the need of our world and our community,
For the lifting of some of lockdown limitations,
bring neighbourliness into our community,
friendliness to our streets,
hope to our children and young people,
harmony where there is discord in our community.
Come Holy Spirit lead us onwards. in our community, our nation and our world.
Spirit of God, breath into our lives:
Breath in the church, breath into the world.
Merciful Father accept these prayers for the sake of your son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Lord's Prayer
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,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn: Come down O Love divine
The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and ever more. AMEN
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Ewch mewn tangnefedd i garu a gwasanaethu'r Arglwydd.
If you would like to donate £5 to the overall work of the 12 churches in the parish, please carefully text: GIVE5 to 70970. Thank you, diolch.
