Pentecost

Erica Marshall

9 May 2025

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Staff

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Breathe …

Preparation

A large candle sits on a RED cloth and the Bible is opened at the Reading. A person has been asked to read the Scripture at the appropriate time. Three other people have been invited to be the ‘voices’ (See Respond). All have a copy of the Prayer. A laptop (with projector and screen if needed) with access to the internet is set up.

WE GATHER

Welcome

Leader :

Pentecost Sunday marks the last day of the Easter Season. At Pentecost, our real mission begins. With courage, we determine to live our baptismal calling! Let us witness to the wonders that the Spirit of God is doing in our world!

Ritual Greeting

Leader :

Lord, send out your Spirit …

All :

And renew the face of the earth!

Sign of the Cross

Leader :

We were baptised in the name of Father, Son and Spirit. Let us begin our prayer by calling on the Trinity:

All :

In the name of the Father …. (etc)

Lighting of the Candle

Leader :

As we light this ‘fire’, we remember the tongues of fire that settled as a blessing of strength on each of the disciples at Pentecost. We pray that our own hearts will breathe in its warmth and be strengthened. As we watch the flame, we sing and remember our baptism …

A person lights a large candle in the prayer space. If the following song is known to the group, people may join in singing – or simply pray the words in their hearts.

Song :

Spirit of God in the Clear Running Water (Miriam Therese Winter)

This song (with text) may be accessed at

Opening Prayer

Leader :

O God of clear light and running water, You send your Spirit to blow where it will. See us gathered here in prayer. Open our hearts to receive the breath of the Spirit that we may breathe anew as your Spirit changes our lives. We ask this prayer in the name of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

All :

Amen.

WE LISTEN

Invitation

Leader :

Let us take a moment to centre ourselves by taking some deep breaths as we open our hearts to the Spirit of Love – this Spirit who wants only to free us …

Scripture Reading

:

Romans 8: 14-17

Reader :

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. For the Spirit that God has given you does not enslave you and trap you in fear; instead, through the Spirit God has adopted you as children, and by that Spirit we cry out “Abba!”

God’s Spirit joins with our spirit to declare that we are God’s children. And if we are children, we are heirs as well: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, sharing in Christ’s suffering and sharing in Christ’s glory.

… PAUSE for a moment of silence …

Leader :

The Spirit of God can free us from whatever enslaves us in our everyday life.

  • What enslaves me at this time? The pace of life? Work? Financial strain? etc.
  • From what influences would I like to be free?

The Leader gives some moments for people to reflect in silence …

Then, s/he continues as follows:

Leader :

The Spirit of God is all-inclusive. The Spirit welcomes all of us to breathe and flourish in God’s grace. In the world of today where there are so many divisions, let us ask God’s Spirit to blow away our prejudice, our judgment, our unnecessary stress and anxiety, our futile fear and hurt …

WE RESPOND

Voice 1 :

In a world of fault lines and fractures, we stand in a place where opposites come together, awaiting the birth of what is to come. God’s Spirit says:

All :

If you are doubting, welcome.
If you are healing, welcome.
If you are angry at injustice, welcome.

Voice 2 :

We await a new genesis, one more beginning in a series of starts, trailing backwards in time to the very first day. God’s Spirit says:

All :

If you are afraid, welcome.
If you are joyful, welcome.
If you are longing to belong, welcome.

Voice 3 :

God’s generous rhythm of life, death, resurrection, moving in and through all things, is the very breath and source of the cosmos itself.

All :

Our pathways converge and continue,
each one of us a catalyst for loving action.
We are baptized in the Spirit.
Breathe God’s life with us.

WE GO

Blessing

Leader :

God, the Source of Light and Wisdom, has opened our minds to the truth. May God bless us abundantly with new life in the Holy Spirit.

All :

Amen.

Leader :

May the breath of the Spirit fill us with courage and energy to speak the truth.

All :

Amen.

Leader :

May the Spirit free us to live the faith proclaimed at our baptism.

All :

Amen.

Leader :

May God bless us in the name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All :

Amen.

Dismissal

Leader :

Go forth renewed in the Spirit of Christ …

All :

Thanks be to God!