Sunday 31 May 2020 

Reading: Acts 2:1-21

Reading: Acts 27: 39-44

FESTIVAL OF FRIENDS.
 
An elegant song won't hold up long
When the palace falls and the parlour's gone
We all must leave but it's not the end
We'll meet again at the festival of friends.
 
Smiles and laughter and pleasant times
There's love in the world but it's hard to find
I'm so glad I found you - I'd just like to extend
An invitation to the festival of friends.
 
Some of us live and some of us die
Someday God's going to tell us why
Open your heart and grow with what life sends
That's your ticket to the festival of friends.
 
Like an imitation of a good thing past
These days of darkness surely will not last
Jesus was here and he's coming again
To lead us to his festival of friends.
 
Black snake highway -- sheet metal ballet
It's just so much snow on a summer day
Whatever happens, it's not the end
We'll meet again at the festival of friends.
 
(Bruce Cockburn)
 
Pentecost Prayer
Gracious God,
you keep your promises.
This day we receive the Spirit
of which Jesus spoke,
and we rejoice that now and forever
this world is filled with your presence.
As the Spirit came in wind and fire,
blow through us and enflame us,
that our lives may bear witness
to your liveliness,
and to the passion
with which you love your people.
 
In the difficult and uncertain days in which we live,
may your Spirit bring us courage, insight,
wisdom and resolve
to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
And now we pray together in his words, saying
Our Father in heaven…
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us in the time of trial
and deliver us from evil
for the kingdom, the power and the glory
are yours,
now and forever.
Amen.
 
Readings
Acts 2:1-21
and
Acts 27: 39-44
 
Video – See: All in the same Boat?
 
Prayer
God we give thanks that we truly do share in this world together.
And that in a time of trial and need we are called
to support one another and care for one another.
And we know that in difficult times
your Spirit is at work in the lives of so many people
as we seek to be compassionate.
We see your Spirit
in the selfless actions of medical staff and community workers,
in the support offered by charities,
in the donations given to foodbanks,
in the efforts of ordinary folk and businesses
to supply the medical machinery and protective equipment
which should have been with us in the beginning.
We give thanks for the way in which people have largely accepted
the need for lockdown measures
even when they have involved sacrifices –
but made for the greater good,
and we give thanks for a general sense
of togetherness as a community
as we have faced these challenging weeks.
A crisis can bring out the best and worst in people.
Thank you for all the good we continue to see
even in this sad time,
and help us as your people to be playing our part in following Jesus
as we strive to make a difference in his name.
 
And today, God, we bring thanks for Pentecost
and for your gift of the Spirit to the followers of Jesus.
This gift is not offered to some small elite
or to some limited number of favourites,
but to everyone
so we can all learn to be aware of you
and to communicate with you
wherever we may be. 
Help us to become aware of your voice in our lives
in a world where there are always other voices
telling us what we should do and think.
 
Your Spirit is here to bring us courage and comfort,
to bring peace and hope,
and to fire us into action to making this world a better place.
We are in this together,
sharing the Spirit.
May we know your Spirit,
and come to understand what you are saying to us today.
Amen