Sunday 31 May 2020
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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 |
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