Sunday Service – The Feast of the Pentecost – by Rev’d Alison Judge

30 May Sunday Service – The Feast of the Pentecost – by Rev’d Alison Judge

On Sunday, the 30th May, as we celebrate the feast of pentecost we can all share together the Agape even whilst we are separated and in our different homes.

Download the Service Sheet [ PDF ].

Section 1: Introduction, Reading and Talk – Revd Alison Judge

Welcome and Introduction

Welcome to our worship on the Feast of Pentecost.  Today our liturgy takes the form of an Agape Meal or Love Feast.  Since the very beginnings of the church, Jesus’ followers have met together and shared meals, as Jesus did with so many during his ministry.  It is a way for Christians to express community, fellowship and sharing.  It is not a Eucharist but a different way in which the church in those earliest years met together.  During the recent months we have not been able to meet together to break bread and share Holy Communion; this has been a sadness.  As this is an Agape and not a Eucharist we can all share together even whilst we are separated and in our different homes.

The service will be in three sections, two parts before you eat and one afterwards.

This first part is by way of introduction and we shall have prayers, readings and a talk.

In the second section Belemo will lead us in prayer and the breaking of bread.  You can then pause the video as you share your meal and re-join us again for the conclusion of the service as Mark shares thoughts on Pentecost and how the Spirit has been at work during this Lockdown.

 

So let us take a moment of quiet as we draw close to God in worship and praise on this Pentecost Sunday.

Jesus Christ, whom we worship, is our crucified, risen and ascended Lord

and we have walked with him through his journey of love.

We have faced the agony of his suffering and death on a cross.

We have rejoiced at his bursting free from the bonds of death.

We have enjoyed his risen presence with us

and his revelation of himself through the breaking of bread.

We have seen his return to the throne before which every knee shall bow

and every tongue confess that this Jesus is Lord.

And now, with the followers of his own time,

we await the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, his gift to his people,

through whom we make Christ known to the world.

As we wait in silence,

All   fill us with your Spirit.

As we listen to your word,

All   fill us with your Spirit.

As we worship you in majesty,

All   fill us with your Spirit.

As we long for your refreshing,

All   fill us with your Spirit.

As we long for your renewing,

All   fill us with your Spirit.

As we long for your equipping,

All   fill us with your Spirit.

As we long for your empowering,

All   fill us with your Spirit.

 

The Collect

Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,

ignite in us your holy fire;

strengthen your children with the gift of faith,

revive your Church with the breath of love,

and renew the face of the earth,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All   Amen.

 

Alleluia, alleluia.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Alleluia.

 

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

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.”

 

Talk

 

Section 2: Prayers and grace before an Agape meal – Revd Belemo Alagoa

Be with us, Spirit of God;

All   nothing can separate us from your love.

Breathe on us, breath of God;

All   fill us with your saving power.

Speak in us, wisdom of God;

All   bring strength, healing, and peace.

Let us bless the Lord: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

All   Let us praise and bless God for ever.

 

Being made one by the power of the Spirit,

as our Saviour taught us, so we pray

All   Our Father in heaven …

 

As we pray together these words of Jesus we give thanks for our daily bread and the meals we share with others.  We call to mind meals shared with extended family and friends, gatherings of our church communities, so we rejoice at the memories of meals shared in a variety of settings: picnics, barbeques; Lent lunches and Nightshelters; “coffee, cake and chat”; meals shared with old friends, new friends and sticky kids.  As we share our food today please give thanks and pray for those you know of who are in need of our prayers.

Sister Margaret Basso, a spiritual retreat leader, once said, “When the bread is broken open for us, that is Eucharist. When we break ourselves open to each other, that is also Eucharist.” “Perhaps that is why something remarkable happens when people sit down to eat together. We share food and conversation. We become a part of each other’s lives. We break ourselves open to one another”.   May this be true for all of us today.

Taking Bread and Water

As we share this bread, as we pour out this water, we thank you, God, for our daily bread for the food which delights and nourishes us and for the companionship that sustains us. We thank you, too, for drink to quench our thirst and for the Living Water with which you surprise and enrich and transform our lives. We give thanks for this feast at which we can share, a foretaste of the Holy Realm. Amen

Grace

Giving God, bless all who are gathered round our table.
May we know the presence of your Holy Spirit at every meal and in all our sharing.

All: Amen.

 

Pause – EAT

Section 3: Inspiration and Comfort thoughts and contributions and Conclusion – Revd Mark Eminson

 

Inspiration and Comfort slideshow

For fifty days we have celebrated the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ over the powers of sin and death. We have proclaimed God’s mighty acts and we have prayed that the power that was at work when God raised Jesus from the dead might be at work in us.

As part of God’s Church here in Colliers Wood and South Wimbledon, I call upon you to live out what you proclaim.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, will you dare to walk into God’s future, trusting him to be your guide?

All   By the Spirit’s power, we will.

Will you dare to embrace each other and grow together in love?

All   We will.

Will you dare to share your riches in common and minister to each other in need?

All   We will.

Will you dare to pray for each other until your hearts beat with the longings of God?

All   We will.

Will you dare to carry the light of Christ into the world’s dark places?

All   We will.

 

Filled with the Spirit’s power,

go in the light and peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.

All   Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.