Amid the birth pangs of the new creation the way of light is made known. Source of freedom, giver of life, blessed are you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Blessed be God for ever. The light of the Paschal candle is shared, during which organ music is played. When each person s candle has been lit the Presiding Priest says: 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 members of God s Church here in this place and beyond, I call upon you to live out the words we have said and sung together. Empowered by the Holy Spirit will you dare to walk into God s future trusting Him to be your guide? By the Spirit s power, we will. Will you dare to embrace each other and grow together in love? Will you dare to share what you have and minister to each other in need? Will you dare to pray for each other until your hearts beat with the longings of God? Will you dare to carry the light of Christ into the world s dark places? The Paschal Candle is extinguished, and the people extinguish their own candles. The Presiding Priest says The Lord is here. His Spirit is with us Today we have remembered the coming of God s power on the disciples and we invite that same Spirit to drive us out into the wild places of the world. May the Spirit, who set the Church on fire upon the day of Pentecost, bring the world alive with the love of the risen Christ. And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be upon you this and every day. Amen. The Holy Eucharist on the Feast of PENTECOST the birthday of the Church! EVERYONE NEEDS A CANDLE FOR TODAY S WORSHIP PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU RECEIVED ONE WHEN YOU ARRIVED Welcome to Worship a home away from home Introduction to Pentecost Pentecost (from the Greek pentekoste, fiftieth of fifty days of celebration) has its roots in the Jewish Feast of Weeks, which was completed on the fiftieth day after Passover. On the fiftieth day of Easter, God sends his Holy Spirit to empower the Church to perform the mission which the risen Christ has entrusted to it. Pentecost celebrates both the Holy Spirit and the Christian Church. It was originally the crown and completion of the Easter season; only later, in the mediaeval West, did it become a new festival season of its own. After the Easter Vigil, the time of Pentecost was a preferred occasion for baptism in early Christian centuries, and the services of Pentecost also reflect this baptismal theme. Christ s disciples are born again of water and the Spirit there is a new creation. Pray today that each one of us will be recreated as we meet with God in our worship. Ascension and Pentecost are closely linked. The risen Lord is no longer present to the Church in the body of his flesh; the Church is now to be the new body of Christ, filled with his life through the gift of the Spirit each one of us is to be a temple of the Spirit, so that we may be blessed, and be a blessing to others. Filled with the Spirit s power, go in the light and peace of Christ. eluia, eluia. Thanks be to God. eluia, eluia. bringingpeople&godtogether
2 At the entry of the procession we sing the first HYMN. Come, Holy Spirit, come! Inflame our souls with love; transforming ev ry heart and home with wisdom from above. O let us not despise the humble path Christ trod, but choose to shame the worldly-wise, the foolishness of God. -knowing Spirit, prove the poverty of pride, by knowledge of the Father s love in Jesus crucified. and grant us faith to know the glory of that sign, and in our very lives to show the marks of love divine. Come with the gift to heal the wounds of guilt and fear, and to oppression s face reveal the kingdom drawing near. Where chaos longs to reign, descend, O holy Dove, and free us all to work again the miracles of love. Spirit of truth, arise; inspire the prophet s voice: expose to scorn the tyrant s lies, and bid the poor rejoice. O Spirit, clear our sight, all prejudice remove, and help us to discern the right, and covet only love. Give us the tongues to speak, in ev ry time and place, to rich and poor, to strong and weak, the word of love and grace. Enable us to hear the words that others bring, interpreting with open ear the special song they sing. WE STAND Come, Holy Spirit, dance within our hearts today, our earthbound spirits to entrance, our mortal fears allay. And teach us to desire, all other things above, that self-consuming holy fire, the perfect gift of love! Tune: Diademata Michael Forster (b. 1946) Based on 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 1 The Gathering Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Behold, I am with you, even to the end of time, says the Lord. The peace of the Risen and Ascended Lord be with you. And also with you. eluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. eluia! Deacon We meet in Christ s name. Let us share his peace. Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine, until this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine. Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die; but live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity. Edwin Hatch 1835-89 After communion a period of SILENT PRAYER is kept by everyone. 8 Prayer after Communion WE STAND Faithful God, who fulfilled the promises of Easter by sending us your Holy Spirit and opening to every race and nation the way of life eternal. open our lips by your Spirit, that every tongue may tell of your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. We sing our final HYMN during which the ministers go to the Baptistry Angel voices, ever singing, round thy throne of light, angel harps, for ever ringing, rest not day or night; Thousands only live to bless Thee, and confess Thee Lord of might. Thou who art beyond the farthest mortal eye can scan, can it be that thou regardest songs of sinful man? Can we know that thou art near us and wilt hear us? Yea, we can. Yea, we know that thou rejoicest o'er each work of thine; thou didst ears and hands and voices for thy praise design; craftsman's art and music's measure for thy pleasure all combine. In thy house, great God, we offer of thine own to thee; and for thine acceptance proffer, all unworthily, hearts and minds and hands and voices, in our choicest psalmody. Honour, glory, might and merit, thine shall ever be, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, blessed Trinity! Of the best that thou hast given earth and heaven render thee. Francis Pott 1832-1909 9 The Blessing of Light and Conclusion We turn to face the Paschal Candle in the Baptistry. The Presiding Priest says: Blessed are you, Sovereign God, overflowing in love. With Pentecost dawns the age of the Spirit. Now the flame of heaven rests on every believer. Strong and weak, women and men tell out your word; the young receive visions, the old receive dreams. With the new wine of the Spirit they proclaim your reign of love. 11
10 Through Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be to you, Lord of all ages, world without end. Amen. 7 The Lord s Prayer The Communion Rite 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. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. Some members of the congregation may also offer the Lord s Prayer in other languages We break this bread to share in the Body of Christ Though we are many we are one body because we all share in one bread. One of the following is sung: Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us. Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us. Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace. OR Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. eluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast. eluia! Everyone comes to the Altar to receive communion or a blessing. Each communicant replies Amen to the words of distribution. If you do not receive communion, please carry this service booklet with you to the Altar and you will receive a blessing. During Communion: Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do. Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure, until my will is one with thine, to do and to endure. WE SIT Jesus Christ, whom we worship, is our crucified, risen and ascended Lord and we have been privileged to walk 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 wait the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, his gift to his people, through whom we make Christ known to the world. Silence is kept for a moment during which we offer our own prayers and intentions... Responsory Deacon As we wait in silence Fill us with your Spirit. Deacon As we listen to your word and worship you in majesty Fill us with your Spirit. Deacon As we long for your refreshing and renewing, your equipping and empowering Fill us with your Spirit. Reading 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 of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 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 were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, What does this mean? 13 But others sneered and said, They are filled with new wine. (2: 1-13) At the end of the reading the reader says: The Lord is here. His Spirit is with us. 3
4 Prayer for personal renewal The Oil of Chrism, blessed by the Bishop on Maundy Thursday, is brought forward, the bearer saying, Oil for the renewal of God s people The Presiding Priest says: Be with us Spirit of God; nothing can separate us from your love. Breathe on us, breath of God; fill us with your saving power. Speak in us wisdom of God; bring strength, healing, and peace. The Presiding Priest explains the importance of the laying on of hands and prayer as a means of empowering, renewing and reinvigorating God s people. Those who wish to receive the ministry of prayer and anointing with oil may come forward. The Presiding Priest lays hands on them, praying for them and anointing them with the oil. Music is played while this happens. WE STAND After this, the congregation stands and the Presiding Priest says: Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit Let us praise and bless God for ever! 2 The Gloria and Collect for the day 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. Let us pray that the Spirit will work through our lives to bring Christ to the world. (Silence is kept) God of fire, burn brightly in your Church. Consume our petty concerns and jealousies, purify our deeds and intentions, and kindle in our hearts the fire of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Therefore we join our voices with angels and archangels, and with all those in whom the Spirit dwells, to proclaim the glory of your name, for ever praising you and signing: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. WE SIT OR KNEEL Praise and thanksgiving be to you, Lord of all, for by the Cross eternal life is ours and death is swallowed up in victory. In the first light of Easter glory broke from the tomb and changed the women s sorrow into joy. From the Garden the mystery dawned that he whom they had loved and lost is with us now in every place for ever. Making himself known in the breaking of the bread, speaking peace to fearful disciples, welcoming weary fishermen on the shore, he renewed the promise of his presence and of new birth in the Spirit who sets the seal of freedom on your sons and daughters. Before he was given up to suffering and death, recalling the night of Israel s release, the night in which slaves walked free, at supper with his disciples he took bread and offered you thanks. He broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying: "Take, eat. This is my Body: it is broken for you." After supper, he took the cup, he offered you thanks, and gave it to them saying: "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new covenant; it is poured out for you, and for all, that sins may be forgiven. Do this in remembrance of me." We now obey your Son's command. We recall his blessed passion and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension; and we look for the coming of his Kingdom. Made one with him, we offer you these gifts and with them ourselves, a single, holy, living sacrifice. Hear us, most merciful Father, and send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and this wine, that, overshadowed by his life-giving power, they may be the Body and Blood of your Son, and we may be kindled with the fire of your love and renewed for the service of your Kingdom. Help us, who are baptised into the fellowship of Christ's Body to live and work to your praise and glory; may we grow together in unity and love until at last, in your new creation, we enter into our heritage in the company of the Virgin Mary, the apostles and prophets, and of all our brothers and sisters living and departed. 9
8 We STAND for the LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST As the altar is prepared we sing the offertory HYMN during which the bread and wine is brought to the altar and the collection is taken. O Thou who camest from above, the pure celestial fire to impart, kindle a flame of sacred love on the mean altar of my heart. There let it for thy glory burn with inextinguishable blaze, and trembling to its source return in humble prayer, and fervent praise. Jesus, confirm my heart s desire to work and speak, and think for thee; still let me guard the holy fire, and still stir up the gift in me. Ready for all thy perfect will, my acts of faith and love repeat, till death thy endless mercies seal, and make my sacrifice complete. Charles Wesley (1707-88) Blessed be God, who feeds the hungry, who raises the poor, who fills our praise. Blessed be God for ever. 6 The Eucharistic Prayer STANDING The Lord is here God s Spirit is with us Lift up your hearts We lift them to the Lord Let us give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give thanks and praise It is indeed right, it is our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, your only Son our Lord. This day we give you thanks because in fulfilment of your promise you pour out your Spirit upon us, filling us with your gifts, leading us into all truth, and uniting peoples of many tongues in the confession of one faith. Your Spirit gives us grace to call you Father, to proclaim your gospel to all nations and to serve you as a royal priesthood. WE SIT for the LITURGY OF THE WORD 3 The Readings A reading from the Book of Genesis: Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. The LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built. And the LORD said, Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore it was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth. (11:1-9) For the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. WE REMAIN SEATED Psalm 104:25-35,37 O LORD, how manifold are your works! in wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, spread far and wide, and there move creatures beyond number, both small and great. There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan, which you have made to play in the deep. of these look to you to give them their food in due season. When you give to them; they gather it; you open your hand, and they are filled with good. When you hide your face, they are troubled; when you take away their breath, they die and return again to the dust. When you send forth your Spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the LORD endure for ever; may the LORD rejoice in his works. 5
He looks on the earth and it trembles; he touches the mountains and they smoke. I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will praise my God while I have my being. So shall my song please him; While I rejoice in the LORD. Bless the LORD, O my soul. eluia! eluia! Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen. Before the Gospel: WE STAND We sing: eluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Deacon There are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit. eluia! Deacon There are varieties of service but the same Lord. eluia! Deacon We are all brought into one body by Baptism in the one Spirit. eluia! Deacon Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John. Glory to Christ our Saviour. Philip said to Jesus, Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied. Jesus said to him, Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. Deacon We sing: Give thanks to the Lord for his glorious gospel Praise to Christ our Lord. eluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! 4 The Creed WE STAND We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. 5 Prayers of Intercession WE SIT OR KNEEL The following, or another response, may be used: Lord, come to bless us and fill us with your Spirit. To conclude the prayers: Bright God of life and love burn brightly in our lives, make us clean and holy, warm us with courage and joy, keep us in the mystery of your glory all the days of our journey home to you. Amen. 6 A SERMON is preached, after which a MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER is kept. 7