St Clement Church Community Pentecost Service

Good morning to you all and Happy Birthday!

She’s finally cracked I hear you say, but no, this great festival, the Day of Pentecost, is considered the birthday of the Church, the giving of the Holy Spirit, the event for which the earthly life of Jesus was the preparation. So, make sure you celebrate today and treat yourself to something special! We shall be holding our Eucharist service in church at the usual time of 10.15, this service is for you to read at home if you’re unable to worship with us in person.

Much love and prayers and may Christ’s love sustain you always.

Rev Di and family xx

Let us pray;

What God has prepared for those who 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.

Hymn; ‘Christ, whose Glory fills the Skies’

Our prayers of Penitence

Saint Paul teaches us not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Let us therefore confess those sins that hinder his work among us…..

The Spirit brings us life in Christ:

Lord forgive us when we have closed our hearts to his renewing power.

Lord, have mercy.

The Spirit leads us into the truth of Christ:

Lord, forgive us when we have closed our minds to learning something new.

Christ, have mercy.

The Spirit makes Christ known in the world: Lord forgive us when we have failed to bear witness to the gospel of Christ.

Lord, have mercy.

May Almighty God have mercy upon us, forgive us our failings, and bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray our Collect for the Day of Pentecost

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. Amen.

Readings

Acts 2.1-21

Romans 8. 14-17

Hymn; ‘Come Down, O Love Divine’

Gospel John 14. 8-17

(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John)

Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)

Philip said to him, “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 forever. 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.

(This is the Gospel of the Lord. Response: ‘Praise to you, O, Christ’)

Reflection

This Sunday, I’m throwing caution to the winds and rather than focusing on the gospel reading, let us reflect on the power of the Holy Spirit, given to us at Pentecost to unite us all with one voice, whatever our language or nationality might be.

I expect those of us who have travelled abroad have seen signs that have obviously been literally translated for us English visitors.

Such signs can often be very amusing, here’s a few of examples;

From a brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo; ‘When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigour.’

On the office door of a doctor in Rome; ‘Specialist in women and other diseases.’

In a Greek tailor shop; ‘Order your summers suit. Because is big rush we will execute customers in strict rotation.’

And one that Ken and I see when we go on holiday to Malta on the local garage forecourt; ‘’Always wash with mud first’’

Translating from one language to another is often difficult, and on that Day of Pentecost the disciples with their Galilean accents would have had trouble speaking to, or understanding, those gathered in Jerusalem who had come from all over the world of that time.

But we’re told the crowd asked; ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?’

Some scoffed saying, "They are filled with new wine!" I find Peter’s response funny though when he says; ‘Indeed these are not drunk, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.’ The sun certainly wouldn’t have been over the yard arm by then!

The mob however, couldn’t imagine that God would use ignorant and unlearned people from the backwater of Galilee to speak the languages of those present with such skill and precision.

But in spite of the mockery, Peter gets up and speaks about Jesus, powerful words from the Acts of the Apostles we read today.

And so began the life of the church, the powerful movement that’s at the heart of who we are and what we do.
Every time we gather for worship, even though we’re momentarily apart, we meet with the promise that God will speak to us. His word of reassurance of the forgiveness of our sins, his Word to us from the Scriptures, his Word to us through the sermon, (hopefully!) and his Word of blessing as we face whatever the week ahead will bring.

God spoke to those gathered at the first Pentecost and he speaks to us now, which leads me to ask, what difference does God's Word and his Spirit make in our lives? What are the characteristics of people under the power of the Spirit?

Well, I’m glad you asked…….

Spirit-filled people are people who know God's love, we know we're not perfect, but we know we have forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

Spirit-filled people are changed people. Through God's Word and the Sacraments, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives to bring light into our darkness; to turn death into life.

Spirit-filled people have a new language. I don't mean we go around speaking pious sounding words all day or use the name of Jesus in every other sentence. But rather we speak words that heal and restore, that build people up instead of tearing them down.

Spirit-filled people are moved to love those around them. We are given a new outlook on the problems and the needs of other people, we’re happy to help and care for others.

Spirit-filled people want to share what Jesus means to them. The news about Jesus is too good not tell. We’re not afraid to let people know that Jesus is someone special to us.

Spirit-filled people are concerned about the concerns of God. We’re concerned in the way humanity is destroying God’s creation,

we’re concerned for the starving, the dying, the homeless, and the sick. We’re concerned for our war-stricken world.
Spirit-filled people are praying people. It’s the Spirit who gives us a child's confidence to go to our heavenly Father in prayer. It’s the Spirit who enables us to pray the most unlikely prayers in the face of suffering, wherever we might be.

Spirit-filled people are worshipping people, who give thanks and praise to the God who has done to so much for us even though we haven’t done anything to deserve it.

Often though, we have to admit, when God has spoken, we haven’t been listening, or if we have listened, we don’t get what he’s saying.

But God’s love for us is constant and he will keep repeating himself time and time again until we do get it; He says to each of us; ‘You are my child. I have sent you my Son and given you my Spirit that you may believe and have eternal life.’ So, as we go from here, let us take those words with us and communicate them to others by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the communal language of Christ’s love. Amen.

Hymn; ‘Breathe on me Breath of God’

Affirmation of our faith

Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; he was buried; he was raised to life on the third day and afterwards he appeared to his followers and to all the apostles: this we have received, and this we believe.

This is the faith of the Church. This is our faith. We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Intercessions this week are written by Daphne Hawkins

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father. Father, we thank you, as we gather together on this the day of Pentecost, for giving the Holy Spirit to the first Christians, making Jesus real to them, teaching them truth and the power to witness. Fill us with the same Spirit that we may follow their example in the service of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.