Worshipping at Home 23rd May 2021
Home Worshipping 

Pentecost                         23rd May 2021

The Service

The above video is 17 minutes & 59 seconds long
The First Hymn
Welcome!

What if someone were to say to you: Come to church with me today. We have been promised spiritual dynamite! Spiritual dynamite is how the Bible describes the Holy Spirit, and we begin many of our Services with the words: The Lord is here. His Spirit is with us. Maybe we should end the statement not with a full-stop but with an exclamation mark! What an amazing claim!


Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great.
There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it. These all look to you to give them their food in due season; when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground. May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!

Acclamation

The love of God 
has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit 
who has been given to us.
Give thanks to the Lord 
and call upon his name.
Make known his deeds 
amongst the peoples.
Sing to him, 
sing praises to him,
and speak 
of all his marvellous works.

The Collect Prayer

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.

Sharing the Peace

We are the Family of God;
In the one Spirit we were all baptised
into one body.
Let us then pursue all that makes for peace
and builds up our common life.

(At this point please think of others
and in your heart send them
the message: Peace be with you.)

Bible Reading

John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 (The sending of the Holy Spirit.)

 

"When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Thought for the Day

The couple had just won a huge amount of money. As they were being interviewed one of them talked about the new kitchen appliances they could now buy. Their partner laughed and said, ‘Boring’! What would we do with a sudden change in our fortune, if overnight we became ridiculously wealthy? My hunch is that initially we, also, would think kitchen appliances. It would take time to understand what we have received.

Jesus had promised his disciples a very rich blessing – the arrival, no less, of the Holy Spirit which the Bible describes as spiritual dynamite. Jesus had primed his followers to expect a new heaven-sent arrival who would transform their outlook on pretty much everything. The Holy Spirit would teach them, direct them, empower them, embolden them, equip them and transform them. What is more, through them the world would be transformed. And then, ten days after the Ascension it happened. The disciples were gathered in one place when they experienced what seemed like a mighty rushing wind and the bursting down of tongues of fire. Overwhelmed by the experience they shuddered and rattled into a new life through which a whole new era of world history was ushered in. On that day called Pentecost something started that would encompass the whole world. 

Each year the Church revisits and celebrates the amazing event that took place so long ago. The event was unique and unrepeatable, just like all starting moments are. No spiritual experience will ever match what happened in that room in Jerusalem all those years ago. At the same time, however, each year the Church acknowledges the presence of that same Holy Spirit amongst us now. Whilst there was a once and only starting point, the work of the Holy Spirit continues and we are invited to assess afresh just how blessed we are. This is the message of the Feast of Pentecost. What is more, the Pentecostal good news is echoed in so many of our Services as we proclaim: The Lord is hear. His Spirit is with us. Wow! Really!

The lottery winning couple had very different ideas about the potential of their new-found wealth. One of them got excited by what the other considered boring. Maybe it is time for us to think big again. St. Paul, in his Letter to the Philippians (chapter 2 verses 12-13) says, ‘Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.’

Let us Pray

Empowering God, you gave the church the abiding presence of your Holy Spirit. Look upon your church today and hear our petitions. Grant that, gathered and directed by your Spirit, we may confess Christ as Lord and combine our diverse gifts with a singular passion to continue his mission in this world until we join in your eternal praise. Amen.

Grant us the grace to preach good news to all who are longing for the strengthening of their spirit, to preach freedom to those who feel trapped or oppressed, to preach godly visions to those who are looking and longing for the healing of our world, and to preach peace to the troubled and distressed. Help us to proclaim your Word, and through us your Action in this world. Amen.

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.

(Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.)
The Blessing

The Spirit of truth lead you into all truth, give you grace to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and to proclaim the word and works of God; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.


Amen.

 The Second Hymn

Bible Readings for the Week

Monday: Joel 2:18-29; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Tuesday: Genesis 11:1-9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Wednesday: Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 20:19-23

Thursday: Isaiah 1:1-4, 16-20; Romans 8:1-8

Friday: Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 8:9-11

Saturday: Isaiah 5:15-24; John 15:18-20, 26-27

If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns, please contact us

Henley in Arden The incumbent/priest in charge John Ganjavi
telephone 01564 792570 or email Incumbent/ Priest in charge

For a full list of church contact details please click here
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I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.
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