Worshipping at Home 28th May 2023
Home Worshipping 
28th May 2023

Welcome to Home Worshipping 28th May 2023!
Pentecost

Bible Reading

Bible readings

Acts 2: 1-21

John 7: 37-39


The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.


5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’


13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’


Peter addresses the crowd.

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[c]

Thought for the Day

I suppose that most of us have from time to time wondered about what is going on inside us and around us too. Do we have an inner being or perhaps a soul that connects us to another dimension or draws upon resources within us that we don’t naturally display in our normal humdrum daily existence. Are we truly spiritual people or are just talking ourselves into believing something because we want to believe that we are very special and maybe a cut above others?

Or maybe we are so spiritually connected or aware that we can make designer changes to the way that we act or react to situations or other people? Maybe we can detach ourselves from the realities of life to such an extent that nothing gets through our armour. Sometimes this can all be very beneficial for us and improve our approach to life in general but there is a completely different level of spirituality which also dwells within us and opens our hearts, minds and souls so that we can benefit others as well as ourselves.

I am talking about the Holy Spirit that is a gift from God and was left for us when Jesus returned to the Father in heaven. We heard much about this last week in our readings about Jesus Ascension. The indelible impact and effect of the glorious arrival of the Spirit is recorded in today’s reading from Acts which gives a graphic illustration of the physical effect upon individuals as they become possessed by the spirit and portrays the drama of the Spirit entering into the world with violent winds and tongues of fire.

But the essence of our understanding of the potential force for good is firstly in the special powers granted at that time. So many people were able to understand foreign tongues as if they were their own and it seemed to all these people from foreign lands that the Galileans present (in other words the Apostles) were speaking to them in their own language. But looking at this more closely my interpretation is that the effect was far greater than this and that in addition the foreigners were also able to understand the Galileans language too.

In other words the Spirit brought about a level and quality of understanding between people of different language customs and values in an instant that would otherwise have been impossible except over a long period of integration. These qualities alone showed the potential of the Spirit to embrace the whole world and give diverse peoples, tribes and races the opportunity to live, love and work together in sharing God’s gift of creation.

The other major effect of the Spirit didn’t show immediately but very quickly manifested itself afterwards and that was one of empowerment – this in particular for the Apostles who were inspired and empowered to take the Gospel message concerning Jesus Christ out into the world. This inner spiritual confidence, which was instilled within the Apostles, would also allow them to approach foreign lands and nations in the knowledge that one way or another the Gospel would be received and that the Spirit of Jesus Christ was always with them.
From the amazing impact of the entry of the Holy Spirit into the lives of those people on the day of Pentecost

I hope that we all will recognize the very special feeling that comes from accepting and recognizing that same Spirit within ourselves and receive not only a force that comforts and inspires us within but causes us to look outwards to others with love, compassion and understanding in the true Spirit of Jesus Christ. 

Let us Pray

Lord Jesus, we give thanks for the gift of your Holy Spirit and pray that we will allow this to infuse our very existence taking over our inner selves so that our Spirituality grows and develops with and in you Lord. May we use your immeasurable gift as much for the benefit of others as for ourselves and give glory to you as we become more and more confident and empowered to live out your Gospel message in our lives whenever and wherever we may be acting with love, compassion, discretion and understanding in your name. Amen

Prayer for the interregnum of the Parish of Beaudesert with Henley and Ullenhall (to be said during intercessions).

Almighty and everlasting God as we travel together through this period of interregnum we thank you for your everlasting love for us. Give us strength to accept this time of change and send us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with encouragement and hope for the future. We ask that you will help us to share responsibilities growing in faith and love with one another. We look forward to the appointment of a new Rector and believe you will send us a priest best suited to your disciples in this parish and who will encourage many to join with us on our journey of faith. Amen 

The Blessing

The Spirit of truth lead us into all truth, give us 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 amongst us, and remain with us always.


Amen.

 The Collect Prayer

Holy Spirit, sent by the Father, ignite us in 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

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

Henley in Arden The incumbent   (Vacancy)



Contact Us

 We’re here to help!

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.
Share by: