Pentecost Sunday
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in regular typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we commence our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A Call To Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Our first reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Our second reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Gradual Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we raise out voices in praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A reading from the holy gospel according to Saint John.
Listen to David speak to this gospel
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Pentecost, 8th June 2025
Welcome friends and peace be with you. MAY the words on my lips and the meditations in our hearts be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. <Amen>
Let me ask you a question : If we had to give up ONE of the celebrations of either Christmas, or Good Friday, or Easter Sunday or Pentecost, which one would seem the least crucial? <PAUSE>
Most of us would have a difficult time picturing a year with no Christmas, no Good Friday, no Easter Sunday and so many of us would probably answer my opening question with something like,“Well, if I must choose, I can do without Pentecost.” <PAUSE>
Can we do without Pentecost - Absolutely not!
When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak. (Acts 2:1-4)
Basically, without Pentecost the three other great feast days would not be celebrated at all!
There could not have been a Good Friday without the advent of Christ’s coming which we celebrate at Christmas.
Good Friday would have been a meaningless death without the victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ which we celebrate on Easter Day.
But it is Pentecost that enables US, you and me, to receive the gift of faith through the power of The Holy Spirit, and it is through this that you and I can know that the birth, the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ ARE ALL FOR US! <PAUSE>.
Jesus was not finished when He rose from the dead and ascended to be glorified.
Jesus came back to give the greatest gift of all — the gift of His own Spirit to live WITHIN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.
It is with the excitement of this reality that we celebrate Pentecost.
It is with the excitement of this reality that we remind ourselves that at Pentecost WE receive God’s Power.
You see, that’s what the Holy Spirit does – it fills us with faith, it fills us with power, it revitalises, renews, refreshes, empowers, creates, reminds, guides, comforts and strengthens God’s people.
Can we do without Pentecost - Absolutely not!
AND BY THE WAY ….. Pentecost was never intended to be a once-only event. Today we are celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit on that first Pentecost. However …
IN REALITY - today we are celebrating the fact that the coming of the Holy Spirit is a daily event in the life of a Christian.
EVERY day, let The Holy Spirit speak to you.
EVERY day, let the Holy Spirit tell you that He is YOUR God; Jesus is YOUR Saviour. He died and rose for YOU … and we need to keep our hearts and minds open to hear that.
Through The Holy Spirit we are given faith, and our faith relies on God; we trust God to help us in our deepest needs.
This Spirit-given-faith moves us to be God's holy and chosen people in everything we say and do.
Without the Holy Spirit there would be no Christians, no Christmas, no Good Friday, no Easter Sunday and no communities of faith spread all around the world. The gospel message would be unknown. There would be no hope of eternal life.
Maybe we've become a little too familiar, BUT … The Holy Spirit wants to work in you – in all of us – to make us into one people; people that are living, renewed, refreshed, revitalised to do His work – ready with the gospel of Christ, ready to draw all people into the warmth of God's presence.
Can we do without Pentecost,
the DAILY coming of The Holy Spirit
into our lives - Absolutely not!
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu. <AMINE>
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today to speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by saying aloud, and together, "The Apostles Creed":
... and now let us pray for the Church, the World, and Ourselves, giving thanks for God's goodness.
Let us pray aloud, and together:
Faithful God, now we unite in prayer, as those disciples did on the first Day of Pentecost, and we open ourselves to receive the very same Holy Spirit. AMEN.
<longer silence for personal reflection>
Mighty God, we pray that faith communities throughout the world, may, through the power of the Holy Spirit, make the Gospel understandable to all people whatever their race, language, and culture. Let each Christian strive to develop more fully their response to all the gifts of the Spirit and use them in the service of our saviour Jesus Christ.
<short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Creator God, we pray that the Holy Spirit of Peace will help the leaders of nations to seek justice and peace.
May there be good news for the poor and the broken hearted; release for those illegally or wrongly imprisoned and an end to the conflicts throughout the world which lead to so much grief and mourning.
We pray for all those who are striving to rebuild in places which have been ravaged by war or natural disaster and those who have been forced to flee their homes and are now seeking refuge.
<short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Father God, we pray for our FaithaLight communities, that each of us through the Holy Spirit of love might make use of our individual gifts and talents, enabling each of us to flourish as a witness to the “One Body” of Christ.
Help us to spread the warmth of Your love to everyone we meet.
<short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Gracious God, sustain and strengthen, through the Holy Spirit of Healing, the sick and suffering among us. May they be brought to health and wholeness through the mercy of Christ.
Give the song of joy to all who are now on the road to recovery and recuperation and the song of thanks to all who helped them on that road.
We especially raise before You now all those who have asked for our prayers from around the world … those we know in New Zealand, in Singapore, in Argentina, in France, in Australia, in the US, in Canada, in Austria, in Ukraine, in China, in Germany, in the Czech Republic, and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.
<short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Merciful God, may the Holy Spirit, who purifies us of sin and raises the dead, bring all our departed loved ones into the fullness of God’s presence.
We especially pray for any we know who have recently died and are on that journey to You.
We pray for all the faithful departed, may they now rest in eternal peace as they most surely have risen in glory.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, Come. In a moment of silence we pray for ourselves, our families, friends, for all whom we love and for our personal ministries.
Make us worthy of the sacrifice and resurrection of Your Son.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Father God, as we move forward into the busy week ahead help us to rejoice in your Holy and Life Giving Spirit. Each and every day send Your Spirit, once again, into our hearts, into our lives, and into our world.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Forth in the peace of Christ we go; Christ to the world with joy we bring; Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips, Christ in our hearts, the world’s true King.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ continues to teach us:
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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
May The Risen Lord Christ turn His face towards each and every one of you.
May He cause His light to shine upon you, and
may He grant you His peace, and
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn:
Let us conclude our worship today by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we unite in another hymn our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Dismissal
Go now, go out into the world
to love and serve The Lord.
Go in peace.
AMEN, we go in the name of Christ.
