Pentecost Sunday, 2026
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):
May the glory of the Lord endure for ever.
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:
Listen to David speak to this gospel
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Pentecost, 24th May 2026
Welcome brothers and sisters 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>
A blessed Pentecost Sunday to you all on this great celebration of the Holy Spirit.
Today is also the celebration of the Church’s birthday, the day that the Christian Church was brought into existence – and what does a preacher have to say on this day?
Well, I COULD tell you the story of Pentecost and how a diverse group of people who had, more or less faithfully followed Jesus during His earthly ministry, gathered together and were filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered for their ministry – but that would merely repeat what Saint John in his gospel and Saint Luke in the Acts of the Apostles have just told us. So what do I have to add?
Well, how about a quick question “What is the Holy Spirit?”. <PAUSE>
It is a wonderful question and there have been countless discourses, books, sermons, commentaries, theses on this over the years … and, no doubt, there will continue to be!
However, how about this for my answer today? The Holy Spirit is the never ending love that connects the Father, the Son, and us.
God in three persons, blessed Trinity - - - lover, beloved, and shared love. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Let me try to make this a little clearer.
From Acts chapter 2 - The tongues of fire descend, the great wind comes, and the disciples receive the Holy Spirit. At this sound, the crowd gathered, and each one of the crowd heard the disciples speaking in their own language.
Did you notice how Luke goes to great lengths to describe all these different people and different places? (Parthians, Medes, Elamites, folks from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya, Rome, Cretans, Arabs)
All these different people are from different backgrounds, different cultures, different countries, different languages. Here's a critical point … all of these different people come together as one through the power of the Holy Spirit that has come down and entered their hearts. <PAUSE>
Let us remember, the Spirit does NOT take away their “many-ness”. The Spirit doesn't say, "Oh, you know you Mesopotamians, Judeans, you Parthians, Medes, Elamites - all of you have to give up your national identities."
No, No, NO! They're confirmed as different but yet, they form this harmonious pattern around The Father, through The Son and the uniting love from the power of The Holy Spirit at work in their hearts.
It's this love that brings the one (the individual) and the many together to unite.
In the Latin this uniting of the ones into the many is termed “in communio” or, if you prefer the English, it’s the coming together of us individuals in a communion - a community.
One of the great blessings of belonging to the FaithaLight community is that members of this extended family come together from all over the world, they bring their different languages, their different customs, their different looks. Yet no one's forcing a monolithic unity or identity upon them.
The many are coming together around Christ to serve Him and His purposes.
We find “communio”. We become one with “Unity in diversity” thanks to the love that pours out from The Holy Spirit in our hearts and that joins us together with The Father and The Son and each other.
That's the mark of The Holy Spirit.
It’s that Holy Spirit that entered in to the disciples on the first Pentecost Sunday. It’s the fire, the wind, the breath of God, the love from The Holy Spirit that descends upon, and enters into, the heart of each and every one of us today … and everyday.
THAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT - the love and power from Christ that really allows us to celebrate our UNITY IN DIVERSITY.
God bless you all.
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu. <AMEN>
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 sacrifice and goodness.
Let us pray aloud, and together:
Mighty God, as we come together here in hope and in faith, we ask you to minister to our needs. Send the Holy Spirit to fill the hearts of Your faithful people and kindle in them the fire of your love.
<longer silence for personal reflection>
Holy God, we pray for the leaders of our faith communities, that they will be guided in their ministry by the influence of the Holy Spirit and that, in the power of the Spirit, they may make the Gospel understandable to people of every race, language, and culture.
May the Holy Spirit of Peace unite and reconcile the peoples and nations of the earth, bringing an end to war, hatred, and discrimination.
<short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Faithful God, we pray for our communities, that each of us will be open to the opportunities to give of our individual talents enabling people to flourish as a witness to the "One Body" of Christ. We pray that each Christian may develop more fully his or her response to all the gifts which the Spirit bestows for the service of the Body of Christ,
<short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Father God we pray for your world and its peoples with all their needs, questions and longings. So often we struggle to understand the reasons behind acts of terrorism; and yet we know that in the midst of such events Your love is shown in the acts of bravery, selflessness and compassion which followed.
We pray for all who suffer in such dreadful circumstances and for those who are tasked with rescue, providing the medical and community support and, eventually, in the long task of reconstruction.
<short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Loving God, we pray for all those who are sick; guide them and strengthen them through their illness. We pray also for those who care for the sick, those engaged in the caring professions and for family members who look after loved ones and especially for children who care for parents.
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, pray for all those who have died: give them a place at Your banquet in heaven. May the Holy Spirit, who purifies us of sin and raises the dead, bring all our departed loved ones into the fullness of Your presence.
We especially raise before you at this time our recently departed brother Albert (Australia), May (Malaysia), and Philip (New Zealand).
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
Jesus Christ prays for everyone to connect with The Father and be united as one. 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
Everlasting God, on this Day of Pentecost, we rejoice in the wonderful gift of Your Spirit. Send that same Spirit again into our hearts, into our lives, and into our world.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
(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.
