Pentecost Sunday : 19th May 2024
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):
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
O Lord, how manifold are your works! in wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
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, 19th May 2024
MAY the words of my mouth and the meditations in our hearts be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. <Amen>
In the classic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, a powerful wind, comes into Dorothy Gale’s drab, dull life and it lifts her out of her comfort zone, spins her around, disorients her and drops her smack in the middle of a new world, where she has a very important mission to accomplish.
In this new world, nothing is the same as it had been before the wind came. There is beauty and wonder the likes of which Dorothy has never seen before, but there is also danger. Dorothy’s only desire is to find her way back home to her family. Her search for a solution leads her to make three new friends: The Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman.
Their adventures lead them to the Emerald City, in search of a wizard who will grant them their wishes. The lion is seeking courage, the scarecrow wants a brain, and the woodman is pleading for a heart. It is a modern fairy tale with a very important message: <PAUSE>
Sometimes, you already possess the very things for which you are searching.
In Jesus’ final visit with the disciples, He once again reminds them of his imminent departure. He has been preparing the group for His return to His Father since he initially gathered them.
In our text from John, Jesus also announces that disciples are not going to be alone when He leaves because he is sending the Advocate (think “Helper”), the Spirit of Truth from the Father to guide them in their continuing ministries.
Jesus tells His disciples that God will not leave them cowering and hiding. Indeed, the Advocate, the “helper” is coming to provide them with the courage to speak the truth about the life and ministry of Jesus.
COURAGE TO SPEAK THE TRUTH !!
We are living in a time in which truth-telling is as critical as ever.
In the Middle East and on college campuses, at high profile trials of former Presidents, at public enquiries in the UK - to name but a VERY few - we live in an often disturbing times. In addition, this roaring sin of “fake news” swirls around the world like the cyclone in the “Wizard of Oz”. Responses in social media and the wider press and society are massive and passionate.
In the midst of this, The Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, gives us the courage to speak up and to demand that the world be better.
There was, in the time of Jesus, AND THERE IS TODAY, an admonition that the status quo is no longer acceptable.
The Holy Spirit, was sent by the Father to help all disciples – including you and me – to speak truth to the world. Wherever we see lies and injustice, we are duty-bound to address it.
Jesus, before he was taken to the cross, called his followers “friends” and, in doing so, Jesus created a pathway for a society that is equitable. We are all friends, all equals and Jesus wants that message delivered to the world so that we might love one another … and it is the Holy Spirit that descends upon us to forever tie us to that love.
The Holy Spirit comes to encourage us to devoutly and unapologetically speak the truth to a world so desperately in need of truth-telling.
The truth is we are ALL divinely created in the image of God. ALL people have an equal right to live in a world without fear of ANY kind.
Lies and fears tear at the very fabric of the world God calls us to.
On this Pentecost Sunday, let us embrace The Holy Spirit with great courage and proclaim the good news that God is love and that we all have an invitation to share in the beauty and wonder of God’s enormous capacity to hold us close.
You know, in the final analysis, we will never need a wizard to trick us into believing what we already know in our hearts and minds - that we ARE loved by God and our mission is to go out and spread that love in our communities and across the world.
If we are unsure where to go or how we will be received - we lean on The Holy Spirit who will provide the strength we need to heal a broken world.
Tell the truth of Christ to the world, shame the devil, and to God will be the glory.
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu.
In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit <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:
The Spirit of God unites us as a people and enables us to pray and intercede for the needs of others. As we gather together in God’s love, we offer our prayers and thanksgiving to the Father for the sake of the Son and through the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus, name we pray. Amen.
(LONGER pause for silent, personal reflection)
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our response is, “hear our prayer!”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Mighty God breathe your power into all of the activities of our ministries around the world. Empower all those who minister to others with the gifts that Your Holy Spirit makes available. Give them wisdom in their decision making and the ability to have a deep understanding of the way that actions taken are in accordance with Your will.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Creator God help us to be constantly aware of the world’s needs and problems. Give the leaders of the world the courage to oppose sin and tyranny that there may be a greater unity among nations seeking to halt the threat of war and terrorism, and that the common good of all humanity be served by their decisions and action.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Father God we thank You for the gift of hospitality and all of the opportunities that we have to share food and fellowship with our families, friends and neighbours. We also give thanks for the gift of languages which enables us to communicate, even in a very small way, with people that we meet from other parts of the world.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Merciful God we pray for the gift of healing to restore those who are sick, injured or suffering.
We remember before You now those who have asked for healing prayer for themselves or a loved one.
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 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
Holy God through the death and resurrection of Your son Jesus Christ you gave to all of us the wonderful gift of eternal life. Though we mourn their passing we remember before you those who have recently died and those long passed but still missed.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your Mercy: Hear our prayer
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 prayers that Your Son offers on our behalf.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Faithful God, as we go out into the world we pray that this Pentecost may bring us a renewed sense of unity with all Christians around the world. May we use the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given us to spread the good news and live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(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.
