Land’s End Benefice
31st May 2020 Pentecost Eucharist
Please join in with the words in bold. The bold with underlining is to mark the sections. You may remain seated throughout or sit or kneel or stand when we usually do so in church. This booklet will be used for
Pentecost 31st May 2020
Pentecost Eucharist
The Greeting
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
God is spirit.
Let us worship him in spirit and truth.
The Lord is with us.
Let us praise his name together. cf John 4.24
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Dear friends in Christ, we have come together on Pentecost Sunday/Trinity Sunday to celebrate and affirm our faith in God, the Three in One. As we stand in God's presence, let us pray:
I arise today, embraced in the arms of God the Father,
empowered by the strength of God the Spirit,
immersed in the love of God the Son.
I arise today in the company of the Trinity, Father, Spirit and Son.
I arise today, praise God Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation to Confession
We keep silence as we prepare to pray:
Through the dark hours
protect and surround us,
Father, Son and Spirit, Three.
Forgive the ill that we have done.
Forgive the pride that we have shown.
Forgive the words that have caused harm
that we might sleep peaceably,
and rise refreshed to do your will.
Through the dark hours of this night
protect and surround us,
Father, Son and Spirit,
Three in one and one in three
God our Father, full of grace and truth, we confess that we have sinned against you and our neighbour. We have wounded your love and marred your image in us. Restore us for the sake of your Son, and bring us to heavenly joy, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The almighty and merciful Lord grant you pardon and forgiveness of all your sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Collect for Pentecost
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.
God is spirit. Let us worship him in spirit and truth.
The Lord is with us. Let us praise his name together.
Collect of the Day
God, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Reading Acts 2.1-21
1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs – in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ 13But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’
14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17“In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Gospel Reading
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John 20.19-23.
19It was evening on the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
Glory to you, O Lord.
At the end the reader may say
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
Reflection by Henri Nouwen – and Vanda!
“The Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to his followers, is the great gift of God. Without the Spirit of Jesus, we can do nothing, but in and through his Spirit we can live free, joyful, and courageous lives. We cannot pray, but the Spirit of Christ can pray in us. We cannot create peace and joy, but the Spirit of Christ can fill us with a peace and joy that is not of this world. We cannot break through the many barriers that divide races, sexes, and nations, but the Spirit of Christ unites all people in the all-embracing love of God. The Spirit of Christ burns away our many fears and anxieties and sets us free to move wherever we are sent. That is the great liberation of Pentecost.”
When I have been praying about the Acts reading this Pentecost, the thing that keeps coming to mind is that everyone gathered because of the sound of the wind. The noise of the Spirit, and I presume the noise of the apostles speaking in many tongues was what drew the crowds. Some thought they were drunk, others were confused. But I would imagine none were as shocked as the apostles were to find themselves speaking languages unknown to them! God promised to pour out his Spirit, and he did!
Often it seems that God fulfils his promise, and we are left not understanding, being shocked and unbelieving. At Baptism (and Confirmation) we are made children of God and his love is written in our hearts, his forgiveness for our sins gives us a new start, his badge signed on our heads, his commission given through the light. Sorted! But we stumble through life forgetting we are children of God, imaging that we are the ones who cannot be utterly loved by God. That we cannot be forgiven, and that we cannot possibly have anything to offer God. Perhaps we are too shocked finding out how deeply loved we are that it is easier to live without that knowledge – so we forget. Sometimes we must work hard to forget too!
May this season of Pentecost remind you of your calling as a precious child of God. Love, forgiven, redeemed, and commissioned to share this with all those who have forgotten how to love, or how to be loved. With those who cannot forgive or allow themselves to be forgiven. With those who feel useless or unworthy. Send your Spirit on each of us Lord and give us hearts of fire set with love for you. And give us the courage to remember always that we are heirs of your kingdom, children of God, redeemed by the Son, filled with the Spirit and loved for eternity!
Prayers of Intercession
Prayers from ROOTS
God of wind and dove and fire, speak freedom, peace and change
over lands divided by war and by creed.
Speak refreshment, assurance and warmth over lives afflicted by exhaustion and illness.
Speak integrity, humility and challenge over churches crippled by fear and finances. Speak calm, gentleness and comfort over lives broken by grief and loss.
Speak power, anointing and healing over each one of us,
that there may be new beginnings, and a catalyst for change. Amen.
Spirit of fire, warm us with your everlasting love.
Spirit of wind, blow away hurtful words that damage relationships.
Spirit of earthquake, carry away our fears.
Spirit of breeze, restore our peace with your calming breath.
Spirit of the living God, speak to us in words we can understand.
Lord Jesus, all around the world your followers are facing difficult times. Please protect them from harm and help them build their faith in you. Amen.
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Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.
And at the end
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Peace
God has made us one in Christ. He has set his seal upon us and, as a pledge of what is to come, has given the Spirit to dwell in our hearts. Alleluia. cf Ephesians 1.13,14
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.
A prayer is said over the bread and wine
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation. In your loving care you spread before us the table of life and give us the cup of salvation to drink. Keep us always in the fold of our Saviour and our Shepherd,
your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessed be God for ever.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord is here His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is always right to give you thanks, God our Creator, loving and faithful, holy and strong. You made us and the whole universe, and filled your world with life.
You sent your Son to live among us, Jesus our Saviour, Mary’s child. He suffered on the cross; he died to save us from our sins; he rose in glory from the dead.
You send your Spirit to bring new life to the world and clothe us with power from on high. And so we join the angels to celebrate and say:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Father, on the night before he died, Jesus shared a meal with his friends. He took the bread, and thanked you. He broke it, and gave it to them, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this to remember me.
After the meal, Jesus took the cup of wine. He thanked you, and gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you. This is my blood, the new promise of God’s unfailing love. Do this to remember me.
Great is the mystery of faith
Jesus Christ has died. Jesus Christ is risen.
Jesus Christ will come again.
Father, as we bring this bread and wine, and remember his death and resurrection, send your Holy Spirit, that we who share these gifts may be fed by Christ’s body and his blood.
Pour your Spirit on us that we may love one another, work for the healing of the earth, and share the good news of Jesus, as we wait for his coming in glory. For honour and praise belong to you, Father, with Jesus your Son, and the Holy Spirit: one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
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 Breaking of the Bread
Every time we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Giving of Communion
Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
St. Alphonsus Liguori in the 18th century:
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
The priest receives the bread and wine on behalf of the community
Final Prayer and Blessing
The Spirit of God fills us to live and love outrageously.
Spirit of God, brooding over the waters of our chaos, inspire us to generous living. Wind of God, dancing over the desert of our hopes, lead us to the oasis of new life. Breath of God, inspiring communication amongst strangers, make us channels of your peace. Amen. Kate McIlhagga, amended
The Spirit of truth lead you into all truth, give you grace to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and strengthen you 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. Amen.
Pentecost: God of power, may the boldness of your Spirit transform us, may the gentleness of your Spirit lead us, may the gifts of your Spirit equip us to serve and worship you now and always. Amen.
Pentecost Blessing: The Spirit of truth lead you into all truth, give you grace to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and strengthen you 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 Lord God almighty is our Father:
he loves us and tenderly cares for us.
The Lord Jesus Christ is our Saviour:
he has redeemed us and will defend us to the end.
The Lord, the Holy Spirit, is among us:
he will lead us in God’s holy way.
To God almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be praise and glory today and for ever. Amen.
Lord our God,
Amid the uncertainties of our human life,
May we pause and draw strength from you,
Trusting in your faithful love,
We ask through Jesus, your Son our Lord. Amen
The Celtic Primer
Copyright acknowledgement (where not already indicated above):
Invitation to Confession (Relationships and healing, Lament) © 1988 Continuum (Mowbray) (Substantially adapted)
Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000
Kyrie Confession (Resurrection) © The Archbishops’ Council 2002
Collect (2nd of Easter) © The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1662)
Post Communion (Day of Pentecost) © 1985 Anglican Church of Canada: The Book of Alternative Services
Acts 2.1-21 © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA John 20.19-23 © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA Collect (Pentecost) © The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1662)