(This celebration is on Sunday, fifty days after Easter Day.)
GREETING
Wind and fire,
wondrous speech,
empowered disciples,
do it again, God;
pour out Pentecost
upon your holy church.
HYMN 544 “Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song”
PSALM 104:24-30
PRAYER
God, whose Spirit swept across chaos
on the dark and deep waters of creation;
God, whose Spirit called the patriarchs,
and spoke to Moses in the burning bush;
God, whose Spirit anointed judges, kings,
and filled your prophets’ burning hearts;
God, whose Spirit appeared as a dove,
descending upon your Son in baptism;
God whose Spirit at once drove Jesus,
into wilderness and temptation by Satan;
God, whose Spirit unites us in Pentecost,
let your wind and flame energize us again.
Without you, the people of your church
wither and blow away like dried grass;
but when your Spirit appears among us,
astonishing things start happening, God;
faithfulness, strength, and steadfast love
transform your church into Christ’s body.
It must have been terrifyingly wonderful
to be at the apostles’ Pentecost service,
the sound of driving wind from heaven,
tongues of fire resting on those gathered,
and the disciples in the streets witnessing
in languages they had not before known.
We know your Spirit blows where it will,
and comes among us in ever new ways;
we see your church grown old and lazy,
too willing for compromise with culture;
yet people still want to serve and sacrifice,
but await your leadership and inspiration.
Give our leaders vision, set prophets free,
give our elderly new dreams and goals;
be the writers’ muse, the musicians’ fire,
the drive in artists, the inventors’ spark;
rule the hearts of merchants and bankers,
enlighten our scientists and our teachers.
God, let us hear the winds roaring again,
set us ablaze with your tongues of fire;
plant your spiritual gifts in our poverty,
unify the speech that now only divides;
wake and energize your sleepy church,
dazzle us with possible impossibilities.
Let us bear spiritual fruit in barren lands,
animate us with a new life and growth;
awaken us with your steadfast presence,
immerse us in the joy of your company;
plant the new Jerusalem in our old world,
and let your love flow through us forever.
Amen.
GATHER WITH A CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIANS
TO CONTINUE THE WORSHIP OF GOD
ON THIS DAY OF JOYFUL RESURRECTION.
Copyright 2020. Robert D. Ingram, 32746 Jourden Rd., Albany, Ohio 45710 (dr.bobingram@gmail.com). Used by permission.
