Call to Worship Creator God we come humbly into your presence. Jesus, Son of God we come gratefully into your presence. Holy Spirit we come quietly into your presence. When I see the heavens, the work of your hands, Everything inside me wants to jump for joy! Hymn 112 – Thou whose almighty Word Prayers of Approach and Confession Creator God, giver of food and drink, clothing and warmth, love and hope and life in all its fullness, we praise and adore you. Jesus our Lord, Wisdom and Word, lover of the outcast friend of the poor, one of us yet one with God, we praise and adore you. Holy Spirit, storm and breath, building bridges, breaking chains, opening doors and waking the oppressed, unseen and unexpected. We praise and adore you. Holy Trinity, source of all our sharing, in whom we love and meet and know our neighbour, unbounded dance of love. With heart and mind and voice, we praise and adore you. God of mystery and mercy, you know the details of our lives. You see the sin and the sorrow we bear; you see the problems and the possibilities we face. You see how we fit into the world around us and how we rub each other the wrong way. We confess we do not always see what you see. Open our eyes to the truth of our lives and touch us with your grace. If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. Everything old has passed away. See, everything has become new! Thanks be to God that we can all make a new start through God’s gift of forgiveness and peace! Amen Readings – Genesis 1: 1-5 (Pg 3) Psalm 8 (Pg 546) Matthew 28: 16-20 (Pg 1001) Hymn 595 – O breath of life Talk 1 Hymn 462 – The King of love my shepherd is Weekly Prayer God in three persons, blessed Trinity, how majestic is your name in all the earth. You are our Father God, the creator, giving us all things to enjoy. You are Christ the Saviour of the world, who died and rose again to bring life eternal. You are the Spirit of truth and love, willing to dwell in us. Help us as we celebrate Holy Communion to remember your sacrifice on the cross. Amen. Sermon What makes you wonder? What makes you gasp in amazement? For some it could simply be driving or walking through our Cheviot countryside on a sunny day, seeing sheep and cattle on the hills and a heron swooping over the river. For some, for some it is the inner workings of the atom or the biological cell that really get them thinking. Or an animal like the platypus! It has the body of an otter, the tail of a beaver, and the mouth of a duck and it lays eggs! As someone once said, it’s made up of leftover parts. Pretty fascinating. We could go on and on and on with our lists of things about the natural world that astound and perplex us before we could even start with the things about human creativity and ingenuity that we find fascinating: The Pyramids of Giza. The Sistine Chapel. Shakespeare’s plays. Ethiopian long-distance runners. Or the things we encounter every day, as well. The kindness of strangers. The healing of old wounds. The sharing of stories that somehow inspire and encourage us to conquer fears and overcome obstacles. Stepping back momentarily from the grind of the day-to-day provides the soul with wonder and the mind with plenty to contemplate. For the Psalmist, he looked to the heavens and gasped in sheer awe and felt so small. He expressed the insignificance of human beings – What is man that you are mindful of him? But then he goes on, ‘But you have raised him to little lower than the angels’. Faced with the immensity of the night sky, the psalmist questioned who he was, what his purpose was; he asked the big questions. The ancient peoples were no different. In a simpler, slower and a lot less digital age way back when, they pondered what the point of life was. In fact, they had stories about it all, stories that made space for belief and faith about the meaning of existence. But the Hebrews told of one God that created everything with order and meaning. Creation was no accident or by-product of cosmic warfare between rival deities, as some other stories had. In their stories creation was a careful, thought-out process. There was purpose and sequence. Things built upon each other. The God who was responsible for it all was intimately involved from the first all the way until things reached completion. And God pronounced it Good. It is not random or meaningless. It is not without value. Everything from the atoms to the platypus is the work of a loving and gracious Creator. Humans, which were the crowning piece of this God’s creative work, were not just declared good. They were pronounced very good. Male and female together, humans occupied a place in the order of creation that no other creature did. The Creator would not step back entirely once Creation was complete. In fact, creation would never really be complete all at the beginning, which is something the Hebrew people steadfastly maintained. It was and is an ongoing process, and God has made us in God’s own image that we may steward it and maintain it into the future. However, we seem to get it wrong as humans and make a mess of things. We act in dreadful fashion towards our fellow creatures, become complacent towards the things that need to be changed, and when we make a mistake we utter “I’m only human!” forgetting that to be truly human actually means to be very good, crowned with glory and honour. It is only through this love in Jesus of Nazareth that we begin to understand just how good and perfect we were designed to be. In the person of Jesus, the God who creates descends in order to save and restore us. Made of the very stuff of God and yet also sharing our skin, Jesus comes to take up a part in the very creation that has become such a mess. He goes searching for every lost sheep and even dies on the cross of Calvary to save us and allow us to experience life in all its fullness. The love that is poured out between God the Father Creator and God the Son Jesus is then bestowed upon the rest of humankind so that we may actually share it with each other and help complete the work that God began so long ago. This power, this life-giving love between Father and Son, is what we come to know as the Spirit, and it turns out we see the Spirit at the beginning, too, as God’s breath of love swirl and sweep over the waters to bring everything into existence. Standing back and beholding all of creation’s grand story is certain to produce awe and endless fascination—the wonders of things like autumn foliage and the harvest of lambs and calves and crops…the complexity of Bach Brandenburg Concertos and the Hubble Telescope. God. We can’t say we totally understand God or have in any way figured it all out, but when we are so bold to say God’s name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, this is what we mean: We have been created in the image of God. That we have been redeemed by the Son of God. And that we may take part in God’s dreams of a world renewed, each in our own unique way, thanks to the ever-present Spirit of God. And by the power of that same Holy Spirit we may echo the story the ancient Hebrews gave us: Lord Almighty, you are good. You are very, very good. Thanks be to God! Prayers of Dedication and Intercession Eternal God, known to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as Majesty, Word, and Flame of eternal love, as one who creates, redeems, and sustains, bless these gifts we offer for Your glory, and make us into a people who work and yearn for your Kingdom to come. God of creation, we praise you for the beauty, diversity and energy the earth, our wounded mother. We give thanks for the life of our planet, for its ecosystems and creatures, the vegetation, insects and animals with whom we share this our fragile habitat. Increase, O God, our understanding of creation, the wondrous ways in which You have knit our world together, give us a greater love for Your creation, that we may learn to live in harmony and peace with each other, and with our fellow creatures. Suffering God, we lift to You today all who are in pain: those living with the ache of grief, those fleeing war, oppression, and poverty, those whose burdens are too much for them, those rejected and despised for how they live, who they love or what they are. Enable us, Suffering One, to help shoulder our share of pain, to work for a world where there will be no more suffering, crying, mourning, or oppression, a world where You dwell in our midst. Holy Trinity of Love, we bring to you now, all those we know and love in any type of need or pain. Amen Hymn 19 – Ye gates, lift up your heads on high Communion Hymn 113 – God the father of Creation Benediction
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Call to Worship Breathe upon us, Holy Spirit, and inspire our thoughts and actions. Stir in our hearts, Holy Spirit, and fill us with energy to spread joy in the world. Breathe upon us, Holy Spirit, and refresh our commitment to serve. Stir in our hearts, Holy Spirit, as we worship and witness to God’s coming reign. Hymn 582 - O Day of joy and wonder Prayers of Approach and Confession Spirit of God, your energy moves in us and through us to face each new day. You are as close to us as our breath, giving us life. You refresh us like the breeze on a warm afternoon. You challenge us like a strong wind, rousing our attention. Holy Spirit, open our eyes to the wonder of God’s mystery, and open our hearts to the warmth of Christ’s mercy. To you, we offer our prayers and praise in love and loyalty. Make us one in worship and witness by your grace and power. God of wind and flame, at Pentecost your Spirit inspired Jesus’ followers to dare great things in his name. But we confess that we lack daring and Ignore the flame of your Spirit among us. Forgive our closed minds, that barricade themselves against new ideas, preferring the past to what you might do through us in the future. Forgive our closed eyes, failing to see the needs of your world and blind to opportunities of service and love. Forgive our closed hearts, which limit our affections to ourselves and our own. Forgive us, break down the walls of our selfishness, that we might be open to your love and for the service of your world, through Jesus Christ our Lord Lord’s Prayer Readings – Acts 2:1-11 (Pg 1093) John 7:37-39(Pg 1072) Hymn 583 -Spirit divine, attend our prayers Weekly Prayer Almighty and Everlasting God, on this Day of Pentecost, we rejoice in the wonderful gift of your Spirit. Send your Holy Spirit again into our hearts and into our lives, so that the streams of living water will continue to flow into our world. Amen Sermon The unexpected can happen. I managed to sit on a camel in Morocco and stayed on as we rode up and down sand dunes. That was pretty unexpected! Worshippers in cathedrals in the Middle ages gathered for Pentecost, and doves were released through trapdoors in the ceiling, swooping down on the congregation, as symbols of the Holy Spirit. Or rose petals were dropped from on high, as a symbol of the tongues of fire that enveloped the apostles, though I would certainly prefer rose petals! It is said that some choristers would also climb to the rafters and throw pails of water on the congregants to drench them with God’s spirit’ the one who was wettest was called the Pentecost bird! I decided not to re-enact such old customs. But the unexpected can happen. The disciples were still together in a room, waiting. Jesus had ascended to heaven, so now they were on their own, maybe puzzling over the way forward. How could they carry on without Jesus? They were too used to having him around, for him to take the lead and show them the way. But he had told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Spirit, for the Helper. They were back indoors, listening to hubbub of pilgrims, come to Jerusalem for the Festival of Pentecost or Shavuot. This was the barley harvest, when everyone celebrated the bounty of the land, but also the giving of the Law at Mt Sinai. Pilgrims had come from so many different countries around the Mediterranean basin and beyond, from the Jewish Diaspora, all happy to have fulfilled a dream of coming to worship in Jerusalem. The disciples would listen to their various languages, and the unexpected happened, which is an understatement. For there was the sound of the wind gusting around them, so that they were driven from indoors to outside. Tongues of flame appeared. It must have been terrifying, and suddenly these fishermen, these ordinary uneducated people began to speak in different languages, so that the pilgrims from Mesopotamia and Cappadocia were able to hear and understand. They were amazed that they could hear their own tongues being spoken. Though some were less charitable and said that the disciples were drunk. There are always those who will detract and see the negative, who will seek to pull down rather than build up. Who will criticise rather than praise, ridicule because they don’t understand. But here at Pentecost the disciples were driven from their room outside to engage with the people around and speak the Good News in their own languages. It is a metaphor for meeting people where they were. Peter preached, and many were added to their number that day. When I was in Morocco, I was intrigued to see the Berber language on all the town halls and stations, along with the Arabic and French, because the alphabet was so different. Yet the language some would argue was as old as Latin and Greek. But for many Moroccans it was important that their language was recognised and not treated as somehow inferior to the Arabic or French, the language of invaders and colonisers. So, right from the start of the church, we have a clear message that all were included. There was such a diversity of people gathered there, from so many different cultures and countries, different outlooks, some richer, some poorer, but the Spirit made no distinction and came upon all of them, allowing each to have their voice and transforming them into the Body of Christ, made them into the Church – and so we celebrate Pentecost as the Church’s birthday. But not a birthday to look backwards, but one which very much looked to the future with anticipation and energy. This week the general Assembly has been meeting in Edinburgh. Congregations are tired, we are told, but the emphasis has been on moving forward with hope and anticipation, and Pentecost gives us a model for that. The unexpected happened, and the disciples were transformed from uncertain, paralysed followers into bold believers who would be the Church and turn the world upside down. And they did this by engaging with people where they were. Not waiting for them to come to church, but to be the Church wherever we find ourselves and meet people in their need. R.S Thomas, the Welsh poet, said of Pentecost: ‘Such a fast God. Always before us and leaving as we arrive’. Pentecost marked the end to days of fear for the disciples and the beginning of the adventure to build the church. Boats may be safer in harbour, but that’s not what boats were made for. So as the Church we are encouraged to go out and meet people where they are with the Good News of Jesus Christ and dream the dream that the Kingdom come and be built on earth. Let us be open to the movement of the Spirit and have the courage to face the future in love and hope. Hymn 600 – Spirit of God, unseen as the wind Prayers of Dedication and Intercession At Pentecost, the gifts of the Spirit poured out on the Church, preparing Christ’s followers to serve him in the world. We offer our gifts to God so the service of the Church will continue to flourish wherever the Spirit leads. Spirit of grace and power, bless these gifts today so that they accomplish surprising things in Jesus’ name. We offer ourselves, too, so that our lives may proclaim the Good News with your grace and power. Amen. Wind of the Spirit, blow through us on this day of Pentecost and renew our faith. Re-awaken our love for God. Let your flames warm our hearts with trust in Jesus Christ and dare us to do great things in his name. Spirit of Power and Promise, Blow through us and renew our faith. Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and give us energy to serve you in Christ’s Church. We thank you for the General Assembly in Edinburgh this week and for decisions taken. Open our eyes to recognize needs for ministry and mission, and to equip us to meet new challenges in ways we haven’t dared before. Open our hearts to lives caught up in stressful situations. Open our hands to share in the tasks that need doing, and open our lips in prayer and praise. Spirit of Power and Promise, Blow through us and renew our faith. Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and give us understanding for those whose lives seem so different from ours; for those with whom we’ve disagreed; and for the challenges facing our community and your creation in these complex times. Spirit of Power and Promise, Blow through us and renew our faith. Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and bring healing for all who face pain or illness, discouragement or disappointment, for all who know sorrow, sadness or grief, and for those who face pressures coping with the cost of living. Bring healing to the earth, to places of upheaval and to ecosystems at risk. Spirit of Power and Promise, Blow through us and renew our faith. Silence Wind of the Spirit, Blow through us and bring us the compassion we see in Christ Jesus. Blow through us and refresh us as your faithful followers, equipped to serve the world you love in his name,Amen Hymn 622 – We sing a love Benediction Father God, amaze and astonish us with Your presence in the world. Jesus Christ, lead us to be Your hands and feet in the world. Holy Spirit, send us filled with Your resurrection power into the world. And the blessing of God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, be within and without you always and forever. Amen |
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