Sunday Service - 31 May

Welcome to our Service - 31 May

This service sheet can be used individually or with households.
We would encourage you to say (or even sing) hymns and songs out loud.
Prayers, other liturgy or readings can be said out loud or silently, corporately or individually.

To the right is Alistair’s talk. It can be watched separately or as part of the rest of the service.

If you are able, we would also like invite you to join us for our main Sunday service, 10am, live on Zoom. Even if you have never been to St Gabriel’s before we would love you to join you. Please get in touch with the vicar Alistair (vicar@saintgs.co.uk) and he will send you the Zoom details.

SAY:

Alleluia, alleluia.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the lives of your faithful people

so that we may follow you.

Alleluia, alleluia.

SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmkzSjs9eAw

Breathe on me, breath of God,

fill me with life anew,

that as You love, so I may love,

and do what You would do.

2.Breathe on me, breath of God,

until my heart is pure,

until my will is one with Yours

to do and to endure.

3.Breathe on me, breath of God,

fulfill my heart's desire,

until this earthly part of me

glows with Your heavenly fire.

4. Breathe on me, breath of God,

so shall I never die,

but live with You the perfect life

of Your eternity.

Edwin Hatch (1835-1889)

Music: Robert Jackson (1840-1914)

CONFESSION

Our God, we come in humility, confessing who and what we are.

We are often unresponsive, for we are afraid. When your Spirit speaks, we turn deaf ears, for we fear what you might call us to do.

Come, Holy Spirit, Come

When your Spirit touches our lips,

we close our mouths,

embarrassed to speak your Word.

Come Holy Spirit, Come.

When the wind of your Spirit blows,

we close the windows of our hearts,

afraid the breeze will disrupt our ordered lives.

Come Holy Spirit, Come.

When the fire of your Spirit touches us,

we quench the flame,

afraid of the new life it might bring.

Come Holy Spirit, Come.

Forgive us, O Lord.

Come Holy Spirit, Come.

May the Father forgive us

by the death of his Son

and strengthen us

to live in the power of the Spirit

all our days.

Amen.

COLLECT

Almighty God,

your ascended Son has sent us into the world

to preach the good news of your kingdom:

inspire us with your Spirit

and fill our hearts with the fire of your love,

that all who hear your Word

may be drawn to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-QNMJsks74

SPIRIT OF HOLINESS,

Wisdom and faithfulness,

Wind of the Lord,

Blowing strongly and free:

Strength of our serving

And joy of our worshipping;

Spirit of God,

Bring Your fulness to me!

You came to interpret

And teach us effectively

All that the Saviour

Has spoken and done;

To glorify Jesus is all Your activity;

Promise and Gift

Of the Father and Son:

SPIRIT OF HOLINESS...

You came with Your gifts

To supply all our poverty,

Pouring Your love

On the church in her need;

You came with Your fruit

For our growth to maturity,

Richly refreshing

The souls that You feed:

SPIRIT OF HOLINESS...

Christopher Idle.

READINGS

Acts 2:1-21 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘“In the last days, God says,    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,    your young men will see visions,    your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,    and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above    and signs on the earth below,    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness    and the moon to blood    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls    on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

John 7:37-39 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’[a] 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

This the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

TALK written by Malcolm Chamberlain

Watch using the video above

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth

I believe in Jesus Christ,

his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand

of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen

O LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER,

O Lord, hear my prayer:

When I call answer me.

O Lord, hear my prayer,

O Lord, hear my prayer:

Come and listen to me.

Jacques Berthier/Taizé.

PRAYERS - written by John Gough

Father we pray for the church that at this time we may be renewed by the gifts of the Holy Spirit and reach out to one another as true disciples with Faith, Love and Hope,

We pray for all those who are struggling across the world, living in poverty, those who are victims of war and fear for their lives, those who are missing and have been taken into modern day slavery. Lord pour out your spirit on them and their situations. We pray that we may reach out to others with hope and care,

Father we pray for all who are sick and are in hospitals across the world suffering with the Covid Virus, bring healing and hope to patients and their families. Give strength and courage to all who are working tirelessly to provide such dedicated care and support through long hours of work and difficult working conditions.

May they feel the power of your spirit uplifting them in their times of struggle at work and in the quiet times at home, we also pray for the staff who have separated themselves from the families to protect them from the virus and are living in temporary accommodation.

Father we pray for our country and hope that as the lock down is eased that people will continue to be cautious in all they do and help to care for each other with responsible behaviour. We pray for all who are going to be back at work again opening their businesses and hope that the will succeed under such restricted conditions. We pray for Schools that will be opening, help teachers with all the preparation work that needs to be done to keep the children and themselves safe throughout the day, help families that are struggling to make decisions about sending their children back in to schools, pour out your healing spirit in to all of these situations.

Father we pray for all in government and the support they are receiving from SAGE in making their decision that affect our lives. Grant them wisdom in all of their deliberations.

Holy Spirit, fill our homes, and set our hearts on fire with the warmth of your love and Inspire us to new beginnings, and help us as part of you universal church to reach out to others with the good news about Jesus Christ. Amen.

Amen

LORD’S PRAYER

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.

Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and for ever.

Amen

SING: (Youtube link not available)

WIND, WIND, BLOW ON ME,

Wind, wind, set me free,

Wind, wind, my Father sent

The blessèd Holy Spirit.

1. Jesus told us all about You,

How we could not live without You,

With His blood the power bought,

To help us live the life He taught.

WIND, WIND, BLOW ON ME...

2. When we’re weary, You console us;

When we’re lonely You enfold us;

When in danger You uphold us,

Blessèd Holy Spirit.

WIND, WIND, BLOW ON ME...

3. When unto the church You came

It was not in Your own but Jesus’ name.

Jesus Christ is still the same,

He sends the Holy Spirit.

WIND, WIND, BLOW ON ME...

4. Set us free to love our brothers;

Set us free to live for others,

That the world the Son might see,

And Jesus’ name exalted be.

Jane & Betsy Clowe

OFFERTORY - Take a moment to consider how you are going to continue to give to the life of the church and support other aid agencies and mission organisations.

SAY:

Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power,

the glory, the splendour, and the majesty;

for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.

All things come from you,

and of your own do we give you.

SING:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3iB30gCqAc

Lord, the light of your love is shining,

In the midst of the darkness shining,

Jesus Light of the world shine upon us,

Set us free by the truth You now bring us,

Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine

Fill this land with the Father's glory,

Blaze, Spirit, blaze

Set our hearts on fire,

Flow, river, flow

Flood the nations with grace and mercy

Send forth Your word Lord

And let there be light.

2 Lord, I come to Your awesome presence

From the shadows into Your radiance,

By the blood I may enter Your brightness,

Search me, try me, consume all my darkness

Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine...

3 As we gaze on Your kingly brightness

So our faces display Your likeness,

Ever changing from glory to glory

Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story,

Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine Jesus, shine...

BLESSING

Faithful God, who fulfilled the promises of Easter by sending us your Holy Spirit and made known to every race and nation the way of life eternal: open our lips by your Spirit, that every tongue may tell of your glory; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be amongst us and remain with us always.

Amen

Malcolm Chamberlain preaches on Pentecost

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