Today at Pentecost we rejoice in the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out on all God's creation, remembering especially the call to National Reconciliation, and to Christian Unity, at this time
We warmly invite everyone to share in prayer and reflection as we travel through these unusual days.
Here are some resources to assist. They can be used all in one go, bit by bit, or selectively, as suits your needs (privately, or with others).
May God bless us all as we continue to affirm the love of God in the midst of personal, local, and global challenges and opportunities.
We warmly invite everyone to share in prayer and reflection as we travel through these unusual days.
Here are some resources to assist. They can be used all in one go, bit by bit, or selectively, as suits your needs (privately, or with others).
May God bless us all as we continue to affirm the love of God in the midst of personal, local, and global challenges and opportunities.
Acknowledgement of Country
Firstly, as we gather in God's presence, we acknowledge the land which is covered by the Milton parish, its traditional custodians, elders past present and emerging, and all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in our communities. May we honour and share more deeply the wisdom of all, and walk in paths of just reconciliation and renewal of all Creation
Firstly, as we gather in God's presence, we acknowledge the land which is covered by the Milton parish, its traditional custodians, elders past present and emerging, and all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in our communities. May we honour and share more deeply the wisdom of all, and walk in paths of just reconciliation and renewal of all Creation
Opening Reflections
Take a moment or two to breathe in God's peace as we open ourselves to new life in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let God's grace touch and embrace you.
Let us seek to receive the joy of the Holy Spirit,
opening ourselves to the love of God in this time of worship,
remembering that God's Spirit is offered to us all...
Take a moment or two to breathe in God's peace as we open ourselves to new life in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let God's grace touch and embrace you.
Let us seek to receive the joy of the Holy Spirit,
opening ourselves to the love of God in this time of worship,
remembering that God's Spirit is offered to us all...
You may like to join in this opening hymn
Opening to New Life
you may like to say this prayer as a blessing, letting go into God's hands all that is hurtful,
or cup the palms of your own hands as you read it and ask for God's blessing to embody resurrection in your own life...
Forgiving God,
set us free from the painful memories of the past,
that wound our lives,.
Lead us to reconciliation
so that, through the Holy Spirit we may overcome hatred with love,
anger with gentleness, and suspicion with trust.
We ask this in the name of your beloved Son, our brother Jesus. Amen.
(Churches of Malta, Week of Prayer for Christian Prayer materials, adapted)
A first reading for today from Acts 2.1-11
- telling the story of the first Christian Pentecost
read in your own Bible or online here
- telling the story of the first Christian Pentecost
read in your own Bible or online here
you may like to listen and/or join in with this song from the Taize Community
- the words of the chorus are: 'Holy Spirit come to us, Kindle in us the fire of your love, Holy Spirit come to us, Holy Spirit come to us'
- the words of the chorus are: 'Holy Spirit come to us, Kindle in us the fire of your love, Holy Spirit come to us, Holy Spirit come to us'
A Reading from the Resurrection narratives - in the Gospel of John 20.19-23
Please join in by reading this passage in your own Bible, or online here.
Reflections (by Penny Jones)
Breath - Holy and Dangerous
reflecting, in a COVID-19 world, on the meaning of the giving & receiving of the Holy Spirit today ...
click here to read more
and/or click on the YouTube link below for Penny's reflection for today...
Breath - Holy and Dangerous
reflecting, in a COVID-19 world, on the meaning of the giving & receiving of the Holy Spirit today ...
click here to read more
and/or click on the YouTube link below for Penny's reflection for today...
Prayers of Intercession
Holy God, of holy dreaming,
Through your breath of life you bring creation into being.
You shape the myriad forms and features of this land,
and form its rainbow of many colours, cultures and peoples.
Through your redeeming love
you give us peace in Jesus Christ, your only Son, our Lord.
You reconcile us together in one body by the Cross,
giving us grace for our journey of healing.
Holy God, of holy dreaming,
breathe through us,
and in your mercy hear our prayer.
Through your Holy Spirit you enable us to grow
and to flourish in your service.
You bring forth fruits of love and grains of joy.
In this week of prayer for reconciliation, help us we pray,
to prune back all which brings destruction,
and to turn to your renewing springs:
that we may seek you in all we meet,
and cultivate a culture of peace.
Holy God, of holy dreaming,
breathe through us,
and in your mercy hear our prayer.
Holy God, of holy journeying,
you travel with us through darkness and despair.
Hear our prayer for your children,
here and elsewhere,
caught up in pain and suffering.
You call us to hold one another in prayer,
to walk with others in their journeys,
sharing your Spirit of reconciliation.
Holy God, of holy dreaming,
breathe through us,
and in your mercy hear our prayer
Hear our prayer of thanksgiving
for all those who have gone before us.
Breathe your Holy Spirit upon us, we pray,
and open our hearts to your continuing presence,
that we may journey onward in the freedom of your love.
Encircle us with your peace,
enfold us in your reconciling arms,
and enlarge the circles of our love. Amen.
(Jo Inkpin)
Holy God, of holy dreaming,
Through your breath of life you bring creation into being.
You shape the myriad forms and features of this land,
and form its rainbow of many colours, cultures and peoples.
Through your redeeming love
you give us peace in Jesus Christ, your only Son, our Lord.
You reconcile us together in one body by the Cross,
giving us grace for our journey of healing.
Holy God, of holy dreaming,
breathe through us,
and in your mercy hear our prayer.
Through your Holy Spirit you enable us to grow
and to flourish in your service.
You bring forth fruits of love and grains of joy.
In this week of prayer for reconciliation, help us we pray,
to prune back all which brings destruction,
and to turn to your renewing springs:
that we may seek you in all we meet,
and cultivate a culture of peace.
Holy God, of holy dreaming,
breathe through us,
and in your mercy hear our prayer.
Holy God, of holy journeying,
you travel with us through darkness and despair.
Hear our prayer for your children,
here and elsewhere,
caught up in pain and suffering.
You call us to hold one another in prayer,
to walk with others in their journeys,
sharing your Spirit of reconciliation.
Holy God, of holy dreaming,
breathe through us,
and in your mercy hear our prayer
Hear our prayer of thanksgiving
for all those who have gone before us.
Breathe your Holy Spirit upon us, we pray,
and open our hearts to your continuing presence,
that we may journey onward in the freedom of your love.
Encircle us with your peace,
enfold us in your reconciling arms,
and enlarge the circles of our love. Amen.
(Jo Inkpin)
The Lord's Prayer
Please use whatever form seems best to you - or check out the NRSV version here
You may like to share in this beautiful traditional hymn - sung by St Anselm's Roman Catholic church choir in Southall, England
Please use whatever form seems best to you - or check out the NRSV version here
You may like to share in this beautiful traditional hymn - sung by St Anselm's Roman Catholic church choir in Southall, England
Giving Thanks (Eucharist)
The word eucharist means thanksgiving, and when we share bread and wine together as the body and blood of Christ, we use one of the Great Thanksgiving prayers in our authorised prayer book .
(see photo here from our worship in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at St Francis College in Milton).
When we have no opportunity to gather in this way with an ordained priest to lead us, we may still take time to give thanks for God's blessing to us, and especially the gift of love in Jesus Christ.
Perhaps you may like to read one of the Gospel versions of the Last Supper and Jesus' words at this point? - click here for Mark's Gospel chapter 14, 22-25
If you have an Anglican Prayer Book, you can also read one of the authorised prayers.
As you share food today, you may also like to remember God present with us whenever we take bread and wine, or anything else to eat.
Prayers of Commendation
As we yearn for Christian unity,
for Australian Reconciliation with justice,
and for the healing of God's Creation,
let us commit ourselves anew
to work for these common goals:
May God the Father,
who called us from darkness into light,
make us true bearers of God’s light.
Amen.
May God the Son,
who redeemed us by their life-giving love,
empower us to follow their example in serving others.
Amen.
May God the Holy Spirit, who is Lord and giver of life,
strengthen us to endure the shipwrecks of life
and to reach the shores of salvation.
Amen.
May the Almighty and Merciful God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
bless and protect us now and forever.
Amen.
We will set out together,
to proclaim the wonders of God’s love.
Amen! Alleluia! Amen!
(adapted from materials provided by the Churches of Malta, WCC & NCCA)
As we yearn for Christian unity,
for Australian Reconciliation with justice,
and for the healing of God's Creation,
let us commit ourselves anew
to work for these common goals:
May God the Father,
who called us from darkness into light,
make us true bearers of God’s light.
Amen.
May God the Son,
who redeemed us by their life-giving love,
empower us to follow their example in serving others.
Amen.
May God the Holy Spirit, who is Lord and giver of life,
strengthen us to endure the shipwrecks of life
and to reach the shores of salvation.
Amen.
May the Almighty and Merciful God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
bless and protect us now and forever.
Amen.
We will set out together,
to proclaim the wonders of God’s love.
Amen! Alleluia! Amen!
(adapted from materials provided by the Churches of Malta, WCC & NCCA)
A Blessing for this Pentecost and Reconciliation Week - with thanks to Glenn Loughrey
one more hymn for today - from the EMW Conference, Aberystwyth
Offertory
In our usual worship, we include an opportunity to offer monetary and/or other gifts to God.
If you would like to contribute to the work of Milton Anglicans during the COVID-19 crisis, please feel to do so via electronic means -
via BPoint
or by contacting the parish office
In our usual worship, we include an opportunity to offer monetary and/or other gifts to God.
If you would like to contribute to the work of Milton Anglicans during the COVID-19 crisis, please feel to do so via electronic means -
via BPoint
or by contacting the parish office