We are here to help people love and worship God. We aim to be, and encourage others to become, committed and active disciples of Jesus,
who love God and worship him, who know the power of the Holy Spirit and who show God’s love in every part of their lives.
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.
This month’s prayer is the alternative Collect for Pentecost, which falls this year on the 8th of June. Pentecost is often called the birthday of the Church as on this day we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early Church seven weeks after the resurrection (see Acts chapter 2).
At the first Pentecost the Spirit fell upon the disciples with a sound like a roaring wind and in tongues of fire. At the end of John’s Gospel (See John chapter 20 verses 19 to 23) we have what some call John’s Pentecost. He records what happened on the evening of Easter Day. The Risen Jesus appeared to the disciples in the upper room and breathed the Holy Spirit upon them.
The word ‘spirit’ in Greek and Hebrew can also be translated as ‘wind’ or ‘breath.’ And this collect picks up references to both Acts 2 and John 20.
We pray for Christ to pour out His Spirit upon the Church and upon ourselves as Jesus’ followers.
The fire of the spirit refers to the power of the Church. Its power should come from God and not from itself or from its status. The fire of the Holy Spirit is the fire of God’s love. This love should drive the mission and ministry of the Church and of every Christian.
The breath of the Holy Spirit in this prayer points us to the risen Jesus on Easter Day. It reminds us that the Spirit is not an impersonal force or energy, but that it comes from Christ; it is His breath, and it is given to fill us with His life.
If the Spirit is not making us like Christ, then it is not the Holy Spirit at work in us.
This Pentecost we pray for God to pour out the Holy Spirit upon His Church. To help us to love as He loves, to make us more Christlike, and to bring new life and vitality to our worship and our service of our neighbour. Amen.
St Mary's Church, Priory Road, Ecclesfield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S35 9XZ, United Kingdom
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