Thank you!
“I Fought For You” – YouTube
Thank you!
Pentecost Sunday: Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34; 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23 ~ receive the Holy Spirit
Pentecost Sunday
+ In the name the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentence and prayer:
Today is Pentecost Sunday, ‘the great beginning of the Church’, the day the Holy Spirit first came to confused and frightened disciples.
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Send down, O God, upon Your people the flame of Your Holy Spirit, and fill us with Your presence and power. May Your life-giving Spirit lend fire to our words and strength to our witness. Send us forth to the nations of the world to proclaim with boldness Your wondrous work of raising Christ to Your right hand. We pray through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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A Reading from the Book of Acts: Acts 2:1-11 (NLT)
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34 (NLT)
Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
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How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
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When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.
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May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works —
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May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord.
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A Reading from the Letters: 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 (NLT)
Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
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Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body — whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
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A Reading from the Gospels: John 20:19-23 (NLT)
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
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Intercessions:
Aware of the Spirit at work in us, we come to You, Heavenly Father, with our prayers.
+ For all those who have been touched by the Spirit — that they may always allow God’s Power to work in them…. Lord, hear us.
+ For a world plagued by hunger, war and destruction — that the Spirit may renew the face of the earth…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who have never known God’s love — that the Spirit may be with all who witness to the love of Christ…. Lord, hear us.
+ For people who can’t get on with each other — that the Spirit of love may bring harmony and peace…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who receive Communion today — that the Spirit may help them love Jesus more each day…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who gather together, celebrating the Spirit’s coming — that our faith may be firm, our hope sure and our love without end…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who have died in Christ – that the Spirit may awaken them to life without end…. Lord, hear us.
Lord God, how great You are, how many are Your works: let Your Spirit guide your people, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Benediction:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor. 13:14)
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Morning Prayer: 23 May – Acts 28:16-20, 30-31; John 21:20-25 ~ as for you, follow me
Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentence and prayer:
The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Alleluia.
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Heavenly Father: Send Your Holy Spirit into our minds and hearts – let us proclaim before all that You are King and Lord. Grant us a love that is genuine – give us respect and a real affection for one another. Renew the hearts of the faithful by Your life-giving grace – move them to respond gladly to the gifts of the Spirit. Grant us the power of Your Spirit to repair our damaged lives – may our decay be turned into growth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Reading from Acts: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 (NLT)
When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier.
Valentin de Boulogne, ca. 1619
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel — the Messiah — has already come.”
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For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.
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I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will guide you to all truth. (John 16:7,13)
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A Reading from the Gospels: John 21:20-25 (NLT)
Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved — the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”
Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.
Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.
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Canticle
Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing:
May the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Morning Prayer: 22 May – Acts 25:13-21; John 21:15-19 ~ led where you do not want to go
Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentence and prayer:
Lord, You are our help and our salvation.
+ Almighty Father, send Your Holy Spirit to turn my words into prayers and my seeking into finding.
+ Send Your Holy Spirit to turn my darkness into light and my falseness into truth.
+ Send Your Holy Spirit to bring order out of chaos and love out of hatred.
+ Send Your Holy Spirit to change contempt for the weak into reverence for all Your children.
Heavenly Father, grant that, as I welcome Your Spirit, my faith may grow ever stronger, my service ever more loyal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Reading from Acts: Acts 25:13-21 (NLT)
A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.
Nikolai Bodarevsky, 1875
Transcarpathian Regional Art Museum, Uzhhorod, Ukraine
“I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”
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The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I told you. (John 14:26)
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A Reading from the Gospels: John 21:15-19 (NLT)
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Luca Giordano, 1660?
Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venice
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
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Canticle
Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing:
May the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
