PENTECOST 20th May 2018 20 May 2018.pdf · PENTECOST 20th May 2018 Without Pentecost the...

PENTECOST20thMay2018

WithoutPentecosttheChrist-event-thelife,death,andresurrectionofJesus-remainsimprisonedinhistory

assomethingtoremember,thinkaboutandreflecton.TheSpiritofJesuscomestodwellwithinus,sothatwecanbecomelivingChrists,hereandnow.

HenriNouwenCalltothoughtfulnessTheAnswerRSThomasManyRiverspress1996

Notdarknessbuttwilightinwhicheventhebestofmindsmustmakeitswaynow.

Andslowlythequestionsoccur,vaguebutformidableforallthat.

Wepassourhandsovertheirsurfacelikeblindmenfeelingforthemechanismthatwillswingthemaside.

Theyyield,butonlytore-formasnewproblems;andonedoesnotevendothatbuttowersimmovablebeforeus.

Istherenowayotherthanthoughtofansweringitschallenge?

Thereisananticipationofittothepointofdying.

Therehavebeentimeswhen,afterlongonmykneesinacoldchancel,astonehasrolledfrommymind,andIhavelookedinandseentheoldquestionsliefoldedandinaplacebythemselves,likethepiledgraveclothesoflove’srisenbody.

ItisnottrueChurchisjustforbelievers:Churchisfirstaboutbelonging.

ItisnottrueChurchisalistofdoctrines:Churchisfirstawayofrelatingtotheworld.ItisnottrueChurchhasanendingalreadyworkedout:Churchisanadventureandarisk.

PROCESSIONALHYMN607Thebrightwindisblowing,thebrightwindofheaven

WELCOMEcanyoufeelthespirit?ThegatheringprayerDaybyday,dearLord,ofyouthreethingswepray:ToseeyoumoreclearlyToloveyoumoredearlyTofollowyoumorenearlyDaybydayWildGeeseMaryOliverSelectedPomesBloodaxe2007(firstpub’1979)Youdonothavetobegood.YoudonothavetowalkonyourkneesForahundredmilesthroughthedesert,repenting.Youonlyhavetoletthesoftanimalofyourbodylovewhatit loves.Tell meaboutdespair, yours,andIwill tell youmine.Meanwhiletheworldgoeson.Meanwhilethesunandtheclearpebblesoftherainaremovingacrossthelandscapes,overtheprairiesandthedeeptrees,themountainsandtherivers. Meanwhilethewildgeese,highinthecleanblueair, areheadinghomeagain.Whoeveryouare,nomatterhowlonely,theworldoffersitselftoyourimagination,callstoyoulikethewildgeese,harshandexciting—overandoverannouncingyourplaceinthefamilyofthings.HYMN590HolySpirit,giftbestower,breatheintoourheartstoday

EZEKIEL371-14p735thelordbroughtmeoutbythespritandsetmedowninavalley

HYMN…whileshakenfaithknowssolidgroundWordsAndrewPrattTuneRockingham392 Look:gnawedandbleached,dismemberedbones,adesertvalleystrewnwithstones, ametaphorofhopelessness,forpeoplewornwithweariness. Ittookapoet'swaywiththought,animagethathismindhadcaught: imaginefleshandnewfoundlife, acountertohistoricstrife. Andnowthebonestakehumanformassaultingeachexpectednorm, thisisthegeniusofhisplan. Ezekielwouldsetfreehisclan. Thepeopleheardtheprophecy,aseedofhope:theymightbefree; withinthedarknessnewfoundlight, anendtoyearsofconstantnight. Themessagethattheyheard,weshare:whenGodseemsabsent,Godisthere; whenallishopelessGodisfound, whileshakenfaithknowssolidground.CopiedfromHymnQuest:HymnQuestID:12379REFLECTIONwhatarethosedrybones,whosearethey…ourstoo? PRAYERGroansandsighs(basedonRomans822-27)URCprayerbookp54HYMN592Likethemurmurofthedove’ssong,likethechallengeofherflight

ACTS21-21p109butit’sonly9am!

PrayerhonkingwildgeeseURCprayerhandbookp55OFFERTORYHYMN593Shesitslikeabird,broodingonthewaters(Piano) PRAYERSfortheworld

LambofGod,youtakeawaythesinsoftheworld,havemercyonusLambofGod,youtakeawaythesinsoftheworld,havemercyonus

LambofGod,youtakeawaythesinsoftheworld,havemercyonus,giveusyourpeace TheLord’sprayer HYMN618SpiritofloveSingvs1,2,3andrepeatv1TuneLondonderryAir729Atryst(Spokentogether)Lord,setyourblessinguponusaswebeginthisnewweektogetherConfirmusinthetruthbywhichwerightlylive;confrontuswiththetruthfromwhichwewronglyturnWeasknotforwhatwewant,butforwhatyouknowweneedAsweofferourselvesandthedaysaheadforyouandtoyouMayourfaith,unboundfromfear,prideoranxiety,speakofyourboundlessgrace,forgivenessandlove.Makeusyourdisciples,faithfuldisciples,foryourlove’spurposeTheBlessingafterwhichwesing786

WhatisemotionallyrootedisnotintellectuallysolubleRev’dWilliamSloaneCoffin,Jr.

LetnomanpullyousolowastohatehimMartinLutherKingJr

Itisanunderstatementtosayweliveinadeeplycomplexanddifficulttimeinthelifeoftheworld.Thisisatimewhenagainitisanunderstatementtosaytherearechallengesbeforethechurchandcommunitiesoffaith.Thisisatimeofdifficultyandhardshipformany.Atimeofgoodnessandjoyforothers.Andatimewhenwemustevenfindwaystosavethemotherearth,whoisthemotherofusallBishopMichaelBruceCurry