Prayer: Come, Spirit


Here’s a responsive prayer for the presence of the Holy Spirit.  It could be used as a call to worship, or as a prayer of commitment later in the worship service.  It was written by Roberta Hiday.


Prayer: Come, Spirit

Our God—we, your people, stand ready and open
to receive the flame of your Spirit.
Give us the ability to speak your truth so that others may hear.

Come, Spirit of Truth, fill our hearts.                   
May that which was of stone be now transformed into life.
Come, Spirit of Life, change our hearts.
May we who receive your light dwell together in Your love.
Come, Spirit of Love, soften our hearts.
Bestow your compassion on those who suffer in mind, spirit, and body.
Come, Spirit of Hope, heal our hearts.
Make us bold to bring light to the dark places,
warmth to the cold places, and love to the empty places.
Come, Spirit of Faith, strengthen our hearts.
Spirit of the Living God, fill our hearts, minds, and souls to overflowing.
Come, Spirit of God, move in our hearts. 
Our God—we, your people,
celebrate the mystery of your never-ending love.
Amen.  

~ written by Roberta Hiday, for use at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Port Townsend on the Day of Pentecost, 2008.  Posted on In the Courtyard. www.inthecourtyard.com 

Pentecost Litany: God's Imagination


Here’s a delightful litany for Pentecost from Roddy Hamilton

God’s Imagination

Who puts the copper into beach trees
and the waddle into penguins
who chose the colours of a rainbow
and put shapes into clouds

The Spirit of creation
God’s imagination

Who put the notes into music
and picked the dance steps for bees
who placed the hum in humming birds
and decided elephants would listen with their feet

The Spirit of creation
God’s imagination

Who invented yeast to make bread rise
and put the curve into a banana
who made laughter infectious
and chocolate taste like heaven

The Spirit of creation
God’s imagination

Today is Pentecost
and we celebrate the energy of God
who created us
and brings us together in a colourful and loving community
We call her the Spirit

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Listening to the Stones. http://newkilpatrickblog.typepad.com/nk-blogging/mucky-paws/  

Pentecost Reflection: High Wind and Fire


Here’s a reflection on the Pentecost event from William Maxwell.

High Wind and Fire

On that first Pentecost
the wind and the fire were only hints
of what was about to happen:
    Frightened folk gulped a couple of times
    and spoke about Jesus.
    They said, “This Jesus whom you crucified God has named
    Lord and Messiah by raising him from the dead."
    They said, “The old barriers between Jew and Gentile,
    between men and women, between slave and free,
    don’t matter now.”
    They said, “Let’s hit the road.”

The Spirit, who had patted chaos into shape
and whispered in the ears of prophets and poets,
began to pat sinners into shape
and to speak clearly about forgiveness and love
and community and freedom and joy.
Not everyone got it, of course, but enough got it
so that the world was never the same.

~ Copyright © 2009 William Maxwell.  Posted on In the Courtyard.
www.inthecourtyard.com 

Prayer of Praise: Psalm 104: 24-34


Here’s a prayer of praise inspired by Psalm 104: 24-34

Prayer of Praise
(based on Psalm 104: 24-34)

O Lord, what a variety of things you have made!
In wisdom you have made them all.
The earth is full of your creatures.
They all depend on you to give them food as they need it.
When you supply it, they gather it.
You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied.
But if you withdraw your presence, they are dismayed.
When You take away their breath,
the life goes out of them, and they become, again,
the dust of the earth from which you formed them at the start.

But when you send out your breath, new life is created,
and the face of the earth is made beautiful, and is renewed.

God, may Your glorious presence linger among us forever.
May You rejoice in all that you have created.

Prayer: John 3: 1-17


Here’s a prayer for the presence of the Holy Spirit.  It was written by Michael Saward.

Prayer
(inspired by John 3:8)

“Just as you can hear the wind
but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going,
so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

Holy Spirit of God, invisible like the wind,
we do not see you moving among us,
but the effect we see—
come to our hearts:
that we may be renewed and reborn.

Open our minds:
that we may perceive your kingdom.

Lift up our eyes to where the cross of Christ stands for our healing:
so may we believe,
and in believing not die
but have eternal life;
through him who
in your love for us
you sent into the world,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ written by Michael Saward.  Posted on The Jubilate Group website. http://www.jubilate.co.uk/liturgy/

A Prayer to God, the Spirit


Here’s a prayer to God the Spirit from William Loader.

Prayer to God, the Spirit

O God,
You are Spirit;
You are wind;
You are breath.

You meet us in the wonders of creation,
in the awe of wonderful things,
in the terror of fearful things. 
You blow among the fallen leaves,
the broken branches,
the whining pain
and the whirlwinds of delight. 

Your wind gently touches our brow
with comfort and caress;
your forgiveness raises us to life;
your challenge disturbs our tidy piles
and spreads opportunities before our eyes. 

Gentle Spirit, breathe on us your life.
Strong Spirit, open our closed doors to your compassion;
Universal Spirit, inspire us to sing and sigh for justice;
Spirit of Jesus, teach us to walk,
to work, to pray, to live, to love,
your way. 

Awaken our dreams,
expand our visions,
heal us for hope,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

~ written by William Loader.  For more of his excellent writings, see this web page. http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/reflectiveindex.html

Call to Worship: Ezekiel 37: 1-14


Here’s a call to worship inspired by Ezekiel 37: 1-14.  It was written by Amy Loving.
 
Call to Worship
(inspired by Ezekiel 37: 1-14)

The Spirit of God has brought us here.
The Lord has set us down here,
though our bones are tired.
Can these dry bones live?
Yes!  The Breath of God will revive us! 
The Word of God will awaken us!
Today, we come together to experience new life.
Let us give thanks to the Wild, Life-Giving Spirit of God!

~ written by Amy Loving, and posted on The Worship Closet website. http://worshipcloset.com/

Pastoral Prayer: Pentecost


Here’s a thoughtful prayer of petition and intercession from Brummhart Publishing.

Pastoral Prayer

O holy Spirit, source of creation,
          come to those who are ill or in trouble
          to heal them in body, mind, and soul,
          that they may return to abundant life.

O holy Spirit, mind of God,
          come to those in power
          to enlighten their minds with your mercy and wisdom,
          that their work may reflect and extend your will for all creation.

O holy Spirit, presence of Christ,
          come to those you call your own
          to enlighten their minds with your grace and truth,
          that we may be your hands and feet in this world you love.

O holy Spirit, comforter and companion,
          come to all of us
          to guide our actions and words
          that we may rejoice in your presence
          and make this world your home.

O holy God, who is Father, Son and Spirit,
          we pray these and all of our prayers for the glory of your name
          in the Spirit of the one who taught us to pray, saying,
Our Father....

~ Copyright © 2006 by Brummhart Publishing Company.  Posted on the Brummhart Publishing website.  http://www.brummhartpublishing.com/

Prayer: Breath of God

Here’s a prayer of blessing from Margaret D. McGee.

Prayers for the Breath of God
  
Breath of God, Breath of Life, Breath of Deepest Yearning,
Come, Holy Spirit.
Comforter, Disturber, Interpreter, Enthuser,
Come, Holy Spirit.
Heavenly Friend, Lamplighter, Revealer of Truth, Midwife of Change,
Come, Holy Spirit.
The Spirit is here.
The Holy One is with us.
We pray to you, O God of Life.
You pour out your spirit upon all the world.

A blessing on this place and all who worship here.
Christ says, this is my body.

A blessing on all faithful people,
and on all who seek to live in faith, to the ends of the earth.

A blessing on this town,
and all who live in it.

A blessing on this nation,
its leaders and people alike.

A blessing on every race and nation,
all the sons and daughters, the old and young alike.

A blessing on those who laugh, and those who weep,
on those at peace, and those at war,
on those who have died, and those who will live to see tomorrow;
a blessing on every creature, great and small,
every mountain and river,
every rock and every clump of soil.

A blessing on the whole wide world.
Christ says, this is my body, this is my blood.

Breath of God, Breath of Life, Breath of Deepest Yearning,

You pour out your spirit upon all the world.

Amen.

~ written by Margaret D. McGee, and posted on In the Courtyard. www.inthecourtyard.com 

Pentecost Blessing


Here’s a Pentecost blessing from Jan Richardson’s Painted Prayerbook website.

Pentecost Blessing

On the day
when you are wearing
your certainty
like a cloak
and your sureness
goes before you
like a shield
or like a sword,

may the sound
of God’s name
spill from your lips
as you have never
heard it before.

May your knowing
be undone.
May mystery
confound your
understanding.

May the Divine
rain down
in strange syllables
yet with
an ancient familiarity,
a knowing borne
in the blood,
the ear,
the tongue,
bringing the clarity
that comes
not in stone
or in steel
but in fire,
in flame.

May there come
one searing word:
enough to bare you
to the bone,
enough to set
your heart ablaze,
enough to make you
whole again.

~ written by Jan L. Richardson, and posted on The Painted Prayerbook. http://paintedprayerbook.com/

Pentecost Prayer


Here’s an opening prayer for Pentecost from posted on the RevGalBlogPals blog by Terri.

Pentecost Prayer

God of creation, God of fun and sport
God who created Leviathon, just
Because you could, God of fun
God of life, God who delights
In diversity and randomness
We rejoice with you this day!

God who sends forth as the Holy Spirit
God who comes to all, women, men,
Young, old, to all colors, all people
God who speaks all languages and
Loves all people and accepts all
We rejoice with you this day!

God who sends forth an advocate
To lead, to guide, to speak for
All, you, me, all creation
God who loves each one as if,
as if, only one - and yet - all!
We rejoice with you this day!

Fill us we pray, with your Holy Spirit
May we know your fire of
love deeply in our being, may
We be your love. May we bring
Your love. May your love reign
As we rejoice with you this day!

In my words and in my silence in my
Prayers and in my meditation in my
Joy and in my sorrow in my despair and
In my hope, may I know your glory
May I sing to you, to your glory
May we rejoice with you this day!

And may the peace that surpasses all
Understanding, the peace that calms
My troubled heart, the peace that
Soothes my fears, the peace that
You give. For the peace that you give,
May we rejoice with you this day!

~ written by Terri, and posted on RevGalBlogPals. http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca/

Offering Prayer: In Response to God's Love


Here’s a prayer of dedication from the Worshiping Well blog.

Prayer of Dedication

Bountiful God,
we come with our offerings in response to your love.
With the new life in Christ,
we give ourselves in service to others.
With the energy bestowed by the Spirit,
we seek to inflame all your people with a zeal for your way.
Receive the work we do,
and the gifts we bring,
that they may become a blessing in your sight.

~ posted on the Worshiping Well blog.  http://stephenmfearing.wordpress.com/

Opening Prayer: Wellspring

Here’s an opening prayer of invocation from the Sacred Pauses blog.

Prayer

Holy Spirit,
The Consoler,
Spirit of Truth,
You who are present everywhere and fill
the universe…

Source of life:
Come and take up your dwelling in us.
Cleanse us.
And, in your love,
lead us to Salvation.
Amen.

~ posted on the Sacred Pauses blog. http://www.sacredpauses.com/

Call to Worship: Psalm 104


Here’s a call to worship based on verses from Psalm 104.

Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 104:1,31,33)

Praise the Lord!
Lord my God, how great you are!
You are robed with honor and with majesty;
you are dressed in a robe of light.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
I will praise my God to my last breath!
May the glory of the Lord last forever!

Affirmation: We Sing of the Spirit


Here’s an affirmation of the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives and our world.  It comes from the United Church of Canada’s Song of Faith (2006).

Affirmation

We sing of God the Spirit,
      who from the beginning has swept over the face of creation,
      animating all energy and matter
      and moving in the human heart.

We sing of God the Spirit,
   faithful and untameable,
   who is creatively and redemptively active in the world.

The Spirit challenges us to celebrate the holy
   not only in what is familiar,
   but also in that which seems foreign.

We sing of the Spirit,
   who speaks our prayers of deepest longing
   and enfolds our concerns and confessions,
   transforming us and the world.

We offer worship
   as an outpouring of gratitude and awe
   and a practice of opening ourselves
   to God’s still, small voice of comfort,
   to God’s rushing whirlwind of challenge.
Through word, music, art, and sacrament,
   in community and in solitude,
   God changes our lives, our relationships, and our world.

~ excerpted from Song of Faith of the United Church of Canada (2006).  http://www.united-church.ca/beliefs/statements/songfaith

Prayer to the Spirit


Here’s a prayer of invocation from Scott Cervas.

 

illumination: stale minds and slowly-beating hearts


Spirit…
Wind…
Breath…
fill our lungs and lives with your energizing presence;
refresh our stale minds;
and stir our slowly-beating hearts;
so that we may humbly and courageously
be your breathing, gusting, good presence in the world.
Amen

~ written by Scott Cervas, pastor at Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY). Posted on LiturgyLink. http://www.liturgylink.net/

Reflection: Romans 8: 14-17


Here’s a thoughtful reflection on Romans 8:12-17 from Anne Osdieck.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit… Romans 8:16

“We do not know how to pray
as we ought.”

"The Spirit
Intercedes for us with
sighs too deep for
words.”

Holy God,
take our poor attempts to pray
and mix them with your immeasurable love.
Remodel them and lift them up
into your eternal
bosom.

written by Anne Osdieck, and posted on The Sunday Website of Saint Louis University. http://liturgy.slu.edu/ 

My Prayer for Pentecost


Here’s a prayer for Pentecost by Sister Joan Chittister.

Prayer for Pentecost

The Holy Spirit embodies the life force of the universe, the power of God, the animating energy present in all things and captured by none. On this great feast of Pentecost, the coming of the Spirit of God, I invite you to pray with me:

May the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
bring fire to the earth
so that the presence of God
may be seen
in a new light,
in new places,
in new ways.

May our own hearts
burst into flame
so that no obstacle,
no matter how great,
ever obstructs the message
of the God within each of us.

May we come to trust
the Word of God in our heart,
to speak it with courage,
to follow it faithfully
and to fan it to flame in others.

May the Jesus
who filled women
with his Holy Spirit
fill the world and the church
with new respect
for women's power and presence.

Give me, Great God,
a sense of the Breath of Spirit
within me as I...
(State the intention
in your own life at this time
for which you are praying.)
Amen.

~ written by Sister Joan Chittister, OSB, and posted on the Huffington Post website. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sister-joan-chittister-osb/pentecost-prayer_b_872130.html

Prayers of the People: Pentecost


Here’s a prayer of petition and intercession from the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

Come, Holy Spirit

Ever living and ever loving God,
We praise you for your loving presence with us.

Come, Holy Spirit,
take and transform our societies—
that broken people find healing;
that lonely people find love;
that bitter people find peace;
that fearful people find hope.

Come, Holy Spirit,
take our world’s leaders and governments and bring renewal—
that communication can be open;
that relationships between hostile people and hostile nations will evaporate;
that a hunger for justice addresses the hunger for food felt by so many.

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill your church—
that our worship will be ever more pleasing to you;
that prayers will change our minds
    instead of trying to get you to change yours;
that our lives will make a real difference to real people in the real world.

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill our lives with your presence—
so that more and more every day,
all that we do and say and hope
will be an act of worship to you and an expression of love to others,
to the glory of your name.  Amen.

— from the Baptist Union of Great Britain website. http://www.baptist.org.uk/

Prayer: John 20: 22


Here’s a prayer inspired by John 20:22.  It was written by Christine Sine.  She writes: “This prayer was written as I contemplated the Holy Spirit breathed into us by Jesus.”

Prayer
(inspired by John 20:22)

“Then he breathed upon them and said,
‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” John 20:22

Spirit of God,
may we breathe in and hold your love within us
May we breathe out and share it with the world

Spirit of God,
may we breathe in and hold your peace within us
May we breathe out and share it with the world

Spirit of God,
may we breathe in and hold your life within us
May we breathe out and share it with the world.

~ Christine Sine, on the Godspace website. http://godspace.wordpress.com/

Prayer: Open the Eyes of the Blind

Here’s a prayer of petition written by Michael Saward.

Prayer

“And you will be a light to guide all nations to me.
You will open the eyes of the blind
and free the captives from prison….” Isaiah 42:7

God of grace and mercy,
open the eyes of the blind,
breathe life into the dead,
release those bound by sin and Satan,
and, through your Holy Spirit's power,
may hearts be challenged,
minds convinced
and wills conquered.
In the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

~ written by Michael Saward.  Posted on The Jubilate Group website. http://www.jubilate.co.uk/liturgy/

Prayer of Confession: Acts 2: 1-21


Here’s a prayer of confession inspired by the events of Acts 2:1-21.  It comes from the Presbyterian Church USA.

Prayer of Confession
(inspired by Acts 2:1-21)

Almighty God,
you poured your Spirit upon gathered disciples
creating bold tongues, open ears,
and a new community of faith.

We confess that we hold back the force of your Spirit among us.
We do not listen for your word of grace,
speak the good news of your love,
or live as a people made one in Christ

Have mercy on us, O God.
Transform our timid lives by the power of your Spirit,
and fill us with a flaming desire to be your faithful people,
doing your will for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

~ posted on the PCUSA website. http://www.pcusa.org/

Pentecost Confession

Here’s an act of corporate confession for Pentecost.  It was written by Rev. Mary Nelson Abbott.

Call to Confession

We do not stop enough to listen to the still-speaking God. 
And like the people of Jerusalem long ago,
we often misunderstand the Spirit’s movement among us. 
In the silence and stillness of this moment,
let us draw near to God and listen.

[silence]

 Let us confess together:

 We confess to you, Renewing Spirit,
 that we confuse unity with uniformity,
 and diversity with divisiveness. 
 We speak and behave as if being a part of your family
 means assimilating others to our way of living. 
 We deny and destroy the beauty you created in each person. 
 We long to change these patterns, O Creator,
 but we do not know how. 
 Teach us to value challenge. 
 Help us to see strength in difference. 
 And empower us to build your kingdom in creativity and love.  Amen.

Assurance of God’s Love

Hear the good news! 
God’s Spirit has been poured out upon all flesh,
and we have been made one. 
We are no longer scattered or divided,
but gathered together to build up the kingdom on this earth. 
Thanks be to God!

~ from Come, Let Us Build, written by Rev. Mary Nelson Abbott. Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways Archive. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/year-c/p/pentecost-sunday.html

Confession: Gifts of the Spirit


Here’s a prayer of confession from the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Prayer of Confession

O God, who sent gifts
of the Holy Spirit to those first saints,
We know you continue to send gifts to us,
even though we do not claim them.
We confess that we have not always opened our gifts.
We have often chosen to keep them packed away or buried.

Move us, by your Spirit,
to pick up our presents, that you so freely give,
to open them and to spend them lavishly
on the stewardship of your world.

We confess to you how often our thoughts and motives are confused,
both individually
and when we are together as your people,
and that this confusion has often blinded us
to your interest in our lives.

Break in on our confusion,
and astonish us anew, O God!
Our prayer is that you will claim us again
and silence within us our desire
to always have words for every occasion,
that we might hear the whisper of the wings of your Spirit dove.

In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen.

~ from the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand website. http://presbyterian.org.nz/for-ministers/worship-resources