Worship to Celebrate Pentecost and the Mission of God in Suffolk Sunday 23 May 2021 4.00 Pm
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with Worship to celebrate Pentecost and the mission of God in Suffolk Sunday 23 May 2021 4.00 pm A Thy Kingdom Come Beacon Event 1 Welcome to St Edmundsbury Cathedral Pentecost takes place fifty days after Easter Sunday, marking the end of Eastertide. It has its roots in the Jewish Feast of Weeks, which was completed on the fiftieth day after Passover. We hear in the account from the Acts of the Apostles how Jews from all over the world were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish feast. It is recorded that 120 people, including Mary and the Apostles were in the upper room where they had seen Christ after his resurrection. They had been told by Jesus ten days previously, just before he ascended, to wait there to receive ‘what the father has promised, power from on high.’ On Pentecost Sunday the sound of a mighty wind filled the room, witnesses saw what looked like tongues of fire resting on each person’s head, and despite being from different parts of the world they could all communicate and understand each other. The Holy Spirit transformed fearful apostles into courageous witnesses to Christ. They received the gift to preach the Gospel in all languages and on that day 3,000 people were baptised and converted. From these humble beginning the Church of Christ spread to every land which is why we consider Pentecost to be the birthday of the Church. Ever since, the Holy Spirit has guided and strengthened the Church and continues to do so today. For reasons of Safeguarding and Data Protection, members of the public are not permitted to take photographs or video recordings during services and events. We wish to inform you that photographs, video or livestream footage in which you may appear could be used by the Cathedral at any time and appear in the public domain including social media. Please note that this afternoon’s service will be livestreamed on Facebook. If you do not want your child to appear in this please inform a warden or verger. No collections are presently taken during our services. However, if you would like to make a donation please make your gift using the contactless giving box or by placing your donation into the giving box as you leave after the service. If you are a UK taxpayer, consider using a Gift Aid envelope (remembering to fill in your details and sign it) or making a written declaration allowing the Chancellor to add 25% to your gift. In this way a gift of £5.00 becomes £6.25 at no extra cost to you. Our Parish Giving scheme allows you to give regularly by Direct Debit - do speak with one of the wardens or stewards or contact the Cathedral office for further information. Thank you. Service order extracts from Common Worship Services, © The Central Board of Finance of The Church of England. Music reproduced with permission - CCL Licence No 317297 2 Welcome When you arrive, you are invited to wear a mask and sanitise your hands. Today, let the sanitising of your hands become a prayer that God will purify our hearts as we come to worship. We listen to the songs “Purify my heart” and “Breathe on me, breath of God” When we are all seated, the Dean will welcome the congregation and there will be a short time of silence before the Call to Worship. Call to Worship The Call to Worship is led by members of Zoom Family Worship As we wait in silence, fill us with your Spirit. As we listen to your word, fill us with your Spirit. As we worship you in majesty, fill us with your Spirit. As we long for your refreshing, fill us with your Spirit. As we long for your renewing, fill us with your Spirit. As we long for your equipping, fill us with your Spirit. As we long for your empowering, fill us with your Spirit. 3 Processional Hymn We listen to the song: Father of creation, unfold your sovereign plan. Raise up a chosen generation that will march through the land. All of creation is longing for your unveiling of power. Would you release your anointing? O God, let this be the hour. Let your glory fall in this room, let it go forth from here to the nations. Let your fragrance rest in this place as we gather to seek your face. Ruler of the nations, the world has yet to see the full release of your promise; the Church in victory. Turn to us, Lord, and touch us: make us strong in your might; overcome our weakness that we may stand up and fight. Let your glory fall in this room… Let your Kingdom come, let your will be done. Let us see on earth the glory of your Son. Let your glory fall in this room… Words and music: David Ruis, arranged by Richard Hubbard © 1992 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Integrity Music) Bishop’s Welcome and Introduction 4 Promise of the Comforter A dramatised reading from the Gospel of John read by the Okeke family. “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Any- one who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spir- it, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 13.15-27 5 Catching the Fire Reflections on God’s Mission in Suffolk: Archdeacon Sally Gaze (Growing in God in the Countryside) with Archdeacon Rhiannon King (Inspiring Ipswich) Phil Dykes (Mission Enabler) Diane Grano (Lightwave Hub Leader) and Kathy Wilson (Authorised Pioneer, Farm by the Water). To watch more about God’s mission in Suffolk over the past year, go to: light-wave.org/catchingthefire We listen to the song As Water to the Thirsty, sung by Christina Johnston. As water to the thirsty, as beauty to the eyes, as strength that follows weakness, as truth instead of lies, as song time and springtime and summertime to be, so is my Lord, my living Lord, so is my Lord to me. Like calm in place of clamour, like peace that follows pain, like meeting after parting, like sunshine after rain, like moonlight and starlight and sunlight on the sea, so is my Lord, my living Lord, so is my Lord to me. As sleep that follows fever, as gold instead of grey, as freedom after bondage, as sunrise to the day, as home to the traveller and all we long to see, so is my Lord, my living Lord, so is my Lord to me. Words: Timothy Dudley-Smith © 1979 Timothy Dudley-Smith Music: Brian Coleman, arr. Noël Tredinnick, © 1979 Stainer & Bell Ltd & The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (UK) A prayer for engaging in mission together led, by the Wale family, Lightwave Mission Hub Leaders in East Suffolk. 6 Song We listen to the song: Freedom is coming, freedom is coming, freedom is coming, oh yes I know. Spirit is coming… Traditional South African Song arr. Richard Hubbard Pentecost Spring Please participate in the story of the coming of God’s Spirit, narrated by the Robinson family. You will find some items to help you in your pew. Prayers Prayers for the work of God’s Spirit, led by three family groups representing different church streams in our county. Please respond using the words: Lord, come to bless us and fill us with your Spirit. Let us join our prayers and praises, in the words of the Lord’s prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen. 7 Prayer for God’s Spirit and Commissioning Led by Bishop Mike, we quietly pray for each other that the power that was at work when God raised Jesus from the dead might be at work in us.