On Sunday the 23rd of May we celebrate Pentecost...the Church’s birthday!
What is Pentecost?
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and
residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs -- in our own languages we hear them speaking about the wonders of God”
The Word of the Lord.... Thanks be to God!
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-11)
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Breathe into me Holy Spirit that my thoughts may be holy.
Move in me Holy Spirit that my work may be holy.
Attract my heart Holy Spirit that I may only love what is holy.
Strengthen me Holy Spirit that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me Holy Spirit that I may always be holy.
St Augustine