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Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension
From Fr. Bernard PENTECOST 2020
At this time of year, our thoughts are directed towards the Holy Spirit, perhaps the person of the Trinity Who is easiest to overlook. The Holy Spirit is God ‘in us’: His Spirit uniting all things; filling all things with ‘spirit’; with ‘life’. Because we are only able to see and live because the Spirit dwells inside us, we often do not see Him, as we do not see the air around us that also fills our lungs. The Spirit is so easy to forget because He is always with us, always in us, making us who we are, but also leading towards becoming the people we are called to be.
To help us become our true selves, the Spirit gives us gifts: some are specific to the person and their context, some are universal. So, the Spirit descends to give gifts to help us in the ministries we are called to exercise, and also to help us grow together in love. There are ‘classic’ lists of the seven universal gifts of the Spirit, which I have never found very helpful! Another version of the Spirit’s gifts is as follows: 
  • Trust (or Faith). To be like a child with a parent, putting yourself in the Father’s hand, trusting in His presence.
  • Courage (or Hope). To hold fast to what is good and true, and to refuse to submit to fear, even in the dark.  
  • Wisdom. To live well and wisely, in tune with God’s plan for you (your vocation) and the rest of His creation. When we see it, we call it Holiness.
  • Understanding (or Counsel/Knowledge). To learn, and train the mind to think and reason. To seek self-control and education.
  • Awe. To recognise our weakness and His strength and beauty. To have a proper perspective. To worship in humility.
  • Imagination. To be creative. To see new possibilities. To empathise and sympathise. To see what God is doing, and where He is leading us.
  • Generosity (Gracefulness). To give of yourself, willingly. Giving time, talents, money.
Underneath all these gifts lies the gift of the essence of the Spirit Himself: the heart of who He is, which is given to all who seek Him. That underpinning is love. All the gifts that we are given, are to build up the Body who is all of us together. All the gifts of the Spirit are given to enable us to enable others. Love animates everything He does, because He is love. Love is the foundation on which everything else rests; love that is passionate, yearning, ecstatic and self-forgetting.
This love is present even in Lockdown; even in grief, sin and loss. This love is His gift, bringing all other good gifts with Him, and ripening into His fruit: the depths of joy and peace, in us and in creation. And so, at this time, we pray: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it in heaven. Even so, come quickly, Lord. Amen.”

With love and prayers

Fr Bernard
Pentecost 31st May

Sunday is the Feast of Pentecost, and brings to an end our Easter celebrations, which of course have been rather muted this year. As usual we will be live-streaming the 10 am service, and during that service, I will bless votive candles, which I will leave outside the locked church door afterwards. At Pentecost (Whit Sunday, as it used to be called), we remember the Holy Spirit descending like a flame, and filling the hearts of the apostles with love and joy. These candles are a sign for us that we share in God's joy and love, even in this imperfect world. If you find yourself walking past the church over the next few days, feel free to take a candle home, and give thanks for the fellowship we share together. But remember: I cannot guarantee that I or the candles are virus-free!. Fr. Bernard

Service sheet Pentecost

Sermon for Pentecost by Charles Amis

Hymn for Pentecost
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