Pentecost – The quick version
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2024 Sun May 19
3 Pentecost Prayers from Build Faith
#1
God of power,
may the boldness of your Spirit transform us,
may the gentleness of your Spirit lead us,
may the gifts of your Spirit
be our goal and our strength,
now and always. Amen.
(As printed in the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship)
#2 Come, O Holy Spirit by John Henry Newman
Come, O Holy Spirit.
Come as Holy Fire and burn in us,
come as Holy Wind and cleanse us within,
come as Holy Light and lead us in the darkness,
come as Holy Truth and dispel our ignorance,
come as Holy Power and enable our weakness,
come as Holy Life and dwell in us.
Convict us, convert us, consecrate us,
until we are set free from the service of ourselves,
to be your servants to the world. Amen.
#3 Pentecost Prayer by Joan Chittister, OSB
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.
St. Peter’s Anniversary, May 15
In 2011, St. Peter’s celebrated its 175th anniversary. May 15, 2025 is the 189th anniversary of the consecration of the church in 1836. The photo shows various scenes of that day in 2011.
The sermon on the 175th anniversary was based on John 10 the good shepherd passage. Jesus says “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. “
From the sermon- “The gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd, and the sheep hear his voice. The point is –not who is in, and who is out, but whose voice the sheep listen to and follow. The voice of Jesus, the good shepherd. But there were warnings in John’s passage. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
The sermon continued – “Those thieves and bandits call out to us with voices that divide us—into those who are in and those who are out based on how much money we have, or what color our skin is, or what our political viewpoints are, or even what religion we are—whether Christians, or Muslims, or Jews, or Buddhists or Hindus—remember, all of humanity is in this sheepfold “
“In 1814, Channing Moore became the Bishop of Virginia and he was, we are told, “an earnest and powerful preacher, able leader, loving and beloved, who was followed as a man sent from God. He awoke this diocese out of its lethargy and started it upon a career of growth and influence that has continued to the present day.
“Meanwhile, the people of Port Royal had resolved to build a church, and so St Peter’s was raised up on this city lot, and was dedicated 175 years ago to the day. Bishop Moore came here, on May 15, 1836, and consecrated this space, set it aside as a sheepfold in which the people of Port Royal could “come in and go out and find pasture,” following the voice and the teachings of Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd. “
Secrets Over 185 years – Some personal thoughts.
1. Do the job that needs to be done in good times and bad. Carefully plan what you do. St. Peter’s came together over decades, not overnight.
2. Know your mission to do God’s will, united in love for God, one another and our neighbor. Never forget the mission! We have learned how to extend the pasture and our congregation is diverse.
3. Maintain the important links – close connection with parishioners and through them the community. We need the support of both.
4. Accept the generosity of parishioners. They live through what they give you and find meaning to their lives and enhance your life as well.
5. Tell your stories and retell. Relish in who you are and where we have been and never forget the blessings that have been received along the way.
6. Remember the past but don’t live in it. We can look back but can only move forward.
The Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost
We know what did the Holy Spirit did in Jesus time at Pentecost. It energized them, bound them together gave them a mission to extend the Gospel into foreign lands
Pentecost is a season, not just one day. We have a long time in the church year to work with it ( Pentecost is the longest season until Advent. The celebration should be and is a part of Pentecost Sunday.
And after that?
We have to know who we are. Based on that what is our mission?
Who are we ?
Luke casts the church as a spirited community of bridge-builders, visionaries, and dreamers, male and female, slave and free (Acts 2:17)
Hopefully, our churches have “visionaries and dreamers” but also those that can organize to implement the change, work for funding if necessary and report back what we done. (Thank goodness we have no slaves.)
What is our mission?
Sunday Links, May 19, 2024
Pentecost, May 19, 11am, Day of Pentecost, Bishop Visitation, Confirmation and Reception
Lector: Johnny Davis
Acolyte: Arthur Duke
Chalice Bearer: Andrea Pogue
Altar Clean up: Everyone
Coming up!
Recent Articles, Day of Pentecost
Day of Pentecost, May 19, an important feast
Sermon
Bishop Final Pentecost Prayer
Photos
Videos
Bulletin
Lectionary, May 19, 11am service
Confirmation and Reception
Commentary
Visual lectionary from Vanderbilt
Little Falls Blue Grass band returns
Pentecost
Voices of Pentecost
3 Pentecost prayers
Pentecost in 2 minutes
It’s Pentecost!
SALT’s Commentary on Pentecost
Pentecost, an Ancient Festival
The Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost
How we have celebrated Pentecost
Ascension
Ascension – Start of the Church’s mission
Ascension
Ascension lectionary
Ascension art
From last Sunday, May 12
Photos
Videos
Bulletin
Sermon
Lectionary, May 12, 11am service
Ministries
Thy Kingdom Come
St. Peter’s Anniversary
Chancellor Village Photos and sermon, May 14
Chancellor’s Village Sermon, April 23
Foundations of an African-American Community
Sacred Ground, Jan., 2024
Sacred Ground, Feb., 2024
St. Peter’s and the Earth
Team Up to clean up event, April 20
ECM Maintenance, May 11
May newsletter
ECW Chair change
ECW Spring meeting, April 9
Breakfast program in Jamaica
Portland Guitar Duo at St. Peter’s, April 19, 2024
Village Harvest, May 2024
Village Harvest, April, 2024
Village Harvest, March, 2024
Village Harvest, Feb., 2024
Creeds class notes 5 sessions- Conclusion
God’s Garden collection
Sermon, Rt. Rev’d Gayle E. Harris, Pentecost, May 19, 2024
“Good morning! Happy birthday, happy birthday church, happy birthday church!
“This is the birthday of the Christian church. Today, the day of the Pentecost, this day and not before this day could the followers of Jesus be called Christians
“Easter is the holiest day of the year right? I know we think it’s Christmas but it’s not. It is Easter. The second holiest day of the year is today.
“Pentecost is the last day of the great 50 days of Easter, then Christmas is after that. (Maybe it’s third holiest at least that’s what the church has been teaching for more than 2,000 years )
“Today is a day of celebrating the ongoing presence of God in the community who follow Jesus.
Bishop Harris’ Final Prayer, Pentecost May 19, 2024
“Go forth to be makers of Peace, not just those who pray for it, be of good courage, strengthen the weak, lift up the lonely, help those who are afflicted in any way, always strive to be urgent for justice for others which is not about reward and punishment but justice in God’s eyes which is about restoration and mercy, hold fast to that which is the whole truth that comes without spin or agenda and may make you uncomfortable.
“Do not return evil for the evil done to you but rather rejoice for God’s holy spirit is at work in you to do God’s loving and forgiving work and the blessing of God Almighty the Eternal Majesty, the Incarnate Word and the everbody Spirit be with you and remain with you on this holy, holy day and forever more” Amen
Videos, Pentecost with the Bishop Visitation, May 19, 2024
01 Prelude – “Let the Whole Creation Cry”
Video from the Choir loft
02 Opening Hymn – “Hail thee, festival day!”
From the Congregation
03 Readings
Voices of Pentecost
1. “The Church – a Power House ” – Diocese of Atlanta
“What is the church? The answer is right there in the story of Pentecost! God intends for the church- the people and where we gather- to be a Power-House! In the Power-House people are released to worship in spirit and truth: to heal, create, forgive, fend off selfishness and conquer fears. God’s intervening power turned a traditional religious observance into a spirit-filled gathering by recentering the community on “God’s deeds of power.” The power was in the promise God gave to Joel long ago, that God’s spirit would birth dreams and visions for the young and old and rewrite all the limiting ways we relate to one another. Is where you go to church a Power-House?”
Bulletin, Day of Pentecost, May 19, 2024
Click here to view in a new window.
A Very Productive Village Harvest, May 15, 2024
Below are some of the foods and workers on Tuesday, May 14 unboxing, sorting and bagging the distribution. Thanks to Cookie and Johnny for obtaining the food from the Healthy Harvest Food Bank as well as working with the food, assisted by Elizabeth, Andrea, Lin, Dave, and Catherine and Ben.
May was an explosion in both food provided and clients receiving! (A nice 188th birthday present for St. Peter’s, consecrated on this day in 1836.)The weather was drizzly but thankfully that didn’t affect the turnout. May featured the largest number of clients, 119 since Nov. 2020 when it was 135. (A year ago the number was 93). Elizabeth reports that “The 119 includes the people Catherine and Jan and Lin pick up for. This may have been more than usual, and we also seemed to have more people from Essex and from Port Royal itself than before.”
The pounds available in May was 1,400 the largest since Dec. 2022 at 1,468 (A year ago in May, 2023 1,143)
Year to date we have served 487 people compared to 415 last year representing a 17.3% increase. The client total also exceeds both 2022, 447 and 2021, 465. However, it would be under the pre-pandemic years of 2019, 593, and 2018, 501 (with one month cancelled). Still, it represents an important improvement over the last few years.
Sunday’s Thoughts, Pentecost, May 19, 2024
1 There were many “moving parts” during this service which remarkably moved together and created a memorable service. The only concern was the weather with the outdoor concert and reception. The weather held! The reception was divided up between the kitchen for people to get their food and to converse with the bishop with tables outside for people to enjoy the music.
2. Some parts of the service were the culmination of months of activity. Initially they moved at a slower pace but today they were up to speed. The three to be confirmed spent two months on Thursday nights to understand confirmation and to decide if they really wanted to go through with it. At the end they contributed to the process of organizing the procession. The choir spent months learning the prelude “Let the Whole Creation Cry”.
3. Those who were part of the reception had to be organized to decide who was bringing what. The choir had to prepare as well the “Tongues of Fire” on the last hymn. The “Little Falls Bluegrass band” had to be booked and coordinated when they were to appear. Cookie had to prepare the altar and outside flowers.
4. The Bishop has been in this position for 22 years. Going to a new church means going through a check list. And of course a special sermon for both Pentecost and the presentation. The presentation involving two churches had to be worked out. The priests involved have much to do leading up to the service. We made time for the Bishop an hour before the service for her to talk to the confirmands. One unique feature during the service was her conversing individually with each which made the process more meaningful to all at the end.
5. The bishop also contributed to her choir with her sonorous voice. She also gave an impromptu talk prior to the reception in the Parish House about General Convention coming up in June.
6. And then there was Pentecost. 50 days since Easter. As the Bishop says the second most important Sunday of the year (behind Easter). We had to make sure to extinguish the Paschal candle for the last time. “Hail Thee, Festival Day” is sung almost every Pentecost. It is a difficult hymn the way it is organized and requires practice. But there is nothing better for Pentecost!
6. It was both an enjoyable and meaningful day. 9 people between two churches, St Peter’s and St Paul’s, king George were confirmed or received.