Celebrating the Spirit among us
HOLY SACRED SPIRIT |
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.
Now there were devout men and women living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking their own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in their own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God. (Acts 2:1-11) |
TOUCH ME WITH TRUTH THAT BURNS LIKE FIRE
Lord, send the gift of your Spirit to fill this place and myself and the world. Touch me with truth that burns like fire, with beauty that moves me like the wind; and set me free, Lord, free to try new ways of living; free to forgive myself and others; free to love and laugh and sing; free to lay aside my burden of security; free to join the battle for justice and peace; free to see and listen and wonder again at the gracious mystery of thing and persons; free to be, to give, to receive, to rejoice as a child of your Spirit. And, Lord, teach me how to dance to turn around and come down where I want to be, in the arms and heart of your people and in you, that I may praise and enjoy you forever. Ted Loder – Guerrillas of Grace Copyright © 1984, 2005 Ted Loder, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Reproduced with permission Let us pray that the fire of bombs and guns is replaced by the fire of love…..
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HOLY SPIRIT OF FIRE |
Thoughts and suggestions:
As a way of focussing on where the Spirit’s love and healing are most needed in our country and world you could ask staff to bring a newspaper article or a photo of some current situation where human rights are being abused. As educators we have the future leaders of all areas of life in our classrooms, in our care. The world that emerges in the next 40 years will be a reflection of the education we provide. So let us stir the minds, the hearts and the imagination of our young people to look at what is and imagine what might be. And nurture the confidence they will need to act courageously for a better world. Remember the prayer of St Teresa – Christ has no body now but ours. |