SONG
The opening song is, ‘Immortal, invisible’, by Jarin and Katherine Kamin. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fff2xQETe1c
Call to worship
Come Spirit guide us in truth, and show us the ways of the One God who has been made known to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Come, teach us the way of life that we might know your message of love and follow in your way.
You may like to light a candle at this time.
God’s truth has been revealed in the risen Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
Acknowledgment of country
As we begin, it is appropriate to recognise that this great land has been home to our first nations peoples for many thousands of years. Let us also acknowledge those Aboriginal peoples who are the first inhabitants of the regions in which we dwell, and honour them for their care of the land.
Prayer
We come from our villages, our homes, our families and the communities we find ourselves in. We come as as the people of God.
Let us pray. Creator God, In your wisdom, you have made all things, all sheep and all cattle, the wild animals too, the birds in the sky, the fish of the ocean, and everything that travels the pathways of the sea. You have also made people, from nursing babes to those who have seen too many years to count, and everyone in between. May we hear your voice of wisdom speak as we gather today. Amen.
From the Bible
The Bible readings for today are from Romans 5:1-5 & John 16:12-15. The words of the reading are below. There is also a video of a dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading underneath the reading from Acts.
Romans 5:1-5 (NRSV)
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.
And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
John 16:12-15 (NRSV)
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Dramatic readings from Lumo
Here is the dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading by the Lumo group with some extra verses added in (John 16:1-33). If you have trouble connecting you can go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX3pBGzAeIY
Message
The message is brought to you by Geoff Wellington from the Saltbush Community. In today’s reading from John, we hear Geoff help us to better make sense of what it means to speak of God as a ‘Trinity’.
How does God as Trinity help you to deepen your faith and sustain you in life? Where do you see the ways of the Spirit active in your neighbourhood?
Before a time of prayer you may like to spend some time in silence sitting still. Close your eyes lightly. Sit relaxed but alert. Simply be still and open to God. You may prefer to do this while listening to the ‘Optional reflective music’ below.
Optional reflective music
‘Holy, holy, holy’, sung by Audrey Assad. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgHrNNM23p8
Prayers for Others
Let us pray.
Praise to you, O God, Creator, Word and Spirit, for your glory is beyond our knowing, yet you delight in the human race; hear the prayers we bring for your people.
Creator God, you formed the waters and the dry land and your fingers set the stars and moon in the heavens; hear our prayers for the earth and its creatures. We pray for your people whose lands and livelihoods are destroyed; for those who live in places of war, oppression or deprivation. Unite your people in a community of justice, that we may live together in peace and care responsibly for the world you have entrusted to us.
God of glory, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Wisdom and Word of God, created by God at the beginning of time, you choose to dwell with the children of humanity; hear our prayers for your worldwide church. We pray for the church in places where it is persecuted or ignored, and for church leaders and all who minister or serve in your name. Unite your people that we may grow in understanding of your word and proclaim your gospel in all the world.
God of glory, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Spirit of God, you hovered over the waters of creation, and you are with us today, bringing love and peace: hear our prayers for those whose lives we share. We pray for those in society who are disadvantaged or neglected; for our families and our friends, for each other and ourselves. Unite your people in a community of love, that we may support the weak, care for the vulnerable and welcome the outsiders in our midst. God of glory, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Three-in-one God, you give life to your people, comforting us in our sorrows and sustaining us in our needs: hear our prayers for all who suffer. We pray for the grief-stricken, broken-hearted and all in despair; for those who ae over-worked and for those with no work; for the sick and for all who are close to death.
Unite your people in a community of compassion, that we may bring consolation to the suffering and uphold one another in times of need. God of glory, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Blessing
In the power of the Holy Spirit we now go forth into the world, to fulfil our calling as the people of God, the body of Christ. Go in peace, to love and care for one another in the name of Christ.
And may the blessing of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit go with you all.
Song
“Be thou my vision”, sung by Nathan Pacheco. If you have problems connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihJAJA4ibEs
Postlude
“‘Immortal, invisible’, by Laura Story. If you have trouble connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOkUxHgnBVA
Fun Activities
Messy Family Fun Psalm 23
There are many fun activities at HomeFaith based on the theme of the ‘Good Shepherd’ at:
https://homefaith.net/resources/messy-family-fun-psalm-23-2022/
Pentecost Flames Salad Spinner Art and Prayer Ideas
Get a cheap salad spinner and use it to create some spinner art! It’s brilliant: quick, clean (because the spinner sits in its own bowl) and each piece is unique! The process of making the art really lends itself to Pentecost themes so here’s an idea to help celebrate the occasion. Go to the following link:
http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/2014/04/pentecost-flames-salad-spinner-art-and.html
Resources
The ‘Blessing’ is based on content in the Saltbush service for this week, which can be found at:
https://saltbushcommunity.uca.org.au/video/the-word/trinity-john-16-12-15/
The opening prayer is from ‘Lay Leaders Liturgy, Year C, First Sunday after Pentecost’, 2022.
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