{"id":448,"date":"2020-05-30T22:41:04","date_gmt":"2020-05-30T22:41:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/?p=448"},"modified":"2020-05-30T22:41:04","modified_gmt":"2020-05-30T22:41:04","slug":"pentecost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/30\/pentecost\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentecost"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image-13.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-450\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>During this time of physical isolation, we look for ways to share words of comfort and hope in the face of uncertainty and fear. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the links within the liturgy. The prayers in our service today are from Celebrate God&#8217;s Presence. Many thanks to Taye, Jenna, and Heather!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRELUDE: \u201cSpirit of Life\u201d (McDade)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/may31prelude.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>OPENING PRAYER<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Spirit of the living God, visit us again this day of Pentecost.<br \/> <strong>Come, Holy Spirit, come.<\/strong><br \/> On rushing winds that sweep away all barriers,<br \/> <strong>come, Holy Spirit, come.<\/strong><br \/> With tongues of fire that set our hearts aflame,<br \/> <strong>come, Holy Spirit, come.<\/strong><br \/> With speech that unites the babel of our tongues,<br \/> <strong>come, Holy Spirit, come.<\/strong><br \/> With love that overleaps the boundaries of race and nation,<br \/> <strong>come, Holy Spirit, come.<\/strong><br \/> With power from above to make our weakness strong,<br \/> <strong>come, Holy Spirit, come.<\/strong><br \/> In the name of God, the Holy One, <br \/> and of Jesus Christ our Saviour,<br \/> <strong>come, Holy Spirit, come.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN OF PRAISE: \u201cSpirit of God, unleashed on earth\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/spiritofgodunleashed.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Spirit of God, unleashed on earth<br \/> with rush of wind and roar of flame!<br \/> With tongues of fire saints spread good news;<br \/> earth, kindling, blazed its loud acclaim.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>You came in power, the church was born;<br \/> O Holy Spirit, come again!<br \/> From living waters raise new saints,<br \/> let new tongues hail the risen Lord.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>With burning words of victory won<br \/> inspire our hearts grown cold with fear,<br \/> revive in us baptismal grace,<br \/> and fan our smouldering lives to flame.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRAYER OF CONFESSION<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Spirit of God,<br \/> You send us the Spirit of courage,<br \/> but we have been afraid.  <br \/> You send us the Spirit of truth, <br \/> but we cling to our illusions. <br \/> You send us the Spirit of healing, <br \/> but we cannot let go of our hurts.  <br \/> Holy Spirit of forgiveness, come to us again:  <br \/> shake our hearts, <br \/> set our souls on fire with your love: <br \/> rejoicing in your power.<br \/> Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>ASSURANCE OF PARDON<\/p>\n\n\n<p>God\u2019s unfailing love sustains and upholds us; <br \/> God will never let us go.<br \/> Where the Spirit is, there is freedom.<br \/> Receive God\u2019s forgiveness.<br \/> Come alive in Christ!<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image-16.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-453\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>SPECIAL MUSIC: \u201cShe Flies On\u201d (Light)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/She-Sails-On.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>FIRST READING: Psalm 104<\/p>\n\n\n<p>O God, how manifold are your works!<br \/>     <strong>With Wisdom at your side you made them all;<br \/>     the earth is full of your creatures. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>There lies the great and mighty Sea,<br \/> teeming with living things both great and small.<br \/>     <strong>Upon it sail the ships, and there is Leviathan,<br \/>     the monster you made to play in it.<\/strong><br \/> All these look to you,<br \/> to give them their food in due season.<br \/>     <strong>What you give them they gather up.<br \/>     When you open your hand,<br \/>     you fill them with good things.<\/strong><br \/> But when you hide your face they despair.<br \/> When you take away their breath, they die,<br \/> and return to dust.<br \/>     <strong>But when you send out your spirit, they live again,<br \/>     and you renew the face of the earth.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n<p>May your glory, O God, endure forever.<br \/>     <strong>May you rejoice, O God, in your works.<\/strong><br \/> When you look at the earth it trembles,<br \/>     <strong>when you touch the mountains they smoke.<\/strong><br \/> I will sing to God as long as I live.<br \/>     <strong>I will praise my God while I have being.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>SECOND READING: Acts 2.1-8, 12-21<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/acts2reading.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.<br \/> 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: \u201cAren\u2019t all these who are speaking Galileans?<\/p>\n\n\n<p>12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, \u201cWhat does this mean?\u201d<br \/>\n13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, \u201cThey have had too much wine.\u201d<br \/>\n14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: \u201cFellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It\u2019s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:<\/p>\n\n\n<p>17 \u201c\u2018In the last days, God says,<br \/>\n    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.<br \/>\nYour sons and daughters will prophesy,<br \/>\n    your young men will see visions,<br \/>\n    your old men will dream dreams.<br \/>\n18 Even on my servants, both men and women,<br \/>\n    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,<br \/>\n    and they will prophesy.<br \/>\n19 I will show wonders in the heavens above<br \/>\n    and signs on the earth below,<br \/>\n    blood and fire and billows of smoke.<br \/>\n20 The sun will be turned to darkness<br \/>\n    and the moon to blood<br \/>\n    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.<br \/>\n21 And everyone who calls<br \/>\n    on the name of the Lord will be saved.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: &#8220;Spirit of the living God&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/spiritoftheliving.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.<br \/> Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.<br \/> Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me.<br \/> Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Spirit of the living God, move among us all;<br \/> make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love:<br \/> humble, caring, selfless, sharing.<br \/> Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>REFLECTION<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/may31sermon.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>I expect Luke knew that his recounting of Pentecost would someday be read aloud.  He may have been thinking about his words being read at some sort of public gathering\u2014and not read into a smartphone\u2014but I expect he knew someone would read it to others.  So as we thank Jenna for her fine reading, she can thank Luke, because he put the unreadable bits together in such a way that we can save them for later.  Then, of course, it falls to me to struggle through Luke\u2019s list, which I will do now.  I\u2019ll take it from verse eight:<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs\u2014we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!\u201d  Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, \u201cWhat does this mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Indeed, what does it mean?  But before we get to that larger question\u2014the meaning of Pentecost\u2014I want to talk about diversity in the Roman world.  Luke is amazed by it, and this tells me that we should be too.  He recounts for us the nations represented that day, the nations with a large enough Jewish population that they deserved a mention.  Looking at a map, you would see that his list takes us from Rome in the west (1,400 miles!) to Parthia in the east, and south into Africa, both Egypt and Libya.  To the north is modern-day Turkey, and all those cities Paul and his companions will someday visit.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>And as I began pondering this passage, thinking about the diversity of the Roman world, I remembered an interview with Professor Mary Beard, included in David Olusoga\u2019s documentary Black in Britain.*  Olusoga is also interested in the diversity of the Roman world, and how physical differences like skin colour were perceived.  Dr. Beard begins with a rather long caveat (\u201cI don\u2019t\u2026want to give any impression that the Romans are particularly nice or angelic about this\u201d) but then goes on to say, \u201cwhat the Romans weren&#8217;t is racist in our terms, and there is no sense that skin colour is really the thing that marks you out for your position in the culture.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;When it comes to race [then],\u201d Olusoga asks, \u201cthe Romans were more liberal than we are now?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,\u201d she says, \u201cI think we live with a kind of myth that somehow we&#8217;ve got less and less prejudiced over the centuries, and that&#8217;s simply not true.  And one of the points of looking at the Romans\u2014one of the lessons they&#8217;ve got for us\u2014is they remind us that some of the prejudices we hold haven&#8217;t been held forever.  There&#8217;s something a bit optimistic about it because it might actually mean that we won&#8217;t go on holding them one day.  Who knows,\u201d she says, \u201cWho knows?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>I share all this at the end of a very long week, with the death of George Floyd and all the unrest that continues.  53 years ago, Dr. King said that \u201ca riot is the language of the unheard.\u201d  He wasn\u2019t justifying violence\u2014his project was always non-violent\u2014but rather explaining why systemic racism and extrajudicial violence leads to unrest.  We pray for an end to violence, best resolved through reconciliation and truth-telling.  As we have learned on this side of the border, the process of addressing past wrongs is long and complex, but our collective future depends on it.  And as Mary Beard reminds us, race and racial inequality are learned ideas, and can hopefully be unlearned.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>On the day of Pentecost, differences melted away.  Religious women and men from all over the known world had a common experience of divine power, the wind and flame of the Holy Spirit.  They (literally) spoke with one voice to proclaim the wonders of God, the God who saves, the God who transforms us and makes us one.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Pentecost is the birthday of the church, but it\u2019s also the beginning of Joel\u2019s \u201clast days,\u201d a new era that will lead to the \u201cgreat and glorious day of the Lord.\u201d  It begins amid the Babel, erased by the power of the Holy Spirit.  From this moment of unity will come a common message, and that common message will be carried back to the farthest corners of the Roman world.  Soon the world will learn that \u201canyone who calls on the name of the Lord can be saved\u201d\u2014saved from meaninglessness, saved from the things that divide us, and saved from death itself.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>The cornerstone of Pentecost is baptism, entering into the death and resurrection of Christ to emerge a new person.  \u201cThere is neither Jew nor Gentile,\u201d Paul will soon write, \u201cneither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.\u201d  Wind and flame\u2014and the cleansing water of baptism\u2014will sweep away what divides us, and make us one.  May we ever remain Pentecostal people, alive in the Spirit, and determined in our desire for unity.  Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image-14.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-451\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Spirit of Life\u2014<br \/>\ncome as the breath of life, <br \/>\npouring energy and power into our dry bones,<br \/>\nrekindling all who are weary,<br \/>\nthat they may have life and know God.<br \/>\nThank you, God, for the Spirit of Life!<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Spirit of Truth\u2014<br \/>\ncome as the flame of Christ\u2019s light among us,<br \/>\nilluminating our hearts, our minds, our lives.<br \/>\nThank you, God, for the Spirit of Truth!<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Spirit of Hope\u2014<br \/>\ncome from the four winds, <br \/>\nO breath, O restless searcher;<br \/>\nbreathe upon your people,<br \/>\nthat creation may be renewed with hope.<br \/>\nThank you, God, for the Spirit of Hope!<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Spirit of Love\u2014<br \/>\ncome as our Comforter and Consoler,<br \/>\nthat all who are broken or wounded may be healed,<br \/>\nthat all who grieve may be consoled <br \/>\nby the power of your love and grace.<br \/>\nThank you, God, for the Spirit of Love.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Spirit of Wisdom\u2014<br \/>\ncome as the light of understanding,<br \/>\nthat diversity in all its forms may be respected<br \/>\nand may be understood as gifts to cherish.<br \/>\nThank you, God, for the Spirit of Wisdom!<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Spirit of Peace\u2014<br \/>\ncome as the winds of truth,<br \/>\nthat our hearts may be kindled<br \/>\nby the passion for justice and peace.<br \/>\nThank you, God, for the Spirit of Peace!<\/p>\n\n\n<p>THE LORD\u2019S PRAYER<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Our Father who art in heaven,<br \/>\nhallowed be thy name.<br \/>\nThy kingdom come,<br \/>\nThy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.<br \/>\nGive us this day our daily bread;<br \/>\nand forgive us our trespasses<br \/>\nas we forgive those who trespass against us;<br \/>\nand lead us not into temptation<br \/>\nbut deliver us from evil.<br \/>\nFor thine is the kingdom,<br \/>\nand the power, and the glory,<br \/>\nfor ever and ever. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: \u201cO Holy Spirit, root of life\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/oholyspiritroot.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>O Holy Spirit, root of life,<br \/> creator, cleanser of all things,<br \/> anoint our wounds, awaken us<br \/> with lustrous movement of your wings.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Eternal Vigour, saving one,<br \/> you free us by your living word,<br \/> becoming flesh to wear our pain,<br \/> and all creation is restored.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>O Holy Wisdom, soaring power,<br \/> encompass us with wings unfurled,<br \/> and carry us, encircling all,<br \/> above, below, and through the world.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>BLESSING<\/p>\n\n\n<p>God of power, <br \/> may the boldness of your Spirit transform us,<br \/> may the gentleness of your Spirit lead us,<br \/> may the gifts of your Spirit equip us <br \/> to serve and worship you now and always. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/meetagainredux.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>God be with you till we meet again;<br \/> loving counsels guide, uphold you,<br \/> with a shepherd\u2019s care enfold you;<br \/> God be with you till we meet again.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image-15.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-452\"\/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>During this time of physical isolation, we look for ways to share words of comfort and hope in the face of uncertainty and fear. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the links within the liturgy. The prayers in our service today are from Celebrate God&#8217;s Presence. Many thanks to &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/30\/pentecost\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Pentecost<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/448"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=448"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/448\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}