News Releases, Pentecost, Services

Strange events, the Holy Spirit and a Sung sermon – it must be Pentecost

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Media outlets have a new rival – the Roman Broadcasting Company (RBC) whose reporter has been recording virtual interviews, trying to uncover the truth behind strange events taking place in Jerusalem almost 2,000 years ago. The interviews will be broadcast on this website on Sunday, May 31, in a Pentecost service which will be online from 9am.

The RBC will be investigating stories of ordinary people being transformed from scared individuals into confident and joyful women and men who started telling everyone about Jesus, a man from nearby Galilee who had been killed by crucifixion but had risen again and was offering a new way of living and coming close to God.

The story, of course, is the one recalled in chapter two of the book of Acts, when the disciples received the Holy Spirit and began a new ministry which saw the beginning of what became the Christian church. This story will be celebrated on Sunday, May 31, in three services – a formal one and an informal one available in the morning, and an all-sung service in the evening, available from 6pm. The informal service will include a dramatised version of the story involving the RBC interviewing witnesses of the events. You may also want to have a candle, a pot of bubbles and also cake to help you take part!

Here’s what Lesley Crawley has to say about it: “A few days before the events we celebrate at Pentecost, the risen Jesus had ascended to heaven and had promised that the disciples would receive power when the Holy Spirit came down on them, enabling them to be brave and follow Jesus in loving service to others. This is what we are reflecting on here. And of course, the Holy Spirit wasn’t just for those early disciples but is available to all of us and is in us as we work to help others and love others, trying to be the hands and arms and heart of Jesus today.

“So come and join us online on Sunday, May 31, at our formal or informal services in the morning or our all-sung service in the evening from 6pm. Even the sermon is being sung! It’s all on https://badshotleaandhale.org/ and everyone is welcome!”

Pentecost also marks the end of The Kingdom Come, the period from Ascension Day which each year is dedicated to prayer. We are celebrating Thy Kingdom Come with a different version of the Lord’s Prayer each day at noon and sharing resources from the Thy Kingdom Come organisers.

Services, St George's Church, St John's Church, St Mark's Church

Sunday Worship – 24th May

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Below are the resources for this week, the Sunday morning services and five sermons for your enjoyment, but first the notices:

Notices

If you missed it, please take a look at Ascension – a brilliant service by Kris and Maxine.

We have a birthday to celebrate – Jenny Bull on 22nd May:

Also – we really need your help… Next week is Pentecost and it is a special service where we dedicate ourselves to serving the world. Please can you record yourself saying these responses and send them to Alan by Wednesday, If you haven’t done this before, instructions can be found by clicking here.

Responses

  • and also with you
  • He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
  • fill us with your Spirit
  • His Spirit is with us
  • nothing can separate us from your love.
  • fill us with your saving power
  • bring strength, healing, and peace
  • Let us praise and bless God for ever
  • and fill us with your spirit
  • Blessed be God for ever
  • By the Spirit’s power, we will
  • We will
  • Amen
  • Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia

Plus send us a video of you lighting a candle

Resources

Here are the resources for adults at home this week.

Here are the resources for families at home this week.

Services

Sermons

Lesley’s BCP Sermon

Lesley and Alan’s Easter 7 Sermon

John Evans’ Friday Sermon

Maxine’s Ascension Sermon

 

Prayer

Prayer Stations

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Prayer stations are prayer activities which are often set up in churches, but can be set up anywhere, including homes. The idea is to engage people in some form of prayer activity – reading, writing, listening, drawing, touching, reflecting and then responding to God’s voice.

Could you set up one at home, or in the garden, and video or photograph it and send it to us to go up online? Send it to Alan and we can put it up on the website and social media.

It can be something as simple as a candle and music – as in the video below – or a wonderful artistic creation, or something in between.

If you like to sit before God with music playing, try our reflection here. The music reflects a number of moods – quiet contemplation, excitement, passion, joy, peace – rather like prayer really!

Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

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Each day during Thy Kingdom Come – the period of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost (May 21-31 this year) – a different member of the parish will appear on a video saying a version of the Lord’s Prayer.

Day 11: One of the joys of the Lord’s Prayer is that it is said by millions around the world – a wonderful sharing. Here are just a few of us:

Day 10: a musical version provided by three Lesley Shatwells and two Bob Shatwells!

Day nine, and Stella Wiseman chooses a version of the Lord’s Prayer which is rooted in nature and an inclusive spirituality. It comes from The Earth Cries Glory by Steven Shakespeare (c) Steven Shakespeare 2019. Published by Canterbury Press. Used by permission. rights@hymnsam.co.uk.

On day eight, John Evans sings a plainsong version of the new translation which churches arrived at in the mid-20th century, and gives us the history of its development. He also explains the doxology at the end: ‘For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever’.

Day seven, and Alan Crawley takes us back to the 1970s with the Series Three version of the Lord’s Prayer:

Day six: John Innes explains that The Lord’s Prayer “starts with the finishing line”. It is presented in the opposite way that many people practise prayer – ie a plea for help, but John explains that “Jesus teaches the prayer as one who has arrived”. He then prays the Presbyterian version:

Day five: One of Lesley Crawley’s favourite versions is by Rev Bret Myers which she loves for its accessible language:

Day four: What if God suddenly interrupted and had a chat?

On day three, Margaret Emberson has recorded a beautiful musical Lord’s Prayer, in which she sings two parts and also plays the piano:

On the second day of Thy Kingdom Come, Wendy Edwards has recorded a version she has written herself:

Alan started the series with the version we use every Sunday in church when we could meet in the actual buildings, and still use every Sunday in our online services.

Ascension Day, Pentecost, Prayer

Thy Kingdom Come

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Thy Kingdom Come – words so many of us know from the Lord’s Prayer, and, since 2016, the name given to the days between Ascension and Pentecost (this year May 21-31) which are set aside by many churches and individuals as a time of prayer.

We are joining in – church closures can’t get in the way of prayer! Every day we will be posting a video below, and, at midday you will find a version of the Lord’s Prayer spoken (or sung) by a member of the parish. There are also loads of wonderful resources on the Thy Kingdom Come website, including an app for Apple and Android.

Then there is a fun, interactive prayer map (the Archbishop of Canterbury is said to be a bit of a fan),  with a daily podcast , a prayer journal, a Novena (a guide for nine days of prayer), and other ideas. It will end on Pentecost Sunday when we will be having three services – 9.30am formal, 10.30am informal, and 6pm all-sung (even the sermon!).

Day 11: This Pentecost is very different from last year’s but it is the same Spirit! Here are some highlights from last year:

Day 10: Can you meet God in silence?

Day Nine:

A touching video about what adoption into God’s family means:

Day Eight:

Pope Francis prays ‘Thy Kingdom Come’:

Day Seven:

Faith on a different frontline.

Christian Armed Service workers share about the power of faith on the frontline and how it sustains them through difficult times.

Day Six: The power of prayer.

Methodist Youth president, Thelma Commey reflects on God’s love through praying and serving others.

Day Five: Watch Eye Can Talk author Jonathan Bryan reflect on what it means to offer our lives to God irrespective of our circumstances.

Day Four and a moving story about the life-giving, transforming, rescuing power of Jesus, with us in real darkness, in light and in everything:

Day Three and two videos. In the first, Bishop Michael Curry of the Episcopal Church talks about giving thanks and in the second emergency workers talk about prayer:

Day Two, focuses on praise and a new hymn for Thy Kingdom Come:

Day one of Thy Kingdom Come:

Pentecost

Pentecost Service – Your part!

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May 31 is Pentecost and the services have more congregational responses than most services.  Please would you video yourself doing the Responses  (below) and send them to Alan by Tuesday 26th May using FileMail, TransferXL or PCloud (works better on mobiles).

All responses should be in one take with a good space between them to make editing easier.

If you haven’t done this before, instructions can be found by clicking here.

Thanks

Responses

PLUS… send us  a video of you lighting a candle

Serving the Villages North of Farnham: Badshot Lea, Hale, Heath End & Weybourne