Welcome to your online Sunday worship from St. George’s, Georgetown for Sunday, The Day of Pentecost, May 23, 2021.

We return to our regular online service after I had a short break for the last two Sundays.

Family Ministry

This week our family ministry resources focus on the story of the Day of Pentecost from The Book of the Acts of the Apostles, Acts 2:1-21. In our weekly Sunday email, there is the link to the Family Page and a link to some fun colouring and activity pages that have something for every age.

Please sign up for our weekly emails to get those links to these great resources to use together with your family.  

Opening Music

For an opening song, this week I have chosen the hymn, “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.”

Reading

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’¹

Prayers and Message

Here is this Sunday’s prayers and message: 

Prayers of the People

We pray for all medical staff, all essential frontline workers and their families, for those living and working at Long Term Care and seniors residences, and for those that are helping to distribute the vaccine: that God will be their strength and support.

We pray for the leaders of the nations, lead them in the way of your peace, praying especially today for a just and peaceful end to violence in Israel. 

We pray for all who are facing trials and difficulties and for those who are sick. Show them your kindness, mercy, and healing.

Come, Holy Spirit, creator, and renew the face of the earth. We pray to you, Come, Holy Spirit, come. 

(To find the list of those we are praying for in our parish please sign up for our Parish email. To add a name to our prayers please contact me.)

Closing Music

For our closing music this morning I am suggesting “Come Down, O Love Divine” for our traditional selection.

And for a more contemporary musical song, I recommend Chris Tomlin’s “I Will Follow.”

I wish you all a blessed and safe Sunday and week.

If you haven’t joined in our Thursday morning online gathering, it is a wonderful time of fellowship. We reflect on current events, share stories, and end with a short time of prayer. Look for the link in the Wednesday email!

Thank you for your continued support of the ministry and mission of St. George’s. I do look forward to us being able to gather together again in-person when we are able.

Be Well and God Bless.

Peace,

The Rev’d Canon Rob Park

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1. Scripture quotation is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.