Pentecost is the 50^th day after Easter. On that day the Holy Spirit rushed into the upper room with wind and flame, empowering and energizing the disciples to understand and to proclaim the good news of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

After more than a year of pandemic living, we may not feel very empowered or energized to engage with the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit.  We can see that the end of the lockdown might be near, but it feels far off.

We could use a moment of the Holy Spirit rushing into our lives to lighten the path that will lead us to the other side of the pandemic.  Let us embrace the celebration of the Coming of the Holy Spirit to remind us of strength and hope we have in our risen Lord.  Let our prayers be a loud response to the joy of the birth of the church on that first Pentecost and a celebration that the church continues to be reborn through all manner of struggles. Come Holy Spirit! Come.

Let us pray,

We remember the promise of the Lord: God will pour out the Spirit on all flesh.
We remember that the Spirit helps us in our weakness, interceding with sighs too deep for word.
We rejoice that the Spirit of God renews the earth. Bless the name of the Lord!

God our creator, earth has many languages, but your gospel proclaims the language of love.
Make us messengers and witnesses of the good news, of your love, through the power of the Holy Spirit. May all the world this Pentecost Celebration and season unite in one song of praise using the language of love.

Come, Holy Spirit. Come and restore our anxious and exhausted spirits. In our weariness, give us rest. In our sadness, consolation. In our uncertainty, peace.  Fill us with the wisdom of your word and the understanding of your Spirit so that we maybe your church, now and in the future. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.