Angels Hide

Angels live among us.

Sometimes they hide their wings,

but there is no disguising

the peace and hope

they bring.

Cardboard Universe

Psalm 104:24-30

What a wildly wonderful world, God!

You made it all, with wisdom at your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.

Oh, look, the deep, wide sea, brimming with fish past counting, sardines and sharks and salmon.

Ships plow the waters, and Leviathan, your pet dragon, romps in them.

All creatures look expectantly to you to give them their meals on time.

You come, and they gather around;

You open your hand and they eat from it.

If you turned your back, they’d die in a minute.

Take back your Spirit and they die, revert to original mud;

Send out your Spirit and they spring to life, the whole countryside in bloom and blossom.

HOLY SPIRIT

Fragile is all I can think about sometimes,

How we live in a cardboard universe that reads, this end up.

We spend our days in search of safety,

Our nights in quest of rest.

But our world turns upside down anyway.

We drop like a lead balloon.

Breathless, not with wonder

But with worry, broken.

Turn our world the right side up, HOLY SPIRIT.

Deserts into green fields

Green fields into forests

Wrong into right

War into peace

Curse into blessing

Fill this cardboard universe with your presence.

Amen

Pentecost

Pentecost

Acts 2:1-11. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth – Psalm 103(104):1, 24, 29-31, 34. 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13. John 20:19-23.

‘Receive the Holy Spirit . . . ’

After Jesus was taken up to Heaven, the Apostles, Mary, and other women and men gathered to pray together. They knew they needed the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus, to begin the difficult task of giving witness to the reign of God. Today, we continue to pray:

Jesus,

send us your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. You know our strengths and weaknesses. Transform us into messengers of your Gospel for those who yearn for you.

Jesus,

send us your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. You know our history, with its beautiful and painful experiences. Help us to be untiring promoters of a society based on love, justice and peace.

Jesus,

send us your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. You know our longing for love and community. Make us instruments of unity and service, especially for those who are weak and those who are lonely.

Amen