Pentecost: A Liturgy for the UnreachedSample

The Day of Pentecost

Collect

Almighty God, on this day, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, you revealed the way of eternal life to every race and nation: Pour out this gift anew, that by the preaching of the Gospel your salvation may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Songs

“Build Your Kingdom Here”
“The Joy”
“Awakening”

Reflection

Pentecost Sunday is here! Both a finish and a start, it is the culmination of the Easter season, and it’s the day when we realize the power that Jesus told us was coming has finally been unleashed on God’s creatures and creation (Ps. 104:30). The Holy Spirit is here with me forever (John 14:16)! Pentecost is the birthday of the church. “It marks the decisive moment in God’s season of redemption in which the Holy Spirit collided with the hearts of all those who believed in Jesus, creating the new community of God in the Spirit.”*

The liturgical color for the Feast of Pentecost is red, but today is also known as Whitsunday (or White Sunday), which is associated with the white baptism robes the newly baptized wore on Pentecost Sunday. Think about those newly baptized in Acts 2 who were all together in one place when “suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind” (Acts 2:2). From the place where Jesus ascended ten days ago came a sound. “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (v. 4). The Holy Spirit came from heaven, moved in, and transformed them. So also my faith, redemption, and new life come from heaven, not from myself. I am not able to do the work of proclamation and disciple-making on my own in the season after Pentecost. Jesus said, “The Father who dwells in Me does the works” (John 14:10). Same with me. I move forward from the season of Easter and continue to witness to the resurrection of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to see new communities of God planted where they are not.

Prayer for Unreached Peoples

Let’s pray this Pentecost Prayer of Thanksgiving, not only for ourselves, but for the global church and the church yet being planted among the unreached: “By the fire of your Spirit, O God, forge us into one church, many and different people, together in Christ’s embrace. Set our hearts aflame with a love for the truth and the desire to do your will, that our witness to Christ may burn brightly in lives of joyful discipleship. Keep us faithful in your service until Christ comes in final victory, and we shall feast with all your saints in the joy of your eternal realm. Through Christ, all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit in the holy church, now and forever.” Amen.**

* Anglican Compass

** The Services of the Christian Year