As we gather, we recognize that we live, work, pray, and play
in the traditional, unceded lands
of the Cowichan Tribes and Coast Salish People. 
We continue to commit ourselves
to the work of reconciliation and relationship-building
with our First Nations neighbours.     

Call to Worship

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your faithful;
and kindle in us the fire of your love. 

~Psalm 104. 31 

Gathering

Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden.
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the
inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Collect for Today

Almighty and everliving God,
who fulfilled the promises of Easter
by sending us your Holy Spirit
and opening to every race and nation
the way of life eternal;
keep us in the unity of your Spirit,
that every tongue may tell of your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever one God,
now and forever.  Amen. 

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

John 7. 37-39 

Sermon:  The Ven.  Brian Evans

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of
our hearts be ever acceptable to you, O Lord.  Amen.

"Now What?"

I often think that when we celebrate major festivals such as Easter, Christmas, Pentecost, the Patron Saint of the Parish, what we sometimes refer to as 'High Holy Days' and I often think that they are kind of like 'going up a mountain' or 'a mountain-top experience' and then coming down from that mountain.

We celebrate Pentecost today, and then we are going to slip right into summer…a time when sometimes churches might relax, and maybe have services not as regular, or a variety of happenings over the summer….people are away on vacation.

So here we are: it is the end of May.  It’s Pentecost, and then “now what?”  

Well first of all, in the Acts lesson…we hear the variety of gifts that come to us, or that are offered to us….and bestowed upon us at the time of Pentecost…or the time of the gift of the Holy Spirit….and we have this wonderful list. 

I think it is good to review them: wisdom and knowledge and faith and the working of miracles and tongues—the variety of languages and the interpretation of languages and the discernment of the Spirit, the gift of prophecy…all those many gifts that come to us. 

And there are some parts in the church where people see that, and sense that “well, am I supposed to receive all of the gifts…because if I was, I have sure missed the boat at some time in my life, because I don’t necessarily have all those gifts given to me.   

Well, I think that what we fail to understand is that we need to interpret the scriptures where in the Acts or in 1Corinthians where Paul says “to one is given….to another is given…”In other words, each of us receives different gifts through the Holy Spirit, such as the gift of being diligent to work on a beautiful piece of stitchery such as this frontal, and the time commitment that it would have taken...that is such a special gift. Just like the gift of wisdom, or the gift of knowledge, or the gift of discerning spirits. All of those are very special gifts, and we don’t all possess all of those gifts…and so we live in community where we can share them.  

Hopefully, what we can learn this Pentecost, that each of those gifts given at Pentecost comes in a two-fold form.

Consider then, what is God calling you to do, or what is God calling me to be?

And then to consider, to whom God sends us. 

So, this happening of Pentecost…this gift of 'birth through the Holy Spirit' that we receive, isn’t just something that we receive and just hold on to within ourselves…but where are we to take that gift?

Where will we send that gift in the world?  

As people, we need to learn that we can’t do everything.

As a parish, as an individual--we have to recognize (what I like to call) 'our capacity'.

What is our 'capacity' to share all these gifts, or to share in the ministry of Christ?   

So often, as people, as individuals, as a parish when we try to do everything, we find ourselves burnt out.

And so, we need to consider our priority.    

I think of a wise bishop who, in a meeting, said that when we want to do more or take on more, we need to think of what we are leaving behind, or what are we not giving full justice to—who is missing “coming along with us”, you might say.

When you say yes to one thing, what might you being saying no to?  

And so, in many ways, I see the celebration of the day of Pentecost as a day of discernment.   

For many years in the Church, there was a sense that 'at Pentecost", we would have Confirmations, or we would have Baptisms.

It’s more than just a sacrament. It’s more than just a sacrament of being confirmed in our faith, or being baptized into the community of God.

It’s being baptized or being confirmed to discern where our ministry lies, and where we will go.  

And so, "Now What?"   

In today’s liturgy, in our Collect, we hear that every tongue may tell of the glory of God.

And we need to recognize that, and affirm that, every member of the community, and the gift that they have in sharing the gift of God, in sharing the glory of God.  

Our very being, and how we live, is a celebration of the glory of God.  

And so today, in our Collect, we hear about that gift being given to us.

And, in the prayer after Communion, we pray that we may go forth, with our Lord’s gifts, to all the world.  

And so, we have received these gifts at the Eucharist, and how do we take that to the world? How do we celebrate that?  

And in our prayers today, we will also hear the desire to learn from others.

In other words, the desire to see the gifts that others have, and learn from them as they have shared them.

And also, in our prayers, we ask to be open to be hearing different voices.  

At one time in the world, communication was a very closed system, because they didn’t have the gifts that we have with electronics, and the internet, and instant news, and all those resources that we have today.  

But, having all those gifts means that we can be bombarded, in a way, with so much information. How do we hear all of that? How do we discern how that commits us in the world?   

It is so easy to become overwhelmed in the many needs and issues of the world.

And so, we need to sit with the Holy Spirit, and discern and give thanks for the Holy Spirit for giving us the ability to discern our role and to discern our place.  

And so, in many ways, we have this 'gathering of people' in the lesson from Acts, but at the same time, it is a community that has gathered; and so, with these various gifts, we build community. We build a community to share the gift of God.  

And so, when we ask the question “Now What?” let us challenge ourselves to think about that, as we go through the next few months, as we go through the summer, as we go through the long season of what we call “After-Pentecost”.

Let us think about Now What? Now What? For myself?

Thanks be to God. Amen. 

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of
the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.  Amen. 

Let Us Pray

United in the hope of joy and resurrection,
let us pray for the Church, the world, and all in need.

Passionate God,
you sent your Spirit through the gifts of fire, wind, and word.
As you equipped the disciples for their work,
equip us to bring the good news to all those who long for you. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Restoring God,
wind and flame bring life, and destruction, throughout the world.
We pray for those who work with wind energy,
for migratory birds, for protection for lands facing destructive fire,
for forestry managers and firefighters.
Renew the face of the earth. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Ever-present God,
your spirit embraces all.
Send your spirit of understanding to immigrants,
refugees, and any experiencing language barriers.
Bless the work of translators, ESL teachers,
ambassadors, and international peace organizations.
Safely guide those fleeing war and danger. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Merciful God,
you anoint us with your spirit.
Bless nurses, doctors, midwives, chaplains,
counselors, and hospice workers
as they care for those in need.
We pray for all who seek your comfort.  

We continue to pray for those in need, particularly in our parish:
Roy & Gail; Daryl & Sue; Roy; Jay;  Sheila;
Elaina; Sharlene; Jasmine; and those on our hearts.   

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Generous God,
you impart a variety of gifts.
Set aflame the desire to learn from one another,
especially those who differ from us.
Make your presence known through missionaries,
peace workers, and through the outreach ministries
of our synod and community. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Life-giving God,
we give thanks for those who have died, for their new life in you.  
Comfort all who mourn, and usher in a world where war is no more. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Rejoicing in the victory of Christ’s resurrection,
we lift our prayers and praises to you,
almighty and eternal God;
through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen. 

As our Saviour taught us:
Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against us.
And lead us  not into temptation,
but deliver us fom evil.  
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever.  Amen.

Father,
in this time of worship together,
we give thanks that you have
brought us into unity with one another.
We ask that we may go forth from this place,
with the gifts that we have received
into the world to bring others peace in their lives.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.   Amen.

Blessing: 

The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and
love of God, and of his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with you, and remain with you, always. 

Let us share the Word of God
as we go about our lives this week. Amen.