United Benefice of St.Mary, Higham Ferrers, and St. John, Chelveston
The United Benefice of St Mary the Virgin, Higham Ferrers with St John the Baptist, Chelveston-cum-Caldecott
Pentecost
Sunday 24th May 2026
HYMN
All Over The World, The Spirit Is Moving
All Over The World As The Prophet Said It Would Be
All Over The World There’s A Mighty Revelation
Of The Glory Of The Lord, As The Waters Cover The Sea
All Over His Church God’s Spirit Is Moving
All Over His Church As The Prophet Said It Would Be
All Over His Church, There’s A Mighty Revelation
Of The Glory Of The Lord, As The Waters Cover The Sea
Right Here In This Place, The Spirit Is Moving
Right Here In This Place As The Prophet Said It Would-Be
Right Here In This Place, There’s A Mighty Revelation
Of The Glory Of The Lord, As The Waters Cover The Sea
Roy Turner 1984 (Kingsway/Thankyou Music)
Father Paul welcomes us to this special music-filled service for Pentecost
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
and lighten with celestial fire;
thou the anointing Spirit art,
who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart:
Ancient trad plainsong
Translated John Cosin (1647)
A reading from the Acts of the apostles
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.’ Acts 2 : 1-11
HYMN
Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost,
taught by Thee, we covet most,
of Thy gifts at Pentecost,
holy, heav'nly love.
Love is kind, and suffers long;
love is meek, and thinks no wrong;
love than death itself more strong;
therefore give us love.
Prophecy will fade away,
melting in the light of day;
love will ever with us stay;
therefore give us love.
Faith will vanish into sight;
hope be emptied in delight;
love in heav'n will shine more bright;
therefore give us love.
Faith and hope and love we see
joining hand in hand agree;
but the greatest of the three,
and the best, is love.
From the overshadowing
of Thy gold and silver wing
shed on us, who to Thee sing,
holy, heav'nly love.
Words: Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885)
Music: John Stainer (1840-1901)
Reflection: The Origin of Pentecost – the Festival of first fruits on the fiftieth day
ANTHEM – SHE SITS LIKE A BIRD
She sits like a bird, brooding on the waters,
hovering on the chaos of the world's first day;
she sighs and she sings, mothering creation,
waiting to give birth to all the Word will say.
She wings over earth, resting where she wishes,
lighting close at hand or soaring through the skies;
she nests in the womb, welcoming each wonder,
nourishing potential hidden to our eyes.
She dances in fire, startling her spectators,
waking tongues of ecstasy where dumbness reigned;
She weans and inspires all whose hearts are open,
nor can she be captured, silenced or restrained.
For she is the Spirit, one with God in essence,
gifted by the Saviour in eternal love;
she is the key opening the scriptures,
enemy of apathy and heavenly dove.
John L Bell (born 1949) and Graham Maule (1958-2019)
Reflection: The Spirit – like a mighty wind and like a flaming fire
HYMN
Spirit of holiness, wisdom and faithfulness,
wind of the Lord, blowing strongly and free:
strength of our serving and joy of our worshipping
Spirit of God, bring your fulness to me!
You came to interpret and teach us effectively
all that the Saviour has spoken and done;
to glorify Jesus is all your activity
promise and gift of the Father and Son:
Spirit of holiness, wisdom and faithfulness,
wind of the Lord, blowing strongly and free:
strength of our serving and joy of our worshipping
Spirit of God, bring your fulness to me!
Christopher Idle
© Christopher Idle/Jubilate Hymns Ltd
Reflection: The mystery and fluency of the Holy Spirit’s language
Pentecost Prayer and Blessing
HYMN
Come down, O Love divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardour glowing;
O Comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine inner clothing:
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
and o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.
And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the power of human telling;
for none can guess its grace,
'till he become the place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.
Words: Bianco da Siena (d.1434)
Music: DOWN AMPNEY Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Material used in this service is copyright of its respective rights owners. Music and hymn words are reproduced under ONE LICENSE number A-633137, Church Copyright License 2148907 and Music Reproduction License 2216255. Material in this order of service is taken from Common Worship, copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000-2006 and is used here with permission. www.commonworship.com.
images by permission of www.christart.com