Blaze the colours:
Red, vermilion, orange, crimson,
Wave the bright flags
Swirling, dipping, swooping, dancing;
Raise the voices:
Laughing, singing, praising, cheering;
This is Pentecost!
Brave the crowds
Believe the good news
Welcome courage
Banish fears
For this is Pentecost!
And yet, most Gracious God
If we do this at all
We do it inside our comfy walls
Where none can see and we feel safe.
To do it elsewhere feels distinctly vulnerable
Awkward and faintly
embarrassing.
Yet this is Pentecost.
Sometimes we do defy our own prudent behaviour
And use a football stadium –
Politely, neatly, uncontroversially.
We might even make a joyful noise.
Why is it that we find Pentecost
So difficult?
Gracious God
Maybe we are afraid of all the power
You might release which would
Indeed change us.
Maybe we hedge our bets and celebrate
Enthusiastically
But oh so sensibly.
I have a feeling that first Pentecost
Was not so very sensible,
Rather rowdy
Non conformist
Astonishing
Powerful
Glorious
Courageous
It was Pentecost
The Spirit
Filling
Overflowing
Transforming
Celebrate Pentecost
Amen and Amen and Amen
Hazel Parsons
Reading: Acts 2
SthF 384 Holy Spirit rain down, rain down
