Today we celebrated the feast of Pentecost.
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Emil Nolde (1867 – 1956 )
“Pentecost (Pfingsten)”, 1909
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2: 1-4
In honour of this important feast, which is the birthday of the Church, we bought a special bottle of wine and Hubby read aloud the Blessing Prayer for Pentecostal wine from the book Prayers for the Domestic Church: A Handbook for worship in the Home by Edward Hays.
Lord, Creator of the good and beautiful.
hear our prayer as we celebrate
the great fiery feast of Pentecost.
On this day, nearly two thousand years ago,
the apostles were enflames by Your Holy Spirit,
and their great zeal was mistaken
for an overindulgence in other spirits.
Send forth, Lord, as we celebrate,
Your Sacred Spirit over these creatures of Yours,
the spirits of wine
so that they might be filled overflowing
with Your joy and healing.
May this blessed wine of Pentecost
be for us a sacred sipping sign
of Your delicious and delightful Presence
among us, Your people.
May this blessed wine
bring friends closer to friends
and transform the stranger into a friend.
May all who share this sacrament – in moderation –
be release from the toil of daily work,
healed of any dullness of heart
and have their feet set a-dancing.
May these spirits of wine
be the toast of our celebration
and the taste of the Holy Spirit amoung us
as we bless them now
in You name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Amen