Daily Scripture1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,then were we like those who dream.2 Then was our mouth filled with laughterand our tongue with songs of joy.3 Then said they among the nations,‘The Lord has done great things for them.’4 The Lord has indeed done great things for us,and therefore we rejoiced.5 Restore again our fortunes, O Lord,as the river beds of the desert.6 Those who sow in tearsshall reap with songs of joy.7 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed,will come back with shouts of joy,bearing their sheaves with them. (Psalm 126) Daily Reflection The Psalmist is looking back at a time when God took pity on Israel (Zion is another name for the Hebrew nation) and made her a happy place to live in, once again. Now he, or she, is pleading with God to once more turn their weeping into singing, picturing a time when their sorrow will be a but a distant memory. Can we imagine a future when our tears have dried and our joy has returned? When our anxiety has run its course and we are no longer wary of others? Let us pray, as we start this week, that these happy days are just round the corner, and that much joy awaits us, as God restores our fortunes, as individuals, as a people, as citizens of the world. Amen Revd Ylva
Daily ScriptureWhen the day of Pentecost had come they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came the sound like the rush of a violent wind .... All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability...And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in their own native language. (Acts 2.1-21)Daily Reflection The crowds thronging Jerusalem that day had come from far and wide to celebrate the great Jewish feast of Pentecost (Shavuot), Their native languages were very diverse, yet they all heard God’s praises being poured out in words they understood - though in general Galileans were regarded as incoherent speakers in any language, even their own! So how was this possible? Whatever those supposedly ‘ignorant’ disciples said, the message was clearly heard, and many came to believe. When God speaks to us, he does so in words and actions that we understand. However inadequate we may consider our own words and witness to be, if we offer them to God he will somehow use them to communicate what he wants to people to hear. Lord, open our ears to hear your voice, and our lips to witness to your love. Revd Rosemary
Daily ScriptureFrom the Collect for today: O God the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: we beseech you, leave us not comfortless, but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us.Daily ReflectionTomorrow, Pentecost Sunday, we welcome the Holy Spirit as we celebrate the birthday of the church - a day to truly rejoice. The Holy Spirit was poured out to each disciple at the first Pentecost giving them the gift to speak, each in a different language. This gift was freely given by God and gave the disciples the power to heal, the knowledge to teach and the courage to travel to the ends of the earth proclaiming the gospel. The Holy Spirit was with them as their comforter and guide - but this was not just for the disciples in 1st century Jerusalem - the Holy Spirit is being poured out now to strengthen, guide and comfort us until the great day when Jesus returns. Open your heart and let the Holy Spirit in. Lyn Hayes ALM
