On Readings for the Day of Pentecost

June 5, 2022

INVISIBLE ENERGY

OPENING PRAYER

Keep silence.

Cry out.

Be still.

Dance.

Hunger deeply.

Be satisfied.

Love kindly. Do justice.

Walk humbly with God.

Even in darkness

be light.

You are nothing

but the light passing through you.

In this is your strength

and the glory of God

that will prevail

to the ends of the earth.

Steve Garnaas-Holmes

*Unfolding Light *

http://www.unfoldinglight.net

CHECK-IN/SHARING

          Take an inner assessment of how you are doing and feeling as summer begins.  Then take some moments and recall a time when you experienced WIND.  If you’re in a group, share what you feel comfortable speaking about.

SCRIPTURE

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. Acts: 1-4

GUIDED MEDITATION

Today I thought we’d think about forces that are not visible, but can be powerful.  In the familiar story of the day of Pentecost, I notice three invisible energies -sound, wind, and the Spirit.  Let’s imagine for a few moments that our room is filled with those three things, right now, here, today.  Let’s relax our bodies from our toes up.  Let’s breathe in God’s Spirit of light, love, strength, and healing power.  Let’s use all our five senses in imagination to picture the scene in our room.

Can you imagine hearing a rushing sound of wind?  What does that sound remind you of?  Can you imagine feeling actual wind?  Perhaps you can smell a sweet perfume or fragrance – another invisible power.  Can you feel “in-spired” (breathing in) new ideas or attitudes or dreams?  Hold a conversation with a comforting God image about where you feel energized, or not, in your life right now.  Ask what might the Spirit be enlivening you to do or to be in the coming days, in the months of this summer.  Ask where Spirit might be calling you to share your unique gifts/ideas/fragrance.  Remember that rest is also a type of invisible energy, a way of recharging for future activities.

Here’s a wonderful poem/prayer about REST by Joyce Rupp.

SPIRIT OF PUTTER

Slow me from the frantic pace,

Help me halt the constant pressure

Of getting the hurried things done.

Let me dawdle the day away,

Ease into the morning snail-like.

Savor what I usually zoom by,

Tinker with stuff here and there.

And at the end of the idle day

Let me be content with doing nothing

Except enjoying my time with you.

Today: I’ll not feel guilty about slowing down.

CLOSING PRAYER

a blessing for when you’re running on fumes

and the summer is starting

(unless, of course you’re fine. and if so, call me.)

Sometimes I am paper

thinning at every touch.

Responsibilities and duties and errands

are wearing me down.

There is not enough time or energy

or finances or imagination.

I hardly recognize myself.

I can’t keep going, but I can’t rest.

God, can You help me slow down?

I just need a little shelter and a long breath.

I need a real summer.

Give me space to curl up for a while.

Hold me until I can feel my shoulders drop,

and I am freed from what can’t happen right now.

Let me think only about what is gentle and lovely,

what is bountiful and unencumbered on this on this too-heavy day.

God, scoop me up into life as it is.

Stop me from running ahead,

so I can be here in this space for the moment.

May this summer be a chance

to return to myself, once again.

Amen.

Kate Bowler