St. Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh
Midweek Devotion 25th May 2023
Led by Rev Douglas Nicol
‘Through the Holy Spirit he has given us, God’s love has flooded our hearts’ (Romans 5: 5)
Let us worship God.
Scripture Reading
In a few days’ time it will be Pentecost Sunday, and our reading is taken from The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2:
‘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.’
Reflection
It was the Bible translator, J. B. Phillips, who penned the words: ‘Every time we say “I believe in the Holy Spirit”, we mean that we believe there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it.’
It is our privilege today to enjoy the Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus to strengthen us in our Christian lives and in following Jesus’ ways of love, hope and peace.
The hymn writer, Margaret V. Old (1932-2001), wrote about the Holy Spirit in a hymn we sing to the Scottish folk melody, the ‘Skye Boat Song’:
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
Gentle as is the dove;
Teach us the truth and help us believe,
Show us the Saviour’s love.
1.You spoke to us long, long ago,
Gave us the written word;
we read it still, needing its truth,
through it God’s voice is heard.
2. Without your help we fail our Lord.
we cannot live his way;
we need your power, we need your strength,
following Christ each day.
May we all know the Spirit’s presence in our lives this day and all days!
Prayer
Let us pray:
Come, Holy Spirit:
come, breath of life,
come, fire of love,
come, power of hope,
come, catalyst of God’s kingdom,
come, heavenly friend.
Come and confront us
with the truth from which we turn;
come and reveal to us
the way of Christ we dimly see;
come and nurture in us the spiritual gifts
on which life in all its fullness relies.
We pray today:
that the resources of the world
may be gathered, distributed, and used
with unselfish motives and scientific skill
for the greatest benefit of all;
that beauty may be given
to our towns and cities,
and left untarnished in the countryside;
that children may grow up strong in body,
sound in mind, and inspired in spirit;
that there may be open ways,
and peace, and freedom,
and health and healing,
from end to end of the earth;
that those for whom we have a special concern,
whose names and places are in our hearts and minds,
may know your peace and love,
and spend their years in fulfilment and hope,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen.
Benediction
The guarding of the God of life be on you,
the guarding of the loving Christ be on you,
the guarding of the Holy Spirit be on you
to aid you and enfold you
each day and night of your lives.
Amen.
Organ music
Dieterich Buxtehude Nun bitten wir heiligen Geist BuxWV 208