Pentecost - St Nicolas Church

Happy Birthday!
This Sunday is Pentecost, where we’ll be celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the church.
There are so many wonderful images for the Holy Spirit: fire, wind, cloud, breath, dove. The image that immediately comes to my mind is from John Bell and Graham Maule’s wonderful song, “Enemy of Apathy” * The Spirit, the Heavenly Dove, is there from the start, mothering creation, nourishing the potential in each of us, dancing unrestrained, inspiring and connecting us with the Creator God, able to speak to us in the language of our own hearts and strengthen us.
A very good reason to rejoice and be thankful. It’s our tradition at St Nicolas to wear red, yellow or orange (or all three!) at Pentecost, so this Sunday should be colourful and joyous.
This is also Volunteer Week, and we are so thankful for the many volunteers who give their time and skills to the church. Without your valuable contributions we couldn’t continue with our mission to be Open to God, Open to One Another, and Open to the Community. You are all stars. We’ll be celebrating our volunteers at the Parish Barbecue, which will take place on 29 June, details to follow.
Yours, in yellow, read and orange,
Wendy
Wendy Neale Churchwarden

She sits like a bird, brooding on the waters,
Hovering on the chaos of the world’s first day;
She sighs and she sings, mothering creation,
Waiting to give birth to all the Word will say.

She wings over earth, resting where she wishes,
Lighting close at hand or soaring through the skies;
She nests in the womb, welcoming each wonder,
Nourishing potential hidden to our eyes.

She dances in fire, startling her spectators,
Waking tongues of ecstasy where dumbness reigned;
She weans and inspires all whose hearts are open,
Nor can she be captured, silenced or restrained.

For she is the Spirit, one with God in essence,
Gifted by the Saviour in eternal love;
She is the key opening the scriptures,
Enemy of apathy and heavenly dove