Weekly Readings and Prayers
Sunday 24th May 2026 Pentecost
Collect
God, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Reading Acts 2.1-21
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. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs – in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’ But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Psalm 104
26 O Lord how manifold are your works! : In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
27 There is the sea spread far and wide, : and there move creatures beyond number, both small and great.
28 There go the ships and there is that Leviathan : which you have made to play in the deep.
29 All of these look to you : to give them their food in due season.
30 When you give it them they gather it; : you open your hand and they are filled with good.
31 When you hide your face they are troubled; : when you take away their breath, they die and return again to the dust.
32 When you send forth your spirit they are created, : and you renew the face of the earth.
33 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; : may the Lord rejoice in his works;
34 He looks on the earth and it trembles; : he touches the mountains and they smoke.
35 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; : I will make music to my God while I have my being.
36 So shall my song please him : while I rejoice in the Lord.
37 Let sinners be consumed out of the earth : and the wicked be no more.
37a Bless the Lord O my soul. : Alleluia praise the Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning is now : and shall be for ever. Amen.
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 12.3b-13
No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body Jews or Greeks, slaves or free and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Gospel John 7.37-39
On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” ’ Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Post Communion Prayer
Faithful God, who fulfilled the promises of Easter by sending us your Holy Spirit and opening to every race and nation the way of life eternal: open our lips by your Spirit, that every tongue may tell of your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers for the week
The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103 v 19)
We pray this week for those who live in Beechtree Avenue, Bishopsgate Road and Blays Close
Sunday 24th May Pentecost
We give thanks for the courage of the first Christian believers, speaking truth to power. We pray for those who do so still today.
Monday 25th May
We give thanks for the senior clergy in our Anglican Diocese and Methodist District. We pray especially for Bishop Paul Davies and for Revd Conrad Hicks, that their ministry may be blessed.
Tuesday 26th May
We give thanks for our Royal Family and for the influence they exercise for good in our land and in world. We pray that you will continue to sustain them by your unfailing love and power.
Wednesday 27th May
We give thanks for all who bear the responsibility of leadership in our world. We pray they may exercise authority for the common good and not for personal aggrandisement or gain.
Thursday 28th May
We give thanks for those recently elected to local councils and devolved governments. We pray that they may be strengthened to serve with vision, integrity and compassion.
Friday 29th May
We give thanks for those who hold positions of leadership and responsibility in education at every level. We pray for those soon returning to our schools following a half term break.
Saturday 30th May
We give thanks that all authority rests in God's sovereignty. We pray your blessing on all who worship him tomorrow: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three persons in one God.
Heavenly Father, please accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
At all our services we pray for those who are sick, in need and for the bereaved by name. Please do let us know if you would like specific prayer for anyone, and they will be included on our prayer list.