:00:31. > :00:37.Blackburn Cathedral, the Cathedral of Lancashire, where we are gathered
:00:37. > :00:40.to celebrate the festival of Pentecost. At Pentecost, we remember
:00:40. > :00:46.the time when, after the crucifixion of Jesus, his resurrection and
:00:46. > :00:51.ascension into heaven, his tomorrow light followers gathered together.
:00:51. > :00:56.Suddenly, the Holy Spirit descended on them with a rush of wind and
:00:56. > :01:03.tongues of fire. Fire, which is detected in the stained glass of our
:01:03. > :01:09.tower, here in the cathedral. Those present began to speak in different
:01:09. > :01:13.languages. They must have appeared drunk or mad to anyone watching, but
:01:13. > :01:21.they were empowered to spread the Christian faith to the far corners
:01:21. > :01:28.of the world. The descent of the Holy Spirit and cheeses' followers
:01:28. > :01:34.is described in the Acts of the Apostles. When the day of Pentecost
:01:34. > :01:42.had come, they were all gathered together in one place, and suddenly,
:01:42. > :01:50.from heaven, there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind. And it
:01:50. > :02:00.filled the entire house where they were sitting, and a tunnel fire
:02:00. > :02:00.
:02:00. > :02:07.appeared among them. A tonne rested on each of them. All of them were
:02:07. > :02:17.filled with the Spirit and began to speak in other languages. As the
:02:17. > :02:17.
:02:17. > :06:17.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 240 seconds
:06:17. > :06:27.Holy Spirit. -- bless it. There is one body and
:06:27. > :06:31.
:06:31. > :06:39.one spirit. He's be with you. also with you. What God has prepared
:06:39. > :06:42.for those who love him he has revealed to us through the Spirit.
:06:42. > :06:52.Therefore, let us in penitence open our hearts to the Lord, who has
:06:52. > :06:59.
:06:59. > :07:08.prepared good things for those who have sinned against you and against
:07:08. > :07:15.our neighbour in thought and worth and deed. We are truly sorry and
:07:15. > :07:25.repent of all our sins for the sake of your son, Jesus Christ. Forgive
:07:25. > :07:28.
:07:28. > :07:34.us all that is passed. To the glory of your name, and then. Almighty God
:07:34. > :07:39.forgives all who truly repent. Have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver
:07:39. > :07:49.you from all your sins. Confirm and strength anew in all goodness and
:07:49. > :07:49.
:07:49. > :10:44.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 240 seconds
:10:44. > :10:54.keep you in life eternal through strength of the Holy Spirit in all
:10:54. > :10:59.
:10:59. > :11:03.our thoughts, words and actions. -- God sought the thoughts of your
:11:03. > :11:10.faithful people, grant us by the same spirit to have the right
:11:10. > :11:16.judgment in all things and ever more to rejoice in his holy comfort
:11:16. > :11:26.through the merits of Jesus Christ, our saviour, who is alive and reigns
:11:26. > :11:26.
:11:26. > :11:36.with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
:11:36. > :11:45.
:11:45. > :11:50.Romans. All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God,
:11:50. > :11:58.for you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but
:11:58. > :12:06.you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, father, it is
:12:06. > :12:14.that very spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children
:12:14. > :12:21.of God. And if children, then heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
:12:21. > :12:31.If, in fact, we suffer with him, so that we may also be glorified with
:12:31. > :12:31.
:12:31. > :16:22.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 240 seconds
:16:22. > :16:26.him. This is the word of the Lord. Christ, according to John. Philip
:16:26. > :16:32.said to Jesus, Lord show us the Father and we will be satisfied.
:16:32. > :16:39.Jesus said to him, have I been with you all this time Philip and you
:16:39. > :16:44.still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can
:16:44. > :16:51.you say, show us Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and
:16:51. > :16:58.the father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my
:16:58. > :17:05.own, but the Father who dwells in me does His works. Believe that I am in
:17:05. > :17:12.the Father and the Father is in me. But if you do not, then believe me
:17:12. > :17:18.because of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you the one who
:17:18. > :17:25.believes in me will also do the works that I do and in fact will do
:17:25. > :17:32.greater works than these. Because I am going to the Father. I will do
:17:32. > :17:39.whatever you ask in my name. So that the Father may be glorified in the
:17:39. > :17:45.son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. If you will
:17:45. > :17:52.love me, you will keep my commandsments, and I will ask the
:17:52. > :18:00.Father and he will give you another advocate to be with you forever.
:18:00. > :18:08.This is the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it
:18:08. > :18:18.neither sees him nor knows him. You know Him because he abides with you
:18:18. > :18:18.
:18:18. > :19:36.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 240 seconds
:19:36. > :19:46.and he will be in you. This is the Father, son and Holy Spirit, amen.
:19:46. > :19:54.
:19:54. > :19:58.confirmation group at the Cathedral went out to look for God. We climbed
:19:58. > :20:07.the highest hill in the town and looked down on the countryside
:20:07. > :20:12.below. We saw clearly the creative hand of God, Pendle Hill, Morecambe
:20:12. > :20:18.Bay, communities huddled together with their lights twinkling. But we
:20:18. > :20:25.did not see God. What we did feel, however, was the wind coming off the
:20:25. > :20:31.sea, the wind which had helped shape the landscape, position communities
:20:31. > :20:39.and co-operate with the ingenuity of human kind to produce all manner of
:20:39. > :20:45.resources from wind farm energy to Blackpool Tower. Over a hot drink
:20:45. > :20:51.later, we did agree that the invisible and mystical nature of the
:20:51. > :20:58.wind was an excellent way of describing God's work in the world.
:20:58. > :21:04.It was an extension of His will. The Greek Fathers saw the son and the
:21:04. > :21:12.spirit as the two hands of God, creating and sanctifying, bringing
:21:12. > :21:18.all creation into a relationship with God the Father. The Holy Spirit
:21:18. > :21:23.invades so much of our life, but because it is invisible, the
:21:23. > :21:29.Christian tradition has many signs to understand it. Most are to be
:21:29. > :21:35.found in this Cathedral. There is the fire which brings warmth,
:21:35. > :21:41.depicted in the lantern tower. The dove which hovered over Jesus at his
:21:42. > :21:48.baptism hovers over us too as a sign that we, the baptised, live and work
:21:48. > :21:55.in the power of the Holy Spirit. The dove also appears on the borough
:21:55. > :22:01.crest as a sign of the overarching authority under which we work with
:22:01. > :22:07.great industry and productivity. It is still relevant today, for
:22:07. > :22:14.although east Lancashire has been hard hit by Government cuts, the
:22:14. > :22:17.enJen university of private -- the ingenuity of private city has not
:22:18. > :22:23.been squashed. So many signs, so many ways in which the spirit works.
:22:23. > :22:28.However, I want to concentrate on just one sign of the spirit, the
:22:28. > :22:34.oldest, the breath or wind, which is to be found in the second verse of
:22:34. > :22:40.the Bible, blowing over the dark waters to bring order out of chaos.
:22:40. > :22:46.It is the spirit as breath which gives us life in the first place,
:22:46. > :22:54.usually after a sharp slap on the back from the midwife. It gives us
:22:54. > :22:59.life. It inspires our singers and it voices organ. The wind draws
:22:59. > :23:04.together Ezekiel's dry bones, it drives Jesus out into the
:23:04. > :23:08.wilderness. It accompanies flames of fire which dance upon the heads of
:23:08. > :23:12.the disciples on that first Pentecost, and direct the
:23:12. > :23:22.development of the early Church with such vigour in the Acts of the
:23:22. > :23:29.apostles. And it directs our path to holiness. The poet George Herbert
:23:29. > :23:34.sees this breath as prayer, our core responsibility as Christians.
:23:34. > :23:40.Prayer, he says, the Church's banquet. God's breath in man
:23:40. > :23:48.returning to his birth. But there are many spirits which blow across
:23:48. > :23:54.the face of creation, and not all are holy or wholesome. At the end of
:23:54. > :24:01.Graham Green's novel Brighton Rock, the central character, the gangster
:24:01. > :24:05.Pinky, and his girlfriend, are parked on the cliff top
:24:05. > :24:13.contemplating their suicide pact. As the police close in, the wind howls
:24:13. > :24:19.around the car and Pinky imagines giant wings beating against the
:24:19. > :24:26.class, whisper whispering the peace which both of them seek but choose
:24:26. > :24:32.to ignore. Instead, Pinky is gripped by the spirit of revenge and opts
:24:32. > :24:42.for the bottle of acid in the face and the leap from the cliff top. But
:24:42. > :24:42.
:24:42. > :24:47.the spirit of God acts otherwise. It is a reconciler. We are called to
:24:47. > :24:53.test the spirits. Does it resonate with the thrust of the gospel? Does
:24:53. > :25:01.it benefit my neighbour? In short, does the spirit make us and our
:25:01. > :25:06.neighbour more Christ-like or less? Here are big questions for the
:25:06. > :25:11.junior confirmation course to wrestle with on this particular day
:25:11. > :25:16.of Pentecost. As on that first day, when the apostles were gathered
:25:16. > :25:21.together and the wind blew, it will take them time to order their lives
:25:21. > :25:31.in the spirit's direction. But it will come true, if they continue to
:25:31. > :25:48.
:25:48. > :25:55.be aware of the wind which blows. Jesus Christ. Do you believe and
:25:55. > :26:02.trust in God the Father? Source of all being and life, the one for whom
:26:02. > :26:09.we exist. We believe in Christ.You do believe and trust in God the son,
:26:09. > :26:13.who took our human nature, died for us and rose again? We believe and
:26:13. > :26:20.trust in Him. Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit, who
:26:20. > :26:28.gives life to the people of God, and makes Christ known in the world?
:26:28. > :26:38.believe and trust in Him. This is the faith of the Church. This is our
:26:38. > :26:48.faith We believe and trust in one God, Father, son and Holy Spirit.
:26:48. > :26:50.
:26:50. > :26:55.Let us pray. Lord God other creator and redeemer,
:26:55. > :27:05.kindle in each of us the fire of your love, that the face of the
:27:05. > :27:07.
:27:07. > :27:14.earth might be renewed. We thank you for the gift of your creation. May
:27:14. > :27:24.the leaders of cultures and nation nations work together for that
:27:24. > :27:41.
:27:42. > :27:51.Church on this its birthday. May it praise your glory on every
:27:52. > :28:01.
:28:01. > :28:04.Lord, come among us. And renew the face of the earth. We give thanks
:28:04. > :28:10.for the hospitality, generosity and industry of the people of
:28:10. > :28:20.Lancashire. We pray for our local government officers as they seek to
:28:20. > :28:35.
:28:35. > :28:42.make fair decisions during this time face of the earth. We pray for the
:28:42. > :28:52.sick, suffering and disturbed. May they and those who support them know
:28:52. > :29:06.
:29:06. > :29:12.face of the earth. We offer to God our thanks and
:29:12. > :29:17.praise for the lives of the departed, and for all the Saints
:29:17. > :29:27.who've been infused with your burning love. May they continue
:29:27. > :29:51.
:29:51. > :29:58.their prayerful support for us here and make us one in you. Amen. God
:29:58. > :30:03.has made us one in Christ. He has set His seal upon us, and as a
:30:03. > :30:09.pledge of what's to come, has given us the spirit to dwell in our
:30:09. > :30:19.hearts. The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.
:30:19. > :30:19.
:30:19. > :33:53.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 240 seconds
:33:53. > :34:03.Let us offer one another a sign of hungry, who raises the poor, who
:34:03. > :34:20.
:34:20. > :34:30.fills our praise. Blessed be God for you. Lift up your hearts.We lived
:34:30. > :34:35.
:34:35. > :34:43.them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to
:34:43. > :34:48.give thanks and praise. It is indeed right, it is our duty and our joy,
:34:48. > :34:54.always and everywhere to give you thanks. Holy father, almighty and
:34:54. > :35:00.everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, you're only son, our Lord,
:35:00. > :35:05.this day we give you thanks because, in fulfilment of your promise, you
:35:05. > :35:11.pour out your spirit among us, filling us with your gifts, leading
:35:11. > :35:18.us into all truth, and uniting peoples of many towns in the
:35:18. > :35:24.confession of one faith. Your spirit gives us grace to call you father,
:35:24. > :35:30.to proclaim your gospel to the nations, and to serve you as a royal
:35:30. > :35:34.priesthood. Therefore we join our voices with angels and archangels,
:35:34. > :35:44.and with all those in whom the Spirit dwells, to proclaim the glory
:35:44. > :35:44.
:35:44. > :37:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 240 seconds
:37:23. > :37:29.of your name, for ever praising you father. Through Jesus Christ our
:37:29. > :37:37.Lord, and as we obey his command, send your spirit that broken bread
:37:37. > :37:43.and wine outboard may be, for us, the body and blood of your dear
:37:43. > :37:48.son. On the night before he died, he had supper with his friends, and,
:37:48. > :37:55.taking bread, he praised you. He broke the bread, gave it to them and
:37:56. > :38:05.said, take, eat, this is the body given for you, do this in
:38:06. > :38:13.
:38:13. > :38:19.cup of wine. Again, he praised you, gave it to them and said, drink
:38:19. > :38:23.this, all of you, this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shared
:38:23. > :38:33.for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as
:38:33. > :38:44.
:38:44. > :38:47.often as you drink it in remembrance Jesus did. In him, we plead with
:38:47. > :38:51.confidence and sacrifice, made once for all upon the cross, bringing
:38:51. > :38:58.before you the bread of life and cup of salvation. We proclaim his death
:38:58. > :39:08.and resurrection until he comes in glory. Great is the mystery of
:39:08. > :39:09.
:39:09. > :39:13.faith. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
:39:13. > :39:16.us to work together for that day when your kingdom comes and justice
:39:16. > :39:21.and mercy will be seen in all the earth. Look with favour on your
:39:21. > :39:27.people, gather us in your loving arms and bring us with our Lady and
:39:27. > :39:35.all the saints to feast at your table in heaven. Through Christ and
:39:35. > :39:45.with Christ and in Christ. In the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour
:39:45. > :39:53.
:39:53. > :39:59.and glory are yours, O loving the Church universal, so we say each
:39:59. > :40:05.in our own language the prayer our saviour Christ has taught us. Our
:40:05. > :40:10.father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, like kingdom come, thy
:40:10. > :40:16.will be done, honest as it in heaven. Give us this day our daily
:40:16. > :40:21.bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
:40:21. > :40:26.against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
:40:26. > :40:36.evil, for thine is the kingdom, the Power and the Glory, for ever and
:40:36. > :40:37.
:40:37. > :40:47.ever, amen. We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
:40:47. > :40:57.Although we are many, we want body, because we all share one bread.
:40:57. > :40:57.
:40:57. > :50:14.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 240 seconds
:50:14. > :50:19.Hallelujah, hallelujah, Christ, our fulfilled the promises of Easter by
:50:19. > :50:26.sending us your Holy Spirit and opening to every race and nation the
:50:26. > :50:33.way of eternal life. Open our lives by your spirit, that every tongue
:50:34. > :50:38.may tell of your glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen. Amen.
:50:38. > :50:43.Almighty God we thank you for feeding us when the body and blood
:50:43. > :50:48.of your son, Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and
:50:48. > :50:58.bodies, to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your
:50:58. > :51:09.
:51:09. > :51:13.spirit, to live and work to your overflowing in love. With Pentecost
:51:13. > :51:18.dawns age of the spirit. Now the flame of Heaven rests on every
:51:18. > :51:23.believer, strong and weak, women and men tell out your word. The young
:51:23. > :51:29.receive visions. The old receive dreams. With the new wine of the
:51:29. > :51:36.spirit, they proclaim your reign of love. Amid the birth pangs of the
:51:36. > :51:42.new creation the way of light is made known. Source of freedom, giver
:51:42. > :51:52.of life, blessed are you, Father, son and Holy Spirit. Blessed be God
:51:52. > :51:52.
:51:52. > :53:48.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 240 seconds
:53:48. > :53:55.victory of our Lord Jesus Christ over the powers of sin and death. We
:53:55. > :53:59.have proclaimed God's mighty acts, and we have prayed that the power at
:53:59. > :54:04.work when God raised Jesus Christ from the dead might be at work in
:54:04. > :54:11.us. As part of God's church here in Lancashire and beyond, I call upon
:54:11. > :54:18.you to live out what you proclaim. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, will
:54:18. > :54:26.you dare to walk into God's future, trusting him to be your guide?
:54:26. > :54:31.the spirit of Him, we will. Will you embrace each other and grow together
:54:31. > :54:35.in love? We will.Will you dare to share your riches in common and
:54:35. > :54:40.Minister to each other in need? will. Will you dare to pray for each
:54:40. > :54:45.other until your hearts beat with the longings of God? We will.Will
:54:45. > :54:55.you dare to carry the light of Christ into the world's dark places?
:54:55. > :55:02.We will. May the spirit who hovered over the waters when the world was
:55:02. > :55:09.create created breathe into you the life he gives. Amen.May the spirit
:55:09. > :55:14.who overshadowed the Virgin when the eternal son came among us make you
:55:14. > :55:19.joyful in the service of the Lord. Amen. May the spirit who set the
:55:19. > :55:27.Church on fire on the day of Pentecost bring the world alive with
:55:27. > :55:33.the love of the risen Christ. And the blessing of God almighty,
:55:33. > :55:43.the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with
:55:43. > :55:44.