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God of Wind and Fire,
breathe your life-giving Spirit?on us and on the world
to refresh us and make us new and free.
May we be inflamed?with the fire of your love and freedom
so as to be open to your wisdom and peace and courage.
We ask this through our Saviour Jesus
who sends us the Spirit of truth from you,
and who lives and reigns with you,
God for ever and ever. Amen. |
Homily by Rev. Dorothy McRae-McMahon
Day of Pentecost, Year C
South Sydney Uniting Church
May 19, 2013
Acts 2: 1-21; John 14:8-17
‘The Holy Spirit who speaks to us in our own language’
You may have noticed that, in both our readings today, the Holy Spirit is referred to in the feminine. This is a very ancient practice. It is included in the earliest Hebrew writings where the word for Spirit, “ruach” is feminine. Particularly in the Old Testament, it is often linked with “wisdom”. Much later, the Greeks altered the reference to neuter gender and the Romans later to male.
Obviously, holding to the feminine creates a nice balance in the person of our Triune God. We do, as you may have noticed in our liturgy, refer to both the Mother and Father of Creation. Jesus, clearly, had to be one gender or the other as God in human form and he was a man. Then we have the fundamentally female Spirit.
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SSH Fundraiser Harbour Cruise and Picnic: Saturday, May 18, 11am-3pm.Please join us aboard the Tribal Warrior's Mari Nawi for a relaxing Harbour Cruise and Picnic on Clarke Island, with tour guide and cultural commentator Shane Phillips. More details here.
This month – May 2013
Prayer Meeting: Fortnightly, 7.30am, here in the church. See Heather or Miriam for details.
Wordplay: Wednesdays, May 8 & 22, 6-8pm. Creative Writing Group. Woolpack Hotel Redfern (229 Chalmers Street, Redfern). Phone Adrian on 9690 1427 for more details. Bring along a favourite piece of writing and/or something you’ve written. All welcome.
Art Class: Saturdays, May 11 and 25, 12-4pm. Gold coin donation.
Informal Lunch: Sunday, May 12. Meet after church for an informal and affordable lunch. There is a “lunch box” for donations to help facilitate – your contribution is much appreciated. Contact Naomi for details.
Food Donations: Sunday, May 12. Donations of non-perishable foods are most welcome today! Please bring forward during the Offering of the service.
Visits to Villawood: Norrie is a regular visitor of asylum seekers detained at the Villawood Detention Centre. Contact Norrie for more info: 0432 885 422. |
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