Tag: Pentecost

Night Prayer to the Holy Spirit

To the tune of “All Through the Night” (ARD HYR Y NOS):

Spirit, brooding o'er the waters,
draw softly near.
Be our comfort; courage foster;
drive out our fear.
Though the night is swift-descending,
your protection never-ending,
as the flames at Pentecost were,
rests on us here.

Through the night-watch hours of darkness,
hover beside:
sick'ning fears and famine-starkness,
still be our guide.
Lonesome work or sleep's forgetting,
keep us by your sweet abetting.
Walking paths unknown and markless,
Spirit, abide!

Courage for the dawn ascending,
give us at day.
Your compassion, mercy's tending,
show us the way.
Guide the steps we will be taking;
lead us through the day soon breaking.
Every breath on you depending,
give us, we pray.
Representation as both dove and flames, Ravensburg, Germany, 1867 By Fidelis Schabet – Self-photographed, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6857122

The Spirit Comes

Jesus said to his disciples:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

And I will ask the Father,

and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,

the Spirit of truth.

John 14: 15-17

This comes out of an online retreat I did this weekend. It looks forward to Pentecost, and is written for the tune of “The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns.” 

The Spirit comes, as promised us
by Christ before he left,
to lead us into holiness
and leave us not bereft.

Not as of old in wind and flame,
but signs and wonders still
are born in us when we proclaim
God's promises fulfilled.

As we were promised light and life
and sharing in Christ's joys,
the Spirit comes to still our strife
and let us hear God's voice.

As we were promised pain and death
upon our crosses all,
the Spirit comes to give us breath
in answer to God's call.

And when the promised day shall come,
when Christ shall come again,
the Spirit gives us back to him
to join the great Amen.
Detail of a statue at St Bartholomew’s Church in Orford, photo By Ziko-C – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3532648