The Oasis is our new act of worship which will be happening every month. Our aim is to help people of every generation and at all stages of faith to encounter God together!
(We begin by introducing this week’s theme and worshipping God)
It’s very strange not being able to be together in our church building but this song reminds us that ‘We are the church’ each of us in our homes, and it is through each one of us that God will build his kingdom. So if you want to grab some ‘instruments’ (pots and pans…) wave a ‘flag’ (tea towel) or even dance in your living room… lets worship God together!
(In this section we study the Bible and discuss it together)
Acts 2:1-13
The Holy Spirit comes.
1 When the day of Pentecost came, the believers were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’ 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’ (NIVUK)
Discuss the following questions with your family, or head over to our Slack #chat channel to share your thoughts with the church.
For everyone: - I wonder what your favourite part of the story was? - I wonder how you would have reacted if you were in that room?
Going deeper: - Why do you think the gift of tongues is given at Pentecost? - Some people in the crowd thought that the disciples were drunk. Has there been a time when you experienced God do something amazing, and somebody else just scoffed at it?
Watch the homily after your conversations have ended…
(We finish by thinking about how to put today’s ideas into practice!)
How many of us are enjoying jigsaw puzzles again? We are going to use some puzzle pieces to help us as we pray this morning.
Imagine holding a jigsaw piece in your hand, we’re going to pray for ourselves. Thank Him for all the good things in your life.
Ask God to help you. Maybe there is a lot of uncertainty for you at the moment: exam situation, school and uni places, job situation, health worries… Ask God to help you see the big picture of the plan He has for your life. Pause
Look at the parts of the jigsaw that reach outwards.
Pray for people who reach out and help and show love to others. For those in our community who are helping others – doing shopping, collecting prescriptions, making phone calls, cooking meals, running the Food Bank. For those whose job it is to help others particularly: teachers, doctors, nurses, postmen, delivery drivers, those who work in our supermarkets, police, firemen, ambulance crews, and lots of others. Thank God for the people who help and show love to you. Pause
Look at the parts of the jigsaw pieces that have spaces waiting to be filled.
Pray for people who have lost something or someone or who feel that they have something missing in their lives. For being apart from our family and friends. For those whose work means they can’t be with their family. Ask God to help them to know that they are loved by Him. Pause
To make the puzzle you need to fit all the pieces together.
Pray for people who are feeling lonely, people who feel they have no friends. Pray that they will find peace, friends and purpose. Pause
Imagine holding a jigsaw piece again, think of someone from your community, your friends or family that you would like to pray for today.
Thank God for that person and ask God to bless and help them. Pause
Amen
We will sing out, we will proclaim, the Good News of Jesus to all the world…. ‘Together’
Closing Prayer
Thank you Father that we are never alone.
Please send your Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and homes today,
so we may be united in love with you and each other.
Show us how we can work with you to share this love
with everyone in our community. Amen!
Thank you for joining us for this month’s Oasis!