From Rev’d Vicky – 07356 234248 – revvickyfalvey@gmail.com
Readings for Sunday: Acts 2.1-11; 1 Corinthians 12.3b-13; John 20.19-23
To hear Vicky’s sermon click on the arrow below.
The following is taken from the Parish Newsletter for Sunday 24th May 2026.
As we arrive at Pentecost, we stand at the close of the Easter Season- fifty days of rejoicing in the risen life of Christ. Easter began in the quiet astonishment of the empty tomb; Pentecost ends the season with wind, fire and bold proclamation. The disciples who once hid behind locked doors are transformed into courageous witnesses. Pentecost reminds us that the resurrection was never meant to remain a private comfort. It becomes a living mission through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In the account from Acts, we hear the dramatic moment when the Spirit descends upon the gathered believers;
‘And suddenly from heaven there came a sounds like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting… All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.’ (Acts 2:2,4)
This moment marks the birth of the Church. Fear gives way to confidence; confusion becomes clarity. The disciples are no longer defined by their weakness or uncertainty, but by God’s empowering presence within them. The Spirit enables ordinary people to speak words of hope, truth, and reconciliation in ways others can understand.
Pentecost is not simply a remembrance of something that happened long ago. It is an invitation to recognise that the same Spirit still moves among God’s people today. In every sage the Church faces uncertainty, division and fear, yet Pentecost assures us that God has not abandoned His people. The Spirit continues to guide, strength and renew the Church for its mission in the world.
As the Easter season concludes, Pentecost challenges us to consider how we are being called to live as Spirit- filled people. The fruits of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control- are not abstract ideals. They are signs of God’s transforming work within us. In a world often marked by anxiety and division, lives shaped by the Spirit become powerful witnesses to the hope of Christ.
s we move from Easter into Ordinary Time, Pentecost sends us forward renewed and encouraged. The risen Christ is alive, His Spirit is at work, and the Church continues its mission in the world. May we, too, receive the Spirit afresh, living with courage, compassion, and joy in the days ahead.
Veni Sancte Spiritus – Come, Holy Spirit. Fill the hearts of your faithful people and kindle in us the fire of your love. May the Spirit who descended at Pentecost continue to renew the Church, inspire our worship, strengthen our fellowship, and guide us in the way of Christ each day. Amen.
Rev’d Vicky
Updated 24th May 2026