Morning Prayer and pouring rain

May is the "storm month" in Oklahoma. As the seasons change and the air masses meet, thunderstorms and tornadoes form in this part of the country. While we can do without the tornadoes, it is a blessing to rise for Morning Prayer to the sounds of pouring rain. To me, it is a sound and sign of God's washing the earth, of His renewal and blessing, a reminder of our baptism, and--as the Psalmist wrote, that His mercies are new every morning.

Sunday is the Day of Pentecost. We remember on that day the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church in Acts 2, and ask the Lord to pour out His Spirit again on us. The Spirit brings repentance, renewal, change, and life to the Church. In our day, we see that the Church is in need of renewal. Old heresies are still propagated. Sin is excused and even accepted in the Church. What Scripture plainly calls sin is flaunted as life in the Spirit. Let us turn to God and pray for renewal and repentance in the Church. Let us pray that this Sunday, Pentecost, will be a day of renewal in the life-changing Holy Spirit. Let us pray that the Spirit will fill each of us anew and draw us closer to God, make us more like Christ.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people, and kindle in us the fire of Your love.

We pray your worship and renewal in the Spirit will be good this Sunday.



br. francis