God's Word for God's World

Sherborne Abbey is a wonderful setting for any occasion but it was looking especially beautiful for the service at Pentecost organised by Churches Together in Dorset to mark the Year of the Bible. We came together to celebrate the scriptures as our common heritage, and to give thanks for the Word in Action across Dorset in so many different projects and activities.

The Gillingham Churches’ music group played gently before the service and our opening hymn praised God for his Word, come down to us over the centuries. The entry of the Bible was given extra impact as 3 dancers preceded it with gestures of praise and being open to the Holy Spirit. They waved flags as we sang ‘Spirit of God, unseen as the wind’ and someone later commented: ‘The sound of the flags waving after the music stopped - a real rushing of wind for a moment’.

Readings were from different versions of the Bible, including the original Greek and the King James’ version and readers represented different denominations and localities in Dorset. Grenville Overton, Chair of Churches Together in Dorset, preached on God’s vision for his Church and we were heartened by examples from across Dorset of new ways to encourage encounter with God.

Prayers were for projects and activities across the county, written on flame shaped cards and assembled into a colourful collage of Pentecost fire. From school chaplaincy in Beaminster to Nightstop emergency housing provision, Portland’s covenant with the poor to the Olympic opportunities, it was good to hear about such a wide range of imaginative activity and to be able to pray together for all that the Holy Spirit is doing in the towns and villages of Dorset.

Sometimes it is good to be ‘all together in one place’ as the disciples were at Pentecost, and we were led by John Bradley, Field Officer of Churches Together in England, in re-stating our commitment to reading and living out the Word together. Can we refresh our vision in our own communities, to be the people of the Word, united in our witness and action together?