Testify

John 15:26–27 

Advocate

Spirit

Breath

Friend

sent by

Jesus

Wisdom

Christ

Word 

from the 

Father

Mother

Maker

Creator 

Bear witness

Bear witness

Bear witness to Holy One. 

Amen. 

These people who have received

Acts 10:44–48 

Astonish us, Holy One,

with your wide, wide welcome. 

Challenge us, Holy One,

to welcome unexpected outsiders. 

Astonish us, Holy Spirit,

with your indiscriminate drenching. 

Challenge us, Holy Spirit,

to share you, abundantly. 

Astonish us, Wisdom Word,

with your voice in unfamiliar tongues. 

Challenge us, Wisdom Word,

to listen for you beyond our expectations. 

Astonish us, Divine Parent,

with your Love, your Love profound. 

Challenge us, Divine Parent, 

to love, with you, all that you love. 

Amen. 

Fly to us Spirit Holy

Acts 2:1–21 

Fill our rooms with sound,

with wind, with rushing; 

bowl us over, unsettle us,

ruffle us with your feathered

wings, Spirit Holy, Spirit Breath. 

Float your fire above us, 

dance your flames, radiate

your heat, delight us, 

ignite us with your flickering

tongues, Spirit Holy, Spirit Fire. 

Flit on our voices with words

that others will understand,

speak in us, sing through us, 

vocalise your force 

of life, Spirit Holy, Spirit Friend. 

Day by day we grow

Artwork: youth & friends,
Wesley Uniting, Canberra

Acts 2: 42–47 

day by day, grow us together
day by day, moment by moment

grow us in kindness,
as we look for each other,
encourage each other,
remember, celebrate, care
with one another

grow us in generosity
as we share our food
with the hungry, give water
for the thirsty to drink,
offer shelter, spread our wealth
towards those who have not
enough

grow us in trust in you,
as we still ourselves,
as we pray in word
and silence and action,
as we sing, tell your story,
live your Way of Wisdom

day by day, grow us together,
each day with you, each moment one.

May we give honour

Romans 15:4–13 

May Holy One, Holy Three,

ever faithful, all encouragement,

help us to live together in harmony,

following Jesus the Christ,

and so together may we give honour

to our Creator, 

in our welcome of each other,

in our joy, our peace, our faith; 

in abounding hope inspired by 

the Spirit. Amen. 

Spirit help us to pray

prayers for ourselves and others
Rom 8:26–39



responsive. invite people in the pauses to think and feel in response to the words that are spoken.

We do not know how to pray.
Spirit, help us to pray.


Spirit help us in our frailty,

pause

Speak when words escape us,
sigh our deeper feelings
within the heart of God

pause 

for we do not know how to pray.
Spirit, help us to pray.

We know all things work together for good,
for those who love Holy One, Holy Three,

pause 

our eyes still see wrong and bad,

pause 

our hands divide and harm,

pause 

our hearts tremble with fear, not love,

pause 

and we do not know how to pray.
Spirit, help us to pray.

We know that you are for us, God,
and none can be against us.

pause 

We feel the world against us, God,

pause 

we see difference as threat,

pause 

we do not understand the mystery,

pause 

and we do not know how to pray.
Spirit, help us to pray.

We know nothing can keep us from your love,
not death, not life, not height or depth
or past or present or anything to come:

pause 

what of hardships, though?

pause 

what of distress or persecution?

pause 

or famine, nakedness, oppression, war?

pause 

We want to stay within the love of God,
but we do not know how to pray.
Spirit, help us to pray.

my peace

John 20:19–23



Peace be with you:
the peace I left you,
my peace, my peace,
I am with you.

Peace from these scarred hands,
peace from that wounded body,
peace, his peace, here
with us.

God has sent me,
now I will send you:
go with the Breath,
on the Wind, in the Spirit.

Peace from these scarred hands,
peace from that wounded body,
peace, his peace, here
with us.

Forgive transgressions,
for Tyrant has no power now;
forgive transgressors,
for Grace will lead them home.

Peace from these scarred hands,
peace from that wounded body,
peace, his peace, here
with us.

Peace be with you.
God has sent you –
be peace, my peace,
with Breath, Wind, Spirit.

Leaning in

Lent 5: Romans 8:6–11

a bird falls, wings

resting, to be caught by clouds:

life in the Spirit