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COMMENT: HYMN - SPIRIT EMPOWERED
This hymn is in two parts. Verses 1 and 2 recall the events of the first Pentecost. Verses 3 and 4 express our response to the first Pentecost - and its hoped-for result. The final verse stresses what is absent in the majority of hymns, namely that our worship is not only a 'meeting' with God, but a commissioning and empowering to *go out* into the world as instruments of Christ's salvation. My wording, that others will meet and witness Christ through us 'in word and deed' is deliberate. We can only reconcile the world to God by a combination of both preaching and action. That action will be the breaking-in of God's Kingdom at every level from political action to the recovery of 'signs and wonders'; from the social to the so-called 'spiritual'. The 'Way' has a capital letter since it refers to one of Christ's titles, and the earliest Christians were first known as followers of the Way.

HYMN - SPIRIT EMPOWERED
Metre: 8.7.8.7 In the Upper Room all gathered in obedience to their Lord. All united, waiting, praying, for his power to be outpoured! Wind and flames! Thus God baptised them with his Spirit from above. So they spoke forth to all nations of God's Kingdom and Christ's love. Come, Lord God, upon your Chosen, send us out among the lost, to proclaim Christ's full salvation and the Spirit's Pentecost. Then, the world will meet and witness Christ through us in word and deed; showing them the Way to follow, - and the answer to their need. John Richards, 2003, Copyright waived for users of Help for Christians.co.uk