Tongues of Language and Flames

Pentecost Sunday Prayer

Of this poem, author Peter Menkin writes: “I chose the imagery of the Exodus from the Old Testament to say that we are liberated by our God, Christ, and that he brings us to freedom.”

Pentecost Sunday Prayer

For I am empty and forlorn,

so I hope and pray.

Tongues of flames. Language.

Lord.

I search; let me

welcome the Holy Spirit.

The God who brought

us out of Egypt to freedom;

let God do this emancipation:

accept and welcome,

and let us receive the Spirit.

Reach out, lift the heart,

have faith that the Spiritfire

comes settling in, penetrating us:

Goodness.

Tongues of language and flames.

Dance in our hearts.

Let it be me in Church,

let it be me, let it be others.

Come Holy Spirit. Consuming fire;

burning yes.

Peter Menkin (pmenkin@comcast.net) is a poet who lives in Northern California. You can listen to an audio reading of the poem, revised in 2002, at www.archive.org (search on the poem’s title).

Reformed Worship 99 © March 2011, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Used by permission.