On Sunday 21st May 2023, the Rev'd Paul Cannon led us in a Pentecost Reflection using poetry writing as a guide to our contemplation.  

We were put into the zone with this poem by William Blake:
Unless the eye catch fire,
  The God will not be seen.
Unless the ear catch fire,
  The God will not be heard.
Unless the tongue catch fire,
  The God will not be named.
Unless the heart catch fire,
  The God will not be loved.
Unless the mind catch fire,
  The God will not be known.

After a couple of Free-writing exercises to focus our thoughts on the words and images that came up for us as we contemplate Pentecost, Paul invited us to write, first an Acrostic Poem and then a five-line poem.

Below are some contributions from the participants.

People
Everywhere
Named your beloved
Tell out your story
Embracing
Consoling
Overwhelming
Spirit of
Truth
- John Clapton

And another offering by John

PENTECOST
Holy Mystery, bursting into our lives
Making as nothing
The differences we have used to divide
Calling us your own
​As you fill us with your love.

This Five-line poem is by Marilyn Beard

PENTECOST
Confusion and fear
Glowing red
Breath
Come now, Breath
Into the ordinary, breathe.

This is a contribution from Glenis Holliday - her contemplation on Pentecost:

PENTECOST REMINDER
Fiery awe-inspiring Spirit whooshing through my humble frame,
Refreshing and reverberating God’s message, galvanising it in my heart again,
Promising imbuing power beyond comprehension … calling me by name,
to share this miraculous news gifted by the Spirit’s reign.
Transforming life direction allowing God’s embrace to inspire and sustain.
 
Yet… that insidious head voice which often bothers, rouses doubts in my brain,
 how to adequately, with who I am, pass the message on, helping others be inflamed.
 
  As I sit here yearning to do better wondering what I should put in place,
 Spirit whispers wooingly, quietly into my listening space.
`Allow my flame to guide you, spend time in my embrace,
 for I will shine out through you, take responsibility, take the weight.
 Relax, rest, remember, new life direction for you and others too,
 comes freely and with my blessing through my love and by my grace.’ 

Swooping in pairs
wings flared in symmetrical synergy
mudlarks carol a duet
one calling the other
to sing together 
the divine song
awakening in all
the dawn of a God-given new day.

(c) John Clapton
at Retreat given by Brother Ghislain from Taize
​March 2005