grid blog :: pentecost

Fire, oil, wind, wine, water, and mysterious ways: today is all about the Holy Spirit. Much of the Christian world observes May 15 as the feast of Pentecost, and a number of people are grid blogging, using numerous languages, in celebration.

These days, focusing on Africa is probably enough to count as U2 content, so what I want to lift up is the over 200 million participants in the May 15 Pentecost global prayer event organized by African Christians. Join them with this portion of the suggested corporate intercession for today in Xhosa.

Nkosi yethu sonke: Siyavuma ukuba asinakwenza nto ngaphandle kwakho.
NgalePentekosti, thulula uMoya wakho phezu kwenyama yonke. Xhobisa ibandla ukuba litshintshe libengumfanekiso kaYesu Kristu. Khulula amandla akho ukuzisa impiliso kwabagulayo, ukufikelela esiphelweni sombulalazwe ugawulayo, inkululeko kwabanedemoni,intuthuzelo kwabo balilayo, kwaye khulula nakwabo bacinezelekileyo. Yiza unyibilikise iintliziyo zabantu babenothando kwakhona. Zamisa ibandla bombathise ababuthathaka, iinkedama, abahlolokazi nabadala, ukuba babathuthuzele. Shukumisa ibandla lakho live izikhalo zabangenamakhaya, abalambileyo, abangekuzenzelanto nabo bafayo. Bonakalisa inceba yakho kwaye uzibonakalise kwiimfuno zethu. Siphe ubulumko nokubona kwikona zonke zobomi ukuze sifumane iimpendulo zeemfuno zasemhlabeni. Sincede ukusebenzisa izixhaso zomhlaba ngokufanelekileyo. Thulula uthando lwakho ezintliziyweni zethu kwaye usizalise ngothando amandla kaMoya Oyingcwele ubeluphawu ebomini bethu.
(Lord of all: We confess that we can do nothing apart from You.
On this Pentecost, pour out Your Spirit on all flesh. Empower the Church to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. Release Your power to bring healing to the sick, for an end to the AIDS pandemic, freedom to the demonised, comfort to those who mourn, and release for those who are oppressed. Come and melt the hearts of people to love again. Stir the Church to enfold the weak, the orphans, the widows and elderly, to comfort them. Stir Your Church to hear the cries of the homeless, the hungry, the helpless and the dying. Display Your mercy and provide for our needs. Give us wisdom and insight in every sphere of life so that we will find the answers to the needs of the world. Help us to use the resources of the earth for the well-being of all. Pour Your love into our hearts and fill us with compassion and let the power of the Holy Spirit characterise our lives.)

If you would like to help answer this prayer, visit ONE.org.