Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling, ELW 582 & LBW 523
Holy Spirit, ever dwelling
in the holiest realms of light;
Holy Spirit, ever brooding
o’er a world of gloom and night;
Holy Spirit, ever raising
those of earth to thrones on high;
living, life imparting Spirit,
you we praise and magnify.
Holy Spirit, ever living
as the church’s very life;
Holy Spirit, ever striving
through us in a ceaseless strife;
Holy Spirit, ever forming
in the church the mind of Christ;
you we praise with endless worship
for your gifts and fruits unpriced.
Holy Spirit, ever working
through the church’s ministry;
quick’ning, strength’ning, and absolving,
setting captive sinners free;
Holy Spirit, ever binding
age to age and soul to soul
in communion never ending,
you we worship and extol.
Devotion
There is great comfort in the Spirit’s presence to calm a troubled heart, to enter into conflict as well as accord. To guide how resources will be shared.
As we have gathered as communities of faith, we continue to be touched by the Holy Spirit in new and different ways. What must it have been like for the early church to navigate a new way of being together and to share peace with one another as individuals as well as a community?
The Holy Spirit has been ever present in our homes and communities, whenever we have gathered these past months, whether it be via Zoom, live stream, in parking lots, or under pavilions. The Holy Spirit is with each of our communities during these days of change and uncertainty. For some congregations this Easter may have been the first time in months that people have gathered together in your buildings. Could you feel the presence?
May the words of this hymn remind you of the gracious “Holy Spirit ever living as the church’s very life.”
Prayer
Holy Spirit, open our hearts to the movement of the Spirit in us as individuals as well as collectively in our communities. Amen.