Moderator to host church-wide Pentecost service

Congregations across Scotland will be joining together-remotely-for a special Pentecost service on 31 May.

You can watch the service here on the church website and Facebook page at 10am on Sunday 31 May.

Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair will be hosting the service which will include worship, prayers, music, a sermon, Bible readings, and will close with the Moderator's wife Mrs Elaine Fair singing The Blessing.

The Moderator is encouraging congregations and people of faith across Scotland, and beyond, to join together in worship as a whole church.

"Pentecost Sunday is an opportunity to rejoice in the birth of the church and to celebrate our togetherness as a church family," Dr Fair said.

"It was the coming of the Spirit upon those first disciples that brought the church to life, with power and passion - and the same Spirit unites us still."

"Even though we cannot be together in person, we can be together in spirit. We can share in the same worship, pray together using the same words, be inspired together by the same Bible verses and affirm our unity as the body of Christ here on earth.

"Ordinarily, the worship of the Church is offered locally, rightly so. But it seems to me that in these present circumstances there is merit in giving over one Sunday to come together."

The Moderator will open the service and invite you to worship. Others taking part will include: Rev Fran Henderson, minister in Shetland; Rev William Boyle of Port Glasgow, New Parish Church; Ann Lyall, DCS from Glasgow; and Rev Ruth Morrison, of Clydebank Waterfront.

The musical offerings will feature hymns and songs from across Scotland including:

• Rev Jonathan Fleming of St. John's Largs and Cumbrae and his family
• the worship team at Fullarton Parish Church
• junior choir members from Aberfeldy
• the worship team at Chryston Church of Scotland

Two versions of the service will be available: one that can be viewed either fully captioned or with no captions and one with BSL interpretation from Rev Rosie Addis.

Ministers will be sent a link where they can download the service as a video so those who wish to embed the service on their own church websites may do so. We ask that congregations do not view the service before 10am on Sunday.

Ministers will also be able to download a print copy of the sermon at the same link.

An audio version of the spoken parts of the service (not the musical sections) will be available by phoning 0131 378 7895.