Ring Out Wild Bells!

Sunday Worship for Pentecost
BBC RADIO 4: [under pre-rec of bells…] It’s ten past eight and the choir and congregation of Holy Trinity, Hull are joined by bell ringers from across the world to ring in a celebration for Pentecost: the ‘birthday’ of the Christian Church. The service is led by the Vicar, The Rev’d Canon Dr Neal Barnes, and – as the bells fade - begins with the hymn, ‘Come Down, O Love Divine’[Fade out bells under hymn…]

HYMN ALL
NEAL: Welcome to the largest parish church in England and a place that’s been the focus for Holy Spirit filled Christian worship for over 700 years. A popular tourist website tells people that Holy Trinity Church Hull doesn’t mind if “smaller people run up and down the aisles,” and another comment says we’re very much a community church and not just a place of architectural interest. All I hope true! In fact our fabric is undergoing an inspiring restoration and re-ordering, creating a fabulous space for worship and for banquets, cultural events and performances all in time for Hull’s year as UK City of Culture in 2017. This week, we’ve been joined by around 200 bell-ringers from all over the UK, and from across the world, as they gather for the annual conference of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers. You heard them ringing 12 of the fine set of 15 bells that hang in our tower as our service began. This morning, we’ll be reflecting on the joyful message of Pentecost, and in the different ways the Holy Spirit brings the Good News of God’s saving love to us, including through bells. As our opening hymn invited the Holy Spirit to come down and make his dwelling with us, so we continue with a prayer celebrating the work of the Spirit of God:
With joy and gladness we celebrate your power and presence, Holy Spirit of God. By your energy the world was formed and made, darkness gave place to light, men and women were fashioned and became living beings, able to know God, to hear God speaking, and to respond to God’s calling. From you, Holy Spirit, the word of God has come to us through prophets and preachers; by your inspiration poets and musicians have composed works of praise; by your operation, faith and hope in Jesus Christ have been born in us, your Church has sprung into life, your gifts and graces have been distributed, new life and wholeness have come to Christ’s body:
ALL: To you, Holy Spirit – Giving eternal life,Glorifying Jesus,Exalting God our heavenly Father – Be glory now and for evermore. Amen.
NEAL: The story of how darkness and confusion divided humanity begins in Old Testament times. Our first reading is from the 11th chapter of the Book of Genesis and it’s read for us now by bell ringing enthusiast, Caitlin Turpin. 
 READING – OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis 11: 1-9CAITLIN TURPIN: Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.
They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” [They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar.] Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”
So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel —because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world.
NEAL: In a moment, we’ll hear the story of that first Pentecost, when God reversed that curse of Babel – the confusion brought about as a result of human pride we’ve just heard about. It’s read by another of our visitors, Anne Wood, from The Ringing Society – But first we’ll sing one of several hymns written specially for change ringers… 
HYMNALL
READING (Acts 2:1-13) – ANNE WOOD (The Ringing Society)
ANNE WOOD: A reading from Chapter 2 of the Acts of the Apostles.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’
Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’
The word of the Lord.ALL: Thanks be to God.
NEAL: It’s often thought that clergy and bell ringers don’t get on, but my colleague, the Revd. Irene Wilson, is married to one of our bell ringers. Irene is preaching for us today.
SERMON - PART 1 – IRENE:Just a few weeks ago I was visiting Oman in the Middle East. On Friday, the Holy Day in Oman, I went along to the Protestant church to join in worship. It was no beautiful 13th century building like we’re in today. This church in Muscat was just a basic hall - but the people, who were from so many different countries and cultures, flocked into this hall with one purpose - to worship God. The building was buzzing with excitement - so colourful, not only visually, but with the sound of adult and children’s voices. The worship group led the music with great joy and dancers interpreted the words in a very special and meaningful way. I mention this today as the reading we have just heard came into my mind on that Friday morning, especially the words from verse 5 ‘people gathered from every nation under heaven’. Although a common language was shared by all in this church in the Middle East it was a wonderful sight to see and to be part of.
As we celebrate Pentecost, we joyfully remember the beginning of the church, the church’s birthday, the time when Jesus’ promise to his disciples is finally fulfilled. The Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus at his baptism has now been passed to his disciples. In John’s Gospel, Jesus promised: ’the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.’That time of waiting has come to an end. With the outpouring of the Spirit they are now equipped to take on the role of spreading the gospel message.
When better for this equipping to take place than during Pentecost. Pilgrims were already gathered in great numbers for the celebration as Pentecost was already an established festival within the Jewish faith. It came 50 days after the offering of the barley sheath during the Passover feast, also known as the feast of Harvest or the feast of weeks. So on this day of celebration we suddenly see God using an ancient and established festival to introduce a new phenomenon - His church.
Peter, remember the one who denied Jesus, today is filled with this inner strength, he reminds the crowd that this is no drunken outburst, this is what the prophet Joel had prophesied centuries earlier with the words: “I will pour out my spirit on all people.” 
Imagine if there had been no Pentecost, just a group of frightened disciples trying to make sense of what had happened, no one to take the Gospel message forward - fortunately that wasn’t what happened, the promise Jesus had made to them was fulfilled and in a very dramatic way that was going to impact, not only them, but all they shared the message with. The raging wind and tongues of fire that came upon the disciples were to make a real difference not only then but today also. That same spirit established the Christian church, enabled that church to thrive – and it’s the same spirit that lives with us today and will continue to until God’s work on earth is done…
HYMNALL
SERMON - PART 2 – IRENE: 
We heard in our Old Testament reading about the Tower of Babel: how human pride was punished by mankind being divided into different languages - and how this punishment was reversed at Pentecost, when all heard and understood the Good News. Bells too speak a universal language. The clamour of their many tongues in our tower is not a ‘Babel’: they ring out messages clearly heralding danger, victory, sadness and joy.
Housed in the ancient tower of this medieval church is one of the finest and largest peals to be found in the country. When the bells are not ringing, a 23 bell carillon can be heard frequently throughout the day, chiming well known hymns and tunes. Today church bells will be sounding out across the globe in celebration of Pentecost. Many of the campanologists staying in Hull this weekend are celebrating with us this morning and meet here from as far away as Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Closer to home, I’ve been married to a bell ringer for the past 44 years, and when I asked the bell ringers from North Cave, the village where I live, why the bells are important to them spiritually, these are some of the answers they gave…
Harvey, who at 15 is one of our youngest bell ringers said, ‘Being part of an active group within our church is a great feeling, and regularly ringing in such lovely old and historic buildings and villages throughout the country is a real joy to me.’
And one of the more mature ringers told me:
‘Ringing for special events such as Remembrance Day, VE Day or Royal births is such an important thing for me. By ringing we are hopefully making people think about the day or occasion whilst also reminding them that the Church is there helping them to remember - or even reminding them to remember as we rush through our busy days.’
These days we no longer depend entirely on the change ringing we hear before a church service to draw people to worship – but this tradition, starting in England during the 7th century with the single toll, is part of our culture and heritage and still encourages worshippers to church. Our bells help to remind people that the church is here, and that regular worship continues to take place. As John Betjeman had it, we are literally ‘summoned’ by bells. Their resonance calls us to harmony and unity. One bell on its own creates a single tone, whereas a team of ringers working in co-operation creates something much more profound, complex and beautiful. In some mysterious way, the ringing of bells shows the importance of working together not to create ‘a name for ourselves’ as the builders of that brick and tar tower in Babel sought to do, but to bring unity in a broken world, a world where the sound of such music can replace the sound from weapons of war. At Babel, we see men wanting to demonstrate their own power, but at Pentecost what is demonstrated is the power of the God of love.
In our Easter season we’ve shared Christ’s journey from the cross, to resurrection and ascension, and now Pentecost, when we reflect on the coming of the Spirit. Filled with that Spirit we can share an array of gifts in abundance: love, peace, joy, wisdom and many more. To nurture such gifts is the aim of the church universal, and also of this church, ‘to be a loving presence in the heart of Hull’ – so let it not just be the joyous church bells that ring out this morning, but our Spirit-filled hearts that fill our cities, towns and villages with God’s love.
HYMNALL
NEAL: Canon David Grimwood, President of the Guild of Clerical Ringers will now lead us in our prayers.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION – Canon David Grimwood
DAVID: Come Holy Spirit, reach into our hearts and lives with your love, not just with words but with all senses and sounds, reminding us again of how you engage us in so many ways. The bells of Holy Trinity’s carillon sound out the Pentecost hymn, ‘Come Holy Ghost’ as we pray for that Spirit to fill our world.
[PRE-REC HYMN VERSE: Carillon bells - ‘Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire…’]
DAVID: Come Holy Spirit, enter our church and communities, here in Hull and throughout the country and across the world. Enter the depths of our longing; enter our trusting, enter our fearing, enter our letting go, enter our holding back. Flood our barren spaces, make fertile our deserts within. Come Holy Spirit, embrace and free us.ALL: Amen
HYMN VERSETREBLES ONLY
DAVID: Come Holy Spirit, we long to speak effectively in your name, but our words come out muddled and blunted. Give us the freedom and skills to express your glory, today particularly through music and bells and bell-ringing, through the dedication and practice that is needed to perfect all that we do, through the support and companionship to encourage one another, asking for the fresh, new-minted words, that heart may speak to heart, and a new day begin.ALL: Amen
HYMN VERSECHOIR ONLY
DAVID: Come Holy Spirit, giver of life, transform our former selves into a new life in faithfulness to your will. [Include here any pressing items from current news] Along with all those among whom we live, with all nations and peoples, we would enter a new time, a time of transformation, when hatred is replaced by love, violence by dialogue, condemnation by forgiveness, self-centredness by sharing. Bring us through your Spirit into a unity of peace reflecting the diversity of our gifts, traditions and cultures.ALL: Amen
HYMN VERSETENOR SOLO
DAVID: Source of all that is good, may we open our lives to your Spirit, those who ring our bells be inspired to ring to their best ability, and may the sound of bells echo our songs of praise, now and always.ALL: Amen
HYMN VERSECHOIR & CONGREGATION
DAVID: Being made one by the power of the Spirit, let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us...
ALL:Our Father who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come.Thy will be doneon earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread,and forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us,and lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom,and the power, and the glory,for ever and ever. Amen.
COLLECT FOR PENTECOST NEAL:The collect for this Feast of Pentecost:Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,ignite in us your holy fire;strengthen your children with the gift of faith,revive your Church with the breath of love,and renew the face of the earth,through Jesus Christ our Lord. ALL: Amen.
NEAL: Just a line to sum everything up and introduce the hymn

HYMNALL
START PRE-REC: Bells of HTH 
BLESSING 
NEAL: As the bells of Holy Trinity ring out the good news of Pentecost…
May the Spirit who hovered over the waters when the world was created, breathe into you the life he gives. ALL: Amen. May the Spirit, who overshadowed the Virgin when the eternal Son came among us, make you joyful in the service of the Lord. ALL: Amen. May the Spirit, who set the Church on fire upon the Day of Pentecost, bring the world alive with the love of the risen Christ. ALL: Amen. And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.ALL: Amen.
BELLS PRE-REC 

Please note: 
This script cannot exactly reflect the transmission, as it was prepared before the service was broadcast. It may include editorial notes prepared by the producer, and minor spelling and other errors that were corrected before the radio broadcast.
It may contain gaps to be filled in at the time so that prayers may reflect the needs of the world, and changes may also be made at the last minute for timing reasons, or to reflect current events.