"Creator Spirit, Heavenly Dove” | Day of Pentecost

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // After Jesus tells his disciples he must depart that the Holy Spirit would arrive, it is easy to imagine the disciples' confusion and fear. In our fear, we turn to God’s Holy Spirit in prayer, that we would be restored as those without sin.

Stanza 2 // The Holy Spirit is named in many ways throughout Scripture. This hymn says we cry to the One who brings us “comfort” - the “gift of God” - and the “true fount of life.” The gift of the Holy Spirit is from God, who gives us faith to trust the life God gives in Jesus Christ. In this, we have comfort in all fear.

Stanza 3 // The seven-fold gifts of the Spirit are listed in the eleventh chapter of Isaiah - “wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, piety, and the fear of the Lord.” In each of these, the Spirit gives us to see the “Almighty hand” of God.

Stanza 4 // The blessings of the Holy Spirit are not limited to theological definitions in this prayer, but requested that “every sense” and “every heart” would know the Spirit’s “light” and “love.” God knows we need the “might [and] strength” of the Spirit in the midst of our weakness. When God’s Spirit brings us to faith in God’s saving work, our bodies are redeemed to speak, work, and live in Christ’s freedom.

Stanza 5 // This might sound like one of the more unbelievable aspects of this prayer, especially for those seemingly touched by the “cruel foe” and our sin each day. But, it is a reflection of God who will not “lead us into temptation” as we so often pray. A portion of Luther’s explanation of the Sixth Petition can be helpful - that “God would watch over us and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our sinful self may not deceive us and draw us into false belief…” This is the Spirit’s work - to “keep us” in faith!

Stanza 6 // The purpose of the Holy Spirit is what this stanza says - to teach us to know the “Father, Son, and Spirit” to be one! The message to which the Holy Spirit testifies comes through Father and Son, that we might praise God without end.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS

ELW 394 - Hail Thee, Festival Day! - SALVE FESTA DIES

ELW 395 - Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord - KOMM, HEILIGER GEIST, HERRE GOTT

ELW 410 - All Glory Be to God on High - ALLEIN GOTT IN DER HÕH

ELW 454 - Remember and Rejoice - ST. THOMAS

ELW 577/578 - Creator Spirit, Heavenly Dove - KOMM GOTT, SCHÖPFER

ELW 582 - Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling - IN BABILONE

ELW 627 - O Day Full of Grace - DEN SIGNEDE DAG

ELW 743 - Now to the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray - NUN BITTEN WIR

ELW 786 - O Holy Spirit, Enter In - WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET

ELW 804 - Come Down, O Love Divine - DOWN AMPNEY

LBW 142 - Hail Thee, Festival Day! - SALVE FESTA DIES

LBW 161 - O Day Full of Grace - DEN SIGNEDE DAG

LBW 163 - Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord - KOMM, HEILIGER GEIST, HERRE GOTT

LBW 166 - All Glory Be to God on High - ALLEIN GOTT IN DER HÕH

LBW 284 - Creator Spirit, Heavenly Dove - KOMM GOTT, SCHÖPFER

LBW 317 - To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray - NUN BITTEN WIR

LBW 459 - O Holy Spirit, Enter In - WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET

LBW 472/473 - Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire - VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS // KOMM, GOTT SCHÖPFER

LBW 508 - Come Down, O Love Divine - DOWN AMPNEY

LBW 523 - Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling - IN BABILONE

LSB 489 - Hail Thee, Festival Day! - SALVE FESTA DIES

LSB 497 - Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord - KOMM, HEILIGER GEIST, HERRE GOTT

LSB 498/499 - Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest - KOMM, GOTT SCHÖPFER // VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS

LSB 501 - Come Down, O Love Divine - DOWN AMPNEY

LSB 503 - O Day Full of Grace - DEN SIGNEDE DAG

LSB 650 - Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling - IN BABILONE