Pentecost: Every Breath a Prayer

Pentecost: Every Breath a Prayer - Rev. Donnell T. Wyche - a2vc.org. Like us on fb.com/vineyardannarboror watch our livestream Sundays @ 10:45am - vimeo.com/annarborvineyard 

Summary:

On this Pentecost Sunday, Pastor Donnell Wyche invited the congregation to reflect on the nearness of God through the simple, sacred act of breathing. Drawing from Acts 2 and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, he reminded us that the miracle of Pentecost isn’t found in fire or wind or tongues, but in the radical truth that God’s Spirit has been poured out on all flesh. Every breath we take, Pastor Donnell suggested, might be a prayer—an unspoken whisper of God’s name—linking us to the divine presence that animates all of creation.

 

Pastor Donnell explored the spiritual meaning of breath through scripture, Hebrew language, and human experience. He pointed out that the same word for “spirit” is also the word for “breath,” and that in our joy, fear, and weariness, breath reflects the state of our souls. Drawing from Psalms, Romans, and Thessalonians, he offered a vision of sanctification not as rigid moralism but as the Spirit gently cleansing what no longer belongs in us—inviting us to breathe in God’s love and breathe out what holds us back. The sermon challenged us to see ourselves as beloved vessels of divine breath: fragile, yet filled with glory and honor.

 

In a closing, embodied invitation, the congregation was led through a three-minute breathing exercise—placing hands on their bodies, focusing on the breath, and receiving a prayerful blessing. Pastor Donnell reminded us that Pentecost is more than an event—it’s a way of life, where every breath becomes a prayer, every inhale a reminder of God’s nearness, and every exhale a release of anxiety, bitterness, or fear. In this sacred rhythm, we remember who we are: chosen, holy, and deeply loved.