May 28,2023
WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE
PRELUDE "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" Doris Akers/arr. Mark Hayes
INTROIT “Sing and Rejoice” Emma Lou Diemer
WELCOME Rev. Trip Porch
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: We worship a creative God
All: who formed all living things!
One: We worship an abundant God
All: who gives each of us different gifts!
One: We worship a glorious God
All: who is seen in the vast array of creation! Alleluia!
*HYMN NO. 281 “Holy Spirit, Come to Us” (sung many times) VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Rick Nutt
Infinite God, you come to us in many colors, shapes, and languages. You speak to each of us in the way we can understand. You reach out to us and meet us where we are. But we are quick to limit you to what we can understand and control… Silent confessions are offered…
Forgive us, and set your Spirit loose among us. Challenge us, Give us Courage, surprise us, and open us to your power,
that we might know you more deeply, follow you more faithfully, and love more fully.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*RESPONSE OF PRAISE “Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me” GLORY TO GOD (Vasile)
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
All: And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
ANTHEM “Gracious Spirit Dwell With Me” arr. K. Lee Scott
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE: Acts 1:12-14; 2:1-21
After Jesus Ascended to heaven they left the mountain called Olives and returned to Jerusalem. It was a little over half a mile. They went to the upper room they had been using as a meeting place: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas, son of James.
They all agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included. Also Jesus’ mother, Mary, and his brothers. In total there were about 120 of them.
When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were blown away. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?
Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene; Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes; Even Cretans and Arabs!
“They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”
Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?”
Others joked, “They’re drunk on cheap wine.”
That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:
“In the Last Days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people:
Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. When the time comes, I’ll pour out my Spirit on those who serve me, men and women both, and they’ll prophesy. I’ll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, Blood and fire and billowing smoke, the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous and marvelous; And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved.”
One: Holy Wisdom, Holy Word All: Thanks be to God
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
SERMON
What prophetic word/vision for our community has God given to you?
What does the church being courageous look like? What about us as individual Christians?
How might we embrace the Spirit’s call to be courageous in life?
*HYMN No. 291 “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness” SPIRIT
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
TIME OF OFFERING Deux Strophes sur l'hymne “Veni Creator Spiritus” Alexandre Guilmante
*OFFERTORY RESPONSE #710 “We Lift Our Voices” OFFERING
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Almighty God, we have opened our hands to you, and our hands have been filled with good things. Receive the gifts we bring in gratitude for your care for us, and help us to bless you with dedication of our lives; through Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
*HYMN INSERT “For Such a Time as This”
TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING
CHARGE & BENEDICTION
CHORAL RESPONSE “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” William G. Tomer
God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a shepherd's care enfold you:
God be with you till we meet again.
Text: Jeremiah E. Rankin
POSTLUDE "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing" C. Wesley and C. Gläzer/arr. Melody Bober
Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452