Bulletin – Sunday, May 31, 2020
May 31, 2020
Pentecost Sunday
Approach
Candle Lighting
Call to Worship
Once we walked the hillsides and pathways.
Then, in fear we hid in an upper room.
News of Jesus’s Resurrection stunned and awed our souls.
We didn’t know what to believe.
On this day, long ago, God’s Holy Spirit inflamed the hearts of those who had hidden in fear. They were encouraged to go and proclaim God’s Good News to all the world.
May God’s Holy Spirit inflame our hears and stir us from apathy and complacency to energy and enthusiasm to serve God in this world. Amen.
Hymn – “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness”
Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
Blow thro’ the wilderness calling and free,
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
Stir me from placidness,
Wind, Wind on the sea.
You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,
Then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;
And over the eons you called to each thing:
Wake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.
Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
Blow thro’ the wilderness calling and free,
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
Stir me from placidness,
Wind, Wind on the sea.
You sang in a stable; you cried from a hill;
Then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still;
And down in the city you called once again,
When you blew thro’ your people on the rush of the wind.
Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
Blow thro’ the wilderness calling and free,
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
Stir me from placidness,
Wind, Wind on the sea.
You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes,
From the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams,
Our women see visions, our men clear their eyes,
With bold new decisions your people arise.
Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
Blow thro’ the wilderness calling and free,
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
Stir me from placidness,
Wind, Wind on the sea.
Prayer
Almighty God, your Holy Spirit came to Jesus’ disciples, hidden in an upper room in Jerusalem. A violent wind and tongues of fire were the symbols of a new thing happening in their lives.
May your Holy Spirit burst into our lives today, encouraging and inspiring us to proclaim boldly the good news of Jesus Christ who offers healing and hope to all people.
Yet, sometimes we don’t think that we are ready, Patient God. It is easier for us to hide in the upper rooms of our lives, to let the world go by and not acknowledge your presence.
But you have challenged us to come alive again with your love and words of healing mercy. Forgive our hesitant witness and our complacent spirits. Heal our fears and our wounds. Help us to be agents of healing and hope for others.
Challenge and inspire us to overcome our feelings of inadequacy and remind us that you have called us beloved and have given us what we need to proclaim your Good News. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Hymn – “A Pentecost Hymn”
Spirit of God, draw close we pray,
Help us to follow in your way.
In what we think or say or do
Help us to choose to follow you.
When we’re afraid to say what’s right,
Tired, or lack the will to fight,
Give us the strength to stand and choose,
Making our lives a light for you.
Help us to look within our hearts
And for our growth set time apart,
Listening with prayer and stillness deep –
These bring our needy spirits peace.
Spirit of God, bring life anew,
Shine in our hearts and lead us through.
Life with its light and darksome hues –
May joy endure in all we do.
Time for All Ages
Hymn – “On Pentecost They Gathered”
On Pentecost they gathered quite early in the day,
A band of Christ’s disciples, to worship, sing, and pray.
A mighty wind came blowing, filled all the swirling air,
And tongues of fire a-glowing inspired each person there.
The people all around them were startled and amazed
To understand their language, as Jesus Christ they praised.
What universal message, what great good news was here?
That Christ, once dead, is risen to vanquish all our fear.
God pours the Holy Spirit on all who would believe,
On women, men, and children who would God’s grace receive.
That Spirit knows no limit, bestowing life and power.
The church, formed and reforming, responds in every hour.
O Spirit, sent from heaven on that day long ago,
Rekindle faith among us in all life’s ebb and flow.
O give us ears to listen and tongues aflame with praise,
So folk of every nation glad songs of joy shall raise.
The Word
Scripture Reading:
Acts 2:1-21
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!
Meditation – “To Be Filled With The Spirit”
Anthem – “Come Holy Spirit”
The Response
Prayer
For the gift of your Spirit in our lives and in our church, we offer our prayer of thanks.
We lift up prayers to you.
For the gifts you give to each of us to create your beloved community here on earth, we offer our prayer of thanks…
We lift up prayers to you.
For all of Creation, that it may be honoured and preserved and protected. We offer our prayer to you.
We lift up prayers to you.
For the leaders of our nation and all nations of the world, that they might be guided with wisdom and understanding and committed to act in ways that bring your presence and peace. We offer our prayer to you.
We lift up prayers to you.
For all places where there are wars and rumours of wars, for those places where hunger gnaws, for those places ruled by oppression and injustice, for those places where hatred overcomes love. We offer our prayer to you.
We lift up prayers to you.
Where dreams have died and visions are squelched, renew their spirits with your passionate fire. We offer our prayer to you.
We lift up prayers to you.
For all who are ill, whether in body, mind, or spirit…for all who mourn, whether for the loss of loved ones, the loss of a job, or even the loss of faith, fill them with your Spirit of compassion and strength and healing, that they might know they are never alone. We offer our prayer to you.
We lift up prayers to you.
For all that you have given and will yet give, we give you thanks. We offer all of our prayers to you, Loving God. Hear us as we continue to pray in the words that Jesus taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on 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, forever and ever. Amen.
Hymn – “She Comes Sailing on the Wind”
She comes sailing on the wind, her wings flashing in the sun;
On a journey just begun, she flies on.
And in the passage of her flight, her song rings out through the night,
Full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.
Silent waters rocking on the morning of our birth,
Like an empty cradle waiting to be filled.
And from the heart of God the Spirit moved upon the earth,
Like a mother breathing life into her child.
To a gentle girl in Galilee, a gentle breeze she came,
A whisper softly calling in the dark,
The promise of a child of peace whose reign would never end,
Mary sang the Spirit song within her heart.
She comes sailing on the wind, her wings flashing in the sun;
On a journey just begun, she flies on.
And in the passage of her flight, her song rings out through the night,
Full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.
Flying to the river, she waited circling high
Above the child now grown so full of grace.
As he rose up from the water, she swept down from the sky,
And she carried him away in her embrace.
Long after the deep darkness that fell upon the world,
After dawn returned in flame of rising sun,
The Spirit touched the earth again, again her wings unfurled,
Bringing life in wind and fire as she flew on.
She comes sailing on the wind, her wings flashing in the sun;
On a journey just begun, she flies on.
And in the passage of her flight, her song rings out through the night,
Full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.
Benediction
Go forth now as Pentecost people, filled with the Spirit, dreaming dreams, and seeing visions of God’s possibilities.
We go forth, knowing we are beloved and blessed by a God who never leaves us alone.
Go, be surprised by the Spirit in all that you do and everywhere that you go.
We go, claiming our identity as Pentecost people—people of wind and fire, dreams and visions, people filled with that most amazing and transforming Spirit. Amen.
Response – “Send Us Out”
Send us out in the power of Your Spirit, Lord,
May our lives bring Jesus to the world.
May each thought and word bring glory to Your name,
Send us out in Your Spirit, Lord, we pray.
