Bulletin – May 23, 2021
Sunday, May 23, 2021
Pentecost Sunday
Approach
Lighting the Christ Candle
We light this candle this morning Holy One, not only to remind us of the life and resurrection of your son, but to remind us of all of the ways you speak to us—in rushing wind, in dancing flames, in words we understand, and in all that transcends language. Help us to know in the glow of this light that you, through the Spirit, are always with us.
Call to Worship
One: Come and worship!
All: We will praise the One between, within, and over.
One: Trust in the One who co-creates the was, the now, and the will-be.
All: Our hope is in the One who creates expansive love calling us to do the same.
One: Follow the One who never breaks covenant.
All: We follow the One whose extravagant love calls us to co-create justice for the oppressed, feed the hungry, unlock prisons, and welcome strangers, orphans, and widows.
One: Praise the One whose justice is grace-full and inclusive.
All: We praise the Spirit that spans the ages, Amen!
One: Come and worship!
All: We come to worship in word and in song.
(adapted from Tim Graves)
Hymn – VU #380 – “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.
Many were the dreamers whose eyes were given sight
When the Spirit filled their dreams with life and form.
Deserts turned to gardens, broken hearts found new delight,
And then down the ages still 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Prayer of Approach
God the Holy Spirit, you are the restless breath of love that sweeps through the world. You move where you will, breaking down barriers, stirring hearts to change, making all things possible, calling us to come together in community. Inspire each one of us to hunger and thirst for justice!
O God, you who are always doing a new thing, we confess that we sometimes close windows against the fresh air of new ideas, against the noise of other people’s worries, against the winds of change. God of every place and time, we confess that we often draw the curtains against people who are different, against world news or community concerns.
Forgive us our insulation in our locked homes, our shuttered churches, the security systems on our hearts. Open up our lives, and let your Spirit blow through. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Sung Response:
Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea; move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.
Time for All Ages
Hymn – VU #376 – “Spirit of the Living God”
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, move among us all,
Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love;
Humble, caring, selfless, sharing
Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love!
The Word
Scripture Reading: Romans 8:22-27
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-21
1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!
Meditation – “The Spirit”
Anthem – “Spirit of God”
The Response
Prayer
One: Come, Holy Spirit! Come, Holy Spirit, and fill us with your love. Open our eyes to see the presence of God all around us, in the stillness of this sacred space, in the busyness and noise of our city streets, in the joys and celebrations of our lives, in the tragedies and struggles that break our hearts, comfort those who grieve. Come, Holy Spirit.
All: Fill our lives with the Spirit of your love.
Sung response – “Send Your Holy Spirit” (VU #370)
“Send your Holy Spirit on your gathered people,
Merciful and loving God, hear us, as we pray.”
One: Come, Holy Spirit, grant them the peace that only you can bring. Stir within us a trust in life beyond death, as we ponder the mysteries of Christ’s resurrection and the hope we have in new and everlasting life. Strengthen those who are weak; heal the wounded and broken; give rest to the weary; and bring wholeness to the sick. We lift us to you those in this community whom we feel your presence this day…Come, Holy Spirit,
All: Fill our lives with the Spirit of your love.
One: Come, Holy Spirit, and inspire our warring world to seek peace, to love our enemies, to put away our weapons, to remember the price paid for our freedom, to care for those who have served. Come, Holy Spirit.
All: Fill our lives with the Spirit of your love.
One: Come, Holy Spirit, and ignite a fire in our bones, a passion for justice that cannot be quenched until all of your children are loved, until no one is marginalized or oppressed, until everyone has the opportunity to thrive, until the world is transformed and renewed. Come, Holy Spirit.
All: Fill our lives with the Spirit of your love.
One: Come, Holy Spirit, and revive your church. Liberate us from complacency and apathy; inspire us with Christ’s vision for a world reborn; help us to recognize our gifts for ministry and to use them in service of others; transform our hearts and our minds; fill us with love that overflows; remind us that there is no greater calling than to love you with all that we are and to love our neighbours as ourselves. Come, Holy Spirit.
All: Fill our lives with the Spirit of your love.
“Send your Holy Spirit on your gathered people,
Merciful and loving God, hear us, as we pray.”
One: Gracious God, give us a glimpse of your kingdom emerging around us and drawing us into the new things you are doing in the world. It is for your kingdom that we now pray, filled with your Spirit, using the words Jesus taught us.
All: 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.
(adapted from John W. Vest)
Hymn – MV #142 – “Oh a Song Must Rise”
Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend
Oh a song must rise once again
Singing out God’s praises and glory,
The faithful voices blend,
Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend.
From the mountains to the valleys,
From the desert to the sea,
A song must rise once again.
From the voices of our leaders,
The voice of you and me,
A song must rise for the spirit to descend.
Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend
Oh a song must rise once again
Singing out God’s praises and glory,
The faithful voices blend,
Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend.
From poverty and riches,
From the voice of young and old,
A song must rise once again.
From the free and the imprisoned,
The timid and the bold,
A song must rise for the spirit to descend.
Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend
Oh a song must rise once again
Singing out God’s praises and glory,
The faithful voices blend,
Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend.
From every house of worship,
In every faith and tongue,
A song must rise once again.
From the villages and cities
A new song must be sung,
A song must rise for the spirit to descend.
Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend
Oh a song must rise once again
Singing out God’s praises and glory,
The faithful voices blend,
Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend.
Benediction
So now we leave this time of worship and while so much of the road ahead is uncertain, the path constantly changing, we know some things that are as solid and sure as the ground beneath our feet, and the sky above our heads.
We know God is love.
We know Christ’s light endures.
We know the Holy Spirit is there, found in the space between all things, closer to us than our next breath, binding us to each other, until we meet again.
So as you leave this time of worship go in peace, knowing that you don’t go alone. Amen.
(adapted from Rev. Nora Vedress)
Sung Response:
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
