“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8

Sunday, May 31, 2020
Day of Pentecost

ORDER of WORSHIP

Greeting and Welcome

Prelude Music

Call to Worship (Based on Acts 2, Psalm 104)
Pastor: With rushing wind and holy fire . . .
All: Come, Holy Spirit, come.
Pastor: With tongues of flame and hopes rekindled . . .
All: Come, Holy Spirit, come.
Pastor: With visions birthed and dreams restored . . .
All: Come, Holy Spirit, come.
Pastor: With spacious grace and depth untold . . .
All: Come, Holy Spirit, come.
Pastor: With rushing wind and holy fire . . .
All: Come, Holy Spirit, come.

Opening Prayer (Based on Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 12, John 7)
All: Spirit of Pentecost, blow open the doors of our shut up hearts. Set our tongues free to proclaim your praise. Bless our youth with visions, and our elders with dreams. Bestow our children with gifts of prophecy, and renew the faith of your people throughout the world. Blow into our lives, once more, Holy One, and help us find the strength and courage to become the people you call us to be. Amen. 

Hymn “O Spirit of the Living God”  UMH #539
Words: Henry H. Tweedy, 1935
Music: Trad. English melody; arr. by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733303. All rights reserved.

1. O Spirit of the living God,
thou light and fire divine,
descend upon thy church once more,
and make it truly thine.
Fill it with love and joy and power,
with righteousness and peace;
till Christ shall dwell in human hearts,
and sin and sorrow cease.

2. Blow, wind of God! With wisdom blow
until our minds are free
from mists of error, clouds of doubt,
which blind our eyes to thee.
Burn, winged fire! Inspire our lips
with flaming love and zeal,
to preach to all thy great good news,
God’s glorious commonweal.

3. Teach us to utter living words
of truth which all may hear,
the language all may understand
when love speaks loud and clear;
till every age and race and clime
shall blend their creeds in one,
and earth shall form one family
by whom thy will is done.

4. So shall we know the power of Christ
who came this world to save;
so shall we rise with him to life
which soars beyond the grave;
and earth shall win true holiness,
which makes thy children whole;
till, perfected by thee, we reach
creation’s glorious goal!

Prayer of Yearning  (Based on Acts 2, Psalm 104, 1 Corinthians 12, John 7)
All: Spirit of wind and flame,blow open the doors we erect to keep ourselves sealed off from your world.We long to be set free from the fears that jail us and to be released from chains that bind us.We yearn to draw near to your source of living water,and to drink deeply from its well.We want to be cleansed in your holy fire,and to be driven into the streets by your winds of grace.Come to us, and heal us once more, Mighty Spirit, that we may embrace your gifts in service to a world in need. Amen. 

Words of Assurance (Based on Acts 2, Psalm 104)

Pastor: When God breathes the Holy Spirit into our lives, the earth is renewed. When God blesses us with gifts of this same Spirit, we too are renewed and made whole. Rejoice, sisters and brothers, God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Special Music  Sung by Alison Combes

Prayers of the People, Lord’s Prayer

Scripture Reading  Acts 1:3-8, 2:1-12 (NRSV)

Meditation  “From Lockdown to Breakout”  Rev. Matthew Sergent

Hymn  “Spirit of God” #2117 TFWS
Words: Steve Garnaas-Holmes.
Music: Steve Garnaas-Holmes, 1987.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733303. All rights reserved.

1. Spirit of God, bright Wind, breath that bids life begin,
glow as you always do; create us anew.
Give us the breath to sing, lifted on soaring wing,
held in your hands, born on your wings.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit, Come! (2 times)

2. Spirit of God, bright Dove, grant us your peace and love,
healing upon your wings for all living things.
For when we live your peace, captives will find release,
held in your hands, born on your wings.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit, Come! (2 times)

3. Spirit of God, bright Hands, even in far off lands
you hold all the human race in one warm embrace.
No matter where we go, you hold us together so,
held in your hands, born on your wings.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit, Come! (2 times)

4. Spirit of God, bright Flame, send us in your holy name,
the power to heal, to share your love everywhere.
We cannot fail or fall, or know defeat at all,
held in your hands, born on your wings.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit, Come! (2 times)

5. Spirit of God, in all, we gladly hear your call,
the life in our hands that sings, the power of your wings.
Born of your grace we rise, love shining in our eyes,
held in your hands, born on your wings.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit, Come! (2 times)

Benediction

With rushing wind and holy fire,
go forth in the power of the living God.
We go forth as God’s children.

With tongues of flame and hope rekindled,
go forth in the power of the eternal Christ.
We go forth as heirs with Christ.

With visions birthed and dreams restored,
go forth in the power of the Holy Spirit.
We go forth as new creations in God’s Spirit.

With spacious grace and depth untold,
go forth in the mystery of the Holy One.

Postlude

(Portions of the Order of Worship provided by Abingdon Worship Annual, Copyright © B.J. Beu. Used with permission, May 31, 2020)