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Focus: “Sometimes we can only find our true direction when we let the wind of change carry us.” Mimi Novic
Threshold Moment: A Time for Centering
Welcome:
Call To Worship:
Leader: Here we gather for song and scripture, seeking comfort and hope, seeking to be inspired as well as challenged.
People: Here we gather to retell the ancient tales and wonder how God’s story continues to unfold.
Leader: Today we tell the story of Pentecost, the story of the Holy Spirit rushing in like a wild wind and dancing like flames upon each of the disciples,
People: And we ask ourselves where we see the Holy Spirit present in our world today.
Leader: Today we tell a story of the Holy Spirit igniting hope again. We will hear Peter claim his identity, tell his story, and inspire others to see the Holy at work in the world.
People: And we will ask ourselves if we are ready to share our own stories.
Leader: Friends, welcome. Welcome to this place with all questions, doubts, wonders, and find here an invitation to experience something ancient and something new.
People: May we be open to the Spirit.
May we be open to learning…and learning from one another.
May we grow in faith, hope, and love. Amen.
Gathering Music: Blowin’ in The Wind (by Bob Dylan) -Michelle Currie
Opening Prayer:
Breath of Life, on this Pentecost Sunday, we ask that You breathe on us once again. Make our consciences tender to Your touch. We hunger for the life-changing power that Your Holy Spirit brings. May our lives exemplify the fruit of Your Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May we use the gifts of the Spirit that You have distributed to bless the church and build Your Kingdom on earth. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
Opening Hymn: Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness -Michelle Currie
Readings and Scripture: Acts 2:1-21, Pentecost by Malcolm Guite
-Nancy Bancroft
Sermon: Our Common Language -Rev. Paula Norbert
Music: Meditative Instrumental ~ Be Thou My Vision -Michelle Currie
Musical call to Prayer: (two times) Hush now in quiet peace, be still your mind at ease. The Spirit brings release, so wait upon the Lord.
Prayers of the People:
Closing Music: Come Live in the Light -Michelle Currie
Benediction:
Go forth into this day, with the Spirit in the air,
to share your stories of God’s love with the world.
Go forth into the world in the name of God, the one
who creates you; go in the name of the Jesus who
shows us the way; and go in the name of the Holy Spirit,
who is with us now and always.
Postlude: Go In Peace
Our Readings for Today
Acts 2:1-21
2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2:2 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.
2:3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.
2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
2:5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.
2:6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
2:7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
2:8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?
2:9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
2:11 Cretans and Arabs–in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”
2:12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
2:13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
2:14 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.
2:15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.
2:16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
2:17 ‘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.
2:19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
2:20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
2:21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Pentecost
Today we feel the wind beneath our wings
Today the hidden fountain flows and plays
Today the church draws breath at last and sings
As every flame becomes a Tongue of praise.
This is the feast of fire, air, and water
Poured out and breathed and kindled into earth.
The earth herself awakens to her maker
And is translated out of death to birth.
The right words come today in their right order
And every word spells freedom and release
Today the gospel crosses every border
All tongues are loosened by the Prince of Peace
Today the lost are found in His translation.
Whose mother-tongue is Love, in every nation.
Malcolm Guite, Sounding the Seasons