Worship Service for May 19, 2024

May 19, 2024 – Pentecost

Introit

Prelude

Lighting of the Christ Candle

This is the Christ Candle. We light the candle to help us remember that Jesus Christ, the light of the world, is with us in every place and every time.

Call to Worship

One: Breathe upon us, Holy Spirit,
All: and inspire our worship with your truth.

One: Stir in our hearts, Holy Spirit,
All: and fill us with your love.

One: Strengthen us, Holy Spirit,
All: and move us to act with your power.

Opening Hymn

“Oh for a thousand tongues to sing” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 374). Words (1739, alt) by English Methodist leader and hymnwriter Charles Wesley (1707–1788).  Music (tune: “Richmond”) first published in 1792 by English minister Thomas Haweis (pronounced to rhyme with “pause”; 1734–1820) and both adapted and shortened in 1808 by English music teacher and composer Samuel Webbe the younger (1768–1843); descant by New Zealand-born British organist and composer Craig Sellar Lang (1891–1971). Words, music and descant public domain.

Prayers of Approach and Confession, & Lord’s Prayer (sins)

God of power and possibility, with the flame of your Spirit, you give us energy to move into the world in Jesus’ name. With the breath of your Spirit, you refresh us to engage life in its complexity. Your Spirit embraces us in the diversity and difference you wove into our creation and unites us in your love. We praise you for your presence with us in every time and place. In this time of worship, send us the Holy Spirit once again. Renew us to serve you in the world that aches for the healing and wholeness you offer through Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord.

God of mystery and mercy, we confess we have not always paid attention to the urging of your Spirit to follow your will and your way. Too often we claim to belong to Jesus, yet we ignore his teaching. You created us to love one another, but we resist loving those who differ from us. Stir our hearts with your Holy Spirit. Transform who we are, and direct who we shall become through Christ’s redeeming love.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.

Declaration of Pardon

These words are worthy of our trust and acceptance: In Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven. Be at peace with God, with yourself and with one another.  Thanks be to God for God’s steadfast love and mercy!
All: Thanks be to God!

The Peace

One: The Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
All: And also with you.

The Life and Work of the Church (Announcements)

Musical Reflection

Christianne James, soprano: “Because He Lives”. Words and music (1971) by Bill (1936–) and wife Gloria Gaither (1942–). Words and music copyright © 1971 Gaither Music.

Fun with the Young at Heart (children’s story)

We sing verse 1 of “Jesus loves me this I know”.

“Jesus loves me, this I know” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 373). Words (1859 or 1860) by American writer Anna Bartlett Warner (1827–1915). Revisions to v2 and v3 by Canadian Anglican priest David Rutherford McGuire (1929–1971). Music (1862; tune: “Jesus loves me”) by American musician William Batchelder Bradbury (1816–1868). Words, revisions, and music in the public domain.

Scripture Reading

Acts 2:1–21  <– this links to on-line text of the NRSV bible

Click here for additional scripture readings from today’s lectionary. Links courtesy of the Revised Common Lectionary, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library.

Acts 2:1–21

2 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 people 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.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews 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:

‘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. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

Sermon

On Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate how a group of Christians saw, heard, experienced, and witnessed God through the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem around two thousand years ago.

Acts 2:1–4: “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.”

Just as Moses experienced God in the burning bush, a group of Christians witnessed the Holy Spirit through the sound of a violent wind and the sight of tongues of fire. I’m not sure how much I understand about what is described in the text. As a North American Christian living in the 21^st century, I am not sure how to approach the text.

Just as sometimes we get so caught up in what we don’t have that we forget to pay attention to what we already have, sometimes we get so caught up in what we don’t understand that we forget to pay attention to what we may understand.

We may not understand what happened on that day, but we may understand what had led to that day.

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.”

It wasn’t that long ago that these disciples argued among themselves about who was the greatest among them. They were so busy serving their own needs and wants, telling Jesus, ‘This is what I want, and this is what I want you to do for me.’ It wasn’t that long ago that these disciples ran and hid from everyone, denying Jesus by saying, ‘I don’t know him,’ or ‘I don’t know what you are talking about.’

Yet, on the day of Pentecost, during the thanksgiving week, they became one in the love of Jesus Christ, transcending their endless worries and fears, and moving beyond their regret and past failures.

You and I know how hard it is to become one. Even when we live under the same roof, even when we go to the same church, even when we ride in the same vehicle.

I truly believe that is why all of you are here today, and I know that is why I am here doing what I do today, because we have experienced the Holy Spirit reminding us of who we are, what we are missing in our lives, and what we are truly hungry for.

When we were younger, we thought that if we had our own family, if we bought our own place to live, if we had enough savings, if we had this and that, everything would be okay. But then we experience life, death, relationships, brokenness, understanding misunderstanding, love, forgiveness, chaos, new beginnings, and grace… We come to a realization that we were never alone, we are not alone, and we will not be alone. Everything we experience through the Holy Spirit points us to God eternal.

May we look at verses 5–7 and 12. Although we may never fully understand what happened, we may understand what followed the event.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every people 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?

12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

Many who witnessed the Holy Spirit working were amazed, and this experience of wonder, amazement, and astonishment led them to ask themselves: “Who are these people? Are they not Galileans? Yet why are they speaking in our own language? Why are they doing what they are doing?” They wanted to know more about the ones who spoke. They wanted to understand what they heard and what the message was.

I believe all our questions; especially unanswered questions of our hearts lead us to God. I will talk more about this next Sunday as we look at the questions that Nicodemus asks in the gospel of John chapter three. Our questions from our hearts would not always lead us to the satisfying answers we wanted to hear but they would lead us to God.

That is our ultimate task we are given as Christians who follow God and Christ Jesus. Our task is not to pretend we can replace God or can speak on behalf of God, but we can invite others to come closer to God. And what is a better way to invite others closer to God than listening and honoring their questions from their hearts with humility and wonder?

Hymn

“O love that casts out fear” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 297). Words (1861) by Scottish churchman and poet Horatius Bonar (1808–1889). Music (1881; tune “Mosely”) by English organist and composer Henry Thomas Smart (1813–1879). Words and music public domain.

Offering

As Jesus gave himself for us, let us return to God the offerings of our life and the gifts of the earth.

Musical Reflection

We remind everyone that we must continue to pay our bills; in the absence of being present at Sunday worship, you may sign up for pre-authorized remittance (PAR), donate online, or drop off your offering envelope in the mailbox at the church. Do not leave a cash donation unattended in the mailbox; instead, please call the office (416.261.4037) to ensure someone will be there to receive it. The building will be checked daily for mail and phone messages. If you are not comfortable leaving an envelope, you are welcome to contact the office (once again, 416.261.4037) and someone will pick up your offering.

Dedication of our Gifts

Our offering will now be received.

Doxology 306

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 306). Based on the tune “Old 100^th” with words (1989) by English hymnwriter Brian A. Wren (1936–). Words copyright © 1989 Hope Publishing Co.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A. Music public domain.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise God all creatures high and low;
praise God in Jesus fully known,
Creator Word and Spirit One.

Prayer of dedication

Spirit of grace and power, bless the gifts we offer so that they may accomplish surprising things in Jesus’ name. Bless our lives, too, so that our words and actions bear witness to Jesus’ love and mercy each and every day.  Amen.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving and Hope

Wind of the Spirit, blow through your whole church on this day of Pentecost: Blow through us and renew our faith. Re-awaken our love for God. Let the flames of your love warm our hearts with trust in Jesus Christ. Dare us to do great things in his name. Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and renew our faith and hope.

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and give us energy to serve you as the body of Christ working in the world. Open our eyes to recognize needs for ministry and mission around us. Open our hearts to welcome newcomers and meet those we don’t yet know. Open our hands to share in tasks that need doing, and open our lips in prayer and praise. Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and renew our faith and hope.

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and give us understanding for all those whose lives seem so different from ours for those facing situations we’ve never encountered for those with whom we’ve disagreed    for problems and challenges we face at home, at work, and in the world facing so much turmoil  Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and renew our faith and hope.

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and bring healing for all who face pain or illness, discouragement or disappointment for all who know sorrow, sadness or grief  for those who feel pressure in these uncertain times Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and renew our faith and hope.

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and bring us the compassion we see in Christ Jesus to serve the world you love in his name. Blow through us and refresh us as his faithful followers. Unite us across our differences. Amen.

Closing Hymn

“Let every Christian pray” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 283). Words (1970) by British minister and hymnwriter Fred Pratt Green (1903–2000), based on Acts 2. Music (tune: “Ludgate”) by John Dykes Bower (1905–1981). Words copyright © 1971 Hope Publishing Co.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A. Music copyright © Royal School of Church Music, represented in North America by GIA Publications, Inc.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

Changing the Light

Now, it is time to change the light. The light that was in one place can now be in every place and every time going with you wherever you go.

Benediction

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (the risen Christ), the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you always. AMEN.

Blessing

“Danish Amen” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 780). Words and music (tune: “Amen (Danish)”) traditional. Words and music public domain.

Postlude

Copyright © 2024 Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church

Last updated 2024-05-23 22:15 – Added Sermon text; added Musical Reflection after Announcements.