May 28th 2023 – “Come Holy Spirit!”

2023-05-28 "Come Holy Spirit!" 11 AM

Dear friends, 

This Sunday the Rev. Linda Faith Chalk will be leading us in worship. 

Thank you to all the volunteers who dedicated their time and effort to the congregational workday on Friday, we got a lot done, your contributions are sincerely appreciated! 

This Sunday we will be celebrating Pentecost, which takes place on the 50th day after Easter Sunday.  In the Israelite calendar of Biblical feasts, Pentecost (Shavuot) is also known as Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Harvest, and the Latter Firstfruits.  During this time the Israelites would present an offering of new grain of the summer wheat harvest to the Lord and show thankfulness for the Lord’s blessing of harvest.  This feast also celebrates the giving of the Law from Mount Sinai, and the revelation of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) to Moses.  

On the day of Pentecost, the apostles and fellow believers were all gathered together, when the sound of a mighty rushing wind came down from heaven, and tongues of fire rested on them (Acts 2: 1-21).  Just as God appeared on Mount Sinai in thunder, wind, and fire, so God’s glory and Holy Spirit also filled the apostles’ room and shook Jerusalem.  


Order Of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 386: “Come down, O Love divine”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Psalm 104 (paraphrase) Hymn #70 (Sung to tune St. Fulbert)
Gloria Patri
Acts 2: 1-21
Blessing of the Children
Hymn 400: “Spirit of the living God”
Numbers 11: 24-30 (en français – English on the screen)
John 7: 37-39
Sermon: “Come Holy Spirit!”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 399: “Spirit, Spirit of gentleness” (vs 2 & 3 en français)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn: “O glorious day when God’s love overflowed” (Sung to tune #135)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

June 5th 2022 – “The other Pentecost”

2022-06-05 Pentecost 11:00 AM - "The other Pentecost”

Dear all,

Luke’s account of Pentecost can seem a bit overwhelming for those of us who haven’t experienced anything like it or spoken in tongues.  We are not sure what to do with ecstatic speech or tongues of fire.  So John’s version of the coming of the Holy Spirit to Jesus fearful disciples may be more our speed. John ties the coming of the Spirit not to a single event of overwhelming power, but to more routine and habitual matters. John’s gospel points us to the spirit of truth which is grounded in obedient love. Obedience and love are the prerequisites  to receiving the Spirit who allows disciples to discern truth.  Nothing in John about speaking in ecstatic tongues which has been so important to Pentecostals and so off-putting to others.


Order of Service

PENTECOST SUNDAY, June 5, 2022
Prelude:
Call to Worship
Hymn 281: “Wind who makes all winds that blow”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace and Lord’s Prayer
Responsive reading: Psalm 104: 24-34
Acts 2: 1-13
Anthem: “Psaume 104”
John 14: 8 – 27
Hymn 394: “Holy Spirit, truth divine”
Sermon: “The Other Pentecost”
Hymn 403: “She comes sailing on the wind”
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 276: “Come, O Spirit, with your sound”
Benediction
“Go Now in Peace”
Postlude: