A SERVICE OF HOLY WORSHIP SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 — Modified Streaming Service

PENTECOST SUNDAY

WE GATHER AND PREPARE OUR HEARTS

CHIMING OF THE HOUR

WELCOME

PRELUDE Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart Frederick C. Atkinson

*OPENING HYMN In Our Homes, We Meet to Worship 1. In our homes, we meet to worship, far away from sacred space. By the Spirit, Christ is with us, making this a holy place. In these days of social distance, we are called to meet apart. Still we pray for one another, hold each other in our heart. 2. If this time indeed is holy, we must keep it truly so. Even in our isolation, God’s rich blessings overflow. We avoid the world’s distractions, set our minds on things above: patience, kindness, goodness, mercy, faith, joy, peace, abiding love.

CALL TO WORSHIP Join me in the responsive Call to Worship …

Wind of God, who awakened creation and stirred dry bones to life – sweep through this space and enliven our worship. Wind of God, who descended as tongues of flame and gave birth to the church – sweep through this space and ignite our hearts. Wind of God, who guides our ministry and equips us for service – sweep through this space and empower our witness. Let us worship God!

*HYMN #279 Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove 1. Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, with all thy quickening powers; kindle a flame of sacred love in these cold hearts of ours. 2. In vain we tune our formal songs; in vain we strive to rise; hosannas languish on our tongues, and our devotion dies. 3. Dear Lord, and shall we ever live at this poor dying rate? Our love so faint, so cold to thee, and thine to us so great! 4. Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, with all thy quickening powers; come, shed abroad a Savior's love, and that shall kindle ours.

CALL TO CONFESSION AND PRAYER OF CONFESSION God has promised that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Therefore, let us call upon the Lord, confessing our sins.

Let us pray …

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us. We rejoice in the gifts you have given us. Yet, we confess, we do not always use them to glorify you. For using the gifts of your Spirit for selfish gain instead of using them for the common good, forgive us, O God. For thinking too little of ourselves, not trusting that you have given us gifts for your service, forgive us, O God. For believing some gifts to be better than others, ignoring how we each build up the body of Christ, forgive us, O God. Spirit of the Living God, melt us, mold us, fill us again with your power and use us for your work so that our lives may glorify you.

(Moment of Silence for Personal Confession. Count to 20 before proceeding.)

We offer our prayers in the name of the One who saves us, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS Sisters and brothers, God offers forgiveness of our sins and the grace of repentance. Accept God’s grace, repent of your sin, and be restored to abundant life. Amen.

WE ENCOUNTER THE WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Let us pray.

Almighty God, by the power of your Holy Spirit, speak to us in the language of our hearts, that we may hear your Word with understanding and answer your call with confidence. Amen.

FIRST READING Numbers 11:24-30 (Pew Bible, OT, page 129) 24 So went out and told the people the words of the LORD; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. 25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again. 26 Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27 And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 And son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” 29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were , and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!” 30 And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

RESPONSIVE READING Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Please join me in a responsive reading from Psalm 104.

How manifold are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Yonder is the sea, great and wide, with its swarms too many to number, living things both small and great. There go the ships to and fro, and Leviathan, which you made for the sport of it. All of them look to you to give them their food in due season. You give it to them; they gather it; you open your hand, and they are filled with good things. When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; and so you renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the Lord endure forever; O Lord, rejoice in all your works.

You look at the earth and it trembles; you touch the mountains and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will praise my God while I have my being. May these words of mine please God. I will rejoice in the Lord. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Hallelujah!

SECOND READING Acts 2:1-21 (Pew Bible, NT, page 119) 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 : 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.’

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

ANTHEM Breathe On Me, Breath of God Hatch/Jackson

SERMON Rev. Leslie Belden

WE RESPOND TO THE WORD

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

OFFERING The Holy Spirit was sent to increase our compassion and to make us glad to spread good news by caring for those in need. May you enter into the disciple of giving as a work of the Holy Spirit within you.

OFFERTORY Spirit of the Living God Iverson

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING God of mercy, we give you thanks for all that your bounty creates. The gifts we bring today acknowledge our debt to you and our intent to relieve others of their burdens. Bless what we offer and bless those who will be shown deeds of power through them; in Jesus’ name. Amen.

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

HYMN #288 Spirit of the Living God Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. 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.

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE AND PRAYER

BREAKING OF BREAD AND COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

WE GO FORTH TO MINISTER

*HYMN #291 Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness 1. Spirit, spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness, calling and free. Spirit, spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea. You moved on the waters; you called to the deep; then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep; and over the eons you called to each thing, "Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings." 2. Spirit, spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness, calling and free. Spirit, spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea. You swept through the desert; you stung with the sand; and you goaded your people with a law and a land. When they were confounded with idols and lies, then you spoke through your prophets to open their eyes. 3. Spirit, spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness, calling and free. Spirit, spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea. You sang in a stable; you cried from a hill; then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still. And down in the city, you called once again when you blew through your people on the rush of the wind. 4. Spirit, spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness, calling and free. Spirit, spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea. You call from tomorrow; you break ancient schemes; from the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams. Our women see visions; our men clear their eyes. With bold new decisions your people arise. Spirit, spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness, calling and free. Spirit, spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.

*CHARGE AND BLESSING Adapted from Henri Frédéric Amiel’s journal Sisters and Brothers in Christ, life is short and there’s precious little time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us, so make haste to be kind and quick to love, for within every act of love and kindness is the God who first formed us, reforms and transforms us, again and again, now and forever. And for that the people say: Amen.

*CLOSING HYMN Go Now in Peace 1. Go now in peace. Never be afraid. God will go with you each hour of every day. Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true. Know He will guide you in all you do. 2. Go now in love, and show you believe. Reach out to others so all the world can see. God will be there guiding like a dove. Go now in peace, in faith, and in love.

POSTLUDE On Pentecost They Gathered Jane P. Huber