Home Worship Service Plan May 31, 2020 • Churchwide Bible Study Phase 3: Week 6 (red) • Pentecost (Church’s Birthday) 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; 14-24 “Wide Open” As Paul says so well: ‘Don’t suppress the Spirit.’

Preparation Gather these items for worship. If you don’t have a particular item, fret not.. • a piece of red cloth • a glass of water • a lighter or match • a computer or internet- • an end table or stand • as many candles as you • a small fan accessible device • a plate have participants (it can • a Bible • a cup be a scented candle)

For each item you have, thank God for the provision. For each piece you do not have, thank God you don’t need it. Place the table/ stand in the area you plan to worship. If more than one person will be present, place the table in the middle of where you will be seating. Drape the cloth over it. Arrange the cup, plate, and glass of water on the table. Put one candle on the table (to light) and keep one for yourself (if more than one participant, each person should have a candle to hold) Keep the Bible in front of you, open to the passage for today.

Before we get going, a word about seasons. You may have noticed that throughout the last seven weeks we’ve been concluding sections of the service with “Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! Hallelujah!” Starting with this service, we stop saying it. This is NOT because it’s no longer true (of course it is). But with the close of the season of Easter we enter into new territory. This is an important reminder that our faith moves in seasons as well. Make room for your faith to move as the Spirit does and let us keep worshipping together, no matter where we have to do that.

Announcements & Service Notes READY TO ACT! CELEBRATING PENTECOST! Worship happens well beyond what happens in a sanctuary Pentecost is the birthday of the Church and a time we or what we’re doing at home. At the end of the service, take celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit! Right now, as a part the opportunity to engage in one or more of the activities of worship, we will use candles as a way to symbolize this suggested (if you aren’t already) as a continuation of our acts event. of worship. CHURCHWIDE BIBLE STUDY OVER ZOOM SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW!! Our churchwide Bible study continues! We are in phase three If anything is clear, it’s this: no one knows everything about of our reading of the New Testament letters. You can get a God. This is why, as a part of worship, a weekly prompt is sent copy of the study guide from the church office, on our out from the church over email to encourage folks to share website, or from our Facebook page. People WITHOUT a their God-knowledge. Whether through stories, a picture or computer can participate (so spread the word!). As long as video, these are collected and displayed on the video during you have a phone you can study with us. Details are available the offertory. Contact the church office with any questions. from the church office. There are two opportunities: 2pm and another at 7:30pm on Wednesdays, whichever is more convenient.

If you want to use the accompanying service video, you can find it on the church website, on YouTube and on our Facebook page starting Saturday, May 30th, at 6 p.m. It has the benefit of including the work of our music leaders and the guidance of our church leadership. When you’re ready to begin, silence your devices. Take several deep breaths. And turn the page.

page 1 of 7 Opening Sentences (Read aloud, even if alone; the first Be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure no one repays a spoken words of worship are Scripture): wrong with a wrong, but always pursue the good for each 1 THESSALONIANS 5:20-21 - “Don’t brush off Spirit-inspired other and everyone else. 16 Rejoice always. 17 Pray messages, but examine everything carefully and hang on to continually. 18 Give thanks in every situation because this what is good.” is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Don’t suppress the Spirit. 20 Don’t brush off Spirit-inspired messages, 21 but SING: ‘On Pentecost They Gathered’ (lyrics on p.5) examine everything carefully and hang on to what is good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil. 23 Now, may the God of PRAY: Spirit of God, breathe into us. Spirit of God, inspire us. peace himself cause you to be completely dedicated to Spirit pf God, make a church out of us. As only you can, draw him; and may your spirit, soul, and body be kept intact us together, even now. Teach us your presence, and may your and blameless at our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming. 24 The Word not only make us feel good in our thinking, help us feel one who is calling you is faithful and will do this. good about what we’re doing. Thank you for your faith in us and with us. Thank you for seeing us and not rejecting us. Meditation Help us see everything the way you do. In the great name of [Milestones] Jesus Christ we pray this together … One of the things that makes it difficult for some of us to keep up with what day it is can be seen in the absence of the usual PRAY SILENTLY…THEN SAY, “Thank you for listening, God. Amen.” markers. Our calendars are blown up. Our routines are shaken up. The Word • Sing, ‘Mighty to Save’ (lyrics p.5) Heather Berlin, a psychiatry professor at The Icahn School of Medicine, says, ”Our brains tend to track intervals of time PRAY: through distinct events, and we don't have many of those Lord, we celebrate your Word, written. By your Spirit, as we right now. It's very hard to estimate how much time has hear, help us understand that we might be your Word, passed if there's nothing to demarcate it. If it's all the same embodied. Amen. and blends together, then it can feel like just one really long day.” READ: 1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-11; 14-24 Paul teaches the Church about managing expectations. It’s one of the reasons we grieve so much the loss of things 1 We don’t need to write to you about the timing and like senior recognition and graduation ceremonies or church dates, brothers and sisters. 2 You know very well that the attendance in our buildings or time together with friends, day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. family or even strangers at a racetrack or ballfield. They all 3 When they are saying, “There is peace and security,” at represent, in some cases, more than inconveniences. They that time sudden destruction will attack them, like labor are examples of something deeper. pains start with a pregnant woman, and they definitely won’t escape. 4 But you aren’t in darkness, brothers and We leverage these occasions, these marks of time, to sisters, so the day won’t catch you by surprise like a thief. measure almost everything, especially our progress. It’s how 5 All of you are children of light and children of the day. we make the mental maps in our heads that navigate our histories and allow us to be prescient about our futures and We don’t belong to night or darkness. 6 So then, let’s not teach us what has value in our present moments. sleep like the others, but let’s stay awake and stay sober. 7 People who sleep sleep at night, and people who get But we are all experiencing this differently. Some of us feel drunk get drunk at night. 8 Since we belong to the day, busier than ever. Some of us are beyond bored and lonely. A let’s stay sober, wearing faithfulness and love as a piece lot of us are scared and a few of us feel like we’re going crazy. of armor that protects our body and the hope of salvation Some have routines turned inside out and others of us are as a helmet. 9 God didn’t intend for us to suffer his wrath mostly doing things the same as always, watching the world but rather to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus go crazy around them. We are, all of us, searching for a path Christ. 10 Jesus died for us so that, whether we are awake out of this mess we seem to be in. When does it all end? or asleep, we will live together with him. 11 So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just These are the same kind of questions and angst the like you are doing already. Thessalonians were feeling. 14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are disorderly. Comfort the discouraged. Help the weak. page 2 of 7 [When Is Jesus Coming Back?] Jesus said it. Paul says it. Almost every New Testament writer 1 Thessalonians is thought to be the earliest written of the makes reference to this fact in some fashion: no one knows. New Testament letters. Even though Paul’s letters are in order of longest to shortest in our Bibles, 1 Thessalonians shows us That didn’t stop people from trying. Even in our recent history that the earliest issue the Church faced was what to do about you have a whole denomination built around the notion that Jesus. they knew when Christ was returning. Cults have come and gone on the idea that a leader was himself either Christ A major piece of the backdrop for the early Church was the returned or that he (and it’s a ‘he’ a LOT) had exclusive notion of Christ’s imminent return. After all, Jesus said he’d be knowledge about Jesus’ coming. back, so, they wanted to be ready. And if Jesus was coming back any minute, well, obsessing about that played games The thing about obsessing with the precise time of Jesus’ with the Thessalonians’ sense of time. return is that it doesn’t matter. If we are LIVING the way we’re supposed to be, then when Jesus returns is immaterial. Jesus Some people thought, “What’s the point? Why work or worry said it best: about routines or anything?” I see this nowadays when I think about my time as a Senior in high school. That last year, that “Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know when the last month, finding it so hard to be motivated. Doubly so for head of the household will come, whether in the our present Seniors since their grades were rendered ‘pass/ evening or at midnight, or when the rooster fail’ and their grade averages frozen. Why should they crows in the early morning or at daybreak. Don’t bother? Why make the effort? I really get that. let him show up when you weren’t expecting and find you sleeping.” —Mark 13:35-36 Some people thought, “Well, I need to get it all out of the way and out of my system.” I’ve got a bucket list or a life list or a (Stop the video and think about a time when you woke “whatever-I-can-get-away-with” list that I need to get in before up to something. What did you realize? What did you Jesus gets here and changes things…again. I can see this in do? Did you let yourself fall back asleep?) the debates surrounding the whole mask-wearing thing. So many talking about it in terms of their own interests. But why So how do we keep God from catching us asleep? How do not? Why not zero in on what makes you happy if your time is we wake up to the possibilities of our faith? How do we live in short? I really get that. such a way that time doesn’t matter? It’s advice summarized in verse 19: “Don’t suppress the Spirit.” Then there’s the question of being in or out of God’s fold. What do you do if you’re new to the faith? What do you do if [Every Time I Feel the Spirit] you’ve done faith one way and now everything and The concluding chapter of this letter is more than just a “best everybody’s telling you to do it differently? You can go with it of Christians living series.” It is an argument, a plea, that was and wear yourself out trying to do everything new or resist it timely then and timely now: get to work! for all you’re worth and wear yourself out fighting against the inevitable. It’s like no choice gets you where you want to be. I When the Israelites were in the desert, they had to wait on the REALLY get THAT. coming of the 10 commandments to arrive. Once they did, they had to start practicing them. When Mary became And all this angst hinged on the obsession with timing. And, pregnant with Jesus, she had to wait for him to come to term to be honest, it’s an obsession over the centuries that has before Christmas could happen. But once he was born, she been a pretty stupid preoccupation. had to get on with being a mom. When Jesus rose into heaven out of view of the disciples, on the day of Pentecost, [No Time Like the Present] they were waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. (Start Paul concludes a long argument about why the ‘when’ of lighting candles) Once God fell on them, on each one of Jesus’ coming was not important: them, they had to fan out talk about what God had done in Jesus Christ in whatever languages they were led to speak. “We don’t need to write to you about the timing and dates, brothers and sisters. You know very We wait on the return of Christ. But we have the command in well that the day of the Lord is going to come like hand already. We are already pregnant with God’s a thief in the night.” —1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 possibilities. We have what we need to share the Gospel. For all of us having a hard time with patience, Good News: we don’t have to wait. We have the power to demonstrate the

page 3 of 7 love of God right now in any and every circumstance. And cheerfully out of THANKS for what God has made us: this is the point of the end of Paul’s letter. Even though Christ temples of God’s own Spirit! is not yet returned, our waiting is over. Remember to look over the section at the end of the service [What We Must Do] plan (after the benediction for ways to continue in worship Paul writes, “All of you are children of light and children of the through your acts of service. And if you have the means and day. We don’t belong to night or darkness. So then, let’s not will and inclination to give money to the church, you can sleep like the others, but let’s stay awake and stay sober.” bring your offering or gift by the church office. You can submit it online by making the church a vendor with your bank’s bill But how? How do we bear out that focus? Especially now? pay service or by going to our church’s website and giving through our Square® portal (no app or extra software The list Paul provides in the remainder of the passage lays it necessary). You can mail a check (please do not mail cash) or out for us. If you really want to be awake, sober in God’s Spirit, call the church office and we’ll walk you through the process. practice doing these things (which means you might have to You can set time aside or schedule when you will do some of try more than once and you might fail): things prescribed in the meditation.

warn those who are disorderly OFFERTORY & REFLECTION Comfort the discouraged On the video, the congregation shared answers to the Help the weak question: when have you felt closest to God? Be patient with everyone Blessing Make sure no one repays a wrong with a wrong, but always PRAY: Lord, take our gifts offered in earnest. Multiply them pursue the good for each other and everyone else according to your purposes that they may serve your ends. Rejoice always And in the process, make us all a part of the blessing you Pray continually mean for the world. Amen. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer Don’t suppress the Spirit; Don’t brush off Spirit-inspired • PRAY for your yourself, your family and nation messages, but examine everything carefully and hang on • PRAY for our world and for an end to the epidemic to what is good • PRAY for the situations and folks on our prayer list Avoid every kind of evil • PRAY for each graduating senior: • Austin McCoy Brogan And don’t forget that in all of this, we are not on our own. This • Rachel Carolyn Ealy began with God. It ends with God. But most importantly, it • Brent Korneluk happens with God, right now. Paul says, “may the God of • Kolbey William Warren • Alexis Williams peace himself cause you to be completely dedicated to him; • Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy and may your spirit, soul, and body be kept intact and kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. blameless at our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming.” Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.And lead us not into temptation [So we need to breathe deeply of God’s Spirit so that we are but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the living out as deeply.] power, and the glory forever. Amen.”

Respond to the Word Sending & Benediction SING:’Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise’ (Lyrics on p.6) • Sing, ‘Learning to Be the Light’ (lyrics p.6) • SAY ALOUD, ’We need to breathe deeply of God’s Spirit so Graduate Recognition that we are living out as deeply.’ We recognize the efforts of our Seniors and the efforts and • Get up, take heart, Jesus is still calling you…Be at peace. promise they represent! You can find profiles for each at the end of this service plan starting on page .

Offering & Offertory We don’t give because God’s impressed with our generosity: no one is out-giving God. Our tithes, gifts, participation, acts of service and compassion and offerings should be given

page 4 of 7 Ways to Think about Service/Mission/Giving As Your efforts to blunt not only the effects of the virus, but of poverty, Continuing Act of Worship food insecurity and social violence everywhere it occurs. There are many ways to serve that don’t involve money or even leaving your house. You could send cards or write You could determine that being a part of the household of letters. You could call or FaceTime random (or particular) God doesn’t limit your options, but actually expands your people in your contacts or directory. You could pray, options for love and compassion and kindness. Be generous. everyday, for our prayer list, for your own list or both, for Be Christ-like. Be Christ yourself (yes, yourself; to be shaped into what God wants you to be). You can make art to share in some way or even write a SONGS poem or song. You could start a Bible study group or put ‘On Pentecost They Gathered’ together your own phone tree. You could find a way to gain On Pentecost they gathered quite early in the day, the skills to join the online world in some fashion (if you a band of Christ's disciples, to worship, sing, and pray. haven’t). You could collect food or even clothing for someone A mighty wind came blowing, filled all the swirling air, else to take for you to places that might need it. You could do and tongues of fire a-glowing inspired each person there. as some have already done make masks. You could put together health kits (the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance The people all around them were startled and amazed website has several lists to work from; if you don’t have access to understand their language, as Christ the Lord they praised. to that, call the church office). You can observe the themes of What universal message, what great good news was here? the upcoming worship services and provide artwork, music That Christ, once dead, is risen to vanquish all our fear. or audio/video files of liturgy (the reading list is available from the church office). God pours the Holy Spirit on all who would believe, on women, men, and children But if you can leave the house, there are other options as well. who would God's grace receive. You could park in someone’s driveway and pray with them That Spirit knows no limit, bestowing life and power. over the phone. You can visit with folks through the window The church, formed and reforming, responds in every hour. of their house or residence. You could collect non-perishable food (yours or pick up someone else’s) to give to Manna O Spirit, sent from heaven on that day long ago, Market, our schools, or to a neighbor you know about. You rekindle faith among us in all life's ebb and flow. could leave gifts on the door knobs or handles of folks or do O give us ears to listen and tongues aflame with praise, drive-by Birthday greetings. These are all things you could do so folk of every nation glad songs of joy shall raise. and still maintain responsible distance. You could fix a meal to deliver to someone’s porch. You could make a cake, package Mighty To Save or deliver part of it, and then eat it together with someone Everyone needs compassion, a love that's never failing; over the phone or video conference. You can make a banner Let mercy fall on me. of thanks to display at a hospital or any number of first Everyone needs forgiveness, the kindness of a Savior; responder stations. You can deliver cleaning supplies to The Hope of Nations. shelters, food pantries or even a neighbor. That might mean buying a little extra while you’re out. You could help deliver Chorus: the worship service plans and printed email updates to those Savior, He can move the mountains, members without Internet access (and save the church a few My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save. stamps). Forever, Author of Salvation, He rose and conquered the grave, Financially, of course, there are any number of ways you can Jesus conquered the grave. show support or service. Our church is a great place to start with that. We are still active with Meals on Wheels of So take me as You find me, all my fears and failures, Alamance County, Manna Market Food Pantry, the school Fill my life again. I give my life to follow, everything I believe in. pantry at Audrey Garrett Elementary. We are still building Now I surrender. [chorus] ramps and other helps for folks who need more accessibility at their homes. What you give goes to not only support our Shine your light and let the whole world see, we're singing employees, but yet supports the ongoing care of our facilities For the glory of the risen King. (x2) for when they reopen. You could determine to share or tithe [chorus] part or all of your stimulus check or tax refund. You could support any number of local, state, national and international

page 5 of 7 ’Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise’ Learning To Be The Light Immortal, invisible, God only wise, When the stars came crashing down in light inaccessible hid from our eyes, in tiny pieces to the ground, most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, I was all alone down here, trapped beneath the atmosphere. almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise. Then I thought somebody called my name, I spun around and caught a flame. Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, I gave into a God I didn't know, nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might: Now everything is falling into place, a brand new life is calling thy justice, like mountains high soaring above; and I owe it all to grace. thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love. Chorus: To all, life thou givest, to both great and small. It's so much brighter living in Your world, In all life thou livest, the true life of all. Savior what You did for me. You gave me something I want everyone to see. We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree, When we stumble and it all goes wrong, then wither and perish; but naught changeth thee. only You can make it right. So I say, Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh, Thou reignest in glory; thou dwellest in light. Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight. Chorus: All praise we would render; O help us to see I’m learning to be the light, whoa, whoa. 'tis only the splendor of light hideth thee! I'm learning to be the light, whoa, whoa.

When a heart is cold as ice, you can't melt it with advice No one wants to listen to, a list of things they shouldn't do. So I build a city on a hill, and I light a candle on the sill, Knowing You'll be always knocking at the door. Oh, God, I just want to love on everyone, all I have is Yours to give, so let the people come. [chorus]

I'm learning to be the light, that makes the shadows hide, The light that breaks the curse of pride, the light that takes the weary in its arms. When it all came crashing down, there was only darkness all around, But in the distance I could see a flame.[chorus]

I'm learning to be the light, whoa, whoa. I'm learning to be the light, whoa, whoa. I'm learning to be the light.

page 6 of 7 Austin McCoy Brogan Austin is the son of Kevin and Jennifer Brogan and grandson of Sue Brogan. For 3 years, Austin has helped as a back stage assistant at Woodlawn Middle School with their yearly theatre productions. In 2019, Austin became the first Youth Elder at HPC and as an Elder he served on the CE committee. He has been very involved with Youth and other church activities and served as a nursery volunteer. Austin has served as a liturgist for worship and has been a Salem Presbytery Youth Council member for 4 years. Austin plans to attend Cape Fear Community college to study film and then transferring to UNCW to achieve his 4 year degree. Austin loves his HPC family. And once said that he has no family here, so Church is his family. Kolbey William Warren Kolbey is the son of Michael and Tina Warren. He will be graduating as a A/B Honor Roll student. Kolbey has been an active member of the Hawfields Youth Group. He has served as an usher for the Hawfields Alive Worship service and helped at children’s events. Kolbey plans on attending Alamance Community College in the fall. He is still exploring his options for his course of study.

Rachel Carolyn Ealy Brent Korneluk Rachel is the daughter of David and Brent is the son of Les & Leslie Williams Mandy Ealy & granddaughter of Tom & and grandson of Ron and Pat Williams Carol Stone. Rachel will be graduating Baugus. Brent and his parents moved with honors; A Honor roll for all of High away from Mebane in 2018; prior to Alexis Williams School. She served 2 years on Salem that, he was an active part of the youth Alexis is the daughter of Les & Leslie Presbytery Youth Council. She served for group, volunteered in the nursery and Williams and granddaughter of Ron and 5 years on Alamance Children’s Theatre helped with children’s events. He is Pat Williams Baugus. Alexis and her Board of Directors. Rachel has been an graduating from Laney High School. parents moved away from Mebane in Assistant Music Director, Assistant Brent will be attending UNC Charlotte 2018; prior to that, she was an active part Director, Stage Manager and Director for in the fall to study computer of the youth group, volunteered in the six Alamance Children’s Theatre shows engineering. He is happy to have nursery, helped with children’s events over 2 years. She directed the Eastern experienced his high school years and provided music for worship. High Alamance High School production of surrounded by friends and family who School has been a struggle for Alexis, but Cafe Noir in the fall of 2019. Rachel has love him. she is proud to have completed this step been an active part of the Hawfields in her education. She plans to go to youth group, volunteered in the nursery Cape Fear Community College for the and with children’s events, served on the next year and then transfer to UNC Nominating Committee as well as Pembrooke to get a degree in K-5 provided music for the worship service. education so she can become an Rachel plans to attend Maryville College elementary school teacher for her career in the fall to study theatre. She has been since she loves working with kids. awarded the Maryville Scholar scholarship and the Church Leadership Scholarship through Maryville College. She has enjoyed being a part of Hawfields Presbyterian Church and is page 7 of 7 grateful for all of the friends and memories she procured there.