Sunday, May 28, 2023
LOVELY LANE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
PENTECOST
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
MAY 28, 2023
10:15 A.M.
Organ Prelude
Welcome and Announcements John Strawbridge
Choral Introit “Spirit of the Living God” (Iverson)
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.
Call to Worship
L: The believers speak in different tongues, P: For they have been given different gifts. L: We are gathered here today that our lives may be touched by tongues of fire.
P: We are gathered here today that our hearts may become flames of warmth to a cold world.
L: We are gathered today to be open to the possibility of your Holy Spirit.
P: Fill us, Lord.
L: Come down upon us, Descending Dove, and enable us to speak the Truth to your world.
P: Holy Spirit, source of our energy and power, sweep into our lives this day, that we may experience your refreshment, your renewal, your life. Amen.
Opening Hymn “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness” TFWS 2120 vs. 1, 2 & 4
REFRAIN: Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
blow through the wilderness calling and free,
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
stir me from placidness,
wind, wind on the sea.
1. 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.” REFRAIN
2. You swept through the desert, you stung with the sand,
and you goaded your people with a law and a land; and when they were blinded with idols and lies,
then you spoke through your prophets to open their eyes. REFRAIN
4. You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes.
From the bondage of sorrow all the captives dream dreams;
our women see visions, our men clear their eyes.
With bold new decisions your people arise. REFRAIN
Epistle Lesson 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 The Message 4-11 God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful: wise counsel, clear understanding, simple trust, healing the sick, miraculous acts, proclamation, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues. All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.
The Word of God…..THANKS BE TO GOD
Prayer of Confession (Response is Sung)
L: Merciful God, the gift of Jesus’ life in us is visible in the way we witness to the fruitfulness of that gift. We know that the fruit of the Spirit consists of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Yet, so often we put conditions on our love – and joy and peace are difficult to discern when our words and actions deny their presence.
P: Spirit of the living God Fall afresh on me.
L: By desiring instant results to most things these days, we confess that we forget what it’s like to be patient. We find ourselves neglecting the needs of others because we run out of time to be kind to other than ourselves.
P: Spirit of the living God Fall afresh on me.
L: When we persistently make self-centered decisions rather than Christ- centered ones, our understanding of your goodness and faithfulness is weakened and our discipleship lacks credibility.
P: Spirit of the living God Fall afresh on me.
L: In this aggressive world, it’s easy to believe one can’t get anywhere by
exercising a spirit of gentleness or even self-control
P: Spirit of the living God Fall afresh on me.
L: Gracious and merciful God, grant us your forgiveness and your love so that we may truly care for one another.
P: Refresh and renew us with the Holy Spirit so that we are fruitful and vital disciples of Jesus Christ.
Assurance of Forgiveness
L: Those who are in Christ are a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God with whom we have been reconciled through Christ. (based on 2 Corinthians 17.18)
P: Thanks be to God!
Sharing Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer Lord’s Prayer
Choral Response “Cares Chorus” TFWS 2215
I cast all my cares upon You
I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet
And any time I don’t know just what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon You.
Gospel Lesson Acts 2:1-17 New International Version 2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.”
The Word of God for the people of God….Thanks be to God
Sermon “Wind of the Spirit” Rev. Debbie Scott
Invitation to Offering
Offertory “Listen, Sweet Dove” (Ives)
Listen, sweet dove, unto my song,
And spread Thy golden wings in me;
Hatching my tender heart so long,
Till it get wing and flie away with thee.
Such glorious gifts thou didst bestow,
The earth did like a heaven appeare,
The starres were coming down to know
If they might mend their wages and serve here.
The sunne which once did shine alone
Hung down his head and wisht for night,
When he beheld twelve sunnes for one,
Going and giving light.
Lord, though we change, Thou art the same,
The same sweet God of love and light:
Restore this day for Thy great name
Unto His ancient and miraculous right.
Offering Prayer (All)
O God, on this day of Pentecost we celebrate your Spirit so freely given and so powerfully active within your church. As that Spirit moves in our midst, may it inspire us towards generosity and fire us with an energy to serve you well. We ask this in the name of Christ whose promise of ever-presence the Spirit fulfills. Amen.
Closing Hymn “Spirit of God” TFWS 2117 Vs. 1,2,&4 1. Spirit of God, bright Wind, breath that bids life begin,
glow as you always do; create us anew.
Give us the breath to sing, lifted on soaring wing,
held in your hands, born on your wings.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit, Come! (2 times) 2. Spirit of God, bright Dove, grant us your peace and love,
healing upon your wings for all living things.
For when we live your peace, captives will find release,
held in your hands, born on your wings.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit, Come! (2 times) 4. Spirit of God, bright Flame, send us in your holy name,
the power to heal, to share your love everywhere.
We cannot fail or fall, or know defeat at all,
held in your hands, born on your wings.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit, Come! (2 times)
Benediction L: Go forth now as Pentecost people, filled with the Spirit, dreaming dreams,
and seeing visions of God’s possibilities.
P: We go forth, knowing we are beloved and blessed by a God who never leaves us alone.
L: Go, to be surprised by the Spirit in all that you do and everywhere that you go.
P: We go, claiming our identity as Pentecost people–people of wind and fire, dreams and visions,
people filled with that most amazing and transforming Spirit. Amen.
Choral Benediction “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” (Jackson) Breath on me, Breath of God, Fill me with life anew, That I may love the way You love, And do what You would do.
Ringing the Bicentennial Bell
Organ Postlude
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