LOVELY LANE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
DAY OF PENTECOST, YEAR A
MAY, 24, 2026
† Stand as you are able
Organ Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Choral Introit “Breathe On Me, Breath of God” Jackson
Breathe on me, breath of God;
Fill me with life anew.
That I may love the way You love,
And do what You would do.
†Call to Worship
Come, Holy Spirit, and kindle the fire of your love.
Come, Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
Come with your gifts—wisdom, courage, compassion, and power.
Come, Holy Spirit, and make us one.
Let us worship God, who breathes life into the church.
Amen.
†Opening Hymn “Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire” UMH 651
Prayer of Illumination
Open our ears to hear your Word, not as an ancient story only, but as a living fire for this present hour.
Come now among us. Open our ears to hear your Word, not as an ancient story only, but as a living fire for this present hour.
Open our hearts to receive your truth, not with fear or resistance, but with wonder, courage, and joy.As Moses longed for all God’s people to prophesy, and as the Spirit fell upon sons and daughters, young and old, servants and strangers, make us ready to hear what you are saying.
Set our minds free from narrow visions. Set our tongues free for holy witness. Set our lives free for the work of your kingdom.
Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening. Breathe, Holy Spirit, for your church is waiting. Kindle in us the fire of Christ, that we may hear your Word, believe your promise, and live as witnesses to your mighty acts.
In the name of Jesus Christ, the risen and ascended Lord. Amen.
A Reading from the Old Testament Numbers 11:24-30 NRSV
So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD, and he gathered seventy of the elders of the people and placed them all around the tent. 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. 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, so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua, son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!” And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.
The word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God!
Congregational Prayer
Holy Spirit, breathe upon your people. Where we are weary, renew us. Where we are divided, unite us. Where we are fearful, strengthen us. Set your church ablaze with holy love—not for spectacle, but for service; not for pride, but for mission. Give us language that heals and hands that help. Empower Lovely Lane to be a living witness in this community: hospitable, courageous, and faithful. Pour out your Spirit again, until our worship becomes a way of life and our lives become good news. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Passing of the Peace “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” UMH 334
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
Choral Response “Alleluia” UMH 186
†A Reading from the New Testament Acts 2:1-21 NRSV
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 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. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs–in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” 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. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 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.’
The word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God!
Sermon Reverend. Levon D. Sutton, Pastor
Responsive Hymn “O Spirit of the Living God” UMH 539
Invitation to Offering
Offertory “Come, Holy Ghost” Attwood
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire;
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost Thy sevenfold gifts impart:
Thy blessed unction from above
Is comfort, life, and fire of love;
Enable with perpetual light
The dullness of our blinded sight:
Anoint and cheer our soiled face
With the abundance of Thy grace:
Keep far our foes, give peace at home;
Where Thou art guide no ill can come.
Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And Thee, of both, to be but One;
That through the ages all along
This may be our endless song,
Praise to Thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Offering Prayer
Spirit of God, receive these gifts. Use them to strengthen your witness, bless the community, and extend the love of Christ in practical ways. Amen.
†Closing Hymn “Spirit of the Living God” UMH 393
†Benediction
Go in the power of the Holy Spirit. Be bold in love, steady in hope, and faithful in witness—until all see the grace of God. Amen.
†Benediction Response “Every Time I Feel The Spirit ” Spiritual, arr. Moore
Every time I feel the Spirit movin’ in my heart, I will pray.
Ringing the Bicentennial Bell
Organ Postlude