May 19, 2024 

PENTECOST SUNDAY

Introit:

Let Your Holy Spirit Fill This Place

Words and Music by Craig Adams

Arranged by John E. Coates

Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra

© 2002 Bridge Building Music, Inc./Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc. 

Call to Worship   

Come, Holy Spirit, dwell among us:
Awaken our spirits, set us on fire with your love, 
and give us new breath as we rise and sing to the glory of your name!

**Processional Hymn:   

Come, O Spirit, Dwell Among Us

Come, O Spirit, dwell among us, come with Pentecostal power;

give the church a stronger vision, help us face each crucial hour.

Built upon a firm foundation, Jesus Christ, the Cornerstone,

still the church is called to mission that God's love shall be made known.

We would raise our alleluias for the grace of former years;

for tomorrow's unknown pathway, hear, O God, our humble prayers.

In the church's pilgrim journey you have led us all the way,

still in presence move before us, fire by night and cloud by day.

Come, O Spirit, dwell among us; give us words of fire and flame.

Help our struggling voices praise you, glorify your holy name.

Good Creator, Savior, Spirit, Three in One: what mystery!

We would sing our loud hosannas now and through eternity.

Words: Janie Alford, 1979
© 1979 Hope Publishing Company
Music: Thomas John Williams, 1890



Welcome and Life of the Church

New Member Confirmation

**Sharing of the Peace

Modern Lesson 

Our Modern Lesson is from We Make the Road by Walking, by Brian McLaren. Hear these words:

What happened at Pentecost reverses the ancient story of the Tower of Babel, when ambitious Babylonians grasped at godlike power by unifying everyone under one imperial language and culture. At Babel, God opposed that imperial uniformity and voted for diversity by multiplying languages. Now, in the Pentecost story, we discover a third option: not unity without diversity, and not diversity without unity, but unity and diversity in harmony.

In the millennia since Christ walked with us on this Earth, we’ve often tried to box up the “wind” in manageable doctrines. We’ve exchanged the fire of the Spirit for the ice of religious pride. We’ve turned the wine back into water, and then let the water go stagnant and lukewarm. We’ve traded the gentle dove of peace for the predatory hawk or eagle of empire. When we have done so, we have ended up with just another religious system, as problematic as any other: too often petty, argumentative, judgmental, cold, hostile, bureaucratic, self-seeking, an enemy of aliveness.

May God bless the hearing of these new words. Amen.

From: We Make the Road by Walking by Brian McLaren

Gradual

Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit, living Breath of God, breathe new life into my willing soul;
Bring the presence of the risen Lord, to renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause your word to come alive in me, give me faith for what I cannot see. 
Give me passion for your purity; Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.

**Let the fragrance of our prayers arise; lead us on the road of sacrifice,
That in unity the face of Christ will be clear for all the world to see. 

Words and Music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
Quoting “Gabriel’s Oboe” by Ennio Morricone
© 2006 Thankyou Music

**Scripture Lesson: Acts 2:1-21 

One:  Our Scripture Lesson is from the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Hear the Pentecost Story:

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 people from every nation 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.” Then Peter stood up with the eleven and addressed the crowd, “People of Judea 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 on all humankind, and your daughters and sons shall prophesy, and your young people shall see visions, and your elders shall dream dreams. Even on the most insignificant of my people, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days; 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 God’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of our God shall be saved.’”

One:  The Word of God for the People of God.

All:    Thanks be to God! Amen.

**Gloria                                               

 Glory to God

Glory to God in the highest; glory. 
Glory to God in the highest; glory. Glory be to God.

Sovereign God and Creator; glory. Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit;
We will worship you!

Peace, we pray for peace; peace to all nations you have created.
Oh, Lamb of God, have mercy upon us.
We are your children. All are your children.
You are the God of all!

Glory to God in the highest; glory. Glory to God in the highest; glory.
Alleluia, Alleluia! Alleluia, Amen!

Words adapted from the Latin Mass
Music by Steven Couch ©Cathedral of Hope

Sermon

Alive in the Spirit of God



Offering Call

Offertory

Heaven on Earth

Words and Music by David Binion, John Daniel Brockman, and Joshua Dufrene

Voices of Hope

Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra

Words and Music by David Binion, John Daniel Brockman, and Joshua Dufrene
Arranged by Ben Brown
© 2009 Integrity’s Praise! Music & Covenant Worship Group/Soul Jive Music

Communion     

Words of Institution         

Prayer of Consecration         

Let us pray.

Holy God, we thank you for these gifts of grape and grain, and pray that you would pour out your Holy Spirit on these elements and on us gathered here. Strengthen us through this feast of grace, and, by sharing this feast, may each of us know the presence of the living Christ. By your Spirit, make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world. Amen. 

Invitation

Music during Communion

Come Just as You Are

Solo: Come just as you are; Hear the Spirit call.

Come just as you are: Come and see, come, receive;

Come and live forevermore. 

ALL: Life everlasting, and strength for today;

Taste, the Living Water, and never thirst again.

Come just as you are; hear the Spirit call.

Come just as you are; Come and see, come, receive;

Come and live forevermore. 

Words and Music by Joseph Sabolick

© 1994 Universal Music/Brentwood Benson Publishing

Spirit of the Living God

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me! 

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.

Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me! 

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me!

Ven, Espíritu de Dios, cae sobre mí. 

Ven, Espíritu de Dios, cae sobre mí.

Tómame, cámbiame, lléname,úsame. 

Ven, Espíritu de Dios, cae sobre mí.

Words and Music by Daniel Iverson
© 1963 Moody Bible Institute of Chicago

Holy Spirit

There’s nothing worth more, that will ever come close;

no thing can compare, you’re our living hope, 

your presence, Lord.

I’ve tasted and seen of the sweetest of loves;

when my heart becomes free and my shame is undone,

your presence, Lord.

Holy Spirit you are welcome here, 

come flood this place and fill the atmosphere.

Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for, 

to be overcome by your presence, Lord.

Let us become more aware of your presence,

let us experience the glory of your goodness.

Holy Spirit you are welcome here, 

come flood this place and fill the atmosphere.

Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for, 

to be overcome by your presence, Lord.

Words and Music by Bryan Torwalt and Katie Torwalt
© 2011 Jesus Culture

Holy Ground

We are standing on holy ground,

And I know that there are angels all around.

Let us praise Jesus now,

We are standing in God’s presence on holy ground.

**We are standing on holy ground,

And I know that there are angels all around.

Let us praise Jesus now,

We are standing in God’s presence on holy ground.

Words and Music by Geron Davis
© 1983 Meadowgreen Music Company/Songchannel Music Co.

**Prayer of Thanksgiving

**Recessional

We Are the Church Alive

We are the Church Alive, Christ’s presence on this earth;

We give God’s Spirit body in the act of our new birth.

As yielded open channels for God’s descending dove,

We shout and sing, with joy we bring God’s all inclusive love.

We are the Church Alive, our faith has set us free;

No more enslaved by guilt and shame, we live our liberty!

We follow Christ’s example and freedom now proclaim,

Destroying myths of doubt and fear in Jesus’ mighty name.

We are the Church Alive, the Body must be healed;

Where strife has bruised and battered us, God’s wholeness is revealed.

Our mission is an urgent one; in strength and health let’s stand,

So that our witness to God’s light will shine across the land.

We are the Church Alive, all praise to God on high.

Creator, Savior, Comforter! We laud and magnify

Your name, Almighty God of love; pray, give us life that we

May be your Church, the Church Alive, for all eternity.

Words: Jack Hoggatt-St. John and David Pelletier, 1980

Music: Jack Hoggatt-St. John, 1980

© 1980 Jack Hoggatt-St. John and David Pelletier

OneLicense.net License #A-705445 / CCLI License #12333

**Benediction 

Postlude for Dismissal

 The Chancel flowers are given in honor of the South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ in which we hosted the Annual Meeting this weekend.  The flowers this week were done by our Facilities Director, Lynn Taylor, since Scott Stout is on vacation this week.