Order of Worship- Day of Pentecost – June 8th 2025
DAY OF PENTECOST / BEAR CREEK CAMP SUNDAY
06-08-2025 10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship
+ We Rejoice in the Spirit +
A CONVERSATION (for two voices):
A Oh, no!
B What happened?
A Come quickly!
B What is it?
A Oh, my God!
B What’s the problem?
A I just can’t believe it!
B Believe what?
A Those Jesus people…
B The ones who followed the dead guy?
I didn’t know they were still a group.
I thought they all ran away.
A Something happened!
B Did they get arrested?
A There’s been an explosion!
B Are they dead?
A No, but it’s like a hurricane wind and a raging fire inside their house…
B And you’re telling me they’re still alive?
A Not just alive… they’re like SUPER-ALIVE!
Look, they’re coming out of their secret hideout – all excited and unafraid!
They are praising God in every language!
And Peter is preaching loud and clear about Jesus!
B They look so foolish!
They sound so crazy!
They must be drunk!
They must be high on something!
A But they also look so happy and free and courageous!
And, I tell you, I can feel the power of their love!
Let’s get closer.
I want to be alive like that!
B Like I said, they must be high on something!
But don’t waste your time getting too excited.
I guarantee you, love like that will never last!
This will all be over by the end of the week.
OPENING RITE (with Leader and Congregation):
L For pious Jews, it was another celebration of Pentecost, one of the most important festivals in the Jewish calendar. Fifty days after Passover, Jews from all over the world made a holy pilgrimage back to Jerusalem each year to worship in the Temple, to offer their thanks and sacrifice, and to give their offerings of first fruits to God for the completion of the grain harvest.
For about 120 followers of Jesus, it was just another day – fifty days after the resurrection of the Jesus and the tenth day after he had ascended into the sky, up and away, and disappeared. It was just another day of staying together and waiting, of staying together and wondering, of staying together and praying, of staying together and holding onto the promises of Jesus.
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L Suddenly, on that fiftieth day after the resurrection of Jesus, SOMETHING happened!
C THE SPIRIT came as wind,
THE SPIRIT came as fire,
THE SPIRIT came as joy,
THE SPIRIT came as power,
THE SPIRIT came as courage,
and THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST was newly alive in his people!
L The followers of Jesus were transformed that day!
C THEY were so very different.
THEY spilled out of their secret hideout into the streets.
THEY were on fire with God’s love.
THEY couldn’t hold it in any longer.
THEY were newly alive and without fear.
And THEY couldn’t help but tell, show, and be the BODY OF CHRIST for the world.
L And now… here… across numerous miles and thousands of years… we are the Church still alive, still giving witness!
C ALLELUIA! Come, Lord Jesus!
ALLELUIA! Come, Holy Spirit!
I will praise my God while I have my being!
OPENING SONG: “WE WALK HIS WAY” [traditional South African song]
We walk His way… We walk His way.
We walk His way… We walk His way. [repeat the chorus]
(1) Unarmed He faces forces of demons and death. We walk His way. [repeat entire verse]
(2) He breaks the bonds of hell dying on the cross. We walk His way. [repeat entire verse]
(3) The tree of freedom blooms by His empty grave. We walk His way. [repeat entire verse]
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (together) :
O Holy Spirit of God, O Spirit of Jesus our Lord, come into our hearts, come into our lives, come into your churches, and come into this world. Shake us and wake us, bend us and break us, fill us and make us, take
us and send us, with the fire of your love and the breath of your power, we pray! Amen.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
SONG SELECTION: “This Little Light of Mine” Sunday School Children
FIRST READING: ACTS 2:1-21
[Introduction: Flames in our hair and fire in our blood! Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival that marked the fiftieth day after Passover. With images of wind, fire and “drunkenness”, Luke portrays the Holy Spirit being poured out upon a hidden community of 120 of the followers of Jesus ten days after the ascension of Jesus. Filled with the Spirit, the disciples were inspired and empowered to give witness to the power of Christ’s resurrection before the gathered and astonished people who had assembled in Jerusalem for the festival. About 3,000 people joined up with Jesus that day!]
LITURGUCAL DANCE SELECTION: ST. PETER’S PRAISE DANCERS
SECOND READING: ROMANS 8:14-17
[Introduction: Walking wet! Here Paul speaks about the mystery of baptism: through the Holy Spirit we are claimed, gathered, and welcomed into Christ’s body, the Church. We are no longer slaves to fear and sin. And we receive new names in our adoption: child of God, co-heir with Christ. But, watch out, there might be some trouble ahead – we are also called to share in Christ’s suffering!]
BEAR CREEK CAMP SONGS AND SHARING
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GOSPEL VERSE: “Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.”
HOLY GOSPEL: JOHN 14:8-17, 25-27
[Introduction: Powered up to live and love like we know! We remember back to the upper room on the last night that Jesus was alive, when he tried to prepare his disciples for his death. Jesus spoke of his leaving and promised the Holy Spirit, whom he referred to as “the Advocate”, and he described the difference the Spirit would make in their lives and in the world. Pentecost calls us to recognize that the Spirit is alive and active not just on a spectacular day in the first century but constantly and always – even now, even here!]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Ms. Kallie Handlong, Bear Creek Camp
SONG RESPONSE: “SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT”
(1) There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, and I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord.
There are sweet expressions on each face, and I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
SWEET HOLY SPIRIT, SWEET HEAVENLY DOVE,
STAY RIGHT HERE WITH US, FILLING US WITH YOUR LOVE.
AND FOR THESE BLESSINGS WE LIFT OUR HEARTS IN PRAISE;
WITHOUT A DOUBT WE’LL KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN REVIVED
WHEN WE SHALL LEAVE THIS PLACE!”
(2) There are blessings you cannot receive till you know God in his fullness and believe.
You’re the one to profit when you say, “I am going to walk with Jesus all the way!”
THE PRAYERS… We pray for NEW LIFE in the Spirit and for the MISSION of the Church to the world!
+ We Rejoice in God’s Nourishing Meal +
OFFERING [Energized by the Holy Spirit, we eagerly seek to spread the JOY OF JESUS here, there, and all over!]
Those in the Sanctuary can put their offering in the offering plate to share their gratitude and their generosity in response to Christ’s love. Those who are farther away might: mail a check or money
order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138… contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a
recurring weekly gift to selected categories… or text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions to register and record your contribution. God has blessed us to be a blessing!
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
OFFERING SONG: “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
THIS IS MY STORY, THIS IS MY SONG,
PRAISING MY SAVIOR ALL THE DAY LONG! [sing the chorus 2 times]
We are God’s people, we are Christ’s Church, called by God’s Spirit into the world.
We have God’s power from heaven above, we’ll share God’s justice, mercy and love!”
OFFERING PRAYER led by the Communion Assistant:
O Lord our God, if your Spirit is alive within us, then stretch our time and abilities, our money and our mouths,
all that we are and all that we have, to testify to your amazing grace in Jesus Christ. Someone somewhere is in need of your Good News. Amen.
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THE PREFACE AND THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS:
L The Lord be with you. C And also with you.
L Lift up your hearts! C We lift them up in love for God!
L Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C It is right to give God our thanks and praise.
L Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful… C … and set us on fire with your love! Alleluia!
L Gracious God,
We thank you for the movement of your Spirit over the waters in the very beginning of creation, bringing order.
We thank you for the breath of your Spirit when we were formed from the dust of the earth, giving us life.
We thank you for the blessing of your Spirit, guiding and sustaining us through many generations.
We thank you for the voice of your Spirit in the prophets and the teachers when we resisted and turned from you.
We thank you for the grace of your Spirit which has kept us from completely destroying ourselves and this earth.
And we thank you – O how we thank you! – for the supreme, precious gift of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who lived among us, sharing joy and sorrow…
who told your story, healed the sick, and was a friend of sinners…
who took up his cross in obedience and accepted murder by those he loved…
who rose up beyond the boundaries of death and above the power of the devil…
and – on this day, as he had promised –
poured out your Spirit of new life on his chosen disciples,
until they were drunk with joy and crazy with love and courageous with showing and telling the story.
Therefore, with our own hearts lifted high, humbled to bear your Son’s name, Spirit, and mission, we join earth and sky and sea… all creatures and all of your creation… the angels and archangels that are above and around us…
and all the saints before us and beside us – here, there, and everywhere – in singing your praises…
C [singing…] “Holy, holy, holy, holy,
holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
and we lift our hearts before you as a token of our love,
holy, holy, holy, holy.
Precious Jesus, precious Jesus,
We’re so glad that you redeemed us, precious Jesus…
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
come and fill our hearts anew, O Holy Spirit…”
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! We will have “continuous distribution” with wafers and the option of wine or grape juice. Praise the Lord for this community meal that renews our spirits, powers our faith, and reminds us of the future heavenly banquet that awaits us!
COMMUNION SONG: “LET US BREAK BREAD TOGETHER”
(1) Let us break bread together on our knees. Let us break bread together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.
(2) Let us drink wine together on our knees…
(3) Let us praise God together on our knees…
COMMUNION SONG: “IN THE NAME OF JESUS”
In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, we have the victory!
In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, Satan will have to flee.
Oh-h-h, tell me: who can stand before us when we call on that great name?
JE-SUS! JE-SUS! Precious JE-SUS! We have the victory!
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COMMUNION SONG: “COME BY HERE, MY LORD”
(1) Come by here, my Lord, come by here.
Come by here, my Lord, come by here.
Come by here, my Lord, come by here.
O Lord, come by here!
(2) Someone needs you, Lord, come by here
(3) Someone’s prayin’, Lord, come by here…
(4) Kum Ba Yah, my Lord, Kum Ba Yah…
(5) Send a blessing, Lord, come by here…
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Mission +
THE BENEDICTION:
L Go out, sisters and brothers, into the world with courage and conviction, bearing the love of God, the good news of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit in every word you speak, and in everything you do.
C (singing) “A-MEN! A-MEN! A- – – MEN!”
CLOSING SONG: “THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE”
(1) This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
(2) Ev’rywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine… (4) In my neighborhood, I’m gonna let it shine…
(3) All through my life, I’m gonna let it shine… (5) Jesus gave it to me, I’m gonna let it shine…
Please join us for our picnic + fellowship + fun as we celebrate the birthday of the Christian faith! Thank you,
all who contributed and assisted in our worship and our picnic!