DAY OF PENTECOST- May 24, 2026 -10:00 a.m. Worship + Weekly Announcements
DAY OF PENTECOST
05-24-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ We Rejoice in the Spirit +
OPENING WORDS / CALL TO WORSHIP:
L Holy Spirit, come again, we plead.
As long ago you inspired, astonished, and confused the people, come to us here and now, we pray —
C Fill our ears with the sound of your breath…
fill our eyes with the glow of your presence in each sister and brother…
fill our hearts with your Word of new life…
fill our hands, feet, and lips with actions and words of love, we pray.
L Holy Spirit, come again, we plead
Blow through us with a rush of wind, we beg… burn within us, we pray —
C Revive and restore us…
energize and encourage us…
ignite and intoxicate us…
unite and utilize us here, now, and in the days to come, we pray!
L Holy Spirit, come again, we plead.
Come into our lives, into your churches, and into this world, we beg and we pray!
C 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!
Change us from the inside out to be your Church,
in public and on purpose,
here, there, and all over the world,
HALLELUJAH and AMEN!
OPENING SONG: “COME BY HERE, MY LORD!” Brown #42
(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…
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
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 and fire and “drunkenness”, Luke the author 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. The assigned text ends too early – it doesn’t tell us that about 3,000 people joined up with
Jesus that day!]
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1 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 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 them
speaking in his or her own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are
speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his or her own 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 you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I now say. 15 These
people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock 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 upon all people. Your sons and daughters
will
prophesy, your young men will see vision, your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they
will
prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and
billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and
glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ ” [NIV, New International Version]
LITURGUCAL DANCE SELECTION: ST. PETER’S PRAISE DANCERS
SECOND READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:3b-13
[Introduction: SPIRIT GLUE + UNIFIED DIVERSITY! Paul is helping the Corinthian Christians understand the
relationship between our God-given unity and Spirit-created diversity. The Spirit creates the unity of faith and gives all Christians
diverse gifts for the common benefit of all. We need one another’s diverse spiritual gifts, because the same Spirit has given them to
each person for the common good.]
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says, “Let Jesus
be cursed!” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord!” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the
same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in
everyone.
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the
Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same
Spirit, 9 to
another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working
of
miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of
tongues,
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to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who
allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
12 For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one
body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we are all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks,
slaves or free – and we are all made to drink of one Spirit. [NRSV, New Revised
Standard Version]
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.”
THE HOLY GOSPEL: JOHN 20:19-23
[Introduction: THE PEACE, POWER, AND PROMISE OF JESUS! Soon after his resurrection, on that first Easter evening,
the Risen Christ suddenly appears and breathes the peace and power of the Holy Spirit upon his “locked-in” disciples. In the midst of
fear, uncertainty, and unbelieving, his continued incarnation presence in their lives is more reassuring than his words. And they are
given marching orders to leave those physical and mental and emotional rooms locked up by fear, to go out with his peace and his
power and the Holy Spirit, and to continue his work of forgiving sins and changing lives with his love. As his disciples in this time and
place, we have our work to do, being the Church. And, in Christ, we are able to dare to live faithfully and love fervently.]
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the
disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among and said, “Peace
be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced
when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When
he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive
anyone’s sin, they will be forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
[NRSV, New Revised Standard
Version] SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor David Maddox II
SONG RESPONSE: “I’M GONNA SING” Brown #109
(1) I’m gonna sing when the Spirit says sing.
I’m gonna sing when the Spirit says sing.
I’m gonna sing when the Spirit says sing,
and obey the Spirit of the Lord.
(2) I’m gonna pray when the Spirit says pray…
(3) I’m gonna moan when the Spirit says moan…
(4) I’m gonna shout when the Spirit says shout…
(5) I’m gonna love when the Sprit says love…
THE PRAYERS… We pray for NEW LIFE in the Spirit and for the MISSION of the Church to the world!
+ WE REJOICE IN THE WATERS OF NEW BIRTH +
HOLY BAPTISM [This morning Makenzie Diana Duson receives the new beginning and new life that God has given in
Jesus Christ. HOLY BAPTISM IS MORE THAN A SOLITARY MOMENT… THIS IS A LIFE’S JOURNEY IN RESPONSE
TO THE FREE GIFT OF GOD’S GRACE IN JESUS CHRIST!]
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(1) Introduction:
L We are gathered here to receive Makenzie into the fellowship of Christ’s body, the Church. Let us pray. Lord God, you
make light to shine out of darkness, you make new life to spring out of old, you make of all people one new race and
fellowship. We thank you for declaring your love for us, and we ask you to receive this child into your family. Shower her
with your grace and mercy. Lead her and guide her along a lifetime journey of faith and faithfulness. And, through
this Baptism, remind us all of the wonder of your love through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and
Savior.
C Amen.
(2) The Meaning of Baptism:
L In commissioning his followers to join in his work of salvation, Jesus said to them: “All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me.”
C “Go forth therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And be assured,
I am with you always, to the very end of time.”
L My sisters and brothers, the testimony of the New Testament is that it is through Holy Baptism – ordinary waters and
the presence and promises of God – that persons have joined the Church. In this sacrament God washes away our sin
and delivers us from the forces of evil and the power of death by joining us to the death and resurrection of our Lord
Jesus Christ. In this sacrament God gives us new birth, adopts us as children, as brothers and sisters to Christ and
united in one body of Christ with all the faithful throughout the ages. In this sacrament God gives us the gift of the Holy
Spirit and calls us to a life of obedient faith and love. In this sacrament God promises us eternal life. The missionary St.
Paul explained Baptism in this way: “It was not because of any good works that we ourselves had done, but because of
God’s own mercy that God saved us through the washing by which the Holy Spirit gives us new birth and new life.”
(3) Commitment and Promises:
L Today God calls Makenzie by name to receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism and to enter God’s family.
Parents and family, godparents and sponsors, as you bring Makenzie to receive the gift of baptism, you are entrusted
with responsibilities: to live with her among God’s faithful people… to bring her to the Word of God and to the Lord’s
Supper… to teach her the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments…to place in her hands the Holy
Scriptures… to nurture her with faith and prayer… and to do your faithful best to show and teach and guide her how to
trust in God, how to proclaim Christ through word and deed, how to care for others and the world God created, and how
to work for justice and peace. Will you make this commitment to act in this way, will you promise to help Makenzie grow
in the Christian faith and life? I do.
L Congregation / Assembly / People of God, we as witnesses to this baptism, as members of Christ’s Church, and as
brothers and sisters to this child also have concern and responsibility for her. Do we promise to support Makenzie in her
new life in Christ, to love her and to pray for her? We do.
(4) Profession of Faith:
L I ask you to profess your faith in Jesus Christ, reject sin, and confess the faith of the Church, the faith in which we
baptize. Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God? I renounce them.
Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God? I renounce them.
Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God? I renounce them.
Remembering the words of the Apostles’ Creed that our church uses for Holy Baptism, I ask you – and all Christians in
our worship – to confess your faith in the Triune God – the eternal Creator, the risen Savior, and the dynamic Spirit.
Do you believe in God, the Father?
C I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
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L Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
C I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He
descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right
hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
L Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
C I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
(5) BAPTISM:
L Makenzie, I baptize you in the name of the Father <> and of the Son <> and of the Holy Spirit <>. Amen.
God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we give you thanks for freeing your sons and daughters from the power of sin
and for raising them up to a new life though this holy sacrament. Pour your Holy Spirit upon Makenzie: the spirit of
wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of
joy in your presence. Amen.
Makenzie, child of God, receive the sign of the holy cross upon your [+] forehead and upon your [+] heart to mark you
as one who has been sealed with the Holy Spirit and redeemed by Christ forever. Amen.
Jesus said, I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will have the light of life. Makenzie, let your light so
shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to God.
(6) Welcome:
L On behalf of this St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church congregation and the one Church of Jesus Christ here on
earth, let those who are present say to the newly baptized:
C We welcome you into the Lord’s family. We receive you with great joy to live with us in the body of Christ,
to share with us in God’s new creation, and to work with us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Nourishing Meal +
THE PEACE GREETING… We offer words and signs of GOD’S LOVE alive and real among us!
OFFERING [Energized by the Holy Spirit, we eagerly seek to spread the JOY OF JESUS here, there, and all over!]
God has faith in us to live and spread the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ through our words, our deeds, our
loving, our sharing. In the Sanctuary you can put your offering in the offering plate to help do this.
Or you can: 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 the categories you select… or text
Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions for your contribution. God has given us
power and various resources to share and to serve.
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!”
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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.
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! You may come up by the center
and kneel or stand at the altar. Get an empty glass as you come up if you want wine from the chalice; we will also have a
tray of poured glasses of grape juice at the altar. You may return to your seats by the side aisles. PRAISE THE LORD FOR
THIS COMMUNITY MEAL THAT RENEWS OUR SPIRITS, POWERS OUR FAITH, AND REMINDS US OF THE HEAVENLY
BANQUET!
COMMUNION SONG: “LET US BREAK BREAD TOGETHER” Brown #123
(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…
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COMMUNION SONG: “OH, HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME” Brown #82
(1) Oh, how He loves you and me… Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave his life, what more can He give?
OH, HOW HE LOVES YOU; OH, HOW HE LOVES ME; OH, HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME.
(2) Jesus to Calv’ry did go, His love for this world to show.
What He did there brought hope from despair…
COMMUNION SONG: “IN THE NAME OF JESUS” Brown #265
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!
COMMUNION SONG “WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE” Brown #295
What a mighty God we serve! What a mighty God we serve!
Angels bow before Him… heaven and earth adore Him.
What a mighty God we serve!
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ We Rejoice in Our Mission +
THE BENEDICTION:
L The Spirit-fire is burning in your life – don’t let it go out. The Spirit-wind blows where it will – don’t seek to divert it.
You have a message to share – don’t silence it! 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” Brown #65
(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 assisted!
Pentecost is a birthday party for the Church. Every birthday party includes some wonderful birthday surprises.
The Church’s birthday surprise on that first Pentecost was that – even though Jesus had died, been raised,
and then gone up to heaven – his disciples were not left alone. The Holy Spirit, the very power of God, was
with them, giving them the power to be the Body of Christ in the world! What was true for them on the day that
the Church was born is also true for us on the Church’s 2,026th birthday. As the Church still alive today, we
pray that the Holy Spirit would lend fire to our words and strength to our witness. We have a call. Let’s
not ignore it. We have an opportunity. Let’s not miss it. This is our day. This is our time. Let’s be and
become the Church here, now, all over, and on purpose!
PEACE REST ETERNAL LIFE
We are thanking God for the life and the faith of Bobbie Pollock who completed his earthly journey
last Sunday, May 17. Bobbie was a member of St. Peter’s since October, 1995. See funeral info
below.
GRATEFUL Christians are LOVING Christians!
Beyond support of our 2026 Budget ($187,927 is what we envision spending this year) are those
opportunities for special giving on behalf of others. They include:
ELCA World Hunger Appeal (responding to international, national, and local hunger and poverty).
We received $100 last Sunday and $1,507 to date. Your love is showing!
Lutheran Charities Appeal (assisting three local social ministry organizations – KenCrest Services, Lutheran
Settlement House, and Gemma Services – that serve thousands of neighbors with various needs).
We have received $491 to date. Lives are being changed!
Mission Offering (For January 1 – June 30 it is Sisters of St. Joseph Refugee Housing Project. We sent
them $579.65 in 2024.) We received $160.00 last Sunday and $428 to date. Help welcome others!
“God’s Global Barnyard” is an ELCA development project to fight poverty. We have received $20 to date.
ThiS week At st. peTer’s
Monday… Memorial Day. We remember military and civilians who died in service.
Wednesday. 9AM / 11AM Viewing / Funeral for Bobbie Pollock at St. Peter’s.
Thursday, 7:30PM AL-ANON STEP GROUP. Find and share support to overcome codependence!
Friday / Saturday Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod (ELCA) will meet for its annual Assembly
at Trinity Lutheran in Lansdale. Pray for Christ’s guidance of our Lutherans!
Friday, 6:30PM Girl Scout troops.
Saturday, 1:00PM Funeral meal in Rhoda Hall (Louis Tillison’s mother) Volunteers to help serve?
What’s Happening…
May 31… THE HOLY TRINITY. Hybrid Worship in person and online at 10:00AM.
CONFIRMATION CLASS for Christian youth becoming Christian adults.
June 4 (the actual corrected date!)… Scholarship Committee bus trip to Sight and Sound
Theatres in Lancaster, PA to see “JOSHUA”. Bus leaves at 7:45AM.
June 5… Sanctuary and Rhoda Hall rental for funeral (non-member).
June 13… Women’s Ministry “Gathering”, 11AM.
June 13… Rhoda Hall rental event.
June 14… PENTECOST 2: SCHOLARSHIP RECOGNITION / Bear Creek
Camp.
Minister Tiese Giles is our guest preacher and light refreshments will follow. Let’s celebrate our
students and welcome staff from our overnight summer camp ministry in the Pocono Mountains.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social
well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others,
and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence
through adulthood. Sometimes persons are not aware of their own mental illness or the illness of others. And, as
we have witnessed in our U.S. politics, lack of intervention and treatment (Trump) creates a real danger to self
and others.