Pentecost Sunday Worship Service
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
DAY OF PENTECOST – Coronavirus
06-05-2022 10:00AM Zoom Worship
+ We Seek and Rejoice in the Spirit +
INTRODUCTION TO OUR WORSHIP:
Welcome. On March 15, 2020 the faith community of St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church last gathered together in our sanctuary for Sunday worship. Back then those strict social distance regulations and guidelines became “the other shoe to drop” in the midst of already growing concern and caution about a “COVID-19” pandemic. There has been much sorrow and suffering and struggle for so many days for so many people! And the “normal” we once experienced may perhaps forever be changed. But through the science of technology and the strength of the Spirit, St. Peter’s and many faith communities were able to meet through Zoom, Facebook, and other online media. And this morning, as our St. Peter’s congregation anticipates moving back into our sanctuary and forward into a new experience of “hybrid worship” in two weeks, we are like those first 120 believers in the book of Acts – together and in prayer, trying to be patient and full of hope, trusting in the power and promises of Jesus Christ.
A TIME OF REFLECTION… AND A CALL TO WORSHIP:
A Dear God,
When was the last time
that we heard the wind of your Spirit
roar through this gathered community,
howling with the strength of a hurricane?
B – Dear God,
When was the last time
we felt your fire
light up our timid hearts,
setting off multiple alarms
and giving forth some bright shine?
A – Dear God,
When was the last time
we appeared to be strangely intoxicated ,
drunk with unlimited joy
and crazy with your generous love?
B – Dear God,
When was the last time
we added our own say
to your story,
taking it to the streets
in public with passion and persistence?
A – Dear God,
When was the last time
your Spirit and your will
trumped our fear
and made us newly alive and strangely bold
to represent Jesus?
B – Dear God,
Was Pentecost
just a single historical experience
never to be repeated again?
A – Dear God,
When they were transformed,
those first believers burst forth
from a secret hideout
out into the streets
to run and tell everybody about Jesus.
B – Dear God,
Today we spiritually gather as a community –
from locations near and far –
to celebrate and to be transformed,
to be and to become THE CHURCH
here, now, all over, and on purpose.
A – Dear God,
As we meet together
and celebrate once again
the memory of that first Pentecost –
come into our hearts,
come into our lives,
come into your churches,
come into this world!
B – Dear God,
Give us new breath
and awaken our spirits!
Dear God,
lend fire to our words
and add strength to our witness!
HALLELUJAH AND AMEN!
OPENING SONG: “THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE”
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: ACTS 2:1-21
[Introduction: 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!]
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]
SONG SELECTION
SECOND READING: ROMANS 8:14-17
[Introduction: 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: brother, sister, 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!]
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ – if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. [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.”
HOLY GOSPEL: JOHN 14:8-17, 25-27
[Introduction: 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!]
8 Philip said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive,
because it neither sees the Spirit nor knows the Spirit. You know the Spirit, because the Spirit abides with you, and will be in you.
25 I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” [NRSV, New Revised Standard Version]
THE SERMON: a Guest Preacher… or Pastor Gwen… or Pastor Neil
SONG SELECTION
AN AFFIRMATION OF OUR FAITH:
We confess our FAITH in the God who has given us life, love, and power…
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
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 to the dead. 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.
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.
THE OFFERING… When we are energized by the Holy Spirit, God makes it possible for us to be generous and compassionate, and to do the “greater works” that Jesus speaks of in our Gospel. So let us eagerly offer our lives, our time, and our possessions to spread the JOY OF JESUS here, there, and all over!
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:
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.
MUSIC SELECTION: “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD” Dennis Fortune
THE PRAYERS… We pray for NEW LIFE in the Spirit and for the MISSION of the Church to the world! If we aren’t faithful in our daily living and fruitful in witnessing to others the good news of Jesus Christ, then we aren’t really the Body of Christ!
THE LORD’S PRAYER
+ 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 Spirit-message to share – don’t silence it!
The Lord has filled you with Spirit-love – pour it out on others!
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 This is our day. This is our time. This is our mission.
We will be faithful in our living and fervent in our loving! Hallelujah and Amen! Amen and Hallelujah!
CLOSING SONG
“Hybrid worship” will begin on Sunday, June 19 at 10:00AM. Persons are invited to gather as “in-person” worshipers in the sanctuary for worship. Others may continue to gather with us online (Zoom or Facebook) as “remote” worshipers from their homes or other locations both near and far away.