You can watch today’s service here.
If you are watching our live stream this morning, you are invited to find a candle, so that we can all light candles at the same time.
CALL TO WORSHIP (Amy Loving, based on Ezekiel 37)
The Spirit of God has brought us here.
The Lord has set us down here,
though our bones are tired.
Can these dry bones live?
Yes! The Breath of God will revive us!
The Word of God will awaken us!
Today, we come together to experience new life.
Let us give thanks to the Wild, Life-Giving Spirit of God!
Opening Prayer (Rev Christopher Ney)
We give you thanks for all the ways that you bless our lives: the beauty and abundance of nature, the love of family and friends, the joy of knowing you and hearing your word.Send Your Spirit during this time of worship so that we might dream your dreams and see visions of the world as you created it to be. Guide our thoughts and actions. Bring us closer to you so that we might do your will and dwell in your house forever. Amen.
CALL TO CONFESSION (Sarah Are)
People of God, although we would like for our story to sound like Pentecost — a story where everyone from every nation is heard, the Spirit is visible, and people are united — we know that our story sounds very different, painfully different. Thus, we come to the portion in the service where we confess our sins, where we practice truth-telling, acknowledging that we desperately need God’s Spirit in our lives. Let us confess our sins together, to the God of the early church and the God of the here and now.
I invite you to join with me in our unison prayer of confession, followed by a time either for silent personal confession.
Moment of silent prayer–people of God, what do you have to confess this week?
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Presbyterian Book of Common Worship)
Merciful God, you poured your Spirit upon gathered disciples creating bold tongues and ready ears. We confess that we ignore your Spirit among us; we are silent about you when we should speak, and listen to almost any voice but your own. We do not listen for your word of grace which invites us; we do not speak the good news of your love which invites others. Have mercy on us, O God. Gracious God, transform our timid lives by the power of your Spirit. Fill us with a flaming desire to be a believing and witnessing people, doing your will for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon (Sarah Are)
People of God, hear this good news:
Despite our failings, God is here, and God has poured out God’s spirit on all flesh. We are united, we are made clean, and we are free to dream new dreams for this broken world. Thanks be to God!
PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING (Sarah Are)
Friends, join me in a meditative prayer for illumination.
I invite you to bow your heads and open your non-dominant hand, palm side up.
Trace the shape of the wind on your palm in honor of the way the Spirit can move in us.
Now, trace a flame on your palm, remembering how God can show up in mysterious ways, remembering how the presence of God warms and purifies us.
Now, clasp your hands, lacing your fingers together, remembering the way in which Scripture calls us into unity with one another.
With clear minds and focused hearts, I pray that we may hear the words of Scripture today, and be receptive to the way in which God speaks to us through this good word.
In God’s holy name we pray. Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING
Acts 2:1-21 (with modern place names from The Glorious Liberty blog)
It was the festival of Pentecost, and the apostles were all together in a house. And suddenly from heaven there was a sound like a giant rush of wind, WHOOSH, and it filled the whole house! Flames of fire that looked like tongues appeared among the apostles, and each of them were touched by one of the tongue-like flames. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, because the Spirit gave them that ability.
There were faithful Jewish people from around the world who were in Jerusalem at the time, to celebrate the festival of Pentecost, and when they heard the great WHOOSH a crowd gathered at the house where the apostles were, and they were confused as they listened to the apostles speak, because each person heard the apostles speaking in their own native language.
Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Aren’t all of these people from the same place in Galilee? How can they be talking in so many languages at once? We are from Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, Iran and Iraq, Israel and many parts of Turkey, including near Istanbul and Ankara; some of us are from Egypt and northern Libya, or visiting from Rome in Italy, from the island of Crete or from Saudi Arabia. But still we all hear the apostles speaking about God’s deeds of power in our own languages!” All of them were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another “What does this mean?” But other people laughed at the apostles, saying they were drunk.
Peter was standing with the other apostles, and he raised his voice and spoke to the crowd, “People of Israel and everyone who is in Jerusalem, listen to me! We are not drunk, as you might think, it’s only 9 in the morning! No, this is what the prophet Joel said, ‘God tells us that in the last days, God will pour out his Spirit on all people, that your children will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit on them in those days and they will prophesy too. And I will show signs in the sky above them and in the earth below them, blood, fire and smoky mist. The sun will turn dark and the moon will turn red, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who says the Lord’s name will be saved.’”
Consider:
- Is the current church as flexible as the ancient church to adapt to where the spirit is calling or do we insist on the Spirit working within our institutional and/or traditional methods?
- Do we truly allow the spirit to guide us or is the Spirit in the backseat?
- Are we willing to be led by the spirit without knowing the destination?
HYMN Gracious Spirit, Heed Our Pleading
music and lyrics by Wilson Niwagila, 1965
translated by Howard S. Olson, 1968
arranged by Egil Hovland, 1993
© Lutheran Theological College, Makumira (admin. Augsburg Fortress); Arr. © Egil Hovland
Used by Permission. ONELICENSE # 738214-A
1 Gracious Spirit, heed our pleading,
fashion us all anew.
It’s your leading that we’re needing,
help us to follow you.
Refrain
Come, come, come, Holy Spirit, come.
Come, come, come, Holy Spirit, come.
2 Come to teach us, come to nourish
those who believe in Christ.
Bless the faithful, may they flourish,
strengthened by grace unpriced. Refrain
3 Guide our thinking and our speaking
done in your holy name.
Motivate all in their seeking,
freeing from guilt and shame. Refrain
4 Not mere knowledge, but discernment,
nor rootless liberty;
turn disquiet to contentment,
doubt into certainty. Refrain
5 Keep us fervent in our witness;
unswayed by earth’s allure.
Ever grant us zealous fitness,
which you alone assure. Refrain
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING
Ezekiel 37:1-14
The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all round them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, ‘Mortal, can these bones live?’ I answered, ‘O Lord God, you know.’ Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.’
So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.’ I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
Then he said to me, ‘Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.” Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.’
You can listen to Pastor Leia’s sermon, “Breathe In,” here.
HYMN “Sublime Gracia (Ya No Hay Cadenas)”
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
music, lyrics, and translation by Chris Tomlin, Francis Castañeda, John Newton, Louie Giglio, Mario Ríos, and Mark Young
© 2006 sixsteps Music, Vamos Publishing, worshiptogether.com songs (admin. Capitol CMG Publishing)
Used by Permission. CCLI License #3456351
Sublime Gracia del Señor,
que a un infeliz salvó
Fui ciego mas hoy veo yo,
perdido y El me halló
Su Gracia me enseñó a temer,
mis dudas ahuyentó
¡Oh! Cuán precioso fue a mi ser
cuando El me transformó
Ya libre soy, Dios me salvó
y mis cadenas ya El rompió,
y como un río fluye el perdón
Sublime Gracia, Inmenso amor
En los peligros o aflicción
que yo he tenido aquí
Su Gracia siempre me libró
y me guiará feliz
Ya libre soy, Dios me salvó
y mis cadenas ya El rompió,
y como un río fluye el perdón
Sublime Gracia, Inmenso amor
Y cuando en Sion por siglos mil,
brillante esté cual Sol
yo cantaré por siempre allí
Su Amor que me salvó
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Reformed Church in America)
O God, who always listens to us,
who breathes new life into us,
call us forward to resurrection.
We are surrounded by a world of dry bones,
a world of death and despair,
a world where we lose hope in our structures, ourselves, and you.
We pray for this world in need of your Word:
for all the people in it . . .
for those who lay down their lives . . .
for those who lead . . .
O God, who always listens to us,
who breathes new life into us,
call us forward to resurrection.
We are surrounded by people with dried up lives,
people unable to see your life past their tears.
We pray for this world in need of your healing presence:
for those who are imprisoned or alone,
those ill or infirm, or grieving, especially . . .
O God, who always listens to us,
who breathes new life into us,
call us forward to resurrection.
We are spellbound by those dry bones,
terrified of the stink of death,
and often too dumbfounded to call forth life in your name.
We pray for your chosen people, your Church . . .
We pray for the courage not just to follow you to death,
but to follow you to the New Creation.
O God, who always listens to us,
who breathes new life into us,
call us forward to resurrection.
Call us to follow in the footsteps of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Savior,
who taught us when we pray to say:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
HYMN Come, O Holy Spirit, come (Wa wa wa Emimimo)
music and lyrics, Nigerian
translated from Yoruba and transcribed by I-to Loh (1986)
English Trans. © 1995 General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik
Music Transcr. © 1995 General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik
Used by Permission. ONELICENSE # 738214-A
Come, o Holy Spirit, come
Come, almighty Spirit, come
Come, come come
MORNING OFFERING
If you are able to, please consider mailing your offerings to the church (210 Smith Street) or dropping them off in the mail slot. Alternatively, there is a link at the top of this page that will take you directly to a secure page where you can make a one-time donation. We appreciate your generosity as we seek to continue our mission and ministry throughout the community during this difficult time.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (Sarah Are)
God, you have given us absolutely everything we have.
You gave us sunsets and speckled eggs, tiny newborn hands and silver moons, so that we could know what beauty looks like.
You gave us major keys and harmonies, forgiveness and poetry, so that we could know what love sounds like.
You gave us hands to build, fire to warm, water to clean and food to fill, so that we could know what peace feels like.
And you gave us hearts to give, minds to hope, hands to serve and mouths to pray, so that we know what your Kingdom loves like.
So today we pray that you might be able to use these humble gifts to bring your kingdom here, so that more may know what beauty looks like, what love sounds like and what peace feels like, saying all the while, “thank you, thank you, thank you.”
For you have given us everything we have.
Gratefully we pray. Amen.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from A Brief Statement of Faith)
We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life. The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the Church.
The same Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture, engages us through the Word proclaimed, claims us in the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation, and calls women and men to all ministries of the Church.
In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.
In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
May God’s countenance be lifted upon you and give you peace.
From wherever you are, serve the Lord: Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit.
VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR
If you are using this page to follow along with today’s worship service while it is being live streamed, please join us for virtual coffee hour! Turn on your video camera and join us after the benediction with THIS LINK. You could also join over the telephone by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting code 146 874 134, followed by the password 075003. You can find other events throughout the week on our CALENDAR.