May 31, 2020
Pentecost
Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
Whether you are worshiping via social media, or in person, invite folks to wear red, blow up a red balloon, create a wind sock or light candles to mark the celebration of Pentecost.
Consider making birthday cupcakes for each one in the church,
topped with a red candle.
Call to Worship
One: The Spirit descends like a dove,
bringing peace to unite the world.
Many: The Spirit comes like a breath, bringing life
to renew the people of God.
One: The Spirit spreads like fire, bringing energy
for all who bear witness to the love of God.
Many: May the Spirit of the living God come to us,
and transform us, in Pentecost power!
Opening Prayer
(consider singing this, or having a soloist sing. Otherwise, simply speak.)
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us.
Melt us, mold us, fill us, use us.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us!
Moment for Stewardship
In Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, he writes a long passage about
the church as “one body with many members”, each of whom has been given something by the Spirit, to be used for the common good.
Think of the people who make up our congregation. (You could name real people, and their gifts. You could ask people to name someone and a Spirit gift seen in that person. You could name people from another congregation
and suggest their gifts are also made evident in your own. Personalize this!)
Imagine how marvelous it is when each person utilizes his/her own gift, for the common good! Not everyone can sing, or cook, or mow the lawn or pack care packages. But all those are gifts of SOMEONE.
Our offering time provides a way for each of us to transform some of our gifts into financial support for our congregation. Because we live in a culture which functions with money, your gifts make it possible for us to provide space (and electricity, water, bathrooms…) for so many ministries! Your gifts make it possible for us to provide leaders for youth group, Bible class, worship, child-care, choir. Your gifts make it possible for this congregation to witness to God’s desire for peace, justice, community.
You are an integral part of the body of Christ. So am I. Please join me in offering what you brought, that our gifts (together) might be used for the common good!
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Wind who makes all winds that blow, (CH #236, which could be quoted in full, sung by a soloist or 2 singers – each one solo for verses 1 and 2, then together for verse 3)
Or…pray in these words:
Wind who makes all winds that blow,
we rejoice as we present these gifts to you.
You fill us with the breath of life, and we give thanks,
knowing all we are and all we have are yours alone.
So we pray you will renew the life we’ve lost.
Inspire us to greater generosity, even as you accept these gifts.
On this Pentecost day, breathe your Spirit into what we give,
and into us.
Use what we’ve offered, and use each of us.
Multiply these gifts, that they might be used
to blow through the whole world,
bringing peace and justice through the power of the Comforter.
AMEN
Invitation to Communion
(In this time so affected by COVID-19, much is changing. Some congregations will not meet in person to share communion for weeks or months more. Others will be back together today for the first time in several months, recognizing how different this gathering will be.
Whether we have communion elements from our own kitchen, or individual packets with a square of unleavened bread captured in plastic, held over a small cup of juice, sealed in plastic, these elements give us something physical to link us to a festive meal in an upper room with Jesus and his closest followers.)
With your communion elements before you, remember Pentecost marks the coming of the Spirit for Christians. We mark this as the birthday of the church! Especially this year, we can receive this timing as a gift, as we remember the word “spirit” can also be translated “wind” or “breath” (ruach/pneuma).
Surrounded by the stories of COVID causing a lack of breath, we reach out to claim the gift of BREATH/WIND/SPIRIT, infused in these gifts of communion.
So, grateful for the Spirit drawing us together (whether physically or not), let’s pray for God’s breath to fill each of us and all the world,
as we share in remembrance of Jesus.
This is the last installment from Rev Linda McKiernan Allen and we are grateful for her two years of contributions to our lectionary resources. Next week, we welcome the Rev Kory Wilcoxson who will write our resources for the next 13 weeks. We are certain that Linda’s work has blessed the life of your congregation over this time and that Kory’s efforts will do the same. Thank you Linda for your partnership in the work of generosity.
You can make a gift to the Center for Faith and Giving in Linda’s honor as a way to support the continued availability of these resources. Donate On-line