Love in Our
Bones
is our worship theme for Pentecost Sunday, May 27, 2012. Our focus scriptures
are Acts 2:1-12 and Ezekiel 37:1-14.
During
the month of May we have been exploring God’s crazy love for all God’s
children. On the first Sunday of May we read in I John 4:7-21 that God is love. On the next Sunday we listened
to Jesus command us to love others as he loved us – by laying down his life for
us! Last Sunday, we delved into the enormous power of the risen Christ, whose
dynamic love is at the center of the universe according to Ephesians 1:15-23.
That last passage closed with some amazing words: “God raised Jesus from death
and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe,
everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his
rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all,
has the final word on everything. At the
center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not
peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is
Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with
his presence.” (The Message)
On
Pentecost, then, we have the story of the creative power of Christ’s Spirit of
Love birthing the Church, which is Christ’s Body. The Church is the carrier of
his actions and teachings, the agent by which he fills everything with his presence and love. That’s quite an order!
The
story from Acts depicts the raw power of Christ’s Spirit of Love. A surging wind
fills the whole house. Tongues of fire dance over the heads of Christ’s
followers. Unable to help themselves they spill out into the street, each one speaking
a foreign language. Each tells the Gospel in a tongue understood by a visitor
to Jerusalem, the first act of the Gospel being preached to all nations.
The
passage from Ezekiel is perhaps more pertinent to the Church in our time. Not
long ago there was a “Christian Century” where the Church was the dominant
power in society. But now it is hard to feel like we are the vehicle by which
Christ fills everything with his power and love. Yet perhaps dry bones can come
to life again! Perhaps Christ’s love will win the day yet again as it has in
the past.
Here
are three resources for Pentecost and a Litany for Memorial Day. Please use or
adapt anything that is helpful to you.
A Litany for
Pentecost Call to Worship From
Matthew 3:11 and Acts 2:1-12
L: Promised John the Baptist:
One more powerful than I is coming soon.
I am not worthy to untie his sandals. I have
baptized you with water;
but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit…
and with fire!
P: Come,
Holy Spirit!
L: So there they are, Jesus’ followers together
in prayer, together in one house.
Suddenly from heaven comes a Voice, that Voice,
like the rush of a hurricane.
Whoooosh! It fills that house, and swirls
itself around each of the believers.
It leaves the walls of the house standing, but
blows open the doors of their hearts…
P: Come, Holy Spirit!
L: Then comes the fire. Dancing. Jumping.
Arcing. Gathering the followers into one flame,
lighting up their hearts and
minds until they are ready to explode!
P: Come, Holy Spirit!
L: Then they do explode! The
Voice gives them voice. Full of Holy Spirit they begin to testify,
telling the good news of Jesus!
P: Come,
Holy Spirit!
L: They preach. They cry.
They tell the stories we tell today. Just not in any language they speak.
No, to each one the Spirit gives the gift of a
different language.
P: Come,
Holy Spirit!
L: That house is rocking! Now
people are in town from all over the world.
Some nearby think there is a party going on.
And you know how people love a party…
So one by one they start sticking their heads
in the door. Looking around.
Wondering what’s going on. But all they see are
rude Galileans. Hicks from the north country.
But something is strange…
P: Come,
Holy Spirit!
L: Then they start to make it
out. Each one hears the strain of her language amidst all the rest!
Like the first violin speaking out in the
middle of a symphony.
Like lightning lighting the land in a
thunderstorm. They hear. They see. Good news!
The Voice is speaking to them, too, calling to
their hearts.
P: Come,
Holy Spirit!
L: Stunned, they ask each
other, what does this mean? What’s happening to us?
What new day is dawning? What fire is lighting
up our hearts?
What Voice within the voices are we hearing?
What Spirit possesses us?
All: Come, Holy Spirit! Fill our lives this
day!
A
Liturgy for the Fire of Christ
L: Jesus said:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness
but will have the light of life.”
P: Jesus also said: “You are the light of the
world! Let your light shine before others, so that they will see your good
works and give glory to God in heaven.”
L: Then on the
day of Pentecost, all of Jesus followers were gathered for worship.
And
suddenly from heaven there came the sound like the rush of a violent wind,
and
it filled the entire house in which they were sitting. Flaming tongues of fire
appeared among them, and a tongue of fire rested on each of them.
Then
they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to tell the gospel of Christ
in
other languages as the Spirit gave them ability.
P: By the end of the day of Pentecost those who
welcomed the good news of Christ were baptized, and three thousand people
joined the Church!
They devoted themselves to learning from
the apostles’ about Christ,
and to fellowship with one another, and
to communion, and to prayers.
L: Today, we are the light of Christ! In
fellowship with one another,
in
spiritual communion with Christ, always respecting Christ’s biblical teachings,
and
empowered by the Holy Spirit, let us go forth to set fire to the world
with
the good news of God’s love for us in Christ. Let us prepare the way for God’s
kingdom of love and justice and peace to come.
P: As Jesus embraced the children and blessed
them, let us nurture children and teach them the way of Christ.
L: As Jesus
prepared his disciples and followers for ministry, let us empower our members
and friends to continue Christ's healing work.
P: As Jesus sought the lost and poor, let us
welcome strangers, and provide for those in need.
L: Let us keep
the Fire of Christ burning brightly here at the Church of the Nativity.
All: Let us
offer special gifts, that Christ's light may shine brightly here,
and that all who see it may give glory
to God!
(Worshipers are invited to come forward to offer their
gifts
and place their candles on the altar.
Someone will assist you with lighting them.)
Call to Worship (From Acts 2:1-13, 41 and Galatians 5:16-26)
L: Sisters and brothers, today we celebrate the
birthday of the Christian Church!
We
recall that ten days after Christ’s ascension, during the festival of
Pentecost,
Christ
poured the Holy Spirit out on all his followers.
P: Suddenly from heaven
came a sound like the rush of a mighty wind!
It
filled the entire house where they were assembled!
L: Then tongues of flame
appeared, resting on each believer’s head, jumping and
dancing
from person to person, tying them together in one community of fire!
P: All were filled with
the Holy Spirit and began to speak
in
different languages, as the Spirit guided them,
each
one telling the good news of God’s deeds of power in Jesus!
L: Before the day was ended,
three thousand new believers were added
to
the community and the Body of Christ was born!
P: Today that same Spirit
still works with us, seeking to transform our fear
and
selfishness, and change our insides as the Spirit gives birth in us
to
the inner presence of Christ.
L: And here are the gifts of the Spirit which
Christ creates in us:
One:
I light this candle in celebration of the gift of love.
Two:
I light this candle in celebration of the gift of joy.
Three:
I light this candle in celebration of the gift of peace.
Four:
I light this candle in celebration of the gift of patience.
Five:
I light this candle in celebration of the gift of kindness.
Six:
I light this candle in celebration of the gift of generosity.
Seven:
I light this candle in celebration of the gift of faithfulness.
Eight:
I light this candle in celebration of the gift of gentleness.
Nine:
I light this candle in celebration of the gift of self-control.
All: On this birthday of
the Church, we rejoice in the power of Christ’s Spirit
to
set us free from the grip of selfish passions and desires. Let us live by the
Spirit and be guided by the Spirit! Let us be the Church of Jesus Christ!
Let
us carry out his ministry! Amen.
Litany
for Memorial Day
L: Today we remember with gratitude those men
and women
who
have gone forth to serve in the armed forces of our nation.
P:
We appreciate the sacrifices they have made to protect our country.
L: We pray for those whose lives have been forever
altered by the horrors of war.
P:
With sorrow we remember men and women who were injured
or lost their lives in conflicts far
from home.
L: Comfort their family and friends in their
loss.
P:
Heal those who have had to endure experiences of conflict and violence.
L: Forgive us for being quick to use the force
of weapons
on those we brand as enemies.
P:
Fill our hearts, O God, with a renewed desire for peace in our
families, communities, nation and
world.
L: Strengthen the vision and determination of
every world leader to find ways
of
resolving conflicts nonviolently.
P: May your Spirit transform us all into people
of peace. Amen.
Moment of Silent Reflection
Pastoral Prayer
Lord’s
Prayer
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