Acts of the Apostles: The Spirit Blows Westward (June 7, 2020)

The Kingdom of the Father is in our midst.
The work of the Son can never be undone.
The power of the Spirit is renewing the world.
So we say: Blessed be God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever.

God in Three Persons,
may the gift of your Pentecostal presence
transform our babbling into discernment
and may the flickering of many Holy Spirit-led tongues
light an unquenchable fire of compassion and justice.
Amen.

Prayers of the People

Empowering God,
You gave the Church
the abiding presence of your Holy Spirit.
Look upon us today and hear our petitions.

So we lift up our prayers for your children and your creation,
for the wider community around us,
and those we love and call family, friends, and neighbors:

Offer a spontaneous prayer for the welfare of the world and those in our community
(unmute your microphone and speak for all to hear)

Lord in Your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.

Holy Spirit,
we experience your fruit and your gifts when we listen.
Lead us – those listening for your voice –
into the world with love and justice,
Bringing honor and glory to the name of Christ Jesus.
Let us be more like Christ in the words we choose,
in every step we take, and in the love we give.

So we lift the Church around the world to be like Christ,
as we pray now for your people:

Offer a spontaneous prayer for the Church around the world
(unmute your microphone and speak for all to hear)

Lord in Your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.

Grant that, gathered and directed by your Spirit,
we may confess Christ as Lord
and combine our diverse gifts with a singular passion
to continue his mission in this world
until we join in your eternal praise.
Amen.

Song: Our Father

Our Father in Heaven
Hallowed be Your name
Your Kingdom come quickly
Your will be done the same

On Earth as it is in Heaven
Let Heaven come
To earth as it is in Heaven
Let Heaven come

Our Father in Heaven
Hallowed be Your name
Your Kingdom come quickly
Your will be done the same

On earth as it is in Heaven
Let Heaven come
To earth as it is in Heaven
Let Heaven come

Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever, amen

Scripture Reading: Genesis 11:1-9

The Tower of Babel

“Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.’ And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.’ The Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built. And the Lord said, ‘Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.’ So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.”

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-13

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’”

The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

Pentecost: The Spirit Blows Westward

Song: One Blood

O God, you have made us
All of one blood
And sent us Your blessed Son
Proclaiming Your kingdom,
Justice and peace
He’s calling to everyone
The far and the near may come

Let the nations of the earth
Seek after You and find you
Let our neighbors see in us Your love

Pour out Your Spirit, Pour out Your Spirit
Pour out Your Spirit upon all people
Hasten the coming, Hasten the coming
Hasten the coming of Your kingdom

Practicing Pentecost: Learning New Languages

Confession & Assurance

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor:

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in Your will,
and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name.
Amen.

Silent confession (space to confess our sins and wait in God’s presence).

The Lord has already shown you mercy.
The Lord has already had compassion on you.
Jesus strengthens our weak knees
When we still have a long way to go.

Be free!
We are forgiven.
Laugh out loud!
We are forgiven.
Love God with everything!
We are loved.

Silent assurance (space to receive God’s merciful love and say “thank you” in response)

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Is the Father with us?
He is.
Is Christ among us?
He is.
Is the Spirit here?
He is.

This is our God.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We are his people.
We are redeemed.

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Sacrament of Desire

Now, in union, O Lord with the faithful at every altar of Your Church,
I present to You my soul and body
with the earnest prayer that I will remain united to you.
And since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
I pray that you would come to me spiritually.
I unite myself to you, and embrace you with my soul’s affection.
Let nothing separate me from you,
that I may live and die in Your love.
Amen.

Song: Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Community Life

The Cross of Christ

All our problems,
We send to the cross of Christ!
All our difficulties,
We send to the cross of Christ!
All the devil’s works,
We send to the cross of Christ!
And all our hopes,
We set on the Risen Christ!

Blessing & Sending

Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

3 Good Minutes

Is there a tongue or voice you are beginning to listen to and learn from?

June 7, 2020
Jordan Warner
Blog, Easter, Podcast