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Zion United Church Of Christ
Arendtsville, Pennsylvania
"Embodying the Love of God in Word and Action"
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Pentecost Sunday: Spirit for All
Visitors: Welcome to our church. If you do not have a church home, we pray that you will find one with us. We have large print bulletins available, as well as hearing assistance devices. Please ask an usher if you require either of these. Restrooms are located in the church school building. Go through the door next to the choir loft, and straight ahead toward the nursery. We also have restrooms downstairs in Fellowship Hall. Again, exit through the door next to the choir loft, turn left down the hall, and go down the steps. Please sign our guest book!
Prelude
Announcements And Recognition Of Our High School Graduates
Chime Interlude
*Call To Worship
Leader One: The Spirit of Pentecost transforms dry bones into a living, vibrant community.
Leader Two: The Word of life, inspired by the Spirit, is broken open for us.
Leader Three: The Fire of God, rekindled in us, transforms this place and this world.
*Hymn: "Revive Us Again" #723
*Opening Prayer
Leader: Come Spirit, flame and fire of love, breach this space with light. Come Spirit, song and voice of justice, trespass in this community with truth. Come Spirit, inspirer and creation’s artist, overrun this world with vision and fill our lives with your disturbing, daring, colourful ways. (We light the Christ Candle.)
Prayer Of Confession
All: Hear us, O Spirit, as we talk with you about our lives and those parts that are like dead wood, that need revival, renewal, and recreation. We want to talk about those parts that do not give life; those parts we do not feed with imagination or time or effort. Kindle a flame and, from this dryness, refresh us and renew.
Sung Response: "Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song" ……….#286, Verse 1
All: Hear us, O Spirit, as we talk with you about our lives and those parts that are broken. We want to talk about the hurts in our relationships, where our selfishness, or our insecurity has broken ties with others; those parts that we cannot mend ourselves, that have broken off from the nourishment of you and others. Kindle a flame and, from this brokenness, reconnect us and renew.
Sung Response: "Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song"……….#286, Verse 2
All: Hear us, O Spirit, as we talk with you about our lives and those parts that are knotted and gnarled, misshapen because of how we have been treated and how we have treated others; those parts that are scarred and mistreated. Kindle a flame and, from this twistedness, heal and renew.
Sung Response: "Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song"…………….#286, Verse 3
Assurance Of God’s Forgiveness
Leader: Spirit renews our dry lives with justice. Spirit renews our overspent living with love. Spirit renews our broken ways with transformation. Spirit renews are separated humanity with healing. Spirit renews our scarred experiences with imagination. Spirit renews us with new life, and sends us into the world together.
Sung Response: "Sweet, Sweet Spirit"………………………………….#291
We Hear The Word
Reading Of The Scripture: Ezekiel 37: 1-14
A Time For Children
Anthem: "Blessed Jesus, Bless Us Now" …………………………..McDonald
Reading Of The Gospel: Acts 2: 1-21
Message For This Day
We Respond To God
*Hymn
: "Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove"…………………………….#298
Pastoral Prayers And 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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.)
Our Offering
Offertory
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Doxology: "Praise God from Whom All Blessings" #809
*Prayer Of Dedication
*Invitation To Christ’s Table - Pentecost
Leader: We come to a table set for all the peoples of the world, all tongues, all races, all children of the Spirit’s fashioning.
People: We come to a table where hungers are satisfied and thirsts are slaked, by the abundance of grace shared in parables made of grain and grape. We come, because you come, in Spirit and in power.
Leader: Spirit God, remind us your breath is life, and your wind is freedom. Your Spirit moved across the water, and all things came to be. Your Spirit designated leaders and stirred prophets, and Israel was led through wilderness and out of exile. Your Spirit descended by the waters of the Jordan, and we were called to listen to the Beloved. Your Spirit calls us still, to witness, to service, that you might breathe life into this creation through us. Your Spirit calls us to this table, to remember by whom we are fed, to remember by whom we live. (Please be seated.)
Choral Response:
"Eat this Bread, Drink this Cup"
The Words Of Institution
Leader: At his last supper, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
People: "This is my body, which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me."
Leader: In the same way, he took the cup after supper and said,
People: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this in remembrance of me."
Leader: For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. As signed and sealed in this sacrament:
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
The Blessing
Leader: Breathe now upon these gifts of bread and wine, breathe now upon your people who feast on these gifts. Bless us by your presence, fashion us into a people of Spirit, and like this meal, make us into a sign and celebration of your grace. Come, Spirit. And prepare us to follow where the wind of God leads in this day.
The Sharing of the Elements
(The pastor says "The Bread of Heaven" as a sign to take the bread, and "The Cup of Blessing" as a sign to drink from the cups. Please note the grape juice is in the outer ring and the wine is in the inner ring. The round wafers are gluten free. Please hold each element so we may eat and drink together.)
Post Communion Prayer
All: In fulfillment of Christ’s promise, you poured out the Holy Spirit upon the chosen disciples and filled the church with power. We thank you for sending your Spirit to us today to kindle faith and lead us into all truth, working in the church to make us faithful disciples and empowering us to proclaim the living Christ to every nation. Amen.
*Closing Hymn
: "Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling" #289
* Blessing
Leader: The Spirit is life,
People: and we will live in the Spirit.
Leader: The Spirit is truth,
People: and we will speak in the Spirit.
Leader: The Spirit is action,
People: and we will act in the Spirit.
Leader: The Spirit is imagination,
People: and we will dream in the Spirit.
Leader: The Spirit is direction,
People: and we will go in the Spirit.
*Choral Benediction:
"Spirit of the Living God"………..#297, Verses 1, 2
*Chime Meditation
Postlude
*Where noted, please stand if able.
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