Pentecost: Wind and Fire

Sunday, June 5, 2022
10:30 AM 11:30 AM 10:30 11:30

Union Presbyterian Church 200 E Main St Endicott, NY, 13760 United States (map)

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The day of Pentecost is like little else in scripture—a group experience of the power and presence of God. There is wind. There is fire. There is miraculous ability to speak new languages. What does it all mean?

Join us this Pentecost Sunday as we celebrate the coming of the Spirit outdoors! Worship with us in our Liberty Avenue Parking lot (weather permitting) the First Sundays of the month through September. Bring a camp or beach chair if you are able. First Sunday videos available by 1:00 PM right here if you happen to be at home or on the road. You can find our videos on our YouTube page.

Pentecost Sunday

Youth Sunday

John 20:19-23; Acts 2:1-21

Union Presbyterian Church

June 5, 2022

Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Liturgist: UPC Youth Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Preludes

“Amazing Grace” Channel Rivera, piano (Public Domain)

“I Will Celebrate,” Linda Duvall Xavier & Mahkayla Fletcher

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

“Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness” Arianna & Kiara Neal

Used with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Call to Worship Benjamin Mann

You call us to worship, Holy Spirit of God. 

You are truth. 

You come like the wind of heaven, unseen, unbidden.

You are all around us.

Like the dawn you reveal the world around us,

and grant us a new beginning every day.

You are light. 

You warm and comfort us. 

You are hope.

You give us courage and fire and strength beyond our everyday resources. 

You are inspiration.

You call us to worship, Holy Spirit of God.

We are your people.

Hymn #332 W & R

“Let Every Christian Pray,” Fred Pratt Green

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Let every Christian pray,
This day and every day,
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
Was not the church we love
Commissioned from above?
Come, Holy Spirit, come!

The Spirit brought to birth
The church of Christ on earth
To seek and save the lost:
God never has withdrawn,
Since that tremendous dawn,
The gifts at Pentecost.

Only the Spirit's power
Can fit us for this hour:
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
Instruct, inspire, unite,
And help us see your light:
Come, Holy Spirit, come!

Call to New Life Arianna Neal

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Here we are, O God, together in one place, but we do not speak with one voice, and we do not listen with one heart. We hear and dismiss your deeds of power, your call to love those who are different, and your insistence that the whole world be included. You pour out your Spirit, and we squash the vision—it is too big, too uncertain, and too unruly. You send visions of a future with hope, and we look back instead. You light the way, and we look for a fire extinguisher, trying to keep ourselves (and you!) safe. Forgive us, O God. We long for your new life, but we do not know how to live it.

~silence~

Spirit of God, rush into this place again, and fill every nook and cranny with dreams and visions of possibility. Turn our hushed whispers into shouts of joy, in every language of the world. Lead us out into your future. Amen.

Assurance of God’s Love Crosby Tunison

With the whole church:

We affirm that we are made in God’s image,

befriended by Christ, and empowered by the Spirit.

With people everywhere:

We affirm God’s goodness at the heart of humanity,

planted more deeply than all that is wrong.

With all creation:

We celebrate the miracle and wonder of life and the unfolding purposes of God, forever at work in ourselves and the world. Thanks be to God. Amen!

Sharing of the Peace Kiara Neal

]

May the peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace.

Scripture Acts 2:1-18, 21 Common English Bible

(Mic at podium – kids take turns using same mic.)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles, beginning at chapter 2, verse 1.

Reader: Benjamin Mann

When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

Reader: Kiara Neal

There were pious Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages. They were surprised and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them? How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language?

Reader: Rev. Pat Raube

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; as well as residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya bordering Cyrene; and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own languages!” They were all surprised and bewildered. Some asked each other, “What does this mean?” Others jeered at them, saying, “They’re full of new wine!”

Reader: Jayvien Rivera

Peter stood with the other eleven apostles. He raised his voice and declared, “Judeans and everyone living in Jerusalem! Know this! Listen carefully to my words! These people aren’t drunk, as you suspect; after all, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

Reader: Crosby Tunison

In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
    Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
    Your young will see visions.
    Your elders will dream dreams.
   Even upon my servants, men and women,
        I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
        and they will prophesy.
…And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Meditation Rev. Pat Raube

Hymn #130 W & R

“God Sends Us the Spirit,” Tom Colvin

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

God sends us the Spirit to befriend and help us,

Recreate and guide us, Spirit-friend.

Spirit who enlivens, sanctifies, enlightens,

Sets us free, is now our Spirit-friend.

Spirit of our Maker, Spirit-friend,

Spirit of our Savior, Spirit-friend.

Spirit of God’s people, Spirit-friend.

Darkened roads are clearer, heavy burdens lighter,

When we’re walking with our Spirit-friend.

Now we need not fear the powers of the darkness,

None can overcome our Spirit-friend.

Spirit of our Maker, Spirit-friend,

Spirit of our Savior, Spirit-friend.

Spirit of God’s people, Spirit-friend.

Now we are God’s people, bonded by your presence,

Agents of your purpose, Spirit-friend.

Lead us forward ever, slipping backward never,

To your remade world, our Spirit-friend.

Spirit of our Maker, Spirit-friend,

Spirit of our Savior, Spirit-friend.

Spirit of God’s people, Spirit-friend.

Minute for Mission Fran Bialy, Executive Director of A New Hope Center

Prayers of the People

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.

Young People’s Spoken Chorus

Sophie DeLap, Xavier Fletcher, Makayla Fletcher, Benjamin Mann, Kiara Neal, Channel Rivera, Jayvien Rivera, Dylan Sager, Riley Sager, Crosby Tunison

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (insert)

The Lord be with you!

And also with you!

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to God!

Let us give God our thanks.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Young People’s Leader (Arianna Neal) Young people of the church,

what is your first Question?

Children: Why do we give thanks and praise at this table?

Congregation: We give thanks for God’s work

of creation and salvation.

…Therefore with people and all creation, we shout your praise:

Congregation:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might.

Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest!

Young People’s Leader : Young People, what is your second Question?

Young People: Why do we eat bread at this table?

Young People’s Leader: Young people, what is your third Question?

Young People: Why do we drink from the cup at this table?

Young People’s Leader: Young People, what is your fourth Question?

Young People: What do we remember at this table?

Pastor: … According to our Lord’s commandment:

Congregation: We remember his life and death,

we proclaim his resurrection,

we await his coming in glory.

Young People’s Leader: Young people of the church, what is your last Question?

Young People: What do we ask at this table?

Pastor: … At this table we ask for unity in Christ our Lord,

and we ask for strength to serve the world in his name

until the day you make all things new.

Congregation: Through Christ,

all glory and honor are yours, almighty God,

with the Holy Spirit in the holy church,

now and forever. Amen.

The Communion

Music During Communion: “Let Us Break Bread Together,” John Carter

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Prayer of Thanksgiving After Communion:

God, you have fed us with bread and the fruit of the vine, and we realize: You share your life with us. You are the source of all that is good. Let the sweetness of this meal remind us to taste and see your goodness all around us. Let it strengthen us. Let it give us the courage us to love and serve you by loving and serving your people. We pray in your holy name. Amen.

Hymn  #129 PH

“Come, O Spirit, Dwell Among Us,” Janie Alford

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Come, O Spirit, dwell among us,
Come with Pentecostal power;
Give the church a stronger vision,
Help us face each crucial hour.
Built upon a firm foundation,
Jesus Christ, the Cornerstone,
Still the church is called to mission
That God's love shall be made known.

We would raise our alleluias
For the grace of yesteryears;
For tomorrow's unknown pathway,
Hear, O Lord, our humble prayers.
In the church's pilgrim journey
You have led us all the way,
Still in presence move before us,
Fire by night and cloud by day.

Come, O Spirit, dwell among us;
Give us words of fire and flame.
Help our feeble lips to praise You,
Glorify Your holy name.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Three in one: what mystery!
We would sing our loud hosannas
Now and through eternity.

Benediction  

Go into the world in peace.

Have courage!

Hold fast to what is good.

Return no one evil for evil.

Strengthen the faint-hearted,

support the weak,

help the suffering.

Honor all people.

Love and serve the Lord your God,

rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit,

be with each and all of us,

This day and forevermore.

The Spirit is in us, so go in peace.

Thanks be to God. Amen

Postlude  Chris Bartlette

“I’m Gonna Sing / Ain’t-a That Good News?” Larry Shackley

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Where an * is indicated, please rise in body and/or in spirit.

“W & R” ~ the red Worship and Rejoice hymnal.

“PH” ~ the blue Presbyterian Hymnal

The Call to Worship was adapted from a prayer from the New Zealand Book of Common Prayer.

The Prayer for Wholeness and Peace was adapted from a prayer by Rev. Teri Peterson, Minister, St. John’s Church, Gourock, Church of Scotland.

The Eucharistic Prayer was taken from the Book of Common Worship of the PCUSA, 2018.