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Pentecost

affirmation: Lord, you have done so many things

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Lord, you have done so many things;
the earth is full of your creations!
You make them all so wisely.
Look at the deep, wide sea;
the home of countless creatures large and small.
All of God’s creations look to God for sustenance.
Some trust more than others.
God has breathed life into the world –
it is through the Spirit that we live.
Let the Lord’s glory last forever!
Let the Lord rejoice in all He has made!
We will sing to the Lord as long as we live;
we will let our praise be pleasing to God.
We rejoice in the Lord!
Submitter’s note: We are still doing prayers of affirmation rather than confession on Pentecost. This one is LOOSELY based on Psalm 104:24-34 (minus the Leviathan).
Submitted by Rev. Kathryn Johnston, Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church, Mechanicsburg PA.

Looking Ahead: Pentecost

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I know, I know, Easter isn’t even over. But it’s time to start looking ahead to the next big day, especially as it presents some unique challenges!

Pentecost this year is May 27…Memorial Day Weekend. How might that affect your planning?

Many people celebrate confirmation on Pentecost–is that in your plan?

Here it’s also graduation weekend, which throws a wrench into anything we might want to do that involves families.

Not to mention the theme, decorating, and volunteer need potential!

Will you focus on wind? fire? languages? prophecy? preaching? conversion? baptism? a generic “holy spirit” idea? Some particular aspect of the story? the church’s-birthday?

What are you thinking about for this special day? How can we create worship that will help people experience the Holy, enter the story, and leave ready to be like Peter and the other apostles?

Ready, set, create!

confession: move!

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Submitted by Rev. Scott Cervas, Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church

Spirit of God,
you move around us and we wave you away
as if you are a fly getting too close to our heads.
You move among us, but we all have different ideas…
different ways of doing things…
and so your perfectly chilling harmonics
are drowned out by our chaotic dissonance.
You move within us,
but sometimes we just aren’t willing to risk our own reputations
to embrace your radical vision.
But, deep down, we know that we need to move beyond ourselves…
we know that the church needs to move beyond itself.
So keep moving…keep moving around us, among us, and within us…
keep moving us so that we can be creators of movment in the world…
Amen.

CTW: here in this place

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A call to worship based on the hymn “gather us in” (we used it when the theme worked but the hymn did not).
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church

One:      Here in this place, God’s light is streaming in.
All:      We gather in God’s light, to be light for the world.
One:      Here in this place, God’s wind is blowing.
All:      We gather—young and old, rich and poor, strong and weak—
to be renewed by the breath of God.
One:      Here in this place, God’s fire is burning.
All:      We gather to be set on fire with God’s love.

confession: we hear the mighty rush of wind

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submitted by Rev. Rebecca Page Lesley, Suffolk Presbyterian Church, Suffolk, VA

Creator God, we hear the mighty rush of wind, and assume it is only the weather. We see the power of a flame, and are reminded only of combustion. We admit that we are hardly ever amazed and awed anymore. Often our prayers for help come with reservations and conditions, products of our own insecurities. We ask that you uphold us as we lay before you our doubts and fears.

We confess to you, holy Lord, that we are afraid of the chaos your Spirit leaves in its wake; we do not like chaos and disorder. We are worried that you might ask of us things that we’d rather not do or say; we don’t like to be uncomfortable. We fret about the way other people perceive us; yet you can see into our very hearts, O God. Those who sneered at the disciples, saying they were filled with new wine, did not understand the power of Pentecost and your Holy Spirit. Save us from ourselves, merciful God.

Spirit of new life and renewed life, remove our fears and inhibitions and fill us with strength and courage so that we may use your gifts to the absolute fullest. May we feel your power within us so that we can live and love and witness and serve with utter abandon, following only your will for our lives. Forgive our selfish ways and righteous attitudes that we might return to a right relationship with you and all creation, sharing your forgiveness with all those whom you call your children.