Pentecost 2023

First service in the building was on Pentecost

Peace beyond understanding

Peace that shows up like the wild spirit

Mystery  

10:05 - Words over mic - invitation to imagine and wonder

Prelude: Wind Upon the Waters, #247

Call to Worship:

First Reader (pouring water):

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The earth was without form and void,

and darkness was upon the face of the deep;

and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. (Gen. 1: 1-2)

Many:  The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the Lord, upon many waters. (Psalm 29: 3)

Second Reader (with wind chimes):

The wind blows where it chooses,

and you hear the sound of it,

but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.

So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3: 8)

Many: The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,

and strips the forest bare;

and in God's temple all cry, "Glory!" (Psalm 29:9)

Third Reader (pouring soil):

When you send forth your Spirit all living things are created;

and you renew the face of the earth. (Psalm 104:30)

Many: The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it,

the world and those who live in it. (Psalm 24:1)

Fourth Reader (with candle):

I baptize with you water;

but one more powerful than I is coming

who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Luke 3:16)

Many: The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.

The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;

the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. (Psalm 29: 7-8)

Fifth Reader (with rainbow wand):

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22

Many: By the Holy Spirit, we are filled with all joy and peace! (Romans 15:13)

Pastor:

Come near to meet with Christ, to receive the Spirit, to be liberated through water and wind, the sacred earth and light. Come near to meet with Christ and by the gentle power of breath, receive and spread peace.

Many: Come Christ. Come Spirit. Come liberating peace. Amen.

Welcome/Announcements

Gathering Song: Breathe On Me, Breath of God

Call and Response Invocation

Breathe on me, breath of God, fill me with life anew,

That I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, breath of God, til I am wholly thine,

Until this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, breath of God, so shall I never die,

But live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity.

call and response invocatio

Poem: Breathe Life In Me by Bruce Prewer

​​Wind over the waters,

wind over the sea,

Wind of creation,

breathe life in me.

Wind on the mountain,

Wind tossing the tree,

Wind of the prophets,

breathe life in me.

Wind on the Jordan,

Wind on Galilee,

Wind at Golgotha,

breathe life in me.

Wind full of Easter,

Wind of the free,

Wind of the gifted,

breathe life in me.

Scripture: John 20:19-23

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the religious leaders in the area,

Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

One: May Holy Wisdom Enter Through Our Ears

        Many: And May She Find A Home In Our Hearts

Message: Peace, The Most Wild Power

Interlude: Peace by Soul Junk

Prayers of the People

One: In your loving name

Many: Hear our prayer

Pentecost Prayer:

One: Breath of God, Breath of Life, Breath of Deepest Yearning,

Many: Come, Holy Spirit.

One: Comforter, Disturber, Interpreter, Enthuser,

Many: Come, Holy Spirit.

One: Heavenly Friend, Lamplighter, Revealer of Truth, Midwife of Change,

Many: Come, Holy Spirit.

One: The Spirit is here.

Many: The Holy One is with us.

One: We pray to you, O God of Life.

Many: You pour out your Spirit upon all the world.

One: We ask a Pentecost peace blessing on this place and all who worship here.

Many: Christ says, this is my body.

One: We ask a Pentecost peace blessing on all faithful people,

Many: And on all who seek to live in faith, to the ends of the earth.

One: We ask a Pentecost peace blessing blessing on this town,

Many: and all who live in it.

One: We ask a Pentecost peace blessing on this nation,

Many: Its leaders and people alike. And a special blessing for the marginalized, bereft, and colonized.

One: We ask a Pentecost peace blessing on every people group.

Many: All your beloved children of all genders, sexualities, ages, abilities, cultures, and places.

One: We ask a Pentecost peace blessing on the family of creation

Many: The human creatures and non-human creatures. The living moving things and the water and rocks. All of us, one sacred family, speaking one language of love, liberation, and peace.

One: We ask a Pentecost peace blessing on those who laugh, and those who weep,

Many: On those at peace, and those at war,

One: On those who have died, and those who will live to see tomorrow;

Many: On every creature, great and small,

One: every mountain and river,

Many: Every rock and every clump of soil.

Breath of God, Breath of Life, Breath of Deepest Yearning, hear these prayers for peace.

Many: You pour out your wild, liberating, peace-waging Spirit upon all the world. Amen.

Passing of the Peace        

Communion:

Liturgy:

One: God is with you.

Many: And also with you.

One: Lift up your hearts.

Many: We lift them up to God.

One: Let us give thanks to God.

Many: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Meditation

        Words of Institution

Communion Hymn: Spirit of the Living God, #259

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me (2x)

Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me

Closing Communion Liturgy

One: We give thanks for these holy mysteries.

Many: Your glory has filled our hearts.

One: You have given yourself to us, God.

Many: Now we give ourselves to you and to all.

Benediction: (A Traditional Jewish Blessing)

May God’s breath stream within you.

May God’s breath renew you.

May God’s breath invigorate you.

Walk with confidence into this day.

Go empowered in peace to love and serve the Lord and the whole family of creation.

Amen.

Closing Song: Spirit, #249

Chorus:

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness, calling and free,

Spirit, Spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.

You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,

Then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep,

And over the eons, you called to each thing:

“Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.”

Chorus

You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill,

Then you whispered in silence when the whole world stood still,

And down in the city you called once again

When you blew through your people on the rush of the wind.

Chorus

You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes,

From the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams;

Our women see visions, our men clear their eyes.

With bold new decisions your people arise.

Chorus