Pentecost Sunday

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy Spirit – Bryan & Katie Torwalt

Reading: Acts 2:1-21 (NLT)

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.

But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”

Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.

And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.

But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

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Reflection & Prayer:

Lord Jesus: on this day of Pentecost, the Church is filled with joy and strengthened with measureless hope.
– Lord, renew the face of the earth.

Lord Jesus: raised on the cross, you poured out the water of rebirth for the life of the world. Quicken the life of all believers with the gift of the Spirit.
– Lord, renew the face of the earth.

Lord Jesus: raised up to God’s right hand, you bestowed on the apostles the Father’s Gift; your people now wait for the same Gift, the same hope.
– Lord, renew the face of the earth.

Lord Jesus: you breathed your Spirit upon the apostles, and gave them the power of forgiveness: set all men free today from the prison of sin.
– Lord, renew the face of the earth.

Lord Jesus: you promised to send us the Spirit of truth, that we might become your heralds throughout the world. Through his presence in your people may we bear faithful witness to you.
– Lord, renew the face of the earth.

Lord our God: sanctify your Church in every race and nation by the presence and power of your Spirit. Pour out the gifts of the Holy Spirit on your people, and fulfill now in the hearts of your faithful what you accomplished when the Gospel was first preached on earth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Spirit Break Out” – Kim Walker-Smith

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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 (NLT)

Let all that I am praise the Lord. O Lord my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty.
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O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.
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But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust. When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth.
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May the glory of the Lord continue forever! The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!
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May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!