The Coming and Presence of Holy Spirit
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Planning Ideas And Resources For The Entire Church Year
Bulletin Heading
Consider this:
At the beginning of the order of worship, include the church's name and address, followed by these, or similar, words:
To Recall
Whose We Are
Who We Are
What We Do
Where We Go
because,
The Spirit of God in Christ keeps on preparing the way;
The Spirit of God in Christ keeps on being the way.
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
Try this:
Following the prelude, and after welcoming the people to the birthday celebration of the church, invite the people to sing "Kum Ba Ya," with appropriate feeling for the particular stanza.
Use the piano.
Then, continue with this litany between pastor and saints:
Pastor:
The Spirit of the Lord be with you saints.
Ministers: And with you also, (pastor's first name).
Pastor:
This day, each day, is filled with the Spirit who renews our convictions, who energizes our faith.
Ministers: We unite with all who, throughout history, have received strength by God's Spirit, and have allowed their lives to be witness to God's love.
Pastor:
We give thanks for all the saints and disciples and apostles of every age.
Ministers: We are glad to be a part of the continuing fellowship of the body of Christ! Indeed we are! Amen.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Suggestion:
Print the following questions in the bulletin, and give the people plenty of time for silent meditation:
1. Have I, this week, done anything to fulfill the purpose for which you gave me birth?
2. Have I accepted such opportunities of service as you have given me?
3. Have I performed without omission the plain duties of the day?
4. Have I done anything to tarnish my Christian ideal?
5. Have I been lazy in body or languid in spirit?
6. Have I wrongfully indulged my bodily appetites?
7. Have I kept my imagination pure and healthy?
8. Have I been scrupulously honorable in all my business dealings?
9. Have I been transparently sincere in all I have professed to be, to feel, or to do?
10. Have I seen myself as others see me?
11. Have I made more excuses for myself than I have been willing to make for others
12. Have I, in my own home, been a peacemaker, or have I stirred up strife?
13. Have I, while professing noble sentiments for great causes and distant objects, failed even in common charity and courtesy toward those nearest to me?
Give me grace to answer honestly, God.
Then, after silence, invite the people to pray for themselves around one or more of
the following themes: (print in bulletin also). A faithful Christ and an ambivalent self, doubt, forgetfulness, worry, laziness, anger, lust, self-centeredness, prayerlessness, talkativeness, over-bearing, false pride, unreasonableness, resentment, hypocrisy, racism, timidity, (did we miss yours?)
Then, after silence,
invite the people to consider the times we have enjoyed the luxury of self-pity and confess our lack of pity for the plight of others. (source unknown)
Following more silence,
use the following, or a similar, litany:
Pastor:
Jesus declares a new humanity.
Ministers: He accepts our lives, forgiving the past and opening up the future.
Pastor:
He calls us to face life and see it through.
Ministers: He even calls us to celebrate, in and by and through and with his power. Amen.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Try this:
An idea suggested by Dick Avery and Don Marsh. Ask all the people, using the children as leaders, to act out Acts 2:1-4. Put verbal symbols with the wind (whooshing), and fire (hand above head with fingers simulating flames), and speaking in tongues (tongue moving rapidly back and forth in mouth.) You may want to get copies of "The Best Gift," Acts 2:1-47, New English Bible, from the American Bible Society, for all the families to take home. Whatever you decide, ask the people to read the Pentecost story once a day throughout the week.
Proclamation of the Word
Consider these ideas:
One author has outlined Peter's sermon on that first Pentecost this way:
1. What Jesus did: Miracles/signs.
2. What people did: Killed him.
3. What God did: Raised him from the dead.
4. What disciples are doing now: witnessing to those events.
5. What each of us can do: Repent! Change your mind, will, purpose! Be baptized.
I. What shakes us in our world? What doesn't shake us?
II. Are we willing to proclaim with boldness; or are we content to let others - advertisers, the government, movie producers, recording industry, pornographic magazines, fast food restaurants, television - proclaim what we believe and what we want our children to believe?
III. What do we proclaim with our words/silences, angers/joys, money/credit cards, friendships/neglected friendships, actions/procrastinations, sensitivity/insensitivity?
We proclaim either by decision or default.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
The stewardship of power: How do we use power?
We can use it as Linus did one time when Lucy asked him if he would run for school president and she offered to be his campaign manager. He put her off ... too much work ... too much responsibility. Lucy got him though when she reminded him, "Think of the power." Linus got that evil look on his face, and with much force, said, "I'll do it."
or,
We can recongize that true power comes, not in Rambo tactics, or complying with the status quo, or pouting, but in servanthood.
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said that "I believe that God will give us all the power we need to resist in all the times of distress; but God never gives it in advance, lest we rely upon ourselves and not on Him alone." (source unknown)
Therefore, how will we use our time, talents, treasure, through the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit - to recreate ourselves and the people around us, to renew us and the people around us, to refresh us and the people around us, to revitalize us and the people around us -in the Name of the Spirit who infiltrates, inflames, inspires us - and who blows where it wills?
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 104:1, 24-34
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Acts 2:1-21
1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"The Day of Pentecost Arrived"
Frank A. Brooks, Jr., 1972
"On Pentecost They Gathered" Jane Parker Huber
A Singing Faith, Jane Parker Huber, Westminster Press
"Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire"
Latin hymn, 9th century Trans. by John Cosin, 1627
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation
Medley of Pentecost Hymns
or,
"The Blessed Damozel"
Debussy
Response to the Pastoral Invitation and Litany
"Come, Share the Spirit"
Words and Music
by Kent Schneider copyright 1976 by Agape, Division of Hope Pub. Co.
Response to the Children's Message
"There Is a New Wind Blowin' "
Words and Music
by David Yantis from New Wine, United Methodist Church
Response to the Proclamation
Adult Choir
"You Are God"
Carlton T. Russell
Response to the Stewardship Challenge
"Cantique"
Stravinsky
Doxology
Use one of Richard Avery and Don Marsh's
Response to the Benediction
All
1. Pastor: Be Christ to one another.
2. Song: "Blest Be the Tie That Binds"
3. Passing the Peace: "Christ takes form through you."
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
Consider this:
At the beginning of the order of worship, include the church's name and address, followed by these, or similar, words:
To Recall
Whose We Are
Who We Are
What We Do
Where We Go
because,
The Spirit of God in Christ keeps on preparing the way;
The Spirit of God in Christ keeps on being the way.
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
Try this:
Following the prelude, and after welcoming the people to the birthday celebration of the church, invite the people to sing "Kum Ba Ya," with appropriate feeling for the particular stanza.
Use the piano.
Then, continue with this litany between pastor and saints:
Pastor:
The Spirit of the Lord be with you saints.
Ministers: And with you also, (pastor's first name).
Pastor:
This day, each day, is filled with the Spirit who renews our convictions, who energizes our faith.
Ministers: We unite with all who, throughout history, have received strength by God's Spirit, and have allowed their lives to be witness to God's love.
Pastor:
We give thanks for all the saints and disciples and apostles of every age.
Ministers: We are glad to be a part of the continuing fellowship of the body of Christ! Indeed we are! Amen.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Suggestion:
Print the following questions in the bulletin, and give the people plenty of time for silent meditation:
1. Have I, this week, done anything to fulfill the purpose for which you gave me birth?
2. Have I accepted such opportunities of service as you have given me?
3. Have I performed without omission the plain duties of the day?
4. Have I done anything to tarnish my Christian ideal?
5. Have I been lazy in body or languid in spirit?
6. Have I wrongfully indulged my bodily appetites?
7. Have I kept my imagination pure and healthy?
8. Have I been scrupulously honorable in all my business dealings?
9. Have I been transparently sincere in all I have professed to be, to feel, or to do?
10. Have I seen myself as others see me?
11. Have I made more excuses for myself than I have been willing to make for others
12. Have I, in my own home, been a peacemaker, or have I stirred up strife?
13. Have I, while professing noble sentiments for great causes and distant objects, failed even in common charity and courtesy toward those nearest to me?
Give me grace to answer honestly, God.
Then, after silence, invite the people to pray for themselves around one or more of
the following themes: (print in bulletin also). A faithful Christ and an ambivalent self, doubt, forgetfulness, worry, laziness, anger, lust, self-centeredness, prayerlessness, talkativeness, over-bearing, false pride, unreasonableness, resentment, hypocrisy, racism, timidity, (did we miss yours?)
Then, after silence,
invite the people to consider the times we have enjoyed the luxury of self-pity and confess our lack of pity for the plight of others. (source unknown)
Following more silence,
use the following, or a similar, litany:
Pastor:
Jesus declares a new humanity.
Ministers: He accepts our lives, forgiving the past and opening up the future.
Pastor:
He calls us to face life and see it through.
Ministers: He even calls us to celebrate, in and by and through and with his power. Amen.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Try this:
An idea suggested by Dick Avery and Don Marsh. Ask all the people, using the children as leaders, to act out Acts 2:1-4. Put verbal symbols with the wind (whooshing), and fire (hand above head with fingers simulating flames), and speaking in tongues (tongue moving rapidly back and forth in mouth.) You may want to get copies of "The Best Gift," Acts 2:1-47, New English Bible, from the American Bible Society, for all the families to take home. Whatever you decide, ask the people to read the Pentecost story once a day throughout the week.
Proclamation of the Word
Consider these ideas:
One author has outlined Peter's sermon on that first Pentecost this way:
1. What Jesus did: Miracles/signs.
2. What people did: Killed him.
3. What God did: Raised him from the dead.
4. What disciples are doing now: witnessing to those events.
5. What each of us can do: Repent! Change your mind, will, purpose! Be baptized.
I. What shakes us in our world? What doesn't shake us?
II. Are we willing to proclaim with boldness; or are we content to let others - advertisers, the government, movie producers, recording industry, pornographic magazines, fast food restaurants, television - proclaim what we believe and what we want our children to believe?
III. What do we proclaim with our words/silences, angers/joys, money/credit cards, friendships/neglected friendships, actions/procrastinations, sensitivity/insensitivity?
We proclaim either by decision or default.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
The stewardship of power: How do we use power?
We can use it as Linus did one time when Lucy asked him if he would run for school president and she offered to be his campaign manager. He put her off ... too much work ... too much responsibility. Lucy got him though when she reminded him, "Think of the power." Linus got that evil look on his face, and with much force, said, "I'll do it."
or,
We can recongize that true power comes, not in Rambo tactics, or complying with the status quo, or pouting, but in servanthood.
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said that "I believe that God will give us all the power we need to resist in all the times of distress; but God never gives it in advance, lest we rely upon ourselves and not on Him alone." (source unknown)
Therefore, how will we use our time, talents, treasure, through the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit - to recreate ourselves and the people around us, to renew us and the people around us, to refresh us and the people around us, to revitalize us and the people around us -in the Name of the Spirit who infiltrates, inflames, inspires us - and who blows where it wills?
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 104:1, 24-34
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Acts 2:1-21
1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"The Day of Pentecost Arrived"
Frank A. Brooks, Jr., 1972
"On Pentecost They Gathered" Jane Parker Huber
A Singing Faith, Jane Parker Huber, Westminster Press
"Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire"
Latin hymn, 9th century Trans. by John Cosin, 1627
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation
Medley of Pentecost Hymns
or,
"The Blessed Damozel"
Debussy
Response to the Pastoral Invitation and Litany
"Come, Share the Spirit"
Words and Music
by Kent Schneider copyright 1976 by Agape, Division of Hope Pub. Co.
Response to the Children's Message
"There Is a New Wind Blowin' "
Words and Music
by David Yantis from New Wine, United Methodist Church
Response to the Proclamation
Adult Choir
"You Are God"
Carlton T. Russell
Response to the Stewardship Challenge
"Cantique"
Stravinsky
Doxology
Use one of Richard Avery and Don Marsh's
Response to the Benediction
All
1. Pastor: Be Christ to one another.
2. Song: "Blest Be the Tie That Binds"
3. Passing the Peace: "Christ takes form through you."
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
