The Day Of Pentecost
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series III, Cycle A
A Chorale Service using hymns from around the world
Processional Hymn
Uyaimose/Come All You People -- Zimbabwe
or African Processional Hymn
Apostolic Greeting
Hymn Of Praise
Vamos Todos al Banquete/Let Us Go Now To The Banquet -- El Salvador
Prayer Of The Day
P: All languages of the earth praise you, O God, all languages praise you. Through these words, both simple and complex, your great love for all people is made known. May your Spirit give us ears to hear and voices to proclaim, that all people may come to know the glorious sound of your love, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
The Lessons
Alleluia Verse
Heleluyan/Hallelujah -- Native American (Muscogee)
or Halle, Halle, Halle -- Caribbean
Holy Gospel
Hymn Of The Day
O Day Full Of Grace -- Denmark
Confession Of Faith
Prayers Of The Church (Intercessions)
After each petition:
L: Come to us, Holy Spirit,
C: and breathe new life in us.
Offering/Offertory And Prayer
Offertory Hymn
Holy Majesty, Before You (v. 1) -- Sweden
Eucharistic Prayer
Suggested Prayer: All-Africa Eucharistic Prayer -- East Africa (TFF, p. 86)
The Lord's Prayer
Hymns During Distribution (choose two or three)
Santo, Santo, Santo/Holy, Holy, Holy -- Argentina
Thuma Mina/Send Me, Lord -- South Africa
Jaya Ho/Victory Hymn -- Hindi
Shalom, Chavarim -- Israel
Spirit Of Gentleness -- North America
Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling -- Germany
Post-Communion Blessing
Post-Communion Canticle
Let Us Talents And Tongues -- Jamaica
Post-Communion Prayer
A: Fire in our hearts, fire in our mouths, fire in our hands;
nothing that you touch remains the same.
Ruah, Ruah, Ruah, make us bold.
C: Amen.
Benediction
P: Gracious God, pour out your Spirit upon these, your children.
Let their dreams be bold and their visions clear,
that your great love would set them free
to spread your word like fire among all peoples.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, +
and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Recessional Hymn
Oh, For A Thousand Tongues -- England
Dismissal
Service Notes
The opening procession sets the tone for this day. Leading the procession are three or more of your tallest people, each carrying a six-foot length of PVC pipe. At the top foot of each have six to twelve strips of red ribbon or cloth glued securely to the pole. These folks will lead the procession, coming in every available aisle, swirling these tongues of flame over the heads of the congregation. Immediately behind them have your liturgical dancers dressed in brightly colored clothes from around the world. If you do not usually process in, today is the day to catch your congregation off guard and do so. After the dancers, the order may be: crucifer (processional cross), banner bearer (new Pentecost banner or simply a banner standard hung with layers of red gauze), candle bearers, Bible bearer (hold it high), choir (with their processional music memorized so that their hands and bodies are free to move with the music), drummers (if they have carrying straps for their African drums), assisting ministers, preacher, and presider. If you have a circular sanctuary, the tongues of flame can continue around while others move toward their places in the chancel. The processional hymn can be repeated continuously.
A way to embody the Acts text would be to start quietly with a single hand drummer establishing a beat (as steady as the breath of the Spirit within us). A single voice begins speaking the text in English. In verses 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, voices in other languages join in, one at a time. (A second drummer may enter here with a quiet but more intense rhythm, building until verse 12 and then tapering off to verse 16.) They all continue speaking until verse 12, and then on each successive verse they drop out, one at a time, so that by verse 17 there is one voice left sounding over the quiet pulse of a single drum. Let the drummer continue for another twenty or thirty seconds after the voice concludes, and then let there be at least a few seconds of silence to listen to the Spirit breathing within us.
Please note that John 20:19-23 also appears in Easter 2, and that John 14:8-17 also appears in Easter 5.
It would be appropriate to put a note in your bulletin about today's hymns. The following is a sample:
A Word About Today's Hymns
"Uyaimose" is a popular entrance hymn among Christians in both West and East Africa, much like "Holy, Holy, Holy" was in Lutheran churches in the US in previous generations.
"Vamo Todos al Banquete" is the Hymn of Praise from the Missa Populara Salvadorena. The contrast of its lively energy and hopeful spirit, embodied in the voices of the hungry and oppressed, gives new meaning to our generation of all that is to be received in the banquet of justice and love.
"Halle, Halle, Halle" hails from the Caribbean. Its moving beat has made it a favorite at Global Mission Events for a number of years.
The earliest copy of "O Day Full Of Grace," an ancient folk hymn, first appeared in Sweden in 1450. Revised for Protestant use, its first printing in Danish was in 1569. In honor of the thousandth anniversary of Christianity in Denmark, Nicolai Gruntvig recast the hymn in 1826.
You may recognize the tune of "Holy Majesty, Before You." It is the familiar Advent hymn, "Wake, Awake." Part of S. J. Hedborn's collection published in 1812, it is a hymn of thanksgiving and praise to an omnipotent God.
"Santo, Santo, Santo" comes to us from the churches in Argentina. Sung frequently by both Protestants and Roman Catholics, it is a clear word of devotion and praise.
"Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling" and "Oh, For A Thousand Tongues To Sing," come to us from Western Europe (Holland and the British Isles). Timothy Rees, a priest in the Church of England who authored the text of "Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling," went on several missions to New Zealand, Canada, and Ceylon. He also served as a chaplain in WWI. Charles Wesley ("Oh, For A Thousand Tongues") wrote this hymn on the first anniversary of his great spiritual change. It originally included eighteen stanzas!
Processional Hymn
Uyaimose/Come All You People -- Zimbabwe
or African Processional Hymn
Apostolic Greeting
Hymn Of Praise
Vamos Todos al Banquete/Let Us Go Now To The Banquet -- El Salvador
Prayer Of The Day
P: All languages of the earth praise you, O God, all languages praise you. Through these words, both simple and complex, your great love for all people is made known. May your Spirit give us ears to hear and voices to proclaim, that all people may come to know the glorious sound of your love, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
The Lessons
Alleluia Verse
Heleluyan/Hallelujah -- Native American (Muscogee)
or Halle, Halle, Halle -- Caribbean
Holy Gospel
Hymn Of The Day
O Day Full Of Grace -- Denmark
Confession Of Faith
Prayers Of The Church (Intercessions)
After each petition:
L: Come to us, Holy Spirit,
C: and breathe new life in us.
Offering/Offertory And Prayer
Offertory Hymn
Holy Majesty, Before You (v. 1) -- Sweden
Eucharistic Prayer
Suggested Prayer: All-Africa Eucharistic Prayer -- East Africa (TFF, p. 86)
The Lord's Prayer
Hymns During Distribution (choose two or three)
Santo, Santo, Santo/Holy, Holy, Holy -- Argentina
Thuma Mina/Send Me, Lord -- South Africa
Jaya Ho/Victory Hymn -- Hindi
Shalom, Chavarim -- Israel
Spirit Of Gentleness -- North America
Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling -- Germany
Post-Communion Blessing
Post-Communion Canticle
Let Us Talents And Tongues -- Jamaica
Post-Communion Prayer
A: Fire in our hearts, fire in our mouths, fire in our hands;
nothing that you touch remains the same.
Ruah, Ruah, Ruah, make us bold.
C: Amen.
Benediction
P: Gracious God, pour out your Spirit upon these, your children.
Let their dreams be bold and their visions clear,
that your great love would set them free
to spread your word like fire among all peoples.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, +
and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Recessional Hymn
Oh, For A Thousand Tongues -- England
Dismissal
Service Notes
The opening procession sets the tone for this day. Leading the procession are three or more of your tallest people, each carrying a six-foot length of PVC pipe. At the top foot of each have six to twelve strips of red ribbon or cloth glued securely to the pole. These folks will lead the procession, coming in every available aisle, swirling these tongues of flame over the heads of the congregation. Immediately behind them have your liturgical dancers dressed in brightly colored clothes from around the world. If you do not usually process in, today is the day to catch your congregation off guard and do so. After the dancers, the order may be: crucifer (processional cross), banner bearer (new Pentecost banner or simply a banner standard hung with layers of red gauze), candle bearers, Bible bearer (hold it high), choir (with their processional music memorized so that their hands and bodies are free to move with the music), drummers (if they have carrying straps for their African drums), assisting ministers, preacher, and presider. If you have a circular sanctuary, the tongues of flame can continue around while others move toward their places in the chancel. The processional hymn can be repeated continuously.
A way to embody the Acts text would be to start quietly with a single hand drummer establishing a beat (as steady as the breath of the Spirit within us). A single voice begins speaking the text in English. In verses 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, voices in other languages join in, one at a time. (A second drummer may enter here with a quiet but more intense rhythm, building until verse 12 and then tapering off to verse 16.) They all continue speaking until verse 12, and then on each successive verse they drop out, one at a time, so that by verse 17 there is one voice left sounding over the quiet pulse of a single drum. Let the drummer continue for another twenty or thirty seconds after the voice concludes, and then let there be at least a few seconds of silence to listen to the Spirit breathing within us.
Please note that John 20:19-23 also appears in Easter 2, and that John 14:8-17 also appears in Easter 5.
It would be appropriate to put a note in your bulletin about today's hymns. The following is a sample:
A Word About Today's Hymns
"Uyaimose" is a popular entrance hymn among Christians in both West and East Africa, much like "Holy, Holy, Holy" was in Lutheran churches in the US in previous generations.
"Vamo Todos al Banquete" is the Hymn of Praise from the Missa Populara Salvadorena. The contrast of its lively energy and hopeful spirit, embodied in the voices of the hungry and oppressed, gives new meaning to our generation of all that is to be received in the banquet of justice and love.
"Halle, Halle, Halle" hails from the Caribbean. Its moving beat has made it a favorite at Global Mission Events for a number of years.
The earliest copy of "O Day Full Of Grace," an ancient folk hymn, first appeared in Sweden in 1450. Revised for Protestant use, its first printing in Danish was in 1569. In honor of the thousandth anniversary of Christianity in Denmark, Nicolai Gruntvig recast the hymn in 1826.
You may recognize the tune of "Holy Majesty, Before You." It is the familiar Advent hymn, "Wake, Awake." Part of S. J. Hedborn's collection published in 1812, it is a hymn of thanksgiving and praise to an omnipotent God.
"Santo, Santo, Santo" comes to us from the churches in Argentina. Sung frequently by both Protestants and Roman Catholics, it is a clear word of devotion and praise.
"Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling" and "Oh, For A Thousand Tongues To Sing," come to us from Western Europe (Holland and the British Isles). Timothy Rees, a priest in the Church of England who authored the text of "Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling," went on several missions to New Zealand, Canada, and Ceylon. He also served as a chaplain in WWI. Charles Wesley ("Oh, For A Thousand Tongues") wrote this hymn on the first anniversary of his great spiritual change. It originally included eighteen stanzas!
