Rivers of Living Water
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle A Gospel Texts
Pre-preparations for Pentecost
1. Invite, several weeks in advance, the people to wear red, the color for Pentecost. Ask them also to bring their favorite symbol for Pentecost. Let them know that two of the symbols are wind and fire.
2. Order from the American Bible Society, "The Best Gift: Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2:1-47"; and ask them to read it before Pentecost Sunday.
3. Order a Pentecost button to hand out as people come to worship; and encourage them to wear it wherever they go. People in the community will ask them what it means, and it will provide a simple and effective way to witness.
The advantage of Pentecost over the other Holy Days is that the mass media haven't yet discovered how to make a few billion dollars with it.
The Community Gathers To Celebrate The Coming Of The Holy Spirit
Invitation to the Celebration
In a few moments, I will ask those of you who brought Pentecost symbols to share them if you choose. First, I invite us to listen to two Pentecost hymns. One symbol is fire; listen and follow in your hymnbook as the organist plays "Holy Spirit, Truth Divine." Write down the message that you think God is giving you. Another symbol is wind. The pianist will play "There Is a New Wind Blowing." Write down the message that you think God is giving you.
Response
Would any of you be willing to share your Pentecost symbol? Share your own favorite, and why.
Declaration of Joyful Expectations (Pastor and Ministers)
P: The Holy Spirit is here! The Holy Spirit is the power and presence of Christ! The Holy Spirit is the healing force in and of the world.
M: Thank God, we have heard of the Holy Spirit! So, we come to celebrate the Spirit's presence and power, the wind and the fire.
P: I invite us to open ourselves, our needs and the needs of others; our relationship to God and to each other; the world of joys and sadnesses and angers -- to Christ's Spirit.
M: We come with expectations, some of which we're aware, some of which we're not. We come to experience what the Holy Spirit of God will do with our lives, open and receptive. We are ready!
Hymn of Praise
"Come, O Spirit" (Union Harmony, 1837; John Dalles, 1983; harm. Hilton Rufty, 1934).
Prayer of Praise
Ask those who brought Pentecost symbols to offer a sentence prayer focusing on their particular symbol.
Response
And all the people shouted (reverently, of course), "Happy birthday to the church." Now that we've said it, I invite us to sing it.
The Community Takes Responsibility For Itself
The Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
A member of the church one day asked his pastor, "Why can't I receive power, as the early disciples did, and do the same things as did Paul and Stephen?" The pastor said, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. How did they prepare to receive the Holy Spirit? How do you prepare?" He had no answer. So, how do we? Because, as someone has said, "Only the disciplined change the world."
All: God, we confess that, while we have been aware of Your Spirit, we want it through some kind of David Copperfield illusion.
P: The Spirit of Christ has said, "SWIM!"
M: Some of us have responded, "The water is too cold!"
P: The Spirit of Christ has said, "SWIM!"
M: And some of us have responded, "I don't know how!"
P: The Spirit of Christ has said, "SWIM!"
M: And some of us have responded, "This is not the time or the place!"
All: Lord, throw us into the water and teach us there, or else we may never get in!
Response
Ask the people to symbolize the splashing of water over themselves. Some will act confused, so show them how.
The Act of Receiving New Life
"The Gospel is dynamite, but we treat it like dried leaves" (Nicholas Berdyaev, Russian philosopher).
P: God's Word is clear: Forgiveness comes whenever we make honest confession. God cannot forgive those who think that they need not confess. The Good News demands a response. What will you do?
M: We will sing with our voices; we will speak with our lips. We will pledge our lives to be Pentecost people.
Response
Have a liturgical dancer, with the children, teach the congregation simple body response to "Spirit of the Living God, Fall Afresh on Me." Tell them, "It's okay not to be embarrassed."
The Community Responds To God's Truth
Message with the Children of All Ages
Have the children lead the congregation in response to the act of receiving new life. Thank them; children need to hear thanks often especially in the sanctuary, not for their performance, or their cuteness. They need to be recognized and accepted as the church of today, not the church of tomorrow.
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Have your liturgical dancers interpret Acts 2:1-4, 43-47.
Proclamation of the Good News
Consider incorporating these ideas: 1) "Just as atomic energy represents the release of hidden forces in the physical world, so Pentecost represents the release of hidden invisible forces in the realm of personality" (Lloyd Ellis Foster). 2) Has the church missed the point that it now needs a set of new pews, a new organ, a new carpet, a new pastor, to give it a shot in the arm, rather than a steady flow of power from the Holy Spirit?
Response
(Choir) "Come, O Spirit, Dwell Among Us" (Janie Alford, 1979; Thomas John Williams, 1890).
Stewardship Challenge
In groups of three or four, where you sit, share signs and gifts of the Holy Spirit that you see in each other. After a few moments receive the offering.
Charge to the Congregation
There is no need to starve to death with so much nourishment available. Christ has given us his resources, his love, his Spirit -- Power and Presence -- and he has given us each other to live full, wholesome abundant lives -- so let's do just that, in the name of Christ's Spirit Alleluia and Hurray; and all the people said, "Tah-dah!"
Meditation
"A common criticism of a play is that 'it lacks the courage of the first act.' One of the great needs of the church today is to regain the courage of the first act -- at Pentecost" (Halford E. Luccock).
Invite the people to a "Happy Birthday" party for the church. Plan, as much as possible, everything in red.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Pentecost hymns; list the pages in the hymnbook where they are located. Encourage the people to read the words, as they wait for formal worship to begin. Or, "Adagio for Strings," Samuel Barber.
Hymn of Praise: "On Pentecost They Gathered," Jane Parker Huber, from A Singing Faith, Westminster Press, 1987.
Singing the Older Covenant Reading: Select one of the Psalms and find it put to music.
Response to the Proclamation: (All the choirs) "It Is a Great Day of Joy" (Alleluia Fugue), from Jesus: The Life of Jesus in Twelve Contemporary Songs, Avant Garde Records, Inc., 250 West 57th Street, New York, N.Y. 10019.
Hymn of Dedication: Either, "Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove," Isaac Watts, 1707 (if you want to end worship on a quiet note); or "The Lord of the Dance," Sydney Carter (if you want to end worship on a more dramatic note).
Response to the Benediction: "Allelu," words and music by Ray Repp, Hope Publishing Company. It is okay to use a hymn more than once. Remember that only about one-third of the congregation is present on any given Sunday, unless you have a most unusual congregation.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Pentecost hymns.
1. Invite, several weeks in advance, the people to wear red, the color for Pentecost. Ask them also to bring their favorite symbol for Pentecost. Let them know that two of the symbols are wind and fire.
2. Order from the American Bible Society, "The Best Gift: Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2:1-47"; and ask them to read it before Pentecost Sunday.
3. Order a Pentecost button to hand out as people come to worship; and encourage them to wear it wherever they go. People in the community will ask them what it means, and it will provide a simple and effective way to witness.
The advantage of Pentecost over the other Holy Days is that the mass media haven't yet discovered how to make a few billion dollars with it.
The Community Gathers To Celebrate The Coming Of The Holy Spirit
Invitation to the Celebration
In a few moments, I will ask those of you who brought Pentecost symbols to share them if you choose. First, I invite us to listen to two Pentecost hymns. One symbol is fire; listen and follow in your hymnbook as the organist plays "Holy Spirit, Truth Divine." Write down the message that you think God is giving you. Another symbol is wind. The pianist will play "There Is a New Wind Blowing." Write down the message that you think God is giving you.
Response
Would any of you be willing to share your Pentecost symbol? Share your own favorite, and why.
Declaration of Joyful Expectations (Pastor and Ministers)
P: The Holy Spirit is here! The Holy Spirit is the power and presence of Christ! The Holy Spirit is the healing force in and of the world.
M: Thank God, we have heard of the Holy Spirit! So, we come to celebrate the Spirit's presence and power, the wind and the fire.
P: I invite us to open ourselves, our needs and the needs of others; our relationship to God and to each other; the world of joys and sadnesses and angers -- to Christ's Spirit.
M: We come with expectations, some of which we're aware, some of which we're not. We come to experience what the Holy Spirit of God will do with our lives, open and receptive. We are ready!
Hymn of Praise
"Come, O Spirit" (Union Harmony, 1837; John Dalles, 1983; harm. Hilton Rufty, 1934).
Prayer of Praise
Ask those who brought Pentecost symbols to offer a sentence prayer focusing on their particular symbol.
Response
And all the people shouted (reverently, of course), "Happy birthday to the church." Now that we've said it, I invite us to sing it.
The Community Takes Responsibility For Itself
The Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
A member of the church one day asked his pastor, "Why can't I receive power, as the early disciples did, and do the same things as did Paul and Stephen?" The pastor said, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. How did they prepare to receive the Holy Spirit? How do you prepare?" He had no answer. So, how do we? Because, as someone has said, "Only the disciplined change the world."
All: God, we confess that, while we have been aware of Your Spirit, we want it through some kind of David Copperfield illusion.
P: The Spirit of Christ has said, "SWIM!"
M: Some of us have responded, "The water is too cold!"
P: The Spirit of Christ has said, "SWIM!"
M: And some of us have responded, "I don't know how!"
P: The Spirit of Christ has said, "SWIM!"
M: And some of us have responded, "This is not the time or the place!"
All: Lord, throw us into the water and teach us there, or else we may never get in!
Response
Ask the people to symbolize the splashing of water over themselves. Some will act confused, so show them how.
The Act of Receiving New Life
"The Gospel is dynamite, but we treat it like dried leaves" (Nicholas Berdyaev, Russian philosopher).
P: God's Word is clear: Forgiveness comes whenever we make honest confession. God cannot forgive those who think that they need not confess. The Good News demands a response. What will you do?
M: We will sing with our voices; we will speak with our lips. We will pledge our lives to be Pentecost people.
Response
Have a liturgical dancer, with the children, teach the congregation simple body response to "Spirit of the Living God, Fall Afresh on Me." Tell them, "It's okay not to be embarrassed."
The Community Responds To God's Truth
Message with the Children of All Ages
Have the children lead the congregation in response to the act of receiving new life. Thank them; children need to hear thanks often especially in the sanctuary, not for their performance, or their cuteness. They need to be recognized and accepted as the church of today, not the church of tomorrow.
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Have your liturgical dancers interpret Acts 2:1-4, 43-47.
Proclamation of the Good News
Consider incorporating these ideas: 1) "Just as atomic energy represents the release of hidden forces in the physical world, so Pentecost represents the release of hidden invisible forces in the realm of personality" (Lloyd Ellis Foster). 2) Has the church missed the point that it now needs a set of new pews, a new organ, a new carpet, a new pastor, to give it a shot in the arm, rather than a steady flow of power from the Holy Spirit?
Response
(Choir) "Come, O Spirit, Dwell Among Us" (Janie Alford, 1979; Thomas John Williams, 1890).
Stewardship Challenge
In groups of three or four, where you sit, share signs and gifts of the Holy Spirit that you see in each other. After a few moments receive the offering.
Charge to the Congregation
There is no need to starve to death with so much nourishment available. Christ has given us his resources, his love, his Spirit -- Power and Presence -- and he has given us each other to live full, wholesome abundant lives -- so let's do just that, in the name of Christ's Spirit Alleluia and Hurray; and all the people said, "Tah-dah!"
Meditation
"A common criticism of a play is that 'it lacks the courage of the first act.' One of the great needs of the church today is to regain the courage of the first act -- at Pentecost" (Halford E. Luccock).
Invite the people to a "Happy Birthday" party for the church. Plan, as much as possible, everything in red.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Pentecost hymns; list the pages in the hymnbook where they are located. Encourage the people to read the words, as they wait for formal worship to begin. Or, "Adagio for Strings," Samuel Barber.
Hymn of Praise: "On Pentecost They Gathered," Jane Parker Huber, from A Singing Faith, Westminster Press, 1987.
Singing the Older Covenant Reading: Select one of the Psalms and find it put to music.
Response to the Proclamation: (All the choirs) "It Is a Great Day of Joy" (Alleluia Fugue), from Jesus: The Life of Jesus in Twelve Contemporary Songs, Avant Garde Records, Inc., 250 West 57th Street, New York, N.Y. 10019.
Hymn of Dedication: Either, "Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove," Isaac Watts, 1707 (if you want to end worship on a quiet note); or "The Lord of the Dance," Sydney Carter (if you want to end worship on a more dramatic note).
Response to the Benediction: "Allelu," words and music by Ray Repp, Hope Publishing Company. It is okay to use a hymn more than once. Remember that only about one-third of the congregation is present on any given Sunday, unless you have a most unusual congregation.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Pentecost hymns.
