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Pentecost Sunday
1 Thessalonians 1:8
Sermon Notes
Music Notes
Liturgy Notes
Theme of the Service
On Pentecost Sunday the church deliberately turns its attention to what ought to occupy its attention all the time: that only in the power of the Holy Spirit is the Christian church able to build the church of Christ until it includes people of all nations and languages.
WE GATHER IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
Prelude: "Wind Who Makes All Winds That Blow," Linker (organ), Organ (piano)
Introit: "Pentecost Fire," Cool
The Reading of Acts 2:1-6, 14-16
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
*God's Greeting and Congregational Amen!
*Songs: "For Your Gift of God the Spirit" PsH 416, RL 382, TH 339, TWC 285
"Gift of Christ from God Our Father" (st. 1, 3) SNC 167
WE ARE RENEWED IN GOD'S GRACE
The Call to Confession
Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command
and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor
to be with you forever-the Spirit of truth.
Whoever has my commands and obeys them,
he is the one who loves me.
He who loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Let us confess our sins to God. (based on John 14:15-17, 21)
Our Confession of Sin
Gracious Lord, who has sent your Spirit into our hearts
that we might come to know you and love you,
continue now your work of making us new.
We lay our sin before you;
we confess that we have not loved you as you desire;
nor have we loved others as we should.
Forgive us for the sake of your son, Jesus Christ,
and renew us in the power of your Spirit. Amen.
The Assurance of Pardon: Romans 5:1-2, 5
*Song of Gratitude: "Gift of Christ from God Our Father" (st. 2, 4) SNC 167
God's Call to Holy Living: Galatians 5:16-26
The Children's Moment
WE OFFER OUR PRAYERS AND GIFTS
The Pastoral Prayer
Offertory
The offering of our gifts
The offering of music: "Creator Spirit, by Whose Aid," Barr or Wold (organ), or "This Is the
Day," Hayes (piano)
The Offertory Prayer
GOD SPEAKS THROUGH HIS WORD
*Song: "Creator Spirit, by Whose Aid" PsH 425
The Prayer for Illumination
Lord, open our heart and minds
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
that as the Scriptures are read
and your Word is proclaimed,
we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.
The Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Sermon: "The Echo of Pentecost"
Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:8
The Prayer of Application
WE CELEBRATE AT THE LORD'S TABLE
Song of Approach: "As We Gather at Your Table" SNC 245
God's Invitation and Promises
The Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Preparation of the Bread and the Cup
Our Participation in the Bread
Anthem: "Gathered Now," O'Brien
Our Participation in the Cup
"Spirit of the Living God" PH 322, PsH 424, RN 90, SFL 184, TH 726, TWC 297, UMH 393
"There's a Spirit in the Air" PH 433, RL 380, RN 282, SFL 192, TWC 120, UMH 192
"O Holy Spirit, Breathe on Me" SFL 183
The Prayer of Thanksgiving
WE GO OUT ENCOURAGED BY GOD
*The Benediction with Congregational Amen!
*Song: "Praise the Savior" PsH 400, TH 243
Postlude: "Trumpet Tune," Johnson (organ)
*you are invited to stand
- Even though the text for this sermon comes from an epistle, instead of the book of Acts, it's necessary in this sermon to begin at Acts 2 so the Pentecost story is set before all. Hearers will need to be refreshed on why Pentecost was necessary and what its primary intent was.
- Once that foundation has been laid, the message can take the congregation to the church at Thessalonica, a model church (see v. 7) in many ways, which gave ringing proof of the reality of Pentecost. Look at the passage carefully and notice how both the Lord's message and their faith "rang out" (v. 8).
- These marks of the Thessalonian church provide two elements that are at the heart of the Holy Spirit's work-which gives the sermon its title: "The Echo of Pentecost." First there was an open-door urgency to spreading the truth to others; and, second, the Spirit's plan involves witnessing by the lay members of the church (remember Acts 8:1-4).
- The marks of the Thessalonian church, as an echo of the Holy Spirit's work, give us opportunity to raise questions about the church and its ministry today. Before we come to the Lord's table and seek renewal in our Lord, we should ask ourselves about our openness to his plan for us.
Glossary of Hymnal Abbreviations:
PH The Presbyterian Hymnal (Presbyterian Church USA; Westminster/John Knox Press)
PsH The Psalter Hymnal (Christian Reformed Church; Faith Alive Christian Resources)
RL Rejoice in the Lord (Reformed Church in America; W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Company)
RN Renew! (Hope Publishing Company)
SFL Songs for LiFE (children's songbook; Faith Alive Christian Resources)
SNC Sing! A New Creation (Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Christian Reformed Church,
Reformed Church in America; Faith Alive Christian Resources)
TH Trinity Hymnal (Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church in America; Great
Commission Publications)
TWC The Worshiping Church (Hope Publishing Company)
UMH The United Methodist Hymnal (United Methodist Publishing House)
WOV With One Voice (Augsburg Fortress)
- The prelude music, both of which are based on the tune ABERYSTWYTH,can be found in the following resources:
- "Suite for Holy Week," an organ collection arranged by Janet Linker, published by Beckenhorst OC5 [1989] (E-M). This particular piece is a set of of variations.
- "Christ, Mighty Savior," a piano collection arranged by Anne Krentz Organ, published by Augsburg 11-10819 [1997] (E-M).
- The unison anthem "Pentecost Fire" by Jayne Southwick Cool is published by Choristers Guild CGA-502 [1990] (E). The text of this anthem, which retells the Pentecost story, is paired with a melody that sings like a folk song. This is an engaging piece for a children's choir, but is also effective sung by an adult choir.
- Take note of the division between the stanzas of "Gift of Christ from God Our Father." Stanzas 1 and 3 lead into the time of confession, while stanzas 2 and 4 serve both as a response to the Assurance of Pardon and a bridge to the Call to Holy Living. This contemporary hymn text is paired with a familiar Welsh folk tune, AR HYD Y NOS. An alternative accompaniment for this can be found in John Ferguson's Hymn Harmonizations for Organ, book 2, published by Ludwig O-07 [1983]. An alternative accompaniment for piano arranged by Mark Albrecht can be found in Let It Rip! at the Piano, published by Augsburg Fortress ISBN 0-8006-5906-6 [2000].
- The suggestions for offertory can be found in the following sources:
- "Three Preludes on Hymn Tunes,", based on MELITA,arranged by John G. Barr for organ, published by H. W. Grey GSTC 01079 [1992] (E-M).
- "Suite for Organ on 'Eternal Father, Strong to Save,'" arranged by Wayne L. Wold, published by Augsburg ISBN 0-8006-7569-X [2003] (M). Select one of the sections from this suite, or use individual sections as prelude, offertory, and postlude for this service.
- "This Is the Day" arranged by Mark Hayes for piano can be found in "Lord, Be Glorified," published by Word 301 0047 312 [1990] (E-M).
- The song of approach, "As We Gather at Your Table," serves as a response to the sermon and a bridge to the celebration at the Table.
- The SATB anthem "Gather Now" by Francis Patrick O'Brien is published by GIA G-3772 [1992]. This anthem provides a printed refrain alternative for congregational use.
- Note that the congregational songs selected for singing during the distribution of the communion elements reflect the Spirit's work and call to us both as individuals and together as the body of Christ.
- The postlude for organ can be found in An Album of Postludes published by Oxford in 1964. This organ piece by David Johnson could be adapted for solo instrument and keyboard.
- It is important, because it is Pentecost Sunday, that the opening elements of the service are marked by the spirit of proclamation. The sung introit and the reading of the Acts 2 story should be presented as proclamations of the great truth of this day. It would be wise to consider introducing the opening elements with statements that aid worshipers to receive these as proclamation. An introit can be introduced by "Hear the Pentecost story in song . . ." or "Pray with us that the Spirit will move among us . . ." or something similar. The reading of Acts 2 can be introduced with, "Hear the story of how God's power was poured out through the Spirit . . ."
- Notice how the work of the Holy Spirit is present in the Service of Confession. The prayer of confession and assurance of pardon are all connected with the Spirit's work within us. God's call to grateful living is a call to "keep in step with the Spirit."
- The Children's Moment is placed in the service so that the children will make a connection between the desire to live gratefully for God and the prompting of the Holy Spirit within our hearts. Though it is very difficult for children to grasp the identity of an invisible Spirit, they are able to sense the inner desire and prompting to obey God and can be led to identify that with the work of the Spirit.
- For the service of the Lord's Supper, we refer you to the information previously provided for July 20, 2003. There you will find ideas and suggestions for the sacrament's observance. Communicants should be encouraged to use the time of the sacrament for personal reflection, though many of our culture are often uncomfortable with silence. If music plays quietly while bread is passed, worshipers can be left to meditate freely or several appropriate Scripture readings can be provided. The songs during the distribution of the cup will also aid their meditation.
This weekly worship service has been provided for your use and encouragement by Howard Vanderwell and Norma de Waal Malefyt, Resource Development Specialists at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. You can reach them with your suggestions and comments at howard.vanderwell@calvin.edu or norma.malefyt@calvin.edu. Any materials included here from The Worship Sourcebook are used by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, © 2004, CRC Publications. This permission is granted for one time worship use in an order of service for a congregation, or in a special program or lesson resource, provided that no part of such reproduction is sold, directly or indirectly. For all other uses, please contact the copyright holder. |