A Service for the Lord’s Day
May 31, 2020
Pentecost Sunday
Prelude
“There is a Hope” - Steve Baxley, soloist; Michael Collings, guitars/bass
Call to Worship – Psalm 104:24-33
How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number — living things both large and small.
There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time.
When you give it to them, they gather it up.
When you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
When you hide your face, they are terrified.
When you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.
When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.
May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works — he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Opening Prayer
Spirit of the living God, visit us again on this day of Pentecost.
Come, Holy Spirit.
Like a rushing wind that sweeps away all barriers,
come, Holy Spirit.
Like tongues of fire that set our hearts aflame,
come, Holy Spirit.
With speech that unites the Babel of our tongues,
come, Holy Spirit.
With love that overlaps the boundaries of race and nation,
come, Holy Spirit.
With power from above to make our weakness strong,
come, Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Song
“Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God”
Prayer of Confession
Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 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 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.” Guided by the truth, let us confess our sin to God. (Silent confession)
Assurance of Pardon
Friends, hear the good news and rejoice: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life sets us free from the law of sin and death. And if the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, God who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies through the Spirit, who lives in us.” Thanks be to God!
Children’s Message
Scripture Readings
Sermon – The Descent of the Spirit
Song of Response
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God”
Affirmation of Faith – from The Westminster Confession of Faith
The Holy Spirit, the third Person in the Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son, of the same substance and equal in power and glory, is, together with the Father and the Son, to be believed in, loved, obeyed, and worshipped throughout all ages. He is the Lord and Giver of life, everywhere present, and is the source of all good thoughts, pure desires, and holy counsels in men… The Holy Spirit, whom the Father is ever willing to give to all who ask him, is the only efficient agent in the application of redemption. He regenerates men and women by his grace, convicts them of sin, moves them to repentance, and persuades and enables them to embrace Jesus Christ by faith. He unites all believers to Christ, dwells in them as their Comforter and Sanctifier, gives to them the spirit of Adoption and Prayer, and performs all those gracious offices by which they are sanctified and sealed unto the day of redemption. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit all believers being vitally united to Christ, who is the Head, are thus united one to another in the Church, which is his body.
Prayers of the People
We praise you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for your creative power and redeeming love.
Spirit of fire, you came as a rushing wind, breathing life and hope into dead bones and cold hearts on Pentecost. We thank you for your presence in creation, in the church universal, in our worship, and in our lives. We pray now for your intercession as we lift up…
Those who are sick and alone (especially ___________), may they know your healing, comfort and care. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Those who are grieving (especially ___________), may they lament and receive hope because of you. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Those who lack food, shelter, and are in situations that are unsafe (especially ___________), bring help. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
For those who provide care (especially ___________), give them strength, courage, and rest. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Those who work and reside in places with limited resources for safe practices (nursing homes, military facilities, prisons), please make a way for justice and fair treatment. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Adults and children who suffer from mental illness or addiction, grant them provision, friendship, and freedom. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Those who are profiled, mistreated, or even killed because of the color of their skin, bless them and lead all of us to repent of the sins of racism and to strive for your kingdom in which all people are valued and loved. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Civic leaders, that they would use their authority to pursue justice and safeguard the well-being and dignity of all. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Leaders in education, businesses, and faith-communities, that they would have wisdom and courage for good decision-making around the topic of reopening. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
The church, that we would breathe and so bear witness to your love and power in us. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
We lift up these prayers, trusting that you hear us. And we pray now as Jesus taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Tithes and Offerings
With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. (You may give financially by visiting www.sylvapres.org/giving, or by dropping a check off at the church or sending one to FPC at P.O. Box 2152, Sylva, NC 28779. Thank you!)
Offertory
“Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart” - performed by Margaret Hale
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Closing Song
“The Blessing - South Africa”
This song was recently shared with Blake as a response to the death of George Floyd and the ensuing race riots. We offer it as a part of our worship and as a reminder of God’s kingdom of justice and peace, in which people of “every nation, tribe, people and language will stand before the throne and before the Lamb” (Rev. 7:9).
Benediction
May the love of the Father enfold us.
May the wisdom of the Son enlighten us.
May the fire of the Spirit kindle us.
And may the blessing of the Lord God
come down upon us and remain with us,
now and forevermore.
Amen.