Happy Pentecost Sunday!
Have you seen the @tmucwpg Instagram posting of a church?
In celebration of the ‘birthday’ of the church (marked on Pentecost Sunday) you are invited to imagine what church might look like now. Here is a link to our first submission: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAwcFEvAFOP/?igshid=12ivteuh5x7kq
It is not too late to join in the fun and imagine church! Post your photos and ‘tag’ us, or send them to us and we will post them on our Instagram page.
We hope that you are well as we share this COVID-19 journey.
We are grateful for your ongoing care for us, for one another, for the community around us and for our world.
We are also grateful for your donations on PAR, through www.canadahelps.org and in cheques mailed to the church. You are making a difference. Thank you.
This is the last week in which we have access to the resources of Illustrated Ministry. Here is the link: https://illstrtdm.in/Pentecost
Even though we cannot be together in one place, let’s continue to be a community at prayer together. On Sunday at 10:00, let’s think about the gifts we have in our lives, and needs of our world, and then let’s all pray the Lord’s prayer (you can pray silently, or out loud).
And, sometime, when you want to have a longer worship time, we are including some words and videos for your use.
Worship for Sunday, May 31, 2020
Hymns
As the season of Pentecost begins, we come to worship with ‘Spirit God, Be Our Breath’ (which is 150 in More Voices if you have a hymn book and want to sing along):
We gather together although we are apart.
We gather in community although we are alone.
We gather asking for God’s blessing on our lives, and on our world.
We gather knowing God is with us.
A virtual Carillon Choir sings our opening hymn, Come, O Holy Spirit.
This week, Esther and Emmett talk about Pentecost Sunday:
Scripture Reading – Acts 2:1-21
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
“In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Jeff offers a reflection
Let us pray
Eternal God, we are your people. Hear us as we pray.
Thank you for all your gifts of life, and love, and grace. Thank you for the new opportunities to feel the winds of your Spirit and to lift our sails in response. We thank you for the freshening breeze that reminds us of your call to us to live love for all others.
This is such a difficult time in our world. There is racism and violence. Elders are living in abusive and negligent situations. People are cramped in refugee camps. Others are trapped in poverty. Some live with addition, or illness.
Teachers and students are apart, and out of school, a blessing for some and a real struggle for others. Some businesses and activities are re-opening, while others cannot imagine an end to the struggle.
We all live with the grief of this pandemic.
As we live in this time, help us to be know that you are always with us. In all the troubles of this hurting world, help us to bear your light and love. Help us to care to others.
Help us to know our own prejudice and indifference. Help us to act in love for others in all that we say and do. Help us to make a difference in this world.
Hear all our prayers, O God, and in your grace, surround us all with your love. Amen.
Closing Hymn – “I Feel the Winds of God Today”
We are not alone. We live in God’s world. Thanks be to God.
God bless you and keep you.
God’s face shine upon.
God grant you peace and joy.
Be in the peace of Christ, this day and always. Amen
We keep you in our prayers,
Carol and Jeff