Home Church Pentecost Sunday June 5, 2022, Rev. Karen Hollis

 

Home Church, Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 2022, Rev. Karen Hollis

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Preparing the Space Around Us

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! Welcome if you are gathering on zoom or if you are worshipping at home with the bulletin. We are one community and all part of the body of Christ. I invite you to prepare the space around you so that for the next hour you can be fully in this worship experience, not to keep out the realities of the world, rather to focus us in the midst of it all on God. If you need to go and get something or shift something around you, feel free.

Preparing the Space within Us

Let us prepare now the space within us for a time of worship. I invite you to sit quietly, perhaps with feet on the floor, taking a couple of deep breaths and bring yourself into this moment. Open yourself to the presence of God who is with us and within us . . . as you intentionally open yourself to God, open yourself also to what you need from this time of worship. 

Greeting  -  BAS

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful; and kindle in us the fire of you love.

Hymn: Make Spaces for Spirit (video)   -  Strathdees

Opening Prayer   -    Enfleshed, edited

Passionate Spirit, we have witnessed too much destruction and felt too much grief to ignore your presence in our midst and invitation to follow you in a new way. Enliven our imaginations and awaken our senses to your creative presence, that we might be architects of communities that serve your life-giving ways. Amen.

Prayer of Confession  -  UCC Worship Ways      

One:  Spirit of God, our prayers often ask You to be present in our lives and in our world.  But we confess that we are terrified that You might actually show up. 

All:    We remember the stories of You appearing as a burning bush, and then Moses and Sarah leaving everything familiar behind.

One:  We remember the stories of You kindling the imagination of the prophets, and then each putting their lives on the line.

All:    We remember the stories of You igniting courage within Shiphrah and Puah, Deborah and Esther, Elizabeth and Mary, and then each challenging the status quo.

One:  We remember the stories of You sparking action within the early Church, compelling them all to embrace something completely foreign and new.

All:    We confess, Dear Spirit, we are afraid You will call us to move outside our comfort zones. We are afraid You will kindle a passion within us we will be unable to ignore. We are afraid that You will rearrange our lives beyond recognition.  Forgive us for the fears that have been holding us back from inviting You truly into our lives…

Silent prayer of confession

Assurance of Grace 

Beloved people of God, the Spirit of God comes this day in love, in justice, in peace, to move alongside us and equip the called. Do not fear, rather trust in God!

Peace of Christ 

Please unmute yourself for the Peace of Christ. 

On this Pentecost Sunday, Christ’s peace comes as a renewing fire to each of us and to all of us to bring us together in a new way. Let us share this peace with one another.

            A-M: The Peace of Christ be with you!

            N-Z: And also with you!

First Reading: Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV) -     Reader: Owen McCooey

Listen for the word of God to you this morning . . .

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.'

Psalm 104 (Christine Robinson)  -  Reader: Owen McCooey

I am awestruck, Holy One

   at this beautiful and boundless universe—

   gestated over eons with love and care.

Your creative intent envelopes the world like a cloak.

   I see it shining in the heavens, hear it whispering 

   in the winds, feel it crackling in the fire.

For you energized the dust of the universe—

   the galaxies, the stars, the planets,

   right down to this jewel of an earth.

You birthed her like a golden babe 

   from the fires under your heart.

She cooled, wrapped herself in water and in air.

The waters receded, the mountains rose

Storms shaped and softened the landscape

   and in time, she gave birth to life in her seas.

In the eons life evolved into myriad forms

   each with its own niche in your scheme. 

With Your love, She taught each its place, its work, its song.

And humankind—you birthed us too. Gave us 

   the world as our home and food--

   bread to eat, wine to make our hearts glad, herbs for 

   healing, and oil to soothe our skin. 

You gave us many songs, many powers, and put

   a restlessness in our hearts

   we could seek you always.

O Holy One, how manifold are your works

In your love and play you have birthed them all 

   and raised them up.

I will sing your songs all my days

   and care for all you have created

   and keep my heart ever open to your Love.

Gospel Reading  - Reader: Owen McCooey    

One: God be with you.    

All:    And also with you

One:  The Good News of Jesus Christ according to John

All:    Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

John 14:8-17 (NRSV) 

Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. 

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

One: This is the Gospel of Christ; 

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

Reflection:                      

Silent Reflection

Hymn: Spirit God, Be Our Breath (Greenhill-Alma UC, NS)            MV #150

1 Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.

Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.

Our world seems inward, defensive, withdrawn.

Spirit God, be our song.

2 Patient God: soothe our pride, calm our fear.

Comfort us. When we know you are near

we grow more certain, our vision is clear.

Patient God, calm our fear.

3 Loving God: be our voice, be our prayer.

Reaching out, joining hands as we share, 

we seek your guidance through friendship and care. 

Loving God, be our prayer.

4 Spirit God: be our breath, be our song. 

Blow through us, bringing strength to move on. 

Through change, through challenge, we’ll greet the new dawn. 

Spirit God, be our song.                 

A New Creed

Let us affirm our faith . . . 

We are not alone,

    we live in God’s world.

 We believe in God:

    who has created and is creating,

    who has come in Jesus,

       the Word made flesh,

       to reconcile and make new,

    who works in us and others

       by the Spirit.

We trust in God. 

We are called to be the Church:

    to celebrate God’s presence,

    to live with respect in Creation,

    to love and serve others,

    to seek justice and resist evil,

    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,

       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,

    God is with us.

We are not alone.

    Thanks be to God.

Prayers of the People    -     Susan Brockley        

One:  Holy Spirit

All:    Hear Our Prayer

Lord’s Prayer   -   Ecumenical Version

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, 

and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

The Christ Church Gabriola Covenant

Gracious and Loving God,

We, Christ Church Gabriola, followers of Jesus Christ in a shared Anglican and United Church ministry, covenant as a community with You:

to WORSHIP You

•       with openness to the movement of Your Spirit, by using inclusive language, musical diversity, creativity, and the grounding we have in our traditions

to CONNECT with each other and our neighbours

•     by welcoming and integrating into our community all persons as Your children

•     by lovingly supporting each other as we grow in Christ, creating opportunities to connect with each other in fellowship 

•     by finding ways to become more multi-generational

•     by sharing the good news of Your love with everyone

to LEARN AND GROW together

•     by developing our faith through scripture studies, prayer and other spiritual practices

•     by exploring the Christian tradition and a range of theological studies

•     by informing ourselves about issues of social and ecological justice

•     by using respectful communication

•     by examining issues from multiple perspectives

•     by offering to the wider community opportunities to safely engage in conversations about matters important to life, faith and the world

and to SERVE our community and the world

•     by living in love and justice, and by working for the well-being of the earth and its inhabitants

•     by serving the island community through offering our own resources, collaborating with other agencies, and drawing on our connections with the wider community

•     by listening and responding to a changing world, recognizing its needs so we know how to serve

We covenant as a community in Christ’s name. Amen.

Offering  -   Stewardship Committee                                         

Offering Prayer -   UCC Worship Ways, edited

Let us pray . . . Holy wind, Holy fire, we celebrate today the abundance in our midst; we celebrate every gift that comes from you and returns to you. May our giving inspire us to embrace your visions for our world. Holy Spirit, enliven our souls to create your realm of justice and peace on earth. Amen.                                  

Hymn: Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness (video) (Julie Strathdee)             VU #375

Blessing   -      Iona Community

If you are with another person, you’re invited to bless each other, taking every other line.

One:  The Creator’s blessing be yours on your road, on your journey,  guiding you, cherishing you.

A-M:  The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread and stories, feeding you, challenging you.

N-Z:  The Spirit’s blessing be yours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom,  comforting you, disturbing you.

All:    The Angel’s blessing be yours, on your house, on your living, guarding you, encouraging you. Let us walk together, a community on a journey, sustained in God’s blessing. Amen!

One:  Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All:    Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

Thank you

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