Proclaim Jubilee!

Note: This year’s Heritage Sunday marks the 50th anniversary of The United Methodist Church. A number of the hymns, responses, and the postlude in this service are chosen because they were used in the Uniting Service of The United Methodist Church in 1968. These are noted with asterisks throughout the worship order.

ENTRANCE

The service begins with the ringing of a bell or the clamor of a gong.

A young child, an older child, a youth, a young adult, a middle adult, and an older adult of various cultures, genders, identities, and abilities stand (as able) in the back of the worship space, in front of the choir or musical ensemble, and announce, together:

Leaders: Alleluia. Christ is risen!
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

ABBREVIATIONS
AH = The Africana Hymnal

BOW = United Methodist Book of Worship

CCLI = Christian Copyright Licensing International, SongSelect

TFWS = The Faith We Sing (2000)

UMH = United Methodist Hymnal

W&S = Worship & Song (2011)

SOZ = Songs of Zion

Video clips of the Uniting Service of The United Methodist Church are played, or the transcript read and/or reenacted. Video link: https://vimeo.com/250196677, 7:13-7:30 and 9:57-10:38.

Leaders (forming a circle): Lord of the church, we are united in thee, and now in The United Methodist Church.
People: (grasping hands with those around them): Lord of the church, we are united in thee, in thy church, and now in The United Methodist Church. Alleluia!

Choir or ensemble process with leaders, preceded by acolytes carrying the cross, candles, and banners, all singing:

O Church of God, United UMH 547

OR

Come People of the Risen King CCLI #5232617

Song for Illumination

(after “O Church of God, United”) Breath of God W&S 3145

OR

(after “Come People of the Risen King”) Spirit of God CCLI #7083624

WORD AND RESPONSE

Reading Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV)

Narrator:
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.

Congregationall at once, each individual choosing any of the following, and repeating it at his or her own rate, at least seven times)

Engkeo apo too nevmatos moo epee pasan sarkan (Greek)

Eshpoq et ruachi al kal basar (Hebrew)

Nipi poluta ka oom ishilombish ma ai isht (Choctaw)

Na ibubuhos ko ang aking Espiritu sa lahat ng laman: (Tagalog)

Nitawamwagia watu wote Roho yangu (Swahili)

Kuv yuav hliv kuv tus Ntsuj Plig rau saum ib tsoom neeg sawvdaws (Hmong)

Derramarei do meu Espírito sobre toda a carne (Brazilian Portuguese)

Nakotondisa moto nyonso na Molimo na ngai (Lingala)

E ninini iho au i ko'u Uhane maluna o na kanaka a pau (Hawaiian)

Silence

Narrator:
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,

All:
Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?

Left Side:
Parthians, Medes, Elamites,

Right Side:
residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,

Choir/Band:
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene,

Pastor: and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs
All: in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power."

Narrator:
All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another,

All:
"What does this mean?"

Narrator:
But others sneered and said,

Back half of the worship space:
"They are filled with new wine."

Narrator:
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them,

Peter:
"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.'


Sermon Proclaim Jubilee

Confessing in Song
The deacon, pastor, or others may prepare the Lord’s table, and the offering may be collected during the singing.

Spirit of Faith, Come Down UMH 332*

OR

Perfect Us in Love »

Commissioning of Laypersons into Ministry
Persons being commissioned in this service move toward the font, leaving the font visible for all to see. Children should also be invited to be able to see this action and participate in the laying on of hands.

The pastor begins, addressing the congregation:
My brothers and sisters in Christ:
Today we give thankful witness
to the work of the Holy Spirit
in the lives of these who are gathered around this baptismal font.
By water and the Spirit, they have been made new creatures in Christ.
In the Spirit and with this body of Christ,
they have discovered their gifts for ministry,
connected with the passion for service that God has placed in each of their hearts.
The Spirit moves in them,
and living water is ready to gush from their bellies,
in their ministries among us.

Truly, the Spirit of the Lord is in this place.

So, lift up your hearts and hands and voices!
We lift them to you, Lord!

Give thanks to our Triune God!
Thanks and praise are yours forever!

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One,
you have poured out your mercy upon us.
You have opened eyes that were blind to the harvest around us.
You have opened ears that were deaf to the cries of people
who are sick, or poor, or imprisoned.
You have opened minds that perceived only what others were missing
to realize the deep giftedness of all people.
You have opened hearts that were hardened to your compassion for all your creatures.
You have opened hands that are now ready to serve you,
laborers into your fields white to harvest.

Blessing and honor and glory are yours,
now and forever!

Those being commissioned may be invited to state their name and offer a brief (one sentence) description of the ministry they will offer. A fuller written description of the ministry may be provided in the bulletin or worship program. After each person shares, the congregation may respond:

Thank you, God, for (Name) and for the ministry (she/he/they) will offer.

The pastor asks all candidates to face the door leading out of the sanctuary. From behind, the pastor lays hands on the shoulders of the person being commissioned., children also lay hands, and the pastor invites the congregation to stretch their hands in prayer toward the person being commissioned. When all are ready, the pastor continues:

Come, Holy Spirit!
Come, Holy Spirit!

Fill your servant, (Name), with grace and truth,
with wisdom and strength,
with every spiritual gift
to engage this ministry in Christ’s name and your power.

Come, Holy Spirit!
Come, Holy Spirit!

Fill us with your love for (Name),
that we may support (him/her/them) in this ministry
with our prayers, counsel, encouragement,
and all things needed
that your will be done in (him/her/them) and through us.
Let your living waters flow!

After each person is commissioned, each may use the water in the font as a sign of reaffirming his/her baptismal calling.

After all are commissioned, the service continues with the Invitation to the Table.

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION

Invitation to the Table UMH 8
Confession, Pardon, and Peace UMH 8

The Great Thanksgiving BOW 68-69

OR

The pastor lifts hands in prayer and invites all to join in this posture of prayer.

Holy Wisdom is with us.
We praise you, Christ Crucified.

Holy Spirit breathes in us.
Spirit of Power, Spirit of Life!

Holy Source of All draws near.
In you alone we boast!
With all creation we sing:

Holy Holy Holy UMH 21 or other setting

Holy are you, O God,
ever creating,
and ever moving among your people,
raising up the lowly,
amplifying the voices of the marginalized,
the dreams of people long oppressed,
and through them declaring jubilee,
release and restoration for all.
Holy are you, O God.

Holy are you, O God,
enfleshed in Jesus,
showing the way,
teaching the truth,
living the life of your Spirit
in the face of ridicule, rejection, and execution,
and rising to announce your kingdom’s triumph over all.
Holy are you, O God.

Holy the food Jesus gave,
when on the night of his betrayal
he took bread, blessed it and broke it,
and gave it to his disciples.
Holy the words he spoke then,
and your Spirit speaks still:
"This is my body broken for you. Remember me."

Holy the drink Jesus offered,
when that same night he took the cup,
thanked you and shared it.
Holy the words he spoke then,
and your Spirit speaks still:
"This is my blood of the new covenant for you. Remember me."

We remember you,
Source, Wisdom and Spirit of Holiness.
We praise you not only with our lips
but with our lives:

Jesus Christ,
crucified, you called and claimed us,
risen, you have raised us,
coming again, you make all things new.
Even so, come Lord Jesus! Hallelujah!

Even so, come and fill this feast, Holy Spirit,
Spirit of Power, Spirit of Life.
Come upon us and these gifts of bread and wine.

Make them be for us what Jesus says they are,
Christ's body, Christ's blood.
Make us become what Jesus prays we are,
one body in him empowered and enlivened by his blood.

Deacon, Lay Leader, or Pastor:
One in service, one in witness, one in compassion,
one in doing and speaking up for justice,
and one even now in prayer, saying:
Lord, have mercy.

One with all persons kept in poverty or slavery,
with all who are in fear from abusers, terrorists, and oppressors,
with all who face addiction of any kind,
and with all who are targeted for unjust treatment because of who they are;
Lord, have mercy.

One with the earth, and all creatures upon it,
the riches in its depths,
and the fragility of its air and water;
Lord, have mercy.

One in prayer for leaders in religious, political, economic, and social life
that there may be justice and peace among all peoples;
for all who work to sustain our lives as teachers, health care workers, civil servants, and builders and maintainers of roads, homes, and sources of power,
and for all who protect our lives as military, police, and first responders;
Lord, have mercy.

One with families, friends, and neighbors,
near and far, like us and different from us;
and with all who need your healing power,
Lord, have mercy.

Pastor:
So may this food and drink be holy,
and nourish us in holy conversation this day
and every day
as on that day we feast with him
in new creation.

And now and ever,
all glory to you,
Holy Spirit, Holy Wisdom, Holy Source
of all that was, and is, and is to come.
Amen.

The pastor breaks the bread in the sight of the people, then serves the servers, one of whom also serves the pastor. The people are then served.

Music During Communion

Come Let Us Use the Grace Divine UMH 606*

Jesus, We Look to Thee Text;* Suggested Tune: ST. THOMAS UMH 540*

Thanksgiving after Communion

Almighty God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery
by which you nourish all your people
with eternal life
and make us one in Christ,
one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world.
Send us now in the strength of the Spirit
and the fellowship of all your saints
as living signs that your Great Day has come,
and jubilee is now! Amen.

SENDING FORTH

For All the Saints UMH 711*

Deacon or Pastor:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Go forth, saints of God,
of every age, and status, and ethnicity
from all across earth’s wide bounds!

Go forth with brave hearts,
strong hands,
and unwavering love.

Go forth,
and declare the jubilee
the Day of the Lord
still brings to all.

Go forth,
and be Pentecost
in the name of our Triune God,
One and Holy!

People: Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Postlude Psalm 19 (Marcello)*