He Breathed on Them

Call to Worship

Like the disciples, we gather in this space, united by our relationship with the Risen Christ.
We come ready to receive what God has to give.

Just as tongues of fire descended on the disciples,
We receive the gift of the Spirit’s power and inspiration.

Just as the resurrected Christ breathed the Spirit onto the disciples,
We receive the gift of the Spirit’s peace and wisdom.

As the lifegiving and peacemaking Holy Spirit blazes through us today,
We receive the gift of the Spirit’s fire that unites us as the Body of Christ. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, November 2022.

Prayer for the Day

Open Your Hand to Us, O God

O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all. Open your hand to us, O God, giver of good things. Do not hide your face from us. Should you remove your Spirit from us, we shall surely return to the dust. Send forth your Spirit in this worship service today and let us be re-created. Renew us, O God, with your spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Written by Marilyn E. Thornton, The Africana Worship Book, Year A (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2006), 66.

Prayer of Confession

Almighty God,
who sent the promised Holy Spirit
to fill disciples with willing faith:
We confess that we resist the work of your Spirit among us,
that we are slow to serve you
and reluctant to spread the good news of your love.
God, have mercy on us.
Forgive our divisions
and by your Spirit draw us together.
Create in us a desire to do your will
and be your faithful people
for the sake of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Scott Aniol, “Prayer of Confession on Pentecost Sunday,” Artistic Theologian (June 9, 2019), https://artistictheologian.com/2019/06/09/prayer-of-confession-on-pentecost-sunday.

Benediction

So now we leave this space of worship
And while so much of the road ahead is uncertain,
the path constantly changing,
we know some things that are as solid and sure
as the ground beneath our feet,
and the sky above our heads.

We know God is love.
We know Christ’s light endures.

We know the Holy Spirit is there,
found in the space between all things,
closer to us than our next breath,
binding us to each other,
until we meet we again,

Go in peace.

Written by Rev. Nora Vedress, posted on re:Worship, https://re-worship.blogspot.com/search/label/Pentecost.