Pentecost calls for the whole people of God to be involved. The voices that rose from the hidden room are echoed in the voices that rise from our sanctuaries today. Don’t let the words be from those in the front on the chancel only. Let all the people be heard; let there be a confusion of voices out of which the Spirit might be heard. Let the old ones speak their wisdom; let the young ones speak their hope. Let there be voices of joy and of sorrow.

Wind Rush, Spirit Flow

An Opening Bible Reading/Call to Worship for Acts 2:1-21

Prepare for this call to worship by teaching this chant as the people are gathering for worship. Encourage your skilled musicians to add a musical layer to that gathering chant. When you are ready to begin worship, have the leader encourage the congregation and musicians to continue with the chant as he/she reads Psalm 104.

Congregation:

(Chants softly repeating throughout the duration of the Call to Worship)

Wind Rush, Spirit Flow, We Are Here on One Accord.

Leader (over top of chant reads)

Psalm 104:24-25 (NKJV)

O LORD, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all.
The earth is full of your possessions—
25 This great and wide sea,
In which are innumerable teeming things,
Living things both small and great.

(Leader pauses while people continue chanting for a few rounds)

(Leader resumes reading)

Romans 8:22-25 (NKJV)

22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

(Leader joins chant with people for a few rounds)

ALL: We are here, and we wait with expectation. Spirit, flow!

Kachael J, Pentecost Liturgical Resources from Africana Writers 1, edited by Safiya Fosua, 2020.

A Call to Worship for Pentecost Sunday

Come, Holy Spirit,
The wind of God, the breath of Life.
Come, Holy Spirit,
Our Advocate, our Counselor.
Come, Holy Spirit,
Teacher of Wisdom, Reminder of Christ.
Come, Holy Spirit,
Granter of forgiveness, giver of peace.
Come, Holy Spirit.
May we feel God breathing through our worship.
May we receive the Holy Spirit in this place. Amen.

Written by Joanna Harader and posted on Spacious Faith. https://spaciousfaith.com/, reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2017/05/call-to-worship-for-pentecost.html

It Feels Like Fire

(Based on Acts 2:1-21)

One: I feel something in this place!
Many: It feels like fire burning within!
One: It feels fresh and exciting!
Many: It feels like fire burning within!
One: It feels like uncontainable joy!
Many: It feels like fire burning within!
ALL: It is fire burning within! We are on fire, and the world can’t put it out!

B. Kevin Smalls, The Africana Worship Book, For Year B, Valerie Bridgeman Davis, PhD and Safiyah Fosua, eds., (Discipleship Resources, 2007), 62.

Prayer for Pentecost

Holy One,
For all of the ways you speak to us –
in rushing wind,
in dancing flames,
in words we understand,
and in all that transcends language,
we give thanks.
Give us courage to speak your love,
everywhere we go,
to everyone we meet.
Amen.

Written by Joanna Harader, posted on Practicing Families. http://practicingfamilies.com/. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2014/06/intergenerational-prayer-for-pentecost.html

Prayer of the Day

Spirit of the Living God, dance with us on this day.
Come, Whirlwind of Wonder!
Sing to the groaning of creation.
Come, still small voice of Hope!
Enflame us with your passion for justice.
Come, Liberator of the Least!
Purify us of our grasping greediness.
Come, Advocate of selfless living!
Silence our gossiping tongues.
Come, Harmony of God's Heart!
Wind of God, blow through us;
Fire of God, burn within us;
Tongue of God, speak to us on this day of renewal and birth,
even as we pray as Jesus teaches us,
Our Father . . .

Posted on the RevGalBlogPals website. http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca/. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/04/call-to-worship-prayer-pentecost.html

Collect for Pentecost

Gracious God, Living, Eternal Spirit, we thank you that you seek us in tender loving care, lest any be lost. Help us, in the same way, to reach out toward those who may feel alienated or excluded from the Christian community. Send your Spirit upon us that when we speak the word of your love, people may hear and understand in their own language as on that Pentecost day so long ago; for we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Ruth C. Duck, Flames of the Spirit, Ruth Duck ed., The Pilgrim Press, 1985, p. 46.