May 28, 2023
Day of Pentecost
Pentecost derives its name from the Jewish festival celebrating the harvest and the giving of the law on Mount Sinai fifty days after Passover. Fifty days after Easter, we celebrate the Holy Spirit as God’s presence within and among us. In Acts the Spirit arrives in rushing wind and flame, bringing God’s presence to all people. Paul reminds us that though we each have different capacities, we are unified in the Spirit that equips us with these gifts. Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on his disciples, empowering them to forgive sin. We celebrate that we too are given the breath of the Holy Spirit and sent out to proclaim God’s redeeming love to all the world.

OPENING HYMN

ELW 532- Gather Us In (vs. 1 & 2)

 

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
by whose hand we are given new birth,
by whose speaking we are given new life.
Amen.
Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism,
we are welcomed, restored, and supported
as citizens of the new creation.
Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.
Holy God,
holy and merciful,
holy and mighty,
you are the river of life,
you are the everlasting wellspring.
In mercy and might you have freed us from death
and raised us with Jesus, the firstborn of the dead.
In baptismal waters our old life is washed away,
and in them we are born anew.
Water may be poured into the font as the presiding minister continues.
Glory to you for oceans and lakes,
for rivers and streams.
Honor to you for waters that wash us clean,
quench our thirst, and nurture both crops and creatures.
Praise to you for the life-giving water of baptism,
the outpouring of the Spirit of the new creation.
Wash away our sin and all that separates us from you.
Empower our witness to your resurrection.
Strengthen our resolve in seeking justice for all.
Satisfy the world’s need through this living water.
Where drought dries the earth, bring refreshment.
Where despair prevails, grant hope.
Where chaos reigns, bring peace.
We ask this through Christ,
who with you and the Spirit reigns forever.
Amen.
APOSTOLIC GREETING

P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God, on this day you open the hearts of your faithful people by sending into us your Holy Spirit. Direct us by the light of that Spirit, that we may have a right judgment in all things and rejoice at all times in your peace, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

 

WORD
God speaks to us in reading, preaching and song.

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-21

1When the day of Pentecost had come, [the apostles] were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
 5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
 14But 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. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
 17‘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.
 18Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
  in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
   and they shall prophesy.
 19And I will show portents in the heaven above
  and signs on the earth below,
   blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
 20The sun shall be turned to darkness
  and the moon to blood,
   before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
 21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ ”

P: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM: Psalm 104

Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. (Ps. 104:30)
 24How manifold are your | works, O Lord!
  In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full | of your creatures.
 25Yonder is the sea, great and wide, with its swarms too man- | y to number,
  living things both | small and great.
 26There go the ships | to and fro,
  and Leviathan, which you made for the | sport of it.
 27All of them | look to you
  to give them their food | in due season. R
 28You give it to them; they | gather it;
  you open your hand, and they are filled | with good things.
 29When you hide your face, | they are terrified;
  when you take away their breath, they die and return | to their dust.
 30You send forth your Spirit, and they | are created;
  and so you renew the face | of the earth.
 31May the glory of the Lord en- | dure forever;
  O Lord, rejoice in | all your works. R
 32You look at the earth | and it trembles;
  you touch the mountains | and they smoke.
 33I will sing to the Lord as long | as I live;
  I will praise my God while I | have my being.
 34May these words of | mine please God.
  I will rejoice | in the Lord.
 35bBless the Lord, | O my soul.
Hal- | lelujah! R
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
3bNo one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.
 4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

 12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
P: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation
ELW Setting 8

Gospel Reading John 7:37-39
The gospel is introduced:.
P: The holy gospel according to John the 7th Chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord

37On the last day of the festival [of Booths], the great day, while Jesus was standing [in the temple], he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

P: The gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
P: Alleluia. Christ is risen.
C: Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Please be seated.

The Sermon      

The Hymn of the Day

ELW 401- Gracious Spirit, Heed Our Pleading (vs. 1 & 3)

THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION

 

Prayers of Intercession

United in the hope and joy of the resurrection, let us pray for the church, the world, and all in need.

A brief silence.

Passionate God, you sent your Spirit through the gifts of fire, wind, and word. As you equipped the disciples for their work, equip us to bring the good news to all those who long for you. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Restoring God, wind and flame bring life and destruction throughout the world. We pray for those who work with wind energy, for migratory birds, for protection for lands facing destructive fire, for forestry managers and firefighters. Renew the face of the earth. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Ever-present God, your spirit embraces all. Send your spirit of understanding to immigrants, refugees, and any experiencing language barriers. Bless the work of translators, ESL teachers, ambassadors, and international peace organizations. Safely guide those fleeing war and danger. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Merciful God, you anoint us with your spirit. Bless nurses, doctors, midwives, chaplains, counselors, and hospice workers as they care for those in need. We pray for all who seek your comfort (especially). Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Generous God, you impart a variety of gifts. Set aflame the desire to learn from one another, especially those who differ from us. Make your presence known through missionaries, peace workers, and through the outreach ministries of our synod and community (especially). Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

Life-giving God, we give thanks for those who have died to new life in you (especially). As we observe Memorial Day, we remember those who died in military service. Comfort all who mourn, and usher in a world where war is no more. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Rejoicing in the victory of Christ’s resurrection, we lift our prayers and praise to you, almighty and eternal God; through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.
Amen.
The Passing of Peace

P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.

ANTHEM

Create in Me

Presentation of the Gifts

OFFERTORY

ELW692- We Are an Offering

MEAL
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ.


Offertory Prayer

Lord God, who has given to us so many gifts, your generosity is
sometimes even more than we can comprehend. We praise you
for all your loving gifts. Now we bring to you our gifts. May these
gifts that we bring now, and our lives, be dedicated by you for
service and ministry. May all that we do show to all the world
your great love for all humankind; in Christ’s name.
Amen.
Great Thanksgiving


Proper Preface
P: 

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, for the glorious resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ, the true Paschal Lamb who gave himself to take away our sin; who in dying has destroyed death, and in rising has brought us to eternal life.

 And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

SANCTUS AND BENEDICTUS

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Thanksgiving at the Table and Words of Institution

Holy God, Breath of life and Fire of love: with a mighty wind you
brought creation into being, and by a pillar of fire you led your
people into freedom.
We praise you for the gift of your Son, who poured out your Spirit
on his disciples of every race and nation.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and the sending
of the holy and life-giving Spirit, we await his coming again to
renew the face of the earth.
Send now your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this meal: anoint us
with your gifts of faith, hope, and love, that, with thankful hearts,
we may be witnesses to your Son.
Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father,
with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

P: Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.
C: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

Invitation to Communion

Come and know Christ,
broken and poured out for you.

Here at St. John’s all who believe in the love of God and in Jesus are welcome to the table. 

LAMB OF GOD

ELW Setting 8

Communion Song

ELW 454- Remember and Rejoice

ELW 483- Here is Bread

ELW 801- Change My Heart, O God

Post-Communion Blessing
P: May the body and blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in God’s grace. 
C: Amen.

Post Communion

ELW 465- As the Grains of Wheat

Prayer after Communion

Faithful God, you have adopted us as your children, made us
members of the body of Christ and chosen us as inheritors of
your kingdom. We thank you that at your table, you renew your
promises within us, empower us by your Spirit to witness and to
serve, and send us out as disciples of your Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Amen.

The Blessing

Church, as you go forth from this place, remember who you are.
Remember your call. Remember that Christ has placed his hope
in you. Go with boldness. Go with grace. Go with confidence. Go
now, knowing that Christ goes with you. May the world be
changed because the church is offering life and love to the world.
Amen.

Closing Hymn

ELW 400- God of Tempest, God of Whirlwind (vs. 1 & 4)

The Dismissal

Go in peace. Serve the Risen One.
Thanks be to God.

 



Photo by Erika Giraud on Unsplash