Pentecost Sunday “Virtual Worship Service” – Picton United Church
Music as We Prepare to Worship – “Spirit of Gentleness” VU#375
Words of Welcome
Opening Prayer
As you Spirit transformed those first disciples, Living & Loving God, transform us.
Transform us as individuals and as a community of faith.
Transform our fears to confidence;
Our apathy to commitment.
Transform our anxiety to deep peace;
Our doubt to self-confidence, our despair to hope.
Come to us now as we worship, Holy Mystery who is Wholly Love;
Equip us by your Spirit that we might reach out with tenderness and compassion to love the world in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Opening Hymn VU#376 “Spirit of the Living God”
1. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me.
2. Spirit of the living God, move among us all; make us one in mind and heart, make us one in love: humble, caring, selfless, sharing. Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love.
Bible Reading – The Story of Pentecost – Acts 2.1-21
Introduction – With Christians around the world this morning – sisters and brothers seeking to follow the Christ Way – we hear again the story of that first Pentecost Sunday, as told by the author of Luke-Acts. We hear again the story of the birthday of the Church.
2.1 When the day of Pentecost had come, Jesus disciples – women and men – were together in one place. 2 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. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, a tongue of flame resting on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven, gathered in Jerusalem.
6 And at this sound the crowd came together and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in their own native language. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and those converted to Judaism from the nations, 11 Cretans and Arabs – in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “People of Judea, and all who have gathered in Jerusalem for the festival, let this be known to you and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these speakers are not drunk, as some of you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 ‘In the latter days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young people shall see visions, and your elderly ones will dream dreams. 18 Even upon slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of God’s great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Holy One shall be saved.’
Responsive Reading –Psalm 104, Part II, VU#827
Refrain: Bless, O my soul, the Almighty, who rules all creation.
O God, how manifold are you works!
With wisdom at your side you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Refrain:
There lies the great and mighty Sea, teeming with living things, both great and small.
Upon it sail the ships, and there is the Great Blue Whale, and the Giant Squid you made to play in it.
All these look to you to give them their food in due season.
What you give them they gather up. When you open your hand, you fill them with good things.
But when you hide your face they despair. When you take away their breath, they die, and return to dust.
But when you send out your spirit, they live again, and you renew the face of the earth.
Refrain: Bless, O my soul, the Almighty, who rules all creation.
May your glory, O God, endure forever.
May you rejoice, O God, in all your works.
When you look at the earth it trembles,
When you touch the mountains, they smoke.
I will sing to God as long as I live.
I will praise my God while I have being.
Refrain: Bless, O my soul, the Almighty, who rules all creation.
“For the Common Good”
Today is the celebration of Pentecost. This is the festival marking the birthday of the Church. Not the birthday of South Bay United Church (May 1871) which we celebrate around this time each year. Not the birthday of Picton United Church, whose anniversary we celebrate each autumn. Not the birthday of the United Church of Canada – which happens in a few days as we remember June 10, 1925 when Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists and Local Union congregations came together.
No, today we celebrate the birthday of the Church of Jesus Christ. For it was on the day of 
Pentecost, as the frightened, disheartened, discouraged, and confused former disciples of Jesus of Nazareth were gathered together for mutual support – it was on that day that the Church of Jesus Christ came into being.
It was on the Day of Pentecost that this motley crew of disciples was transformed by the power of God’s Holy Spirit into a dynamic, committed, courageous, fearless and determined group that within a few decades had carried the Good News of God’s Love in Christ, throughout the known world.
That is what we celebrate this morning.
We celebrate the gifts of the Spirit that were given to the Church.
Although the gifts were given to individuals – the gifts were given not to make those individuals feel good – not so that they would be more comfortable – not so that they could have a cozy relationship with the Holy One and that would be the end of the matter.
No – the gifts of the Spirit were given for the common good. The gifts of the Spirit were given to build up the Body of Christ. The gifts of the Spirit were given in order that the Church might accomplish its mission and ministry in Jesus’ name, in all the world. The gifts of the Spirit were to empower the Church to love the world in Jesus’ name.
In his First Letter to the Church at Corinth, St. Paul put it this way, according to the paraphrase called The Message, by Eugene Peterson:
“All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people. The variety is wonderful: wise counsel, clear understanding, simple trust, healing the sick, miraculous acts, proclamation, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues. All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God, who decides who gets what, and when.”
The New Revised Standard Version translation says that the gifts are given by the Spirit, “for the common good”.
Paul goes on in that same chapter twelve to give us the metaphor of the Body of Christ. Each part of the body is necessary for the health and wellbeing of the whole. He reminds his readers that they are “The Body of Christ”.
The most important gift, Paul says, is the gift of love. Indeed, he says, without love none of the other gifts are worthy anything.
We gather today to celebrate the gifts of the Spirit – gifts that continue to be given in our own community of faith. We – yes, even we – are gifted in every way that is necessary for us to be able to accomplish Jesus’ purpose for us. Speakers, singers, greeters, offering takers, serving elders, those who manage the financial matters, those who care for the property, those who remind us of the importance of mission, those who visit the sick, those who staff the Food Bank, those who plant the seeds for a new crop, those who pray for the wellbeing of the congregation and its Minister, those who bear the burdens of others – all these are given gifts for the common good.
That is what we celebrate today! And the gifts are given for everyone’s benefit. Not just to benefit our particular group of pilgrims here at South Bay United Church or Picton United Church; not just for people who look like us, talk like us, dress like us, and believe as we believe. No. The good news of Pentecost is that the gifts are given for everyone!
In case we didn’t understand that – Luke, the author of the Book of Acts – lists those who were present on the Day of Pentecost – this Birthday Party!
Pretty much the whole world was there represented! Parthians, Medes, Elamites, visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the part of Libya belonging to Cyrene, immigrants from Rome – both Jews and converts to Judaism, even Cretans and Arabs!
This morning we gather around this table with sisters and brothers from every tribe and nation – people who speak every different language and who represent every different culture. We partake of this holy meal to be nurtured by the true presence of Jesus with us – so that we can, as a community of faith, live out our call to love the world in Jesus’ name.
The Good News is that God’s love is for us. God’s love is for each of us – we are accepted and loved just as we are – and we are transformed by that love that we might be our best selves – that we might live out that love. God’s love is not just for us. God’s love is for all the world.
Praise God, South Bay/Picton United Church! We are accepted. We are loved. We are called to ministry and mission. In partnership with other Christians, we are gifted by God’s Spirit with everything we need to accomplish God’s purposes here in our congregation, in our community, and to the ends of the earth.
That is worth celebrating! Hallelujah! Amen.
Our Response to Grace
At this time in our Service each week, we present our gifts and offerings for the mission/ministry of the Church. Especially in these times when we are not able to gather together, the work of the church continues to be dependant on your support. You can give you offering – at South Bay, through the PAR Program, or by mailing your donation to the Church Treasurer at PO Box 102 Milford, Ontario K0K 2P0.
At Picton United you can visit the Church Website and press the Donate button to give your gift on-line. Or you can mail your donation to the Church Office, 12 Chapel St. Picton K0K 2T0
God bless you for your generosity.
The Liturgy of Holy Communion
The Spirit of God be with you all.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts;
We lift them to God.
Give thanks to our God!
All our thanks, all our praise!
Holy God, Holy One, Holy Three!
Before all that is, You are God. Outside all we know, You are God. After all is finished, You will be God. Archangels sound the trumpets; Angels teach us their song. Saints pull us into your presence.
And this is our song:
Holy, Holy, Holy God, our life, our mercy, our might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Save us, we pray, you beyond all. Blest is the One who comes in your name. Save us we pray, you beyond all.
Holy God. Holy One. Holy Three! You beyond galaxies, you under the oceans, you inside the leaves, you pouring down rain, you opening the flowers, you feeding the insects, you giving us your image, You carrying us through the waters, You holding us in the night. Your smile on Sarah and Abraham, Your hand with Moses and Miriam, Your words through Deborah and Isaiah, You living among us in Jesus: healing, teaching, dying, rising, inviting us all to your feast.
We do what Jesus did the night before his death. He took bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it, gave it to his friends, saying: “Take, eat, each time you do this, remember me.” Then after supper, he took a cup of wine, and giving thanks, he blessed it and gave it to his friends, saying:
“Take this cup. Each time you drink of it, remember me.”
Holy One, Redeemer of all things, with grateful hearts we offer this bread and wine; fruits of your earth and of our labour, signs of your redemptive purpose for our lives and for all your creation.
We remember Jesus integrity unto death. We remember the Easter hope of resurrection. We remember the promise of compassion and justice.
Holy God, pour your Spirit on us, that we may know Christ in the breaking of bread, and that in word and deed, we may be channels of your love, peace and justice in the world.
At this time, we remember all those with whom you would have us share your feast. We pray for all who are in sorrow or in pain – for those afflicted by this terrible virus, those grieving the loss of dear ones, those feeling anxiety, young parents pressed as they work fulltime from home and care for their children 24/7 without school time, all front-line workers who daily put their lives on the line in the service of others,
Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory is yours, Holy Mystery who is Wholly Love, now and forever.
As Jesus taught us, so now we pray.
The Lord’s Prayer
Consecration of Bread and Wine
We eat and drink together.
Prayer Following Communion
Life-giving God, we give you thanks for the gift of Jesus’ presence in the simplicity and splendour of this holy meal. Unite us with all who are fed by the life of Christ that we may faithfully proclaim the Good News of your love, and that your church might be a rainbow of hope in an uncertain world; through Jesus Christ, our Compassionate Friend. Amen.
Parting Hymn MV#150 “Spirit God, Be Our Breath”
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 one. Through change, through challenge, we’ll greet the new dawn – Spirit God, be our song.
Commission & Blessing
Sung Response “Go Now in Peace”
Go now in peace, never be afraid, God will go with you each hour of every day. God now in faith, steadfast, strong and true, know God will guide you in all you do. Go now in love, and show you believe, reach out to others so all the world can see. God will be there, watching from above (walking by your side) Go now in peace, in faith and in love. Amen. Amen. Amen.
Extinguishing the Candles
Music as We Move into the World
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