Worship Plan for Sunday, May 31, 2020 Pentecost Sunday - Online Service

Introduction to the day On Pentecost, God gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to those gathered, and in doing so they were able to discern voices speaking God’s truth.

GATHERING The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.

VIDEO: Come, Great Spirit.

God is creating goodness in our midst. God’s Word is speaking. God’s Spirit is leading. Come, Holy Spirit!

And God’s Spirit is here: undoing what needs to be undone. The Lord, the giver of life, is bringing new life in and around us. Thanks be to God, The old you is dead, and Christ is risen in you today.

Welcome -

Glad you are worshipping with us.

Perhaps you may wish to invite others to worship with you -

those in your home, or you can start a watch party or share the video.

Today is Pentecost Sunday. The festival of Pentecost has its roots with the Jewish Passover festival, occurring 50 days after Passover. For Jews, Pentecost is the feast of weeks or the feast of 50 days - Shauvot is the common name. For Jews, it is a harvest festival, but also a remembrance of the Jews being given the Torah on Mount Sinai.

For Christians, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It is not a fluke that the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples on this festival. For in Christ’s death and resurrection at Easter, death passes over us. The Lord’s Supper, our Holy Communion, the Eucharist is our Passover meal. We continue to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

and the pouring out of the Spirit on the apostles and upon us in our baptism. Just as the Torah - God’s Word - gives life, so too do we give thanks for our new life in Jesus Christ, gifted by the Spirit. Our worship is Spirited: we are called, gathered, enlightened and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Our worship is also liturgical: Liturgy means the work of the people. We worship our God together, and we bring our own gifts to the table in our worship. Today’s message; and our upcoming preaching series “Listening to the Spirit” is based on what I’ve been hearing from you, the people of God, and what you are hearing from God.

Our Lord’s Prayer today is a rather incredible. Our parent church, the ELCIC in partnership with the Anglican Church of Canada

has created a video Lord’s Prayer for us all today. What a gift to see and hear the voices and faces of our family in Christ from around the nation and to join in prayer together.

There will be a shared worship service today at 2pm Mountain Time with our Anglican and Lutheran friends from around the country. You can check our Facebook page for the link. (Next) As the church calendar shifts from Easter to Pentecost so too do we shift our focus. We continue to be committed to building Christ’s church, and in this time of waiting, we Listen to the Spirit.

One other invitation for you all, Starting this Tuesday we will experiment by gathering online and on the telephone. You are invited to join us Tuesdays at 11am or 7pm for a time of Dwelling in God’s Word, of Bible Study, and a time of listening and discerning what God’s Spirit is saying, what God’s Word is saying,

that we might follow. Check your eBulletin for how to join online or by phone or contact me and I’ll help you.

Invite you to find water: bring a bowl or glass to your place of worship. Pause the video if you need to.

We pray. We wait. We discern. We worship.

We give thanks together for the gift of baptism.

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM (ELW p. 97) The assembly stands. All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, the fountain of living water, the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation. Amen.

The presiding minister addresses the assembly. Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

Water may be poured into the font as the presiding minister gives thanks.

ALL: We give you thanks, O God, L: For in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight. ALL: We give you thanks, O God,

L: for you are the river of life, you are the everlasting wellspring, you are the fire of rebirth. Your waters are below us, around us, above us; our life is born in you. You are the fountain of resurrection. ALL: We praise you, O God, L: for Your saving waters: Noah and the animals survive the flood, Hagar discovers your well. The Israelites escape through the sea, and the y drink from your gushing rock. Naaman washes his leprosy away, and the Samaritan woman will never be thirsty again.

ALL: We praise you, O God L: for the waters of baptism and for your Word that saves us in this water. Breathe your Spirit into all who are gathered for worship and into all creation. Illumine our days. Enliven our bones. Dry our tears. Wash away the sin within us, and drown the evil around us. Satisfy all our thirst with your living water, Jesus Christ our Saviour, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

GATHERING SONG: 401 Gracious Spirit Heed Our Pleading

The time of gathering song may be brief or extended, and may include one or more of the following: hymns, psalms; a Kyrie; a canticle of praise.

GREETING (ELW p. 184)

During this time, the presiding minister and the assembly greet each other.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

CANTICLE OF PRAISE: 840 Now Thank We All Our God

Let us pray. A brief silence is kept before the prayer.

Spirit of fire, your holy presence burns bright within this world. May our ears be tuned to discern your voice and act on the gifts you have given us, that we might join your work of spreading your Spirit throughout our communities, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

The assembly is seated.

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

Children’s Message - Happy birthday to the Church!

Do you remember your last birthday party? Remember how you had a birthday cake with candles on it, and then you’d make a wish, and blow the candles out.

And then everyone would eat the cake! The same cake you just blew on! With all our knowledge about the spread of COVID-19, We might have to find a safer way of blowing out the candles. I don’t think anyone wants to eat human germ cake anymore. Did you know that when we blow or breathe, we breath out little particles. Think of it like air freshener spray or a can of spray paint or cooking spray: the air comes out, but so do the particles inside.

That’s one way that people can catch this virus: by people like us breathing, talking too close, or especially singing.

That’s one reason why we are still in our homes and not together in this building yet: our breath can spread the virus.

Well, here’s a lesson for you about God: God is breath.

The book of Genesis tells us about God’s Breath - Ruach - the ancient word for breath or Spirit that moved over the chaotic waters When God created the heavens and the earth.

There’s a story in John’s Gospel, right after Jesus was raised from the dead, the apostles were hiding behind locked doors because they were afraid. Kind of like how many of us are staying at home. Jesus met the apostles behind their locked doors, and said “peace be with you” and then Jesus breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit.

We believe that there is one God in 3 Persons: God the Creator; also called Father or Mother, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit: also known as the breath of God.

I invite you to breath in… and out. Breathe in... and out. That's God’s Spirit you are breathing in. That’s the gift of life from our God! The breath of God is in your lungs. and God’s breath has particles too. Do you know what kind of particles you might find in the breath of God? Fruits of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

So in this time that we are being careful with our breath and our singing, we can also trust that God is with us and in us.

And if COVID can be spread with breath, Maybe we can also spread the love,

joy and peace of our God with God’s breath in us.

Let me be clear; please don’t breath on anyone! Maybe not even birthday cake!

But, Children of God, trust that with God’s breath in your lungs, you too can help spread God’s love.

Pray: Thank you God for breathing your Spirit into us. Amen.

We cannot talk about the Breath of God today without pausing to acknowledge and remember George Floyd, and the racially fuelled death he died by murder. We celebrate the Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, the breath of God and another Black man’s breath has been needlessly taken away. Many cities face rioting. Many are calling for peace, but peace cannot come without justice.

Peace cannot come without change. Rioting is the language of those who have no voice. God hears their cries. May we pray for an end to racial prejudice. May we be part of that answer to prayer, speaking against racism in its many forms.

As we continue to Listen to the Spirit this Pentecost, we turn to God’s Word, to hear what God is saying to us today.

Acts 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 A reading from the Acts of the Apostles and from 1st Corinthians. 1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all 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, and a tongue rested 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.

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to 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. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. 12 For 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. 13 For 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.

Word of God. Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

I’ve been using this word; discernment.

Our Lent series: Believe in St. Matthew’s was a time of discernment. Then COVID happened. What was supposed to be a brief time of discernment was no longer brief. When we talk about discernment, it can mean, in the simplest sense, to judge well. For people of faith, discernment is about seeking God’s guidance which, by grace, produces good judgment. We do discernment together; Dwelling in God’s Word, and sharing what we hear, listening to God in scripture and prayer. Discernment, for the Christian, is collective. Discernment can’t be just me. Part of this is recognizing that I might not be hearing God. I might be wrong.

For example, if I were to say “I think God is calling us to turn our basement into a mini-golf course.” You might think it would be fun, but you probably wouldn’t agree.

There’s nothing wrong with mini-golf, but you might not think it is the best way to serve our God and our community.

My ideas of what God is saying - or the ideas of any individual or group - need to be discussed within the community that we can discern together What is God’s Spirit and what is not.

Discernment also helps find focus in moving forward.

Another example: We can see so many different needs in our community right now: homelessness and unemployment, lack of housing for the elderly, right relationships with First Nations, support for LBGTQ2SIA+ people, for refugees, climate concerns, infrastructure, mental health, not to mention meeting the spiritual needs of our community, serving our people amidst a pandemic, while seeking to help those globally

who are in the most desperate of needs. The needs are too many.

You or I might feel a particular tug in one direction or another, but as a community, we might not be able to have an impact in all of these areas. But we might be able to have an impact with one or two…

Discernment helps us find focus; specifically, what is our particular role in God’s mission?

To Join God’s Work and Share God’s Love we are called into discernment:

The simple answer: We look for God in the world, and we join that work. I have asked you, God’s beloved of St. Matthew’s: “Where have I seen God’s Spirit at work in St. Matthew’s, or during the COVID crisis” or “where you believe God’s Spirit is leading us.”

Thank you, sincerely, to those of you who have shared your thoughts with me.

Here’s what I’ve heard from you: You believe God’s Spirit is calling us to listen to God, and to listen to others. You believe God’s Spirit is leading God’s people towards generosity towards Christ’s Church, evident in generous giving through a time of deep need. God’s Spirit is leading our councillors to seek the common good of our people, while dealing with unprecedented issues from closing our doors to public worship, seeking God’s guidance in decision making, in following guidelines and keeping vulnerable people safe. God’s Spirit is leading God’s people to a deeper or renewed sense of care and compassion for each other. God’s Spirit is leading us to slow down; to turn away from busy-ness and to appreciate God’s fingerprints in nature and to pray, to sabbath

and read God’s Word, to worship. God’s Spirit is nudging us towards our neighbours; the people that we actually live close to and to connect in meaningful ways. You believe God’s Spirit is leading us to look after each other, to move away from individualism and self-centred ways. You have seen God’s Spirit at work through our Caring Roster, as we reach out to each other in care and support amidst our anxiety and uncertainty. God’s Spirit is moving us towards the margins, as we find creative ways to minister to people who are not able to worship online or who are unable to leave their residences. You believe God’s Spirit is moving us to get better at evangelism, and that a continued online presence is one method. I hope hearing this list is encouraging for you, because it sure is for me. I am encouraged because here is where our experiences of God meets good theology in practice.

We ask “What is God up to?” or “What is God’s Spirit doing?” and the answer always begins with Jesus Christ of Nazareth, crucified and risen, and that this Jesus is Lord and Savior.

No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. If you can remember years ago when we discerned our Guiding Principles as a congregation; number one: Jesus is Lord and Saviour.

If we truly want to discern where God’s Spirit is leading us, and to listen to God’s Spirit, we must ask: what does the thing have to do with Jesus Christ? If it does not point to Jesus in some way, it might not be the Spirit. If the thing does not call, gather, enlighten or sanctify God’s people, then it might not be Gods Spirit.

So, considering the ways that you are seeing God in this time; is God’s Spirit leading us, or at work in us, through listening? generosity? seeking common good? caring for vulnerable? seeking God’s guidance? renewed care and compassion for others? to seek God in creation? to free up our time for ministry? to pray? to dwell in God’s Word? nudging towards our neighbours, and the margins, to connect in meaningful ways? to move away from individualism and self-centred ways? to rediscover evangelism?

Yes and yes again! For these are all about Christ and continuing Christ’s work. These point to Jesus in reconciliation, in a collective gathering for the common good.

Keep listening to God’s Spirit! Our listening is not finished. God is speaking, and give thanks that, together, we are hearing God. Together, we continue to discern.

Back to this hypothetical idea of turning the basement into a mini-golf course - does that point to Jesus, or does that just try to get people in our doors? It sounds more like a trick than ministry, and God doesn’t do tricks. It’s a silly idea, tricks are for kids.

Jesus’ ministry was never a trick: Jesus is always reaching out to the lost, bringing people back into community and right relationships with others. So too is this the work of the Spirit who calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies - makes holy - people like us. “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good”

Would turning the basement into a mini golf course point to Jesus and restore community, and promote the common good? Maybe. Maybe not.

Spiritual gifts serve the community, and you, God’s beloved, God’s baptized people are gifted by the Spirit.

God’s gifts do not lift one person ahead of another.

So let’s say you have skills and abilities with working with numbers. You could use your gifts to help your friend evade taxes or use insider information with investments. This helps the one person at the expense of others: that’s not God’s Spirit. But that same person might just use their skill with numbers to help vulnerable people fill out their taxes accurately; this serves the community, and that might just be the Spirit’s nudging.

Math isn’t a spiritual gift, But God might use your math skills for God’s mission. You have gifts that aren’t spiritual gifts. But God might use them for God’s mission. Perhaps the greatest sign that a thing is the work of the Spirit is that the idea for the thing comes from outside you. Salvation does not come from within, but from outside. Faith does not come from within, but from outside. You do not choose God, God chooses you.

May you take the opportunity amidst the pandemic to listen to God’s Spirit, trusting that the Spirit has spoken to us and will continue to. May you discern by God’s Spirit how God will use you and your God-given gifts for the common good. May you, with God’s breath in your lungs, live in gratitude and hope, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

HYMN OF THE DAY ELW 396 Spirit of Gentleness The assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song.

NICENE CREED The Nicene Creed or the Apostles’ Creed may be spoken. The Nicene Creed is appropriate during Advent, Christmas, Easter, and on festival days; the Apostles’ Creed during Lent and at other times.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. (Next) For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,* who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

*Or, “who proceeds from the Father.” The phrase “and the Son” is a later addition to the creed.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION The prayers are prepared locally for each occasion. The following examples may be adapted or used as appropriate. Rejoicing in the risen life of Christ and listening to God’s Spirit, let us pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need. A brief silence.

L: We pray for the church, the world, and all those in need. A brief silence.

L: Among the flurry of voices vying for our attention, help us discern your truth, O God. Give us your Spirit’s insight that we may listen and speak with sound judgment. God of wisdom, C: Hear our prayer. L: We can experience the presence of your Spirit in all living things if we tune our hearts accordingly. May we fully embrace and inhabit your creation in ways which inspire us to nurture and protect the natural world which you have lovingly made. God of wisdom, C: Hear our prayer.

L: On this day when the Church celebrates its birthday, we rejoice for the witness of generations before us, and for the opportunity to carry on their mission in your name. Keep us honest, true and full of integrity as we pilot the Church throughout this pandemic. God of wisdom, C: Hear our prayer. L: We pray for the family and friends of George Floyd, and for all victims of individual and systemic racism. You call your people into unity and love for the common good. Open our eyes to recognize this evil in our midst, and give your people courage to call out against racist acts. Use us as an answer to the cries for justice and peace. God of Wisdom C: Hear our prayer. L: There are many whom we know need the healing presence of your Spirit this day. Bless them and use us to minister to them, that all might be restored to wholeness. We lift up this day (especially...). Hear us as we pray for Helen and

her son, Alkana, giving thanks for barriers removed and praying that you would continue to remove every barrier from their reuniting. God of wisdom, C: Hear our prayer. L: We offer our prayers for people who are not able to social distance or isolate in this time, particularly refugees and those living in poverty. Guard your people and keep them safe. Call your church, O God, to use what you have given us to help all your people live in safety and freedom. God of Wisdom, C: Hear our prayer.

L: St. Paul and the apostles relied heavily on your Holy Spirit to guide them through every obstacle they faced. Remove the barriers that get in the way of our call to partnership with the Gospel. Give us ears to listen to your Spirit and faith enough to follow where you are leading us. God of Wisdom, C: Hear our prayer.

L: We celebrate the fellowship we share with all your saints of every time and place, united by one eternal Spirit. Bind us together in permanent bonds of love, and secure us a place with them in your heavenly kingdom. God of wisdom, C: Hear our prayer. Here other petitions may be offered. L: Accept these prayers we bring, O God. Inspire us to go out and be the answer which the world is seeking, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Join our voices with your faithful people across our nation and around the world as we pray the prayer Jesus taught us, many languages, yet one in Christ:

Lord’s Prayer Video:

Lord’s Prayer (Ecumenical) Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

OFFERING Pray that God will use these gifts that all in our community be cared for, that the Gospel may be proclaimed in our communities; that Christ’s church may be united.

eTransfer office@sprucegrovelutheran.ca Donate Now - www.sprucegrovelutheran.ca

PAR Mail/Drop off cheque.

PEACE (ELW p. 189)

The presiding minister and the assembly greet each other in the peace of the risen Christ.

The first words Jesus spoke after the resurrection to the disciples, meeting them behind their locked doors: Peace be with you. Receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus breathed on them - and the breath of God continues to fill our lungs with Faith, hope, love and peace.

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

BLESSING (ELW p. 192) The presiding minister proclaims God’s blessing.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace. Amen.

SENDING SONG ELW 551 The Spirit Sends Us Forth To Serve

DISMISSAL

Breathe in God’s Spirit. Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God. Alleluia!