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May 11, 2008
DAY OF PENTECOST
INTRODUCTION
Today's festival derives its name from the Jewish festival of Pentecost, observed fifty days after Passover. On the fiftieth day of Easter we celebrate the Holy Spirit as the power of God among us that heals, forgives, inspires, and unites. In the reading from Acts, images of wind and fire describe the Spirit poured out on disciples of all nations. In John's gospel the risen Christ breathes the Spirit on his followers on Easter evening. In the one Spirit we are baptized into one body, and at the Lord's table the Spirit unites us for witness in the world.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
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.
Blessed are you, O God,
maker and ruler of all things.
Your voice thundered over the waters at creation.
You water the mountains and send springs into the valleys
to refresh and satisfy all living things.
Through the waters of the flood
you carried those in the ark to safety.
you led your people Israel from slavery to freedom.
In the wilderness
you nourished them with water from the rock,
and you brought them across the river Jordan
to the promised land.
By the baptism of his death and resurrection,
your Son Jesus has carried us to safety and freedom.
The floods shall not overwhelm us,
and the deep shall not swallow us up,
for Christ has brought us over to the land of promise.
He sends us to make disciples,
baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Pour out your Holy Spirit;
wash away sin in this cleansing water;
clothe the baptized with Christ;
and claim your daughters and sons,
no longer slave and free,
no longer male and female,
but one with all the baptized in Christ Jesus,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
GREETING
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
The joy and peace of God be with you all.
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.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts | of your faithful,
and kindle in us the fire | of your love. Alleluia.
READINGS AND PSALM
Acts 2:1–21
Numbers 11:24–30 (Alternate)
Psalm 104:24–34, 35b
Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. (Ps. 104:30)
1 Corinthians 12:3b–13
Acts 2:1–21 (Alternate)
John 20:19–23
John 7:37–39 (Alternate)
FIRST READING: Acts 2:1–21
Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival that marked the fiftieth day after Passover. Luke portrays the Holy Spirit being poured out upon the disciples before the gathered and astonished people assembled in Jerusalem for the festival. Filled with the Spirit, the disciples were able to witness to the power of Christ's resurrection.
When 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.'"
OR
FIRST READING (ALTERNATE): Numbers 11:24–30
The Spirit of God rested upon seventy elders in Israel who had been chosen to share the burden of leadership with Moses. When some became jealous that two others also had the spirit and could prophesy, Moses said that he hoped that all of God's people would be prophets.
Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. 25Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.
26Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." 28And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, "My lord Moses, stop them!" 29But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!" 30And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.
PSALM: Psalm 104:24–34, 35b
Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. (Ps. 104:30)
How 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
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 12:3b–13
Paul is helping the Corinthians understand the relationship between our God-given unity and Spirit-created diversity. The Spirit creates the unity of faith and gives all Christians diverse gifts for the common benefit of all. We need one another's diverse spiritual gifts, because the same Spirit has given them to each person for the common good.
No 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.
OR
SECOND READING (ALTERNATE): Acts 2:1–21
Paul is helping the Corinthians understand the relationship between our God-given unity and Spirit-created diversity. The Spirit creates the unity of faith and gives all Christians diverse gifts for the common benefit of all. We need one another's diverse spiritual gifts, because the same Spirit has given them to each person for the common good.
When 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.'"
GOSPEL: John 20:19–23
The risen Jesus appears to his disciples, offering them a benediction, a commission, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
OR
GOSPEL (ALTERNATE): John 7:37–39
Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as living water, quenching the thirst of all who come to him and filling the hearts of believers till they overflow.
On 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, 3and 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.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Rejoicing in the wonder of new life in Jesus Christ, let us pray for the church, the world, and all of God's creation.
A brief silence.
O God, holy flame, kindle in your church a spirit of proclamation. May we spread the good news of Christ's resurrection in speech and sign. God of life,
hear our prayer.
O God, holy dove, send to your world a spirit of peace. May nations, tribes, races, and religions be set free from the bonds of hatred and violence and discover lasting peace. God of life,
hear our prayer.
O God, holy comforter, anoint the suffering with a spirit of healing. May the sick, the mourning, the sorrowful, and the dying be sustained by your saving breath. God of life,
hear our prayer.
O God, holy one, unite this diverse assembly with your Spirit. May we recognize the varied gifts of our members and, in the midst of competing commitments, work for the common good. God of life,
hear our prayer.
O God, holy provider, give to mothers and caregivers your blessed assurance. May they know your care for them as they minister to the needs of others. God of life,
hear our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
O God, holy trinity, we remember with thanksgiving those who have died in the faith. May we, with all the saints, be drawn into your divine communion, which has no end. God of life,
hear our prayer.
Accept these prayers and the prayers of our hearts, O God, for the sake of the crucified and risen one, Jesus Christ, our redeemer.
Amen.
OFFERING PRAYER
Risen Christ,
receive these gifts, with our hopes, dreams, and prayers.
Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread,
that our eyes may be opened to see your presence among us,
and our lives filled with the new life of your resurrection.
Amen.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
The Lord swallows up death forever
and makes a feast of rich food and wine.
Eat, drink, the gift is for you.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
God of abundance,
with this bread of life and cup of salvation
you have united us with Christ,
making us one with all your people.
Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit,
that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world
and continue forever in the risen life
of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
SENDING OF COMMUNION
O God of resurrection,
as the risen Christ appeared to his disciples,
bless those of our assembly
who venture from here to share this Easter sacrament
with our absent sisters and brothers.
Through these gifts of bread and wine,
bless those who are absent from this communion,
May their faith be strengthened
by the breaking of the bread,
and their hope sustained by your faithful promises;
we ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
BLESSING
God has given us a new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Almighty God, the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit,
bless you and raise you to life, both now and forever.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Proclaim the resurrection. Alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!
Reprinted from Words for Worship, Sundays and Seasons, and Psalter for Worship, copyright 2007 Augsburg Fortress.
Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress.
