Yesterday, Today, and Forever – Acts 2.1-21
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GATHERING
Announcements:
Called Charge Conference – Cokesbury will be hosting a Called Charge Conference via ZOOM on Thursday June 3rd at 7pm with our District Superintendent Jeff Mickle in order to vote and approve Rev. Gayle Porias’ salary, housing exclusion, and accountable reimbursement. All are welcome to attend this digital meeting. If you don’t currently receive the church’s emails, and would like to attend the meeting, please send an email to cokesburyumc@gmail.com in order to join for the Charge Conference on June 3rd.
Until we get to a time when it is safe for us to worship together in-person, will continue to offer mid-week prayers, live videos, and email devotionals. Online giving can be made on our About page on the church website, cokesburyumc.church which will be linked in the video description for live worship as well as checks through the mail.
Hymn 249 – Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of his glory and grace.
Prayer:
Lord, we come into your presence, in adoration of your majesty, in recognition of our unworthiness, and in gratitude for all of your good gifts that you continually grant us in body and spirit. We thank you especially for this Sunday and celebration day, on which we may consider how your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, after he returned to you, did not leave us orphaned, but wanted to be present and remain with us int he Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Teacher, who gives us life, until he himself returns in his glory. And now, help us rightly to recognize you and praise you in this good work of yours, that you Word may rightly be proclaimed and heard, both here in this place and everywhere where you people call on you. Sanctify and bless this celebration of worship that we share together. May your light shine among us! May you peace be among us!
Our own joys and concerns…
And as you taught us, so now we pray… 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. Amen.
PROCLAIMING
Acts 2.1-21:
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 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. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs – in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, raise 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. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those day I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord hall be saved.’”
Hymn 539 – O Spirit of the Living God:
V1. O Spirit of the living God, thou light and fire divine,
Descend upon thy church once more, and make it truly thine.
Fill it with love and joy and power, with righteousness and peace;
Till Christ shall dwell in human hearts, and sin and sorrow cease.
V2. Blow, wind of God! With wisdom blow until our minds are free
From mists of error, clouds of doubt, which blind our eyes to thee.
Burn, winged fire! Inspire our lips with flaming love and zeal,
To preach to all thy great good news, God’s glorious common weal.
V3. Teach us to utter living words of truth which all may hear,
The language all may understand when love speaks loud and clear;
Till every age and race and clime shall blend their creeds in one,
And earth shall form one family by whom thy will is done.
V4. So shall we know the power of Christ who came this world to save;
So shall we rise with him to life which soars beyond the grave;
And earth shall win true holiness, which makes thy children whole;
Till, perfected by thee, we reach creation’s glorious goal!
Sermon: Yesterday, Today, and Forever (Teer Hardy)
RESPONDING
Prayer:
Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Offering – Reminder for online giving, through the mail, or the drop slot at the church.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
SENDING FORTH
Blessing and Benediction