Blog

May 24, 2026
Pentecost Sunday
Union-Congregational Church

Gathering Music                                

Welcome and Announcements              

Video Call to Worship: “Making Life Alive”, prayer by Saint Hildegard of Bingen

Opening Prayer (unison)
Fiery God, burn down systems of power that demean and destruct! Rage with us like a mighty wind when people are made vulnerable and are not protected! Speak the language of interdependence to our hearts, that we might not be stuck in despair, but empowered towards co-creating the Kin-dom of God. Amen.

Opening Hymn: #500 Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Reading of Scripture

Psalm 121
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.

Acts 2: 1-18
2 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.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 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 proselytes, 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, “Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as 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 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.18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
 

After reading, please say, “Here end the readings for today. May God bless us as we learn from these holy words. Amen.”

Clip/Song: “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman

Message: Filled with the Holy Spirit

Prayers of the People
Time for Silent Prayer
Joys and Concerns 
After each prayer petition, Jacob will say, “God in your mercy”, and the congregation is invited to respond: “Receive our prayer.” 
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (unison)
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

We Offer Our Gifts

Doxology

Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Mysterious Spirit, we dedicate our offerings to the ordinary wonders of living—shared meals, shared stories, and shared lives. May simple signs and wonders offer us sustenance in a difficult world. And may the Holy meet us in surprising ways. Amen.

Closing Hymn: #577 Sing a New Church (1,3,4,5)

Benediction

Sending Music                                 

Theme by Dr. Marcia McFee, Worship Design Studio

Opening Prayer and Prayer of Dedication written by Rev. Molly Bolton for “Enfleshed”