Order of Worship for June 8, 2025
June 8, 2025
Pentecost
Union-Congregational Church
Gathering Music - Sue Stelsel
Welcome and Announcements - Pastor Jacob
Sharing the Peace of Christ
Call to Worship
Leader: They were all gathered in one place…
All: We have learned that stories of resurrection are best witnessed in community.
Leader: From heaven, there came the rush of a wind and it filled that place where they were.
All: The wind of the Spirit has been blowing among us. Holy Spirit, you are welcome here!
Leader: Flames appeared and rested upon each of them, as their hearts burned with love.
All: We have witnessed God’s refining fire, changing lives, and renewing hope.
Leader: They were speaking different languages, but each could understand the other.
All: Pain, suffering, as well as love and comfort, are universal languages.
Leader: Some thought they were filled with new wine.
All: It is possible to feel joy beyond comprehension when just one life is saved, when just one soul transforms.
Leader: But Peter reminded them of the words of the prophet Joel: “I will pour out my spirit on all people!”
All: We believe the Spirit will revive us, and we will dream dreams again and envision a better world for all people.
Opening Prayer (unison)
Spirit of Unity, you knit us together with all of our connections and distinctions. You make us one and yet unique. We gather to hear your voice and to attune ourselves to the language of the other, to celebrate the diversity of your creation and to immerse ourselves in compassionate care, to give you glory and to recognize the gift of community. May our hearts be opened and our lips declare your praise. Inhabit our worship with your abiding presence and inflame us with your love. Amen.
Opening Hymn: #492 Spirit of the Living God
Children’s Time
Reading of Scripture
Acts 2: 1-21
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. 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 the Lord’s great and glorious day. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Media: “This is What Love Sounds Like When It Catches Fire” by Revs. Tim Powers-Reed and Jacob Nault
Message: “Why This Church?”
Prayers of the People
Time for Silent Prayer
Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (unison)
We Offer Our Gifts
Doxology
Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Spirit of the Living God, receive our gifts as tangible expressions of our belonging to your church and our commitment to the ministry begun in Christ and continued through this faith community. Magnify them in miraculous ways, and make our generosity a demonstration of the love you have given us and we return to the world you love. Amen.
Closing Hymn: #577 Sing a New Church (1,3,4,5)
Benediction
Whatever binds you, whatever locks you up, whatever needs a turnaround in your life, can be transformed, for we believe our stories can be rewritten each and every day. We know it isn’t this easy or quick, but let this be a vision of your life resurrected. And now, may you go into the world, extending life-energy in all the ways you discover you can, for yourself, for others, for the world. And may the God who created you to be transformed into new life, the Christ who showed you what resurrection looks like, and the Spirit who is transforming your life even now, be with you now and evermore. Amen.
Sending Music: Sue Stelsel
Attributions:
• Opening Prayer and Prayer of Dedication by Rev. Dr. Cheryl A. Lindsay, Minister for Worship and Theology for the United Church of Christ.
• Theme, Call to Worship, and Benediction written by Dr. Marcia McFee for Worship Design Studio