May 27, 2007

Day of Pentecost

Preparation for Worship

"When the day of Pentecost came,

they were all together in one place."

Acts 2:1

We call them cool

Those hearts that have no scars to show

The ones that never do let go

And risk the tables being turned

We call them fools

Who have to dance within the flame

Who chance the sorrow and the shame

That always comes with getting burned

But you've got to be tough when consumed by desire

'Cause it's not enough just to stand outside the fire

We call them strong

Those who can face this world alone

Who seem to get by on their own

Those who will never take the fall

We call them weak

Who are unable to resist

The slightest chance love might exist

And for that forsake it all

They're so hell-bent on giving , walking a wire

Convinced it's not living if you stand outside the fire

Standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire

Life is not tried, it is merely survived

If you're standing outside the fire

Garth Brooks

Today we celebrate Pentecost! The Diaspora Jews used the term Pentecost to refer to the day-long harvest festival more commonly known as the feast of weeks (Shauvot) scheduled for fifty days after Passover. For the early Christians the day of Pentecost marked the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciple community. We begin our service reading the story from the Acts of the Apostles in which “a sound like the blowing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house.” Our Processional Hymn prays for the Spirit to come and “give the church a stronger vision.” The Prayer of Confession reminds us how timid we are with the power of the Spirit. For our Prayer for Illumination we sing once again asking for the Spirit of God to fall afresh upon us. The texts for today include the story of the Tower of Babel in which language serves as a barrier between the peoples of the earth. Psalm 104 is our Psalm for the day and we read this psalm interspersed with a singing of the Taize song “Bless the Lord My Soul.” The Affirmation of Faith is taken from the Spirit section of "Brief Statement of Faith" and our final Recessional Hymn reminds us we have a story to tell the nations.

     The Pentecost story in Acts tells of the disciples gathered in a house and then the Spirit appears as a tongue of fire and "rests on the head of each of them." Next thing we know they are speaking different languages and out in the street where a crowd begins to gather.

     We will reflect this movement in worship by recessing out of the sanctuary on the final hymn leaving this house with the Spirit. If you are unable to recess with the congregation, you can ask an usher for assistance or simply stay in the sanctuary and go with us in Spirit.