Call to Worship
One: In the beginning there was darkness, but God spoke and there was light.
All: May God’s spirit of wisdom shine through us to illuminate our path.
One: God appeared to Moses as a burning bush and commanded him to set his people free.
All: May God’s spirit of compassion burn within us so we continue to fight for justice.
One: God’s spirit came like tongues of flame and united the church.
All: May God’s spirit of love unite us in our diversity as one loving church. Amen.
Prayer of Renewal (adapted from Collect and St. Augustine)
O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit; descend plentifully into our hearts. Enlighten the dark corners of our dwelling and scatter there your cheerful beams, so that we may have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in your holy comfort. Amen.
Scripture Acts 2:1-21
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 nation 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.”