Online Worship for May 31, 2020: Pentecost Sunday

Welcome to Church of the Holy Cross’s live streaming worship service for May 31st, 2020. Feel free to follow the service text by scrolling down, or you may download and print the service in PDF format from this link.

Online Worship, May 31, 2020
Pentecost Sunday

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Welcome                                                                                 Rev. Eric Anderson

Prelude: Piano sonata No.5 Op. 10-1 3^rd movement — Beethoven        
                                                                                                Kanako Okita

Call to Worship based on Acts 2:1-21 and 1 Corinthians 12:3-13
The Pentecost flames came to visit the apostles in the place that they had gathered. Under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they left that room and began to praise God in the city square. That was their summons that day. What is the Holy Spirit’s summons to us? How shall we demonstrate our care for our neighbor? How shall we exhibit the compassion of God? Is it not to exercise the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in the places that we are? Is it not to honor our place in the body of Christ, which is one even as we are scattered? Is it not to breathe in the refreshing breath of God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Friend? Wherever you are at this point in time, be embraced in the Holy Spirit, inspired by Jesus, and blessed by the Maker of the Universe. Come: let us worship.

Opening Prayer based on Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Leader: Let us pray:
All: We praise you for your works of Creation, O God! You made them in wisdom. You filled the planet with life and wonder. Here in the midst of the sea, we marvel at the strength, song, and play of the kohola, the whale. The koa stretches its limbs to the sky. The ohi’a is decked with scarlet or ruby or gold. All the creatures of these island look to your goodness for their daily food, and in your mercy they are filled with good things. You look at the earth and it trembles; you touch the mountains and they smoke. We will declare your glory as long as we live; we will sing praise to you while we have being. Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD! Amen.

Hymn #4: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You — Henry van Dyke and Ludwig van Beethoven

Joyful, joyful, we adore you, God of glory, God of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before you, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the storm of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.

All your works with joy surround you, earth and heaven reflect your rays,
Stars and angels sing around you, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain, teach us what our praise should be.

You are giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Loving Spirit, Father, Mother, all who love belong to you;
Teach us how to love each other, by that love our joy renew.

Scripture: 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, raised 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 your 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 days 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 shall be saved.

Story and Meditation: Pentecost                                       Rev. Eric Anderson

Prayer:                                                                                    Rev. Eric Anderson

Offering Call and Dedication
We are not sending ushers through the neighborhoods of Hilo to collect your gifts this morning, or any morning. We invite you to send your offering to support the spiritual, emotional, and physical ministries of this church in this time. Please mail your gifts to us at Church of the Holy Cross, 440 West Lanikaula Street, Hilo, Hawai’i 96720.

Please pray with me:
The Holy Spirit has summoned us, O God, and we have responded. We have given our time to prayer. We have given our energy to help our friends, our neighbors, and the stranger. We have given the fruits of labors to build up your Church and improve our community. Bless these gifts, O God, given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Music: Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling by Timothy Rees                 Eric Anderson
                                                                                                Doug Albertson

Benediction:                                                                            Rev. Eric Anderson