Order of Service – Sunday 23 May 2021 – PENTECOST

Click the link below to download the Order of Serfice.

PRAISE TO GOD

To the only invisible God, the Father of truth, who sent forth to us the Saviour and Founder of immortality, through whom He also revealed to us the truth and the heavenly life, to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen! (Clement of Rome)

OPENING PRAYER

Come, Holy Spirit, come. Come into our place of worship this day.  Come into each heart, each family, each friendship, each song, each life here today, so that we may love with purpose, courage, and enthusiasm, transforming our world. Amen!

HYMN:       569       “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer”

A LITANY FOR PENTECOST

Let us pray to God the Holy Spirit, saying: Come, Holy Spirit, come. Come, Holy Spirit, creator, and renew the face of the earth,

Come, Holy Spirit, come.

Come, Holy Spirit, counsellor, and touch our lips that we may proclaim Your word.

Come, Holy Spirit, come.

Come, Holy Spirit, power from on high, make us agents of peace and ministers of wholeness.

Come, Holy Spirit, come.

Come, Holy Spirit, breath of God, give life to the dry bones of this exiled age, and make us living people, holy and free.

Come, Holy Spirit, come.

Come, Holy Spirit, wisdom and truth: strengthen us in the risk of faith.

Come, Holy Spirit, come.

A PENTECOST PRAYER

May the God of all things, who spoke by the Holy Spirit, through the prophets, and sent the Spirit forth upon the apostles here in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, send Him forth now upon you also, and through Him guard us, imparting His bounty in common to all of us, so as to exhibit always the fruits of the Holy Spirit, charity, joy, peace, benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, chastity in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom, and with whom, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory to the Father, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen! (Cyril of Jerusalem)

HYMN:       409     “O Breath of Life, Come Sweeping Through Us”

A LITANY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Holy Spirit, You are the Lord, the giver of life;

with the Father and the Son we worship and glorify You:

Come to us now, Spirit of God.

Holy Spirit, You were there at the creation before time began;

Your presence fills the whole universe:

Come to us now, Spirit of life.

Holy Spirit, we have spoken through the prophets of old;

by their witness the Word of God has never been silent:

Come to us now, Spirit of wisdom.

Holy Spirit, You surrounded the waiting church with the wind of Pentecost;

You gave life and breath to announce Christ’s gospel:

Come to us now, Spirit of power.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

We come before You, Lord, as a sinful people. We come here today knowing that we are less than You have made us to be. Forgive us we pray in this time of worship. Free us from all that would keep us from You and from Your will for our lives. Help us move beyond ourselves that we might be courageous in our witness to Your love as we seek to be Your heart, your hands, and your feet.

Empower us to trust Your most Holy Spirit as He seeks to lead us to do what we fear to do, and to places we fear to go. Thank You for this marvellous gift of life. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen!

Almighty and everlasting God, by Your Spirit the whole body of Your faithful people is governed and sanctified. Receive our supplication and prayers which we offer before You for all members of Your holy church, that in our vocation and ministry we may truly and devoutly serve You; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen!

APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead.

On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

HYMN:       398       “Come Down, O Love Divine”

BIBLE READINGS –                                                                    Ian Butters

Acts 2:1-21 (Page 1078)                                      John 15:26-16:15 (Page 1069)

MUSICAL REFLECTION

SERMON:           “Happy Birthday Church!”            Krikor Youmshajekian

HYMN:        416      “Great God, Your Spirit, Like the Wind”

NOTICES

• Elders’ & Council Meetings Wed 26 May 12:00 noon.
• Pizza/Movie Night – Tues 1 June 6:30 pm, movie at 7:15 pm.
• Combined Service with Lane Cove Uniting on the occasion of the Uniting Church 44^th Anniversary. Sunday 20 June 2021, here.

OFFERTORY PRAYER

Help us to give freely and have the pleasure of giving as well as the happiness of receiving. We dedicate this offering, Lord, for the work of the church, and we ask You to use it in Your service. Amen.

HYMN:       411       “Filled with the Spirit’s Power”

THE LORD’S PRAYER and BENEDICTION

Let us remember –

that the Holy Spirit comes to us, lives in us and gives power to us.

May the Holy God guide us in the pathways of truth,

Christ Jesus gather us into a loving community as His Body

and the Spirit inspire us and call us on into joy. Amen!

To contact Krikor call   0418 417 411

Church Website:  http://www.longueville.unitingchurch.org.au

Church email: standrewsunite@tpg.com.au

Church Office phone: 9427 4740