THE DAY OF PENTECOST
The pastor of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Singapore, Eutaquio Santimano, writes: "Pentecost (Ancient Greek: πεντηκοστή [ἡμέρα], pentekostē [hēmera], "the fiftieth day") is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian liturgical year, celebrated on the 49th day (7 weeks) after Easter Sunday - or the 50th day inclusively, hence its name. Pentecost falls on the tenth day after Ascension Thursday. Historically and symbolically related to the Jewish harvest festival of Shavuot or the day, fifty days after the Exodus, on which God gave the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, Pentecost now also commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus as described in the Book of Acts, Chapter 2 in the New Testament. For this reason, Pentecost is sometimes described as "the Church's birthday.”
‘All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.’ In the book of Acts, the ecstatic gift of speaking in tongues accompanies the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Still today in the Church, especially in what is called the ‘charismatic’ movement, people view the gift of speaking in tongues as a sign of the presence of the Spirit.
‘In our own language we hear them speaking of God’s deeds of power.’ The inspired speech of the apostles, in the many languages of the Mediterranean world, symbolically reverses the confusion of languages at Babel (Genesis 11) and points to the mission of the Church to all peoples and languages.
‘To one is given through the Spirit…various kinds of tongues... For St Paul, the gift of tongues is only one and not nearly the most important of the gifts of the Spirit. 1st Corinthians 12-14 is written mainly to correct the misunderstanding of the Corinthians that those who could speak in tongues were the only true possessors of the Spirit. Paul reminds them that the possession of the Spirit is seen in the confession, ‘Jesus is Lord.’
‘When [Jesus] breathed on them, he said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.’ In John’s telling of the Gospel, the apostles receive the Spirit in the Upper Room on Easter evening. The Spirit is explicitly linked to the power to call people to repentance and proclaim God’s forgiveness in Christ.
Preparation for Worship
Upon reaching your place, you may wish to read Psalm 84 in silence:
1 How dear to me is your dwelling, O | Lord of hosts!*
My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the | living God.
2 The sparrow has found her a house
and the swallow a nest where she may | lay her young,*
by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King | and my God.
3 Happy are they who dwell | in your house!*
They will always be | praising you.
4 Happy are the people whose strength | is in you,*
whose hearts are set on the | pilgrims' way.
5 Those who go through the desolate valley
will find it a | place of springs,*
for the early rains have covered it with | pools of water.
6 They will climb from | height to height,*
and the God of gods will reveal him- | self in Zion.
7 Lord God of hosts, | hear my prayer;*
hearken, O | God of Jacob.
8 Behold our defend- | er, O God;*
and look upon the face of | your anointed.
9 For one day in your courts
is better than a thousand in | my own room,*
and to stand at the threshold of the house of my God
than to dwell in the tents | of the wicked.
10 For the Lord God is both | sun and shield;*
he will give | grace and glory;
11 no good thing will the | Lord withhold*
from those who walk | with integrity.
12 O | Lord of hosts,*
happy are they who put their | trust in you!
You may pray the following prayer(s):
Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God: hear our prayer and send your holy angel from heaven to guard, protect, visit, and defend all those who assemble together in this house; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Most gracious God, incline your merciful ears to our prayers and enlighten our hearts by the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may approach your Holy Mysteries with believing hearts and love you with an everlasting love.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OPENING MUSIC Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord (LBW 163)
I. F.W. Zachau
II. D. Buxtehude
Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played:
1 Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord,
with all your graces now outpoured
on each believer’s mind and heart;
your fervent love to them impart.
Lord, by the brightness of your light
in holy faith your church unite;
from ev’ry land and ev’ry tongue,
this to your praise, O Lord, our God, be sung:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
2 Come, holy Light, guide divine,
now cause the Word of life to shine.
Teach us to know our God aright
and call him Father with delight.
From ev’ry error keep us free;
let none but Christ our master be,
that we in living faith abide,
in him, our Lord, with all our might confide.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
3 Come, holy Fire, comfort true,
grant us the will your work to do
and in your service to abide;
let trials turn us not aside.
Lord, by your pow’r prepare each heart
and to our weakness strength impart,
that bravely here we may contend,
through life and death to you, our Lord, ascend.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Text: German hymn, 15th cent., st. 1; Martin Luther, 1483-1546, sts. 2-3; tr. composite
BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Stand
The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.
In the name of the Father, and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:8-9)
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we are in bondage to sin
and cannot free ourselves.
We have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.
Forgive us, renew us, and lead us,
so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your holy name. Amen
Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
THE HOLY COMMUNION
APOSTOLIC GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
(2 Corinthians 13:13)
KYRIE ELEISON
In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above,
and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world,
for the well-being of the Church of God,
and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house,
and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
let us pray to the Lord.
Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen
HYMN OF PRAISE
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
(Luke 2:14)
Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father:
We worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God:
You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father;
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as you sent upon the disciples the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, look upon your Church and open our hearts to the power of the Spirit. Kindle in us the fire of your love, and strengthen our lives for service in your kingdom; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen
CALL TO THE WORD
Let us hear in our own language of God’s deeds of power.
Let us hear the word of the Lord.
Sit
FIRST READING
1When the day of Pentecost had come, [the apostles] were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14But 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. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16No, 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.
18Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
19And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
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.
18Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
19And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ ”
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ ”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 104:25-35, 37
The psalm is read responsively between the pastor and the people.
25 O Lord, how manifold | are your works!*
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full | of your creatures.
26 Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living things
too man- | y to number,*
creatures both | small and great.
27 There move the ships, and there is | that Leviathan,*
which you have made for the | sport of it.
28 All of them | look to you*
to give them their food | in due season.
29 You give it to them; they | gather it;*
you open your hand, and they are filled | with good things.
30 You hide your face, and | they are terrified;*
you take away their breath,
and they die and return | to their dust.
31 You send forth your Spirit, and they | are created;*
and so you renew the face | of the earth.
32 May the glory of the Lord en- | dure forever;*
may the Lord rejoice in | all his works.
33 He looks at the earth | and it trembles;*
he touches the mountains | and they smoke.
34 I will sing to the Lord as long | as I live;*
I will praise my God while I | have my being.
35 May these words | of mine please him;*
I will rejoice | in the Lord.
37 Bless the Lord, | O my soul.*
| Hallelujah!
SECOND READING
3bNo one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.
4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
The Word of the Lord.
Stand
VERSE
Alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful,
And kindle in them the fire of your love. Come, Holy Spirit. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
The Holy Gospel according to St. John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sit
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY
Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played.
1 O day full of grace that now we see
appearing on earth’s horizon,
bring light from our God that we may be
replete in his joy this season.
God, shine for us now in this dark place;
your name on our hearts emblazon.
2 O day full of grace, O blessed time,
our Lord on the earth arriving;
then came to the world that light sublime,
great joy for us all retrieving;
for Jesus all mortals did embrace,
all darkness and shame removing.
3 For Christ bore our sins, and not his own,
when he on the cross was hanging;
and then he arose and moved the stone,
that we, unto him belonging,
might join with angelic hosts to raise
our voices in endless singing.
4 God came to us then at Pentecost,
his Spirit new life revealing,
that we might no more from him be lost,
all darkness for us dispelling.
His flame will the mark of sin efface
and bring to us all his healing.
5 When we on that final journey go
that Christ is for us preparing,
we’ll gather in song, our hearts aglow,
all joy of the heavens sharing,
and walk in the light of God’s own place,
with angels his name adoring.
Stand
CONFESSION OF FAITH
After the introduction, the people confess the faith of the Church, using the words of the Nicene Creed.
In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
and we were all made to drink from the one Spirit.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
In the power of the Spirit, let us pray to our Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A brief silence is kept.
Father, we pray for the whole Church, that your Spirit of power may inspire our witness to Jesus.
Father, inspire our witness.
Father, we pray for our faith family, that, in us, the gifts of the Spirit may be used for the good of all.
Father, help us to use the gifts you have given us.
Father, we pray for all who proclaim the Gospel, that the message of repentance and forgiveness may be proclaimed to all people.
Father, let your Word be preached and believed.
Father, we pray for translators and for all who take the Gospel to others; that in their own language people might hear the telling of your deeds of power.
Father, bless your servants, and send your Spirit upon all flesh.
Father, we pray for those who suffer for the sake of the Gospel; that they may be filled with your Spirit of truth.
Father, come to the aid of your people.
Father, we pray for the world and its peoples; that violence may be rejected, greed may be restrained, and peace and freedom may be given to all.
Father, by your Spirit renew the face of the earth.
We pray to you, O Lord and Father, in this time of pandemic. You are our refuge and strength; a very present help in time of trouble. Do not let us fail in the face of these events. Uphold us by your power, and give us the strength we need. Help us in our confusion, and guide our actions. Heal the sick, console the bereaved and afflicted, protect the innocent and helpless, and deliver all who are in peril.
Father, uphold, console and deliver us.
Father, we pray for those in any kind of trouble; want; sickness; grief, or despair; that they may be given signs of your mercy, and that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, might remind them of the great and precious promises of the Gospel. Hear our prayers.
The people offer spoken or silent intercession and thanksgiving.
Father, have mercy on your poor ones.
Father, have mercy on your poor ones.
Father, we thank you for the faithful who have gone before us: stir up in us the same Spirit which guided them, so that we may rejoice with you and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever.
Father, lead us to where they dwell with you in glory.
Into your hands, Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your steadfast love, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen
PEACE
The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples
and said, ‘Peace be with you,’
and he breathed the Holy Spirit upon them.
Then they were glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia.
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.
(John 20:19-23)
The people exchange the sign of peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.
Sit
The Lord’s Table is prepared.
Stand
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
We do not presume to come to your table, O Lord,
trusting in our own righteousness,
but in your manifold and great mercies.
We are not worthy to gather up the crumbs under your table.
But you are the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy.
Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord,
so to eat the flesh of your dear Son, Jesus Christ,
and so to drink his blood,
that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us.
Amen
Prayer of Humble Access (see Mark 7:28 and John 15:3)
GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Great Thanksgiving begins with the Preface, leading into the Sanctus:
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the first days of the Church your Spirit imparted to all people the knowledge of your Godhead and the power of speech to tell of your wonders. Through many gifts that differ the Spirit works a wonderful unity; in the variety of what is bestowed the Spirit imparts all things in wisdom; indeed, it is the same Spirit who creates the many tongues that proclaim your Word and yet bestows the faith that brings them into one.
And so, in gladness and joy, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy LORD, God of power and might!
Heaven and earth are full of your glory;
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
Hosanna in the highest!
(Isaiah 6:3, Matthew 21:9)
The pastor leads the people in praying the Eucharistic canon:
You are indeed holy, O God, the fountain of all holiness;
you bring light from darkness,
life from death,
speech from silence.
We worship you for our lives and for the world you give us.
We thank you for the new world to come
and for the love that will rule all in all.
We praise you for the grace shown to Israel, your chosen,
the people of your promise:
the rescue from Egypt, the gift of the promised land,
the memory of the fathers, the homecoming from exile,
and the prophets' words that will not be in vain.
In all this we bless you for your only-begotten Son,
who fulfilled and will fulfill all your promises.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
(1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup,
we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Therefore, O God, with this bread and cup
we remember the incarnation of your Son:
his human birth and the covenant he made with us.
We remember the sacrifice of his life:
his eating with outcasts and sinners,
and his acceptance of death.
But chiefly on this night we remember his rising from the tomb,
his ascension to the seat of power,
and his sending of the holy and life-giving Spirit.
We cry out for the resurrection of our lives,
when Christ will come again in beauty and power
to share with us the great and promised feast.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit,
that we and all who share in this bread and cup
may be united in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
may enter the fullness of the kingdom of heaven,
and may receive our inheritance with all your saints in light.
Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.
Join our prayers with those of your servants
of every time and every place,
and unite them with the ceaseless petitions
of our great high priest
until he comes as victorious Lord of all.
Through him, with him, in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honor and glory is yours,
almighty Father, now and forever. Amen
In the presence of Christ, we pray to his Father using the words he gave us.
Christ is in our midst.
By the power of the Spirit,
we pray to his Father, saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
(Matthew 6:9-15)
We adore the present Christ with the words of the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God).
Approach with the fear of God and with faith.
Receive the body of Christ. Taste the fountain of life.
Thanks be to God.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
Grant us peace.
(John 1:29, see also Luke 17:13)
DISTRIBUTION
During the distribution, hymn accompaniments are played. Please meditate on the texts of the hymns as they are played.
Filled with the Spirit’s Power Lutheran Book of Worship 160
1 Filled with the Spirit’s pow’r, with one accord
the infant church confessed its risen Lord.
O Holy Spirit, in the church today
no less your pow’r of fellowship display.
2 Now with the mind of Christ set us on fire,
that unity may be our great desire.
Give joy and peace; give faith to hear your call,
and readiness in each to work for all.
3 Widen our love, good Spirit, to embrace
in your strong care all those of ev’ry race.
Like wind and fire with life among us move,
till we are known as Christ’s, and Christians prove.
Text: John R. Peacey, 1896-1971
Creator Spirit, By Whose Aid
1 Creator Spirit, by whose aid
the world’s foundations first were laid,
come, visit ev’ry humble mind;
come, pour thy joys on humankind;
from sin and sorrow set us free,
and make thy temples fit for thee.
2 O Source of uncreated light,
the Father’s promised Paraclete,
thrice holy fount, thrice holy fire,
our hearts with heav’nly love inspire;
come, and thy sacred unction bring
to sanctify us while we sing.
3 Plenteous of grace, descend from high,
rich in thy sev’nfold energy;
make us eternal truths receive
and practice all that we believe;
give us thyself, that we may see
the Father and the Son by thee.
4 Immortal honor, endless fame,
attend the almighty Father’s name;
the Savior Son be glorified,
who for lost man’s redemption died;
and equal adoration be,
eternal Paraclete, to thee.
Text: attr. Rhabanus Maurus, 778-856; tr. John Dryden, 1631-1700
When all have received, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen
Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen
Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)
O Christ, Lamb of God pure and holy,
O Wisdom, Word, and Power of God,
Grant that we may more perfectly partake of you
in the days which know no ending in your kingdom.
Amen
Sit
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE FAITH FAMILY
Stand
Silence for meditation.
BENEDICTION
God the Holy Spirit, who hovered over the waters at creation, breathe into you the life he gives.
Amen
God the Holy Spirit, who overshadowed the Virgin Mary when she conceived the Christ, make you joyful in the service of the Lord.
Amen
God the Holy Spirit, who set the Church ablaze on the day of Pentecost, bring the world alive with the love of the risen Christ.
Amen
Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
Amen
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to live in the Spirit of God.
Thanks be to God!
CLOSING MUSIC
