Plymouth Congregational Church United Church of Christ

Welcome! We are glad you have chosen to worship with us this morning. No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

We pray that the Spirit will move through your heart. May 23, 2021 • Pentecost Sunday • 10 a.m.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ~ We Gather to Praise God ~

Prelude & Bringing In the Light of God May we be open to the Light of God’s presence among us!

Words of Welcome • Invitation to Worship (responses are sung) David Blade

From out of our silent depths into visible corporate acts . . . Come, Holy Spirit, come! Gathering the fragments of our church into a living icon of the redeeming, reconciling, prophetic Christ . . . Come, Holy Spirit, come! Bonding together the dissenter, the affirmer, and the questor . . . Come, Holy Spirit, come! Radiating the power and the light of our rainbow-hued people . . . Come, Holy Spirit, come! Revealing your presence in and among each perceived or self-defined minority, wounded, lonely, or angry . . . Come, Holy Spirit, come! Gathering the fragments of our church into dynamic communities of faith engaged in prophetic, redemptive, and reconciling ministries of love . . . Come, Holy Spirit, come!

* Gathering Hymn “Wind Who Makes All Winds That Blow” (see insert) A Celebration of God’s Spirit (unison) by Hildegard of Bingen, 12th-century Christian mystic

Holy Spirit, making life alive, moving in all things, root of all created being, cleansing the cosmos of every impurity, effacing guilt, anointing wounds. You are lustrous and praiseworthy life. You waken and re-awaken everything that is.

Silence for Reflection Congregational Response (remain seated and sing together)

Breathe on us, Breath of God. Fill us with life anew, that we may love the way you love, and do what you would do.

~ We Listen to Hear God’s Word ~ Special Music “Prelude No.3” George Gershwin Charlotte Dike, piano Witness of the 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.’

Pastoral Reflection “Wind & Fire” Roger Lynn

* Response Hymn “Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Fire” 281 (NCH) Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Fire, with all your quickening powers, kindle a flame of sacred love in these cold hearts of ours.

Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Fire, with all your quickening powers, come, breathe on us the Savior’s love, that it may kindle ours.

(Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-730747. All rights reserved.)

Pastoral Prayer & Lord’s Prayer (in the spirit of diversity use the words most familiar to you)

~ We Act to Show God’s Love ~ A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share Our Gifts God’s Grateful People Respond through Giving

Having received the abundant gifts of God’s grace, we are invited to respond by sharing our time, our talents, and our treasures. You are invited to spend the next few moments reflecting on the ways you have been blessed, and the ways in which you can share those blessings with the world around you. If you have financial gifts which you would like to contribute, you can place them in the baskets located by the doors at the back of the sanctuary.

* A Doxology Praise God whose breath fills all the earthWhose love reveals our sacred worthWhose Spirit forms one familyWhose grace brings peace & harmony. Amen.

* Prayer of Dedication (unison) O God of Wind and Fire, blow through our lives and warm our hearts, that we might be inspired to be generous with your gifts. Amen.

* Departing Hymn “Holy Wisdom” (see insert) * Blessing for Sending Forth

May the flame of God’s presence go with us into the world to serve. * Congregational Blessing “Go Out Now in Peace” 212 (Sing!)

Go out now in peace, with Spirit anew, for surely God’s grace is living in you. Reach out with God’s love through joy or pain; The Shepherd will keep you till we see you again.

(Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-730747. All rights reserved.)

Postlude (everyone is invited to sit and enjoy, or to depart, as you choose) * Indicates that you are invited to stand as you are able.

Roger Lynn, Pastor David Blade, Liturgist

Charlotte Dike, Music Director Ministers, ALL

• • • • • – ANNOUNCEMENTS –

You are invited to participate in these activities at Plymouth Congregational Church this week. Please call the church office (442-9883) for details: Today Following Worship Coffee Hour (Fireside Room) Tuesday 12:00 pm Bible Study (via Zoom) Next Sunday 10:00 am Worship Service Sunday (June 6th) Following Worship Church Clean-up As we continue to deal with Covid-19 related issues our primary concern is the safety and wellbeing of our congregation and our community. Towards that end we strive to make decisions based on the best guidance available to us. In keeping with the latest CDC guidelines, anyone who has been fully vaccinated may enter our facility without a face mask or face shield. We will not require proof of vaccination, but we ask for everyone’s responsible and respectful cooperation with this revised policy, including being respectful of people’s choices about whether or not to wear a mask. We recommend that anyone who is at higher risk and those who are feeling ill wear a mask or shield. If someone is wearing a mask, please offer them the courtesy of maintaining appropriate distance. Together we can help to keep each other safe.

Child care is available during worship. Please speak with an usher.