Sunday, May 31, 2020 ~

Day of Pentecost

Pentecost derives its name from the Jewish

festival celebrating the harvest and the giving of

the law on Mount Sinai fifty days after Passover.

Fifty days after Easter, we celebrate the Holy

Spirit as God’s presence within and among us. In

Acts the Spirit arrives in rushing wind and flame,

bringing God’s presence to all people. Paul

reminds us that though we each have different

capacities, we are unified in the Spirit that equips

us with these gifts. Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit

on his disciples, empowering them to forgive sin.

We celebrate that we too are given the breath of the Holy Spirit and sent out to proclaim God’s

redeeming love to all the world.

Prelude: Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song (ELW #403) arr. James Biery

Gathering Words/Welcome and Announcements

If possible, prepare your worship space with a cup filled with water and an empty bowl. The

presence of water reminds us of God's forgiveness that comes to us through the Sacrament of

Baptism, which we all affirm today along with our confirmands. During this time of physical

distance and fasting from the Sacrament of Holy Communion, we cling with confident hope to the

promise that by God's love and grace, we are made one with Christ in baptism.

Call to Worship:

As you came as God’s breath blowing at the birth of creation

Come, Holy Spirit! Fill us with life.

As you came as a force driving Jesus into the wilderness

Come, Holy Spirit! Fill us with clarity.

As you came as flames compelling the disciples to preach and proclaim

Come, Holy Spirit! Fill us with power.

As you came as advocate, as friend, as teacher, as guide

Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

As you have come from the beginning of creation

Come to us this day!

Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

Come! Reveal to us your presence.

Giving thanks that we become brothers and sisters in Christ through the gift of baptism, we share

God's peace with one another. May the peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.

Greet those with whom you worship physically with a sign of peace,

or text the peace of Christ to those who are at a distance.

WE WORSHIP GOD:

Gathering Hymn: Gracious Spirit, Heed Our Pleading #401

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.

Prayer of the Day:

Let us pray. O God, on this day you open the hearts of your faithful people by sending into us your

Holy Spirit. Direct us by the light of that Spirit, that we may have a right judgment in all things

and rejoice at all times in your peace, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and

reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Reading: Acts 2:1-21

(Today’s reading is brought to us from Mbogeni Dube (son of Bishop Dube from the Evangelical

Lutheran Church of Zimbabwe) living amongst us as an intern at Good Shepherd, Glenville, NY.)

Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival that marked the fiftieth day after Passover. Luke portrays

the Holy Spirit being poured out upon the disciples before the gathered and astonished people

assembled in Jerusalem for the festival. Filled with the Spirit, the disciples were able to witness

to the power of Christ’s resurrection.

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.”

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.

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.’ ”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation:

The Holy Gospel according to John.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Gospel: John 20:19-23

The risen Jesus appears to his disciples, offering them a benediction, a commission, and the gift

of the Holy Spirit.

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.

Sermon:

Hymn of the Day: Borning Cry #732

Affirmation of Baptism

Presentation:

Dear friends, we give thanks for the gift of baptism and for these people, one with us in the body

of Christ, who are making public affirmation of their baptism.

I present Olivia, Elizabeth, Katy, Sam and Paige who desire to make public affirmation of their

baptism.

Let us pray. Merciful God, we thank you for these sisters and brothers,

whom you have made your own by water and the Word in baptism.

You have called them to yourself,

enlightened them with the gifts of your Spirit,

and nourished them in the community of faith.

Uphold your servants in the gifts and promises of baptism,

and unite the hearts of all whom you have brought to new birth.

We ask this in the name of Christ.

Amen.

Profession of Faith:

Everyone in your home is invited to participate in this part of the service with your responses.

I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the church.

Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God,

the powers of this world that rebel against God,

and the ways of sin that draw you from God?

I renounce them.

Do you believe in God the Father?

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

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.

Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

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.

Affirmation:

This question is addressed to the confirmands.

You have made public profession of your faith. Do you intend to continue in the covenant God

made with you in holy baptism:

to live among God’s faithful people,

to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper,

to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,

to serve all people, following the example of Jesus,

and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?

The confirmand responds: I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.

The minister addresses the assembly.

People of God, do you promise to support these sisters and this brother and pray for them in their

life in Christ?

We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.

Let us pray.

We give you thanks, O God, that through water and the Holy Spirit you give us new birth,

cleanse us from sin, and raise us to eternal life.

Stir up in this child (FULL NAME) the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and

understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord,

the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever.

Amen.

Let us rejoice with these sisters and brothers in Christ.

We rejoice with you in the life of baptism.

Together we will give thanks and praise to God

and proclaim the good news to all the world.

Offering

Though we meet virtually, the ministry of God’s people at BLC continues.

Our worship is complete when we bring all of our resources to receive

God’s blessing and fulfill God’s purpose. This time of uncertainty and

reduced physical contact gives us ever more opportunities to share our

abundance – of compassion, of time, and of material resources. If you are

able, please continue your financial commitment to BLC.

If you would like to make a one-time gift electronically, scan the QR (quick

response) code on the right and you'll be brought to BLC's mobile giving page. For recurring

gifts, download the Tithe.ly app.

Offering of Music:

Come Down, O Love Divine (ELW #804) arr. Mark Sedio

Susan DePasquale, Organist

Offertory: We Are an Offering #692

Offertory Prayer:

Let us pray. Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things.

Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our

possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love,

through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

The Prayers of the People:

On this day of Pentecost we unite in prayer, asking God to send the Holy Spirit on the church, the

world, and all who are in need.

We call on your spirit of unity, giving thanks for our different vocations. Activate and utilize the

diverse gifts present in your church, that they reveal your love for all. Send your Spirit on this

church as we seek to faithfully follow your way. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We call on your spirit of life, present in air, wind, humidity, storms, and oxygen in our

atmosphere, breathing energy into all things. Heal with your breath the whole creation, especially

those who struggle to breathe. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We call on your spirit of righteousness. Wherever we as a people are divided, unite us. Wherever

we are prideful, humble us. Send your Spirit on the leaders of nations, on legislators, and on

judges, that the people of the world will benefit from your justice and your peace. Give each one

of us a heart for justice and empathy. Today we pray especially for the loved ones of George

Floyd and for our divided nation. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We call on your spirit of friendship. Give us ways during this time to share with one another the

faithfulness we receive from you. Today we pray for these young people who boldly proclaim

their faith: Olivia, Elizabeth, Katy, Sam and Paige. We also pray for these five Bethlehem

families: Craig & Susan, Hays & Karen, Heidi, Chris, Jim & Donna and our brothers and sisters

in our twinned parish in Shurugwi, Zimbabwe. Surprise us with unexpected grace. Lord, in your

mercy,

hear our prayer.

We call on your spirit of healing. Restore to health those who have contracted the virus. Uphold

health-care workers, grant jobs to those who are unemployed, and assist researchers in

discovering a vaccine. We pray for all who long for comfort and healing, especially:

• Sherry as she anticipates a surgical procedure on 6/1

• Lil who is recovering from foot surgery on 5/15

• Bob who is experiencing medical challenges

• Those who are confronting the coronavirus and their caregivers

We pray for all who grieve:

• The family and friends of Judy, who died on 5/24

We lift up those concerns nearest to us.

With bold confidence in your love, almighty God, we place all for whom we pray into your

eternal care; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen

The Lord’s Prayer:

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, we pray as Jesus taught:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who

sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,

now and forever. Amen

WE LEAVE TO SERVE:

Benediction:

May the One who brought forth Jesus from the dead

send us forth to share the gifts of Easter with all in need!

Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,

bless you now and forever.

Amen

Hymn: O Day Full of Grace #627

(See the following page for words and music)

(We give thanks for the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians for providing the leadership

for today’s closing hymn. Reminding us of our connection to whole body of Christ!)

Dismissal:

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Christ is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

Go in peace. Share the good news.

Thanks be to God.

Postlude: Toccata on “Veni Creator Spiritus” (ELW #577) Flor Peeters

Calendar for week of May 31 – June 7 (Updated on 5/27/20 at 12 noon, be sure to visit the BLC Today tab

on our Website for updates throughout the week)

Sunday, May 31 Confirmation Sunday Pentecost Sunday 8:30am Facebook Livestream Worship (recording available following worship) 9:45 am Zoom** Coffee with the Pastor 9:45 am Zoom** Kingdom Kids 11:00 am Zoom** Confirmation 11:30 am Zoom** Grades 4 & 5 7:30 pm Zoom* LYO (ID 597 210 001)

Monday, June 1 Pastors’ Sabbath

Tuesday, June 2 10:30 am Zoom* Finance Committee Meeting 6:30 pm Zoom* Special Council Meeting 7:00 pm Zoom* 100th Anniversary Planning Committee

Wednesday, June 3 9:30 am Zoom* Bible Study (ID 943 3691 2942) 1:00 pm Zoom* Men’s ‘lunch’ (ID 874 8853 3240) 7:00 pm Zoom* Evening Prayer & Conversation (ID 861 9145 5415)

Thursday, June 4 6:30 pm Zoom* Officer’s Meeting

Friday, June 5

Saturday, June 6 9:30 am Zoom* Women’s Brunch Bunch (ID 788 710 954)

Sunday, June 7 Holy Trinity Sunday Companion Synod Celebration Sunday 8:30am Facebook Livestream Worship (recording available following worship) 9:45 am Zoom** Coffee with the Pastor 9:45 am Zoom** Kingdom Kids 11:30 am Zoom** Grades 4 & 5

Evening Prayer continues on Wednesdays at 7 pm. Evening Prayer will be in a new, interactive form. Look to Ready for Worship communication on Tuesdays for complete information.

Summer office hours will be in effect from Memorial Day - Labor Day! This year, we continue to hold remote office hours M-F from 9 am to 12 noon. During these times, please call (585) 223-0634 to reach us directly, otherwise you may continue to email us at office@blcfairport.org and we’ll respond as we’re able. For further assistance or urgent pastoral care needs outside of office hours, please call the office and leave a message on the pastoral care line. Pastor Amy and Pastor Hoffman remain available by phone and email at other times.

*To join any of our BLC Zoom meetings, use the ID provided or contact the church office and/or group organizer. Click here to learn more about how to use Zoom.

**Sunday Zoom Options: Our Sunday morning options are all recurring, so the info for each will remain the same each week. Participants can join with the link provided via email (or the 'Join at' link below), or by using the Meeting ID and manually enter the password (the 10-digit BLC phone number with area code, no spaces or hyphens). Please contact the group leader or the church office for assistance or additional details! If you have trouble accessing a Zoom meeting in real-time, you can call or text (585) 364-2129 for assistance.

**Sunday Recurring Zoom Options 9:45 am Coffee with the Pastor (ID 87541859313)

9:45 am Kingdom Kids (3rd grade and under - ID 385263813) Families are encouraged to participate with this age group!

11:00 am Confirmation on 5/31 (grades 6-8, ID 530479631)

11:30 am Grades 4 & 5 (ID 83540277056)

7:30 pm LYO (grades 9-12, ID 597 210 001) Note the new time! This group will now meet every other week starting 5/31

As we continue to do our part to practice social distancing, we ask that you only enter the building if it is for an essential activity. Because we cannot be certain of the cleanliness and safety of surfaces, we encourage all building users to take care to disinfect surfaces before and after use.

Reflection

The assigned readings for Sunday are Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; 1

Corinthians 12:3b-13; John 20:19-23

There are certainly spirits abroad in the world and even in our own lives that

do not work for the common good. There are certainly people — and perhaps

we have been among them — who think that only their own language and

culture can speak the truth and that people unlike them cannot have visions

of hope that matter: “they are just drunk.” But this attitude does not mark the

Spirit of God, the Spirit given us when we are drawn into the word of God and

into faithful prayer. God’s Spirit comes from and bears witness to the risen

Christ. It enables forgiveness — God’s forgiveness of us, our forgiveness of

each other, and our ministry of forgiveness to all the world. That Spirit gives us

all differing abilities to use for building each other up. It gives vision and

wisdom for all. In our baptism into Christ, God’s Spirit has formed us into one

body, and that body is quite alive even in our present distance from each other.

Now we, in turn — even in this time — are to bear witness to our neighbors

and greet the world with peace.

Cover Image: The Road is Long, Pauline Williamson (used by permission)

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New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education

Of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Used by permission. All rights reserved.