THE GATHERING

Pentecost Sunday
May 28, 2023

Welcome

Welcome/Opening Prayer

Song

Worship

Creed

Song

Song

Prayer

Teaching

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ² 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. ³ Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

⁵ Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. ⁶ And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. ⁷ Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” ¹² All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³ But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews 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:

Sermon

“The Kingdom is Open”

Song

Communion

Invitation, Confession, Pardon and Peace

Prayer of Confession

L: We have not believed you or trusted in your power.
ALL: Lord, help our unbelief.
L: We have stained our souls by our action and inaction.
ALL: Cleanse us, Lord.
L: We are broken by disease, bruised by the sins of others, weakened and unable to repair ourselves.
ALL: Heal us, Lord.
L: We ignore your call to center our lives in you, and so are deaf to the hopes and cries of the poor, the sick, the needy, and the earth.
ALL: Ground us, Lord!
L: When we confess our sinful ways, God abundantly pardons.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
ALL: In the name of Jesus Christ, we are all forgiven. Glory to God!

L: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be always with you!
ALL: And also with you.

The Great Thanksgiving

L: The Lord be with you.
ALL: And also with you.

L: Lift up your hearts.
ALL: We lift them to you, Lord.

L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
ALL: It is right to praise you, Lord.

L: It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
Always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Holy Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
your name is praised among all peoples.

Therefore we praise you,
joining our voices with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
who for ever sing this hymn to the glory of your name:

ALL: Holy, holy, holy, Lord,
God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full…
Full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes
In the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna in the highest!

L: You are holy, Almighty One!
Blessed are you, Jesus Christ!
In the power of the Spirit
you created all things, blessed them, and called them good.
You called to yourself a people
To make your mercy and truth known in all the world.
We betrayed your calling;
ALL: You were faithful.
L: We wandered from the way;
ALL: You called us to return, and led us home.

L: And still we turned from your ways,
abused your creatures,
and made ourselves slaves to sin and death.

At the right time
you came and dwelt among us,
as one of us,
bringing good news to the poor,
healing the sick, raising the dead,
sharing table with the unrighteous,
and teaching the way that leads to life.

By your incarnation, life, suffering, execution and resurrection
You gave birth to your church,
delivered us from slavery
and made a new covenant with us
by water and the Spirit.

On the night of your betrayal, Lord Jesus,
you took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to your disciples and said,
“This is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
You did the same with the cup after the supper, saying,
“This cup that is poured out is the new covenant in my blood.”

Blessed Trinity, in remembrance of all you have done to save us,
we offer ourselves to you in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we sing (proclaim) the mystery of our faith:

ALL:
Christ has come among us. Christ has died.
Christ has risen. Christ abides with us.
Christ will come again.

L: Pour out your Spirit on us
Pour out your Spirit on these gifts
Make these gifts the body and blood of Christ
ALL: Make us, through them, Christ’s body alive in the world.

L: We thank you, Father!
ALL: Let Your Kingdom come.

L: Come, Lord Jesus!
ALL: Be our daily bread.

L: Holy Spirit!
ALL: Send us to the world.

L: Holy, Blessed Trinity!
ALL: One God forever and ever! Amen.

Tithes and Offerings

Communion

Communion Prayer

Closing

Announcements

Benediction

Song

Scholarship Applications
Attention students and parents! The deadline for scholarship applications for the 2023-24 school year is Friday June 30th. All college bound students who would like to apply must have their forms submitted to the church office by the deadline. Application forms are available online: bluffparkumc.org/forms/

Give Before You Go
As we approach the summer months, please remember that giving during the summer often drops off as people are away on vacation. During the summer, many vital ministries occur such as Vacation Bible School, summer camps, Wednesdays with Friends, Adult Vacation Bible School, and mission trips. We barely slow down at all. There are several ways that you can help during the summer months:

1) Give in full for the summer before Memorial Day.

2) Schedule or automate your giving through Realm or through your financial institution.

3) Drop off your giving each week or each month in the Main Office of the church. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm

Stellar—VBS 2023
Vacation Bible School registration is open and we are expecting a large number of children to attend VBS this summer! The dates for VBS this year are July 17-21 from 8:30-12:00 each day, and registration can be found on our church’s website! We are still in need of 15 crew leaders to lead a group of 7-8 children from station to station at VBS each day. There is no prep work for this volunteer position: you simply hang out and travel with your group each day of VBS! If you would be willing to help this year as a crew leader or in any other way, please contact Melissa Hendon at mhendon@bpumc.org.

SAVE THE DATE!
On Sunday, June 25, the BPUMC Sanctuary Choir Presents an “I Love America” concert. Lunch will be served immediately following the 10am worship services and the concert program will follow! This is a fundraiser for the organ maintenance and sanctuary choir programming fund. Invite your friends and family to join us for this patriotic event

Thank you for supporting the ministry and mission of our church family! Click the link below to give online safely and secure through Realm

We would love to pray you. Submit a prayer request below and our team with be praying for you. You can also pray for other needs posted below.

Prayer List:

Laurel Stokes, Locklyn Stokes, Pam Phagan, Elizabeth Wood, Daniel Morrison, Pat Reese, Jay Lutenbacher, Shellie and Lauren Waites, The Family of Margie Thompson, Haley Buchman, Gene Donaldson, A.V. Marlow, Ann Miller, Patricia Strahan, Paula Zimmerman, Linda Phillips, The Family of Billie Crain, The Family of Dot Watterson, Olivia Howard, Pam McDonald, Gail Cooch, The Family of Geneva Myers, Nathan and Amy Pearman, Paula Hardy and Family, The Family of Betty Knowles, James Howard, The Family of Bill and Peggy Fields, The Family of Joe Thomas, Sue Pearson, The Family of Odessa Harbor, Bill Cooch, Nathan and Alice Chase, Rosemary Hill, The Family of Frances Bellows, Marjorie Dulin, Joe Black and his family, The Family of Diane Broome, Sandra Morgan and her family, Carol Westbrook and Elizabeth Davis and their family, Sheree Beavers and her family, Jennifer Johnston, Ann Bice, The family of Patricia Shanlever, The people of Ukraine, Pan Cahoon, Mark and Becky Blankenship, Matt and Pat Reeder, Barbara Wilson, Betsy Delionback, Catherine Hallmark, Ann Gilliland, Lisa Avant, Mildred Stokes, Pam Parker, Gayle Pierce, Joan Cook, Kandis Scudder, Jim Ketchersid, Juanita Knight, Myra Gray, Maya Wright, David Walker, Roxie and Larry Langham, Pauline Hendricks, Charlotte Word, John McCrary, Connie Steele.

Prayers for Our World:

Lord we pray for our fellow Americans in Guam who experienced Category 4 Typhoon Mawar this week.  Give them strength as they rebuild and be with the island’s first responders who are restoring power and sheltering those whose homes have been impacted by the winds and flooding.

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