TRADITIONAL WORSHIP

Traditional Worship
Pentecost Sunday
May 28, 2023

Altar Flowers

The Altar flowers are dedicated to the Glory of God, and in memory of Julie’s parents, Roy and Joyce Hallmark on the anniversary of their 89th and 85th Birthdays by Steve and Julie Hallmark Mezzell.

A personal prayer to help you prepare your heart and mind for worship today:

Holy God: Your Holy Spirit was given to us this day. Help me to feel, be lead by, and yield to your ever-present Spirit in my life. Amen.

Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Introit

“The Spirit Dwells Among Us”
Hal Hopson

*Processional Hymn No.332

“Spirit of Faith, Come Down”

 *Affirmation of Faith

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick 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.

*The Gloria Patri No. 70

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Offering
Offertory
*Doxology – Presentation of our Tithes and Offerings

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Concerns of the Church Family
Call to Confession

“Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Come, then, let us confess our sins to the one who is faithful to forgive. Come, then, let us adore the one who is mighty to save!

Prayer of Confession

Almighty God, you poured your Spirit upon gathered disciples creating bold tongues, open ears, and a new community of faith. We confess that we hold back the force of your Spirit among us. We do not listen for your word of grace, speak the good news of your love, or live as a people made one in Christ. Have mercy on us, oh God. Transform our timid lives by the power of your Spirit, and fill us with a flaming desire to be your faithful people, doing your will for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.        

Declaration of Forgiveness

L: Hear the good news! Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. That proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
All: Thanks be to God!            

Silent Prayer/Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 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, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Children’s Church Dismissal 

Elementary age children are invited to attend Children’s Church. They will leave through the rear of the Sanctuary and return to the Narthex (gathering space outside of the Sanctuary) immediately after the worship service.

Hymn of Faith No.393

“Spirit Of The Living God”

Choral Anthem

“A Mighty Rushing Wind”
David Music

*Prayer for Illumination

Come, Holy Spirit; fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle within us the fire of your love. Amen. 

*Scripture Reading: 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 people 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, “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:

‘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.’

L: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

Sermon                    

“Come, Holy Spirit”

*Hymn of Commitment No.420

“Breath on Me, Breath Of God”

 Please know that during the hymn you are invited to come and pray in the chancel at the altar as you feel led.

*Sending Forth with Blessing
*Choral Benediction

“The Lord Is My Strength”

Postlude

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.

Fill out the form and let us know how we can help you take your next steps at Bluff Park UMC! We’d love to connect you with a pastor.

Members and guests, please fill out this form to help us keep track of online weekly worship attendance. Include the names of each member of your household who participated in online worship with you.