"Then the Lord Came Down"

WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HOMEWOOD
MISSION STATEMENT

Through the grace of God, faith in Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we prayerfully seek to discern God’s will for this congregation and to reach beyond ourselves to feed the hungry, body and soul. Adopted by Session 7/31/17

PRAYER FOR PEACE

Peace Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

PRELUDE

OPENING CHORAL ANTHEM ||| If You're Happy/Amen  ||| Dr. Andre' J. Thomas

 
*CALL TO CONTINUING WORSHIP
We worship a creative God
who formed all living things!
We worship an abundant God
who gives each of us different gifts!
We worship a glorious God
who is seen in the vast array of creation! Alleluia!

*HYMN 289 ||| On Pentecost They Gathered ||| Munich

CALL TO CONFESSION
God pours out the Spirit upon us, but we do not always welcome God’s gifts. Let us confess our doubts and fears, that we might find forgiveness and newness of life.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Infinite God, you come to us in many colors, shapes, and languages. You speak to each of us in the way we can understand. You reach out to us and meet us where we are. But we are quick to limit you to what we can understand and control. Forgive us, and set your Spirit loose among us. Challenge us, surprise us, and open us to your power, that we might know you more deeply, follow you more faithfully, and love more fully.

(silent prayer)
Amen.

*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Scripture is clear: everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. God draws us together, offering salvation, forgiveness, and new life to all.
Alleluia! Thanks be to God!

*THE GLORIA 581

MOMENT WITH OUR CHILDREN ||| Rev. Matt Lang

 
WELCOME AND CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING ||| Numbers 11:24-30
24So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. 25Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again. 26Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” 29But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!” 30And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

CHORAL ANTHEM Holy Spirit, Truth Divine Lloyd Larson

 
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| Acts 2:1-21
1When the day of Pentecost had come, they 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!

SERMON ||| "Then the Lord Came Down" ||| Rev. Matt Lang

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN 408 ||| There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit Sweet, ||| Sweet Spirit

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ||| The Brief Statement of Faith 1983
In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
As God gave us Christ, the first fruit of creation, let us humbly offer the substance of our lives in thanksgiving to our God. 
OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS

OFFERTORY CHORAL ANTHEM ||| Now Let Me Fly ||| American Spiritual ||| (setting by Victor C. Johnson)

*DOXOLOGY 606 ||| Old Hundredth
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.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Holy God, by the gift of your Spirit you have blessed and filled us. Now send us out to share the vision of new creation you have begun; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

*HYMN 315 ||| In the Midst of New Dimensions ||| New Dimensions

BLESSING & CHARGE
Christ is risen! Christ is risen! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!

Believe what you have witnessed and run to the others, joyfully shouting, “I have seen the Lord!”
Alleluia! Amen!

POSTLUDE

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!

 
Rev. Matt Lang, Pastor
Mrs. Mary Ann Wenzelman, Interim Organist/Pianist

Worship Liturgist: Laura Dillman
Usher: Laura Dillman

 
WELCOME to this service of worship in which we remember with reference and thanksgiving, those who gave their lives for our country. Above all, we remember our Lord Jesus who gave his life for all of us. May the remembrance of his sacrifice bring reconciliation and peace!

SCRIPTURES IN WORSHIP – Next Sunday we will be reading Genesis 1:1-2:4a and Matthew 28:16-20.

PRAYER CHAIN – If you want prayer requests included on the prayer chain, contact Shirley Armistead at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PENTECOST OFFERING – We look forward to your participating in the denominational Pentecost offering today. An offering envelope is enclosed for your use. Forty percent (40%) is retained by our congregation to support a local mission.