Serving You on June 4, 2006 (combined service at 9:00 AM)

Usher: Blake LaMar
Usher: Muriel Schulz
Chalice: Andy Tomat
Chalice: Janet Murry
First Reader: Liz Beitzel
Psalm: Gail Connolly
Second Reader: Jeanne Hogan
Prayers of the People: Jeanne Kipp

First Reading

A Reading from The Acts of the Apostles. Acts 2:1-21

It was the spring holiday and they were all there. It was just like a hurricane sweeping out of the sky. You could hear the noise all over the house. Sudden streaks of light darted about and lit up one friend after the other. They were filled by God’s Spirit, and she gave them the ability to communicate in new ways.

There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem at that time, from every country in the world. The noise attracted a big crowd. It was strange that, though they spoke different languages, they could all understand what the friends were saying. They found it incredible and said, “they’re ordinary working people from Galilee! How can they communicate with us? They’re talking about the exciting things God has been doing, and we can understand every word just as if we were hearing it in our own language!” (There were people there from the countries round the Persian Gulf and further east, from the Celtic lands, from north Africa, Arabia, Crete and Rome, as well from districts nearby. Some had been born Jews, others were Jewish converts.) They were impressed and confused at the same time, anxious to know what it was all about. Some thought the whole thing funny and said, “It looks as if they’ve had a few drinks!”

This was the cue for Rocky to stand up where he could be seen, with the other eleven special friends around him. He shouted to the crowd. “My own people, and everyone here in Jerusalem, if you listen carefully, I’ll explain what’s going on. We haven’t been drinking; it’s only nine in the morning! What Joel said in his book is coming true:

“One day”, says God, “I will fill every living thing in a special way. My Spirit will move your children to speak for me; she will excite teenagers with new ideas and give old people dreams about the future. Even those who have no rights, my favorites, will be full of me and speak my words. There will be earth-shattering events. The sun will be eclipsed and the moon appear red, as signs of God’s coming among us. Then anyone who acknowledges God will be healed”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to those gathered here today.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 104:25-35,37
Benedic, anima mea

O LORD, how manifold are your works! * in wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living things too many to number, * creatures both small and great.
There move the ships, and there is that Leviathan, * which you have made for the sport of it.
All of them look to you * to give them their food in due season.
You give it to them; they gather it; * you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.
You hide your face, and they are terrified; * you take away their breath, and they die and return to their dust.
You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
and so you renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the LORD endure for ever; *
may the LORD rejoice in all his works.
He looks at the earth and it trembles; * he touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; * I will praise my God while I have my being.
May these words of mine please him; * I will rejoice in the LORD.
Bless the LORD, O my soul. * Hallelujah!
Glory to the One Holy and Undivided Trinity, One God, now and forever. Amen.

Second Reading

A Reading from Paul’s letter to the church at Rome.
Romans 8:22-27

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to those gathered here today.
Thanks be to God.

The Holy Gospel
The Holy Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Jesus said to his disciples, "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.
"I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But, now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.