Pentecost: Where Do We Go From Here?

 

SEEKERS CHURCH

A Christian Community

In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour

Pentecost 2003

Pentecost: Where Do We Go From Here?

 

REFLECTION

                  We tremble before making our choice in life,

                  and after having made it,

                  again tremble in fear of having chosen wrong.

Isak Dinesen, “Babette’s Feast”

 

PRELUDE

 

SILENCE

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:      Now God is saying:  “What are you doing here?”

 

People:      We have been zealous for you, God, 

                  and we are alone!

 

Leader:      God says: “Go out and stand before me.”

 

Voice 1:     Now there was a great wind,

                  and after the wind there was an earthquake.

 

Voice 2:     And after the earthquake, there was a fire,

                  and after the fire, there was silence. 

 

Leader:      God says again: “What are you doing here?”

           

INVOCATION

 

HYMN

 

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

 

SILENCE

 

RESPONSIVE READING

Leader:      It is not ourselves we proclaim,
                  but Christ Jesus as Sovereign
                  and ourselves as workers for Jesus’ sake.
                 
People:      God said, “Let light shine out of darkness.”
                  This light now shines in our hearts.

Leader:      This light in us reveals the glory of God
                  shining in the face of Christ.

All:             And yet this treasure is held in earthen vessels,
                  making clear that its surpassing power
                  comes from God and not from us.

                              

SILENCE

 

PRAYERS

CONFESSION

Leader:      As deer long for flowing streams,
                  Our souls long for you, O God.

People:      Our souls thirst for you, living God.
                  How shall we come into your presence?
                  Behold your holy face?

Leader:      We are cast down, disquieted,

                  the distance between us and you
                  brings us to grief.

                 

All:             We long for your spirit within us,
                  the healing water of your grace
                  refreshing our hearts.

                  We are cast down, our souls disquieted.

 

ASSURANCE

Leader:      We tremble before making our choice in life,

                  and after having made it,

                  again tremble in fear of having chosen wrong.

                  But the moment comes when our eyes are opened,

                  and we see and realize that grace is infinite.

 

All:             Amen.

 

PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY

 

HYMN

 

THE WORD

SCRIPTURE

SERMON

SILENT REFLECTION

 

OFFERING

 

SHARED REFLECTIONS

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

HYMN

 

BENEDICTION   

Leader:      And now, brothers and sisters,

                  Encourage one another.

                  Live in harmony and peace,

                  and the God of love and peace will be with you.

 

                  May the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ

                  and the love of God

                  and the friendship of the Holy Spirit be with us all!

 

All:             Amen.

 

Liturgy Resources

Call to Worship: Based on 1 Kings 19:8-15

Responsive Reading: Based on 2 Corinthians 4:5 -7

Confession: Based on Psalm 42

Assurance: Isak Dinesen, “Babette’s Feast”

Benediction: Based on 2 Corinthians 13:11-15