What are we singing?
_Come,Holy Ghost, our souls inspire , And lighten with celestial fire; Thou the anointing Spirit art, Who dos’t Thy sev’n-fold gifts impart._
The season of Easter is finally coming to a close. It has been 50 days (as of this Sunday) since Resurrection Sunday. Last week we remembered Christ’s ascension from earth to heaven. This week we remember the sending of the Holy Spirit from heaven to earth. How blest are we that we have been granted the gift of the Holy Ghost.
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: “of sin, because they do not believe in Me; “of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; “of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. “All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. ” A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.” – John 16:5-16
MEDITATION:
The meditation for Pentecost Sunday is “Holy is the Lord” by Andreas Hammerschmidt (1612-1675). It will be sung by both the Adult Choir and the Youth Choir; accompanied by organ, piano, flute, and recorder. We will sing this both this Sunday and next Sunday (Trinity Sunday).
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Sabaoth! All the earth praises His glorious name!
Bless us, O Father, bless, O Son! Grant, Holy Ghost, Thy blessing to us!
Let ev’ryone sing praise to Him And love and fear Him, now and forevermore. Now let our hearts say, Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP: (God Summons His People)
As we are called to worship this Sunday, we will sing “All Creatures of Our God and King” (CC p.288-89). In this great hymn of praise by St. Francis of Assisi, all creation is exhorted to laud its creator. While the phrase “Thou rushing wind that art so strong” is not speaking of the Holy Ghost per se, I cannot help but be reminded of the Holy Ghost in light of Luke’s description as recorded in Acts 2:
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. - Acts 2:1-4
CONFESSION: (God Cleanses His People)
For our song of confession we will sing Psalm 16 – “Preserve Me, O God” (BK p.3). In the midst of Peter’s “Pentecost Sermon” (Acts 2:25-28) he quotes vs. 8-11 from Psalm 16.
As a people most thankful for the forgiveness we have in Christ Jesus, we respond with a song of thanksgiving, Psalm 149 – “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a New Song” (Handout). This is our current Psalm of the Month. What a beautiful promise is given us in verse 4: For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.
CONSECRATION: (God Equips and Prepares His People)
To conclude our time of prayer we sing the prayer taught us by our High Priest, Jesus: “The Lord’s Prayer” (CC p. 411).
As we prepare for this Sunday’s sermon on Pentecost, we will sing “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” (CC p.313). Here we are reminded of the connection between the Spirit creating “in the beginning” and His work in us, the new creation.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; Darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Following this Sunday’s sermon, we will sing “O For a Thousand Tongues” (CC p.315). May we beseech God our Father to open our lips, that we might proclaim His praise and glorify His name. May we never tire or be ashamed of speaking to others of Christ our Savior. May we pray that God would pour out His Spirit upon us more and more that we may be used by Him more and more to bring about His kingdom here on earth.
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. – Acts 2:40-47
COMMUNION: (God Nourishes His People)
During the distribution of the bread, we will sing “Rejoice, the Lord is King” (CC p.326). During the distribution of the wine, we will sing “At the Name of Jesus” (CC p.294-95).
Both of these hymns have overt connections to Paul’s epistle to the Philippians (4:4, and 2:5-11 especially). While there is no overt reference to the Holy Spirit in these hymns, we know that His role in accomplishing the subduing of all things under the feet of Christ is great, as was spoken of earlier in John 16:5-11.
COMMISSIONING: (God Blesses and Sends His People)
This will be our final Sunday on which we will sing the DOXOLOGY to the tune Lasst uns erfreuen (see CC p.272-73 or p.288-89) with intervening “Alleluias.”
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below, Alleluia, Alleluia! Praise Him above ye heav’nly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!