Call to Worship L: With tongues of flame, the Holy Spirit descends to burn in our hearts anew. P: Like the rush of wind, we sense God’s presence blowing afresh throughout the world. All: Unite us, Holy Spirit! L: Across the barriers of language and culture, Christ’s message of love and grace is heard. P: Divine Advocate, we seek your guidance as we search for the Spirit of Truth. All: Unite us, Holy Spirit! Amen. Prayer of Confession Heavenly Father, you dwell within us in sighs too deep for words, yet we cannot hear you. Like a caring mother, you wrap us tenderly in fierce love, you give us the breath of life, yet we cannot touch you. Jesus, we yearn for your presence, we seek your abundant grace, yet we cannot feel it. Holy Spirit, you prepare to sear our souls for your purpose, yet we allow our somber selves to intrude, shutting our minds to your power. Remind us, we pray, that we need only trust in the giver of life to find the hope and faith you have promised. Gather us up in the winds of your favor and carry us to ever greater heights, through Christ who loves us still. Amen! Words of Assurance L: Do not be afraid. Our Comforter and Advocate has come. P: Rejoice in the knowledge that all is forgiven. L: People of the Spirit, listen. The wind that drives the heavens—the wind that soars above and beyond us all, unifies us in God’s love. Keep the Spirit’s flame alight within your heart. P: Await the new birth in Christ that is promised to all. The Christian Way – Matthew 22:37-40 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Scripture Reading – Acts 2:1-21 2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 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. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14 But 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. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, 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. 18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Sermon: Universal Charger Acts 2:5 (NRSV) Acts 2:1 (NRSV) Acts 2:2-4 (NRSV) **1. One and ** The challenge for us as this Christian community, is to be both one and many, simultaneously. We are one in our worship of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But we are many as we express our faith in our diversity. 2. God is us Acts 2:3 (NRSV) Again and again, God comes into the middle of human life and he appears to us. God gives us the healing we need. He gives us the help we need. His Spirit is with us in every time and place and situation. 3. the charge Acts 2:17 (NRSV) Acts 2:21 (NRSV) The Holy Spirit does not want us to create barriers, it wants us to break down barriers. It doesn’t want us to build walls. It wants us to build bridges. It wants us to share God’s energy with others.