Service of Worship Pentecost May 27, 2012 10:00 a.m. Westminster Presbyterian Church extends an enthusiastic welcome, in Christ s name, to all who would worship here or join us in fellowship. We affirm that there can be no exclusion within the body of Christ. We invite all children of God to join us as disciples of Christ and participate fully in the life of our congregation. PASTORAL STAFF: CHURCH EDUCATOR: CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR: MUSIC STAFF: Gregory K. Jones, Head of Staff Anne R. Ledbetter, Associate Pastor Jill Getty, Pastoral Care Assistant Susan Moseley Debbie Brown Paul Fleckenstein, Organist/Director of Music Mary Beth Davis, Director of Music for Children, Youth and Handbells Section Leaders/Soloists: Diana Milburn, Susan Rheingans, Justin Gonzalez, Raymond Sambolin 1502 West 13 th Street Wilmington, DE 19806 302-654-5214 www.wpc.org
This Morning at Westminster 9:45 a.m. 11:15 a.m. Child Care for Cribbery (birth toddler) 10:00 a.m. Worship Service Under Six Sunday School following Children s Time in Classroom D in Under Six 11:00 a.m. Summer Tea on the Church Lawn 11:00 a.m. Storytellers Rehearsal Ruth Christie Room Deacon Team of the Month Margaret Goodall, Cathy Glober, Lola Miller, John Gavenonis, Fred Carspecken, Eric Etshman Later Today 6:00 p.m. Clean But Not Straight NA Club Room 8:00 p.m. AA Club Room 2
WORSHIP NOTES The flowers in the Sanctuary today are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of my parents and my sister from Joan McDowell Connolly. Sanctuary Flowers - Consider giving the flowers for Sunday worship to remember or honor loved ones or to celebrate an event, while expressing praise and thanksgiving to God. Please contact Linda Watson during business hours at 302-571-6719 or lwatson@ycst.com. Available dates are June 3 and 24. With Dr. Greg Jones on sabbatical, we appreciate our members who are helping to lead worship. Serving as liturgist this morning is elder Anne Gunn. Are you wearing a nametag? Whether you are a long-time member or new to the church, wearing a nametag provides others the opportunity to meet you, greet you by name, and for you to become more familiar with others at church. You will find nametags and markers in baskets at all major entrances. Worship Resources You may obtain large print hymnals and hearing devices from any usher. Worship bags for children ages 3-6 include a children s bulletin designed for that age. Also, children s bulletins for ages 7-12 are available from the ushers. CONGREGATIONAL CARE AND PRAYER Please remember in your prayers: Those recently hospitalized: Phillip Collins, Kay Johnson, Mitzi Law, Dave Young. Westminster s homebound family who can no longer attend worship with us by sending a card, saying a prayer, or visiting. This week we ask you to remember Bill and Jean Butz, 102 Quaker Hill Lane, Hockessin, DE 19707. Our brothers and sisters in worldwide ministry in Guatemala, Kenya, Congo, West Africa, Mozambique and Israel/Palestine. Westminster s Covenant Prayer Group prays weekly for specific needs of the faith community. Anyone may submit a prayer request by leaving a confidential message on 302-654-5848, ext. 335, or filling out a prayer request card (in the pew pocket) and placing it in the offering plate. Iraq and Afghanistan often seem far away, and we may neglect to realize that Americans, as well as Iraqis, Afghans and members of coalition forces, continue to die. As Christians, we are called to pray for the spreading of peace and justice and an end to violence. If someone in your family is serving in the military, please let us know, so that we may include that person on our prayer list. Contact Colleen Falasco: 302-654-5214 ext. 131, or cfalasco@wpc.org. This week we pray for Those known to the WPC Community presently serving in Afghanistan: Emily Arthur, Richard Barnett, Ann Exline Starr. The families of those from the U.S. who have died recently: Constructionman Trevor Stanley, age 22, of Virginia Beach, Virginia Specialist Philip Schiller, age 21, of The Colony, Texas Lance Corporal Ramon Kaipat, age 22, of Tacoma, Washington Lance Corporal Abraham Tarwoe, age 25, of Providence, Rhode Island Those who have returned from service, possibly suffering from wounds or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, whose scars may by deep and long-lasting. 3
ORDER OF WORSHIP PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP O God, on this day of Pentecost we celebrate your Spirit so freely given and so powerfully active within your church. As that Spirit moves in our midst, may it inspire us towards generosity and fire us with an energy to serve you well. We ask this in the name of Christ in whom your Spirit fully dwelt. Amen. WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS *PASSING OF THE PEACE ORGAN PRELUDE Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist Dietrich Buxtehude (We now implore the Holy Ghost) (1637-1707) Margaret Love, guest organist CALL TO WORSHIP When the Day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 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. Divided tongues, as of fire appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability *HYMN NO. 129 Come, O Spirit, Dwell Among Us EBENEZER LITANY OF PRAISE Spirit of God, flickering over our heads, Illuminating our faces, inspiring our thoughts, Give us now, we pray, Words of joy and praise. Spirit of God, filling our hearts with hope, Steadying our nerves with peace, comforting our lives with love, Give us now, we pray, Words of joy and praise. Spirit of God, come to us now Surging through the darkness of our lives, Sweeping over our weariness, So that, in this time of Pentecost, the sparkling light of faith, the rushing wind of hope and the joyful sound of praise May echo round the world, may echo in the church, and find their response in us. Spirit of God, give us not we pray, Words of joy and praise. Amen. At the asterisk (*), please stand as you are able. 4
ANTHEM O Holy Spirit, Lord of Grace Christopher Tye Westminster Solo Quartet (1505-1572) O Holy Spirit, Lord of Grace, Eternal source of love, Inflame, we pray, our inmost hearts with fire from heav n above. As thou dost join with holiest bonds the Father and the Son, So fill us all with mutual love, and knit our hearts in one. TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN Anne Ledbetter TELLING OF THE SCRIPTURE STORY Acts 2:1-21 Shelley Gnade, Mary-beth Howard, storytellers Westminster By Heart SERMON Spirit-Filled Anne Ledbetter Take a moment to reflect on God s message to you *HYMN NO. 314 Like the Murmur of the Dove s Song BRIDEGROOM *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life. The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the church. The same Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture, engages us through the Word, proclaimed, claims us in the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation, and calls women and men to all ministries of the Church. In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace. In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God s new heaven and new earth, praying, Come, Lord Jesus! OFFERING During the offering, please sign your name and pass the red folder to the person next to you. As folders are returned to the center aisle, note the names of fellow worshippers on your pew. 5
OFFERTORY ANTHEM Come, Holy Ghost Thomas Attwood (1765-1838) Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, Enable with perpetual light And lighten with celestial fire; The dullness of our blinded sight: thou the anointing spirit art, Anoint and cheer our soiled face. Who dost thy seven-fold gifts impart: With the abundance of Thy grace: Thy blessed unction from above Keep far our foes, give peace at home is comfort, life, and fire of love. Where Thou art Guide no ill can come. *CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (Hymn No. 591) Teach us to know the Father, Son, And Thee of Both, to be but One; That through the ages all along This may be our endless song, Praise to Thy eternal merit, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all people here below; Praise Holy Spirit evermore; Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE LORD S PRAYER (page 16 in The Presbyterian Hymnal, using debts and debtors ) 6
*SONG Spirit of God DOVE SONG BENEDICTION ORGAN POSTLUDE Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott Buxtehude (Come, Holy Ghost, Lord God) GOING FORTH Please join us for summer tea on the church lawn following the service. If you are visiting with us and wish to learn more about our church, we invite you to meet today s ambassador, Charlene Weaver, at the back of the sanctuary Our ambassadors enjoy sharing information about our many programs for children, youth and adults. 7
Congo Missionaries Visit Program and Brunch on Sunday, June 3 Westminster will host Gwenda and Dr. John Fletcher, PC(USA) missionaries serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on Sunday, June 3. Home on furlough, the Fletchers are currently visiting churches and educating congregations regarding the needs of our sisters and brothers in the DRC and how we may help. The Church in the World Committee also invites you to share lunch with the Fletchers at the second presentation. Please call the church office (302 654 5214) or stop by the reception desk to sign up by Thursday, May 31, so we may order enough food. Here is the schedule for the morning: 8:30 a.m. Worship with communion in Rodney Chapel 9:15 a.m. Fletchers present an audiovisual program in the Meeting Room 10:00 a.m. Worship in the sanctuary 11:00 a.m. Summer Tea 11:15 a.m. Fletchers present an audiovisual program in the Meeting Room Lunch ($5 donation for meal) For more information about the Fletchers, check out their web page: http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/missionconnections/fletcher john and gwenda/ Summer Worship Schedule June 3 to August 26 8:30 a.m. Worship with communion in Rodney Chapel 10:00 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary Join us for Summer Tea on the church lawn (weather permitting) following the 10:00 service. The church offices are closed on Fridays in July and August, except for July 27 for Vacation Bible School. September 2 One worship service at 10:00 a.m. 8