St. Paul’s

United Methodist Church May 31, 2020 10:30 am service

Pentecost

We welcome you, trusting that this time of worship will open our hearts to experience the Spirit’s

movement among us. Together, we seek peace, health, and wholeness as we gather in God’s presence.

Please let us know you’re here by signing in on our Virtual Friendship Pad at

www.stpaulsithaca.org/streaming or make a comment on the Facebook Live video!

Visit our Giving page at www.stpaulsithaca.org/giving to learn about how you can continue to support the

ministries of St. Paul’s from home.

Pentecost: Sing a New Song!

Adapted from materials from the “Sing a New Song” Convocation of Methodist Federation for Social Action & Reconciling Ministr ies Network, August, 2011.

~SPEND TIME~ WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Pastor Teressa Sivers

Please sign in using the Virtual Friendship Pad on the streaming page of our website!

Acts 2 reading by Rev. Robert McCune, Pastor Emeritus

CENTERING MUSIC Meditation on "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" Caleb Bates

CENTERING OUR HEARTS IN WORSHIP

On that day, they were all gathered in one place, And the Spirit of God rose up in them, And everyone danced in the flames, and twirled in the rushing wind,

and called out, each in a different voice, to prophesy and praise the living God! The Spirit of God rises up in us today. Alive in love for God and God’s people, this is a day for new dreaming. Thanks to the Holy One who makes all things and makes all things new!

HYMN “Spirit of God” Faith We Sing, #2117

~BLESSING OUR FOOD, OUR DRINK~ COMING TO TABLE ACROSS THE DISTANCE

~BREAKING OPEN THE WORD WITH SCRIPTURE~ THE PENTECOST STORY FROM THE MESSAGE BY REV. EUGENE PETERSON Mattea Dauria

1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them. 5-11 There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?

TIME WITH CHILDREN & YOUTH

THE PENTECOST STORY CONTINUED FROM THE MESSAGE… Amy & Jackson Robinson

14-21 That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:

“In the Last Days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. When the time comes, I’ll pour out my Spirit On those who serve me, men and women both, and they’ll prophesy. I’ll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, Blood and fire and billowing smoke, the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous and marvelous; And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church!

Thanks be to God! ANTHEM “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness”

Chancel Choir

OPENING HEARTS & MINDS

~BREAKING OPEN OUR HEARTS WITH PRAYER~ HYMN “We Are Called” Faith We Sing, #2172

GATHERED PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER Pastor Debbie Allen

CALL TO GIVE – SHARING OUR GOODWILL

OFFERTORY Mindwalk Caleb Bates

You may participate in an online offering by clicking the DONATE button on the streaming page of our website or you may mail your offering (402 North Aurora St., Ithaca, NY 14850)

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

~WE GO FORTH~ CLOSING HYMN “In the Midst of New Dimensions” Faith We Sing, #2238

THE GOOD WORD – A Litany for an Unfinished Church

We have gathered in this time and place, all of us from different times and places, united through the Spirit, here to worship God. Many years ago, the people gathered and were ignited by passion for God, let up by Pentecost fire, shouting out in Pentecost voices, carried away on Pentecost winds. So many years later, we gather through new avenues of grace. We are learning new ways of living, establishing new routines and rituals. We hold dear the stories of our past. We go forth to create stories for the future. We are an unfinished church. Like those disciples so many years ago, we are not sure we know the way. We are afraid to make mistakes. We are afraid to fail, to lose heart. We are an unfinished church. But, Christ calls us to carry on the blessing of discipleship, to move forward in love and faithfulness, so that all might find a place in our holy place—our beloved church family. We are an unfinished church. So long as even one of us is left out of the community because of coldheartedness, we are an unfinished church… We are an unfinished church. So long as anyone is lonely, hungry, sick, in prison, naked, we are an unfinished church… We are an unfinished church. So long as any one of us is destitute of the great Hope that is our future in Christ Jesus, raised up to set us free from death into holy and everlasting life… We are an unfinished church. Every day is a new Pentecost, full of the promise and possibility that God offers. Today and everyday is a day of dreaming; a Pentecost day filled with refining fire, and holy smoke, and winds of change, and voices full of passion for God and for each other. We are an unfinished church, but we are God’s church—God’s people. We are God’s church, full of grace and love and hope. Today is a new Pentecost day, may we be birthed again into new beginning.

POSTLUDE Fantasia – Chorale on “For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” Caleb Bates CLOSING WORDS FROM PASTOR TERESSA

--------PRAYERS--------

For Prayer Chain Requests, confidential concerns seen only by those who participate in the Prayer Chain, please contact Pastor Debbie Allen, dallen@stpaulsithaca.org.

Prayer Requests: Alice McCune; Ann Matthews (friend of Nancy Potter); B.J. Goetz; Cindy Garver (Bob and Alice McCune's daughter); Gina Bakota (Teresa Yatsko's sister); Jackie Warren; Kathleen Jacklin; LaVerne Snyder; Mark Twentyman (Nancy Potter's cousin by marriage); Mary Boardman; Meghan Mapes (Kathryn Mapes's niece); O. Jay Hine (Cheryl Hine's brother); Oliver Habicht and his family (friends of Anne Horst); Raymond Snyder (LaVerne’s uncle); Robert Deming (Melissa Gould's nephew); Shirley Snyder (LaVerne's mother); Vera Schooley and her daughter; Walter Kaulfuss (Carolyn Beyers’ father); pray for healing within the United Methodist Church, especially for those who are excluded because of sexual orientation and gender identification. Our sympathies to Elaine Weiss whose sister, Gloria Gere, passed away unexpectedly on May 5, 2020.

THE UNIVERSAL CHRIST New Zoom Discussion Group - Led by Pastor Debbie Wednesdays 10:00-11:30 AM EST, beginning June 10

Right after the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter proclaimed, Let all Israel know beyond question that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36, CEB). For centuries, Jesus and Christ have been understood as the names of one individual with no difference in meaning. In his book, The Universal Christ, Father Richard Rohr helps us to see that Christ existed, in infinite love and goodness, from the beginning and is an ongoing presence in us and in everything that exists. This has enormous implications for how we live and how we love. You are invited to explore Father Richard’s book in greater depth throughout the months of June and July. Ten books have been ordered and will be made available on Pastor Teressa’s porch. If you are able to reimburse the cost of the book, please send a check for $15 to the church and indicate “Universal Christ Group Study” in the memo line. However, you are welcome to participate regardless of payment. Kindle editions are also available on Amazon for $8.99. Please contact Pastor Debbie at dallen@stpaulsithaca.org if you wish to be a part of this group.

INSPIRATION FOR DIFFICULT TIMES What has uplifted, encouraged, strengthened you during the pandemic? Are there passages of scripture, stories or poems you have read or written, photographs you have taken that have captured beauty and given you joy? During this time of uncertainty and isolation, we have an opportunity to bridge the physical distance between us by sharing sources of hope and healing. What is meaningful to you may be helpful to others as well. You are invited to submit writings and photographs to Pastor Debbie Allen at dallen@stpaulsithaca.org. Please acknowledge the source of your submission and write a brief note about why or how it speaks to you. With your permission, entries will be posted on St. Paul’s website.

PRAY TOGETHER! Join Anne for 15 minutes of morning prayer on Thursdays at 7:15 AM, June 4-25. This will be a period of communal and silent prayer. Please let us know if you have any questions about using Zoom/Zoom phone. Check the Upcoming Events page on our website for the Zoom link! Want additional information? Contact Anne Horst (ahorst@stpaulsithaca.org or 518.947.0332).

VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR Starting at 11:50 AM each Sunday, join by computer or phone using the link or number below to check in with the pastor while you enjoy a cup of your favorite morning beverage! The link is on our Upcoming Events page.

MASK MAKING The Cornell Farmworkers Program is in need of more masks to distribute to migrants about how to stay safe from COVID-19 please see the attached link for more information. Please email Anne Horst (ahorst@stpaulsithaca.org) for the pattern, or to support the initiative.

Our Staff Pastor Teressa Sivers / Senior Pastor / tsivers@stpaulsithaca.org / 607-434-9888 (cell)

Pastor Debbie Allen / Pastor of Loving Care Ministries / dallen@stpaulsithaca.org

Michelle Eells / Administrative & Building Ministries Coordinator/Bookkeeper / office@stpaulsithaca.org

Anne Horst / Hospitality and Connections Ministries Coordinator / ahorst@stpaulsithaca.org

Delvin Collier / Children’s Ministries and Childcare Coordinator / dcollier@stpaulsithaca.org

Alexa Allmann / Youth Ministries and Communications Support Coordinator / ajallmann@stpaulsithaca.org

Emily Preston / Choral and Ensembles Director / epreston@stpaulsithaca.org

Caleb Bates / Organist/Pianist / cbates@stpaulsithaca.org

Jessa Dauria & Emily Plummer / Children’s Music Group Directors / childrensmusic@stpaulsithaca.org

Dorothy Preston / Festival Chimes Director / dpreston@stpaulsithaca.org

Sue Orzel / Custodian

Rev. Dr. Robert J. McCune / Pastor Emeritus

“St. Paul’s is a compassionate community led and transformed by the Spirit.”

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

A Reconciling Congregation 402 North Aurora Street, Ithaca, NY 14850

607-273-5971 / www.stpaulsithaca.org / office@stpaulsithaca.org Office Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Find us on Twitter and Facebook @StPaulsIthaca

St. Paul’s Wireless Network: SPUMC-Guest password: guest402

For Reflection:

Rev. Kathryn Schifferdecker writes this in her online commentary (WorkingPreacher.org): As we wait in the wreckage of what was, as we wait for the birth of what will be, we are called to see visions and to dream dreams. What of our old lives, personally and communally, needs

to be burned away? What needs to be renewed? What new thing do you imagine for the future?

(Be sure to share any ideas for our church community with Pastor Teressa!)