05/24/2026
Bensalem United Methodist Church
May 24, 2026, 8:30 AM Traditional Service Bulletin Details
Pentecost Sunday/ Memorial Day Weekend
Welcome and Announcements
Sharing the Peace of Christ
Hymn of Praise: Breathe on Me, Breath of God UMH #420
Call to Worship:
One: Beloved, the Spirit of Truth gathers us here to receive and discern God’s good news working among us.
All: Come, Holy Spirit, come!
One: The Spirit of Love draws us together to receive and restore life-giving relationships with God and one another.
All: Come, Holy Spirit, come!
One: The Spirit of Freedom knits us together to receive and renew the bonds of empathy, justice, and peace that bind us together in the work for liberation and wholeness.
All: Come, Holy Spirit, come!
One: Beloved, the Holy Spirit is here, moving and working among us. Will you come and receive all the Spirit has to give?
All: We come to receive the Spirit’s abundant and gracious gifts that we may be a people who live out God’s truth, love, and freedom in our neighborhood, community, and throughout all creation. Amen.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, December 2025.
Lighting the Candle of Peace, Hope, and Justice: During the struggle against apartheid, Methodists in South Africa began their worship each week by lighting a candle encircled in barbed wire in remembrance of those suffering under policies of exclusion and violence. Together, we take up this practice and proclaim that God’s healing love will triumph over hatred.
One: The light shines in the darkness.
All: We stand in this light, unshaken, knowing that the darkness has never overcome the light.
One: Let us recommit ourselves to walking in Jesus’ ways of peace, hope, and justice.
All: Empower us, Jesus, to boldly use the freedom and power given to us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.
Prayer for Illumination
Hebrew Lesson: Psalm 104:24-34,35B Alice Simeti
Epistle Lesson: Acts 2: 1-21 Betty Miles
Gospel Lesson: John 20: 19-23 Dan Taylor
Sermon Title: It’s Pentecost. Woo Hoo! Liz Gruenbaum, Lay Leader
Hymn of Response: Sweet, Sweet Spirit (twice through) UMH #334
Prayers of the People: We invite you to share your joys, concerns, and prayer requests via Facebook comments before the end of the sermon to be shared with the gathered community.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen
Time of Gratitude and Offerings: Your presence as part of the BUMC Facebook community is always the greatest gift. If you feel called to support BUMC financially, you may give online at www.bensalem-umc.org.
Offertory: The Disciples Speak
Offertory: Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (Doxology) UMH #95
Unison Offertory Prayer:
Holy God, we ask for your help, your power, your Spirit, so that we can amend our lives and grow more each day into the image of Christ. We confess that we fear what is different. We confess that it’s easier to lock the doors of our community than to receive those who don’t look like we look, love like we love, or vote the way we vote. We confess that we have not lived out your call to share in abundant life and unconditional love. We believe that you have the power to turn us around to a more inclusive way of living, so we ask you to do that. We ask you to give us the courage to change. We ask that you give us the energy, intelligence, imagination, and love to be your people in all we say and do. Amen.
Written by Beth Merrill Neel on her blog, “Hold Fast to What Is Good.” Used with permission. https://holdfasttowhatisgood.com/liturgy/prayer-of-confession/.
Parting Hymn: Spirit Song UMH #347
Benediction: May you go in peace to love God, love your neighbors, love the strangers amongst us, and love ourself.
Traditional Service Hymn Lyrics – You are invited to sing along
United Methodist Hymnal #420 Breathe on Me, Breath of God
Verse 1 Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.
Verse 2 Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure,
until with thee I will one will, to do and to endure.
Verse 3 Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine,
till all this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.
Verse 4 Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity.
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"Breathe on Me, Breath of God." Words: Edwin Hatch, 1878. Music: Robert Jackson, 1888. United Methodist Hymnal, #420. The United Methodist Publishing House,.1989. Used by Permission. CCLI License # 1713125. CCLI Streaming License #20641093.
United Methodist Hymnal #334 Sweet, Sweet Spirit (twice through)
There's a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, and I know that it's the Spirit of the Lord;
there are sweet expressions on each face, and I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
Refrain: Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet heavenly Dove, stay right here with us, filling us with your love; and for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise; without a doubt we'll know that we have been revived when we shall leave this place.
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"Sweet, Sweet Spirit." Words & Music: Doris Akers, 1962. United Methodist Hymnal, #334. The United Methodist Publishing House,.1989. Used by Permission. CCLI License # 1713125. CCLI Streaming License #20641093.
United Methodist Hymnal #95 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (Doxology)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
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"Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (Doxology)." Words: Thomas Ken, 1674. Music: Attr. to Louis Bourgeois, 1551. United Methodist Hymnal, #95. The United Methodist Publishing House,.1989. Used by Permission. CCLI License # 1713125. CCLI Streaming License #20641093.
United Methodist Hymnal #347 Spirit Song
Verse 1 O let the Son of God enfold you with His Spirit and his love.
Let Him fill your heart and satisfy your soul. O let Him have the things that hold you, and his Spirit like a dove will descend upon your life and make you whole. (Refrain)
Verse 2 O Come and sing this song with gladness as your hearts are filled with joy.
lift your hands in sweet surrender to His name. O give Him all your tears and sadness; give Him all your years of pain, and you’ll enter into life in Jesus’ name. (Refrain)
Refrain Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs. Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs
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"Spirit Song." Words & Music: John Wimber, 1979. United Methodist Hymnal, #347. The United Methodist Publishing House,.1989. Used by Permission. CCLI License # 1713125. CCLI Streaming License #20641093.
Coming Up at Bensalem UMC
Bagels & Bibles is a casual Bible Study that meets every Tuesday at 10:30am at Redhouse Bagels, 3677 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem, PA. Questions, doubts, curiosities, and different opinions welcome!
GriefShare Support Group for Summer 2026 GriefShare will meet on alternating Tuesdays, starting May 26 through August 4. All are welcome!
Questions? Ask Betty Miles or Pastor Sophy.
Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Peace Saturday, May 30th at 2pm, BUMC lawn (bring a lawn chair). People of all faiths or no faith are invited to join together to mourn victims of violence and pray for a more peaceful and just world for all. Volunteers needed to help plan and facilitate. Contact Pastor Sophy to learn more and get involved.
Special Music Needed This Summer! If you, or someone you know, can share their musical gift with us, please contact the church office.
Let Us Know Who Is Graduating! Please let the office know by note, phone call, or email ([email protected]), if someone in your family is graduating from high school, college, technical school, or grad school this year. (kids and grandkids too!) Tell us their full name, name of school, and plans for the future (e. g. If they are graduating from high school and going on to college, give us the college name, possible major or future plans). Please do this ASAP, so they will be included in the June graduate listing.
10:00 AM Celebration Service Ushers needed for July and August in the Chapel. There are five Sundays needing 2 ushers for 10 AM service. With enough volunteers, everyone only needs to serve once. Contact Jim Cielinski or the church office to sign-up.
June 7th 10:00 AM Combined Worship Service and All-Church Picnic!
Picnic on Church grounds immediately following the 10 AM service in main sanctuary.
Spend time with your church family. Enjoy Worship…Food…Fellowship…Games.
Hot dogs will be provided or bring a packed lunch. If you can, sign-up to bring an item to share by contacting the church office and bring a lawn chair.
Upcoming Birthdays:
May 26 Elaine Simeti-Bailey
June 2 Pastor Sophia Gamber
Please contact Pat Cielinski at [email protected] to add your birthday to the church list.
Prayers Requests:
• Prayers for all those Commissioned (Pastor Sophy included) and Ordained at the recent Eastern PA Conference of the United Methodist Church Annual Conference.
• Prayers for those struggling, including those facing financial hardship, mental or physical illness, addiction/ recovery, difficult family dynamics, or grief.
• Prayers for Worldwide Peace and for all involved in the current military actions in the Middle East and elsewhere.
• Prayers for the maintenance of our democratic institutions and rights.
• Prayers for our elected officials. May they serve with integrity and good will.
• Prayers for an end to gun violence and the ongoing turmoil in our own country and the world.
• Prayers for immigrants and their families, facing increased terror and turmoil. May we work together for a more just and humane immigration system.
• Prayers for an end to racial injustice, bias, and discrimination. May we all seek to root out the biases and prejudices that still live within us.
• Prayers for those who live with mental or physical illnesses and their caretakers and loved ones.
• Prayers for Rev. Bunker and the PARX Racetrack Ministry and the community it serves.
Are you in need of prayer? Please contact Pastor Sophy for private prayer requests and conversation. If you’d like to share your prayers with the broader BUMC community, email Carol Kulik at [email protected].
New To BUMC?
The Traditional Worship Service gathers on Sundays at 8:30 AM in our historic chapel. This is a contemplative service with congregational hymn singing from the beloved United Methodist Hymnal.
The Celebration Service gathers on Sundays at 10:00 AM in our main sanctuary and features a children’s message, contemporary praise music, and expressive, joyful worship. This service moves to the air conditioned chapel for the summer beginning June 14.
Children are always a welcome sight (and sound!) in our worship services. Parents, please don’t worry if your child makes noise or gets fidgety. It’s a joy to have them. Children’s worship resources and toys are available in the Narthex.
