05/23/2026
CALL TO WORSHIP ⛪ Come, Holy Spirit. 🕊
💨 Rushing wind, tongues of fire, astonishment from the disciples and the crowd around them! This Sunday is PENTECOST, the day we celebrate the Holy Spirit descending upon the apostles and other followers of Jesus, empowering them to preach the gospel to the whole world (Acts 2; see Acts 1:4-8).
🍷 Rev. Julianne Smith will lead worship with Holy Communion. Red is the color of the day—remember to wear something red to celebrate ❣
🇺🇸 We observe the holiday of Memorial Day by remembering our service men and women who lost their lives while serving in the United States armed forces. While it is always appropriate to thank our active duty and veteran service members, this day is a time to mourn those who gave their lives for us and pray for their families.
🔺Next Sunday: Holy Trinity Sunday—celebrating the doctrine of our Christian faith: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.
🔥 Pentecost Sunday
Overview for Today
🕊 Today's festival derives its name from the Jewish festival of Pentecost, observed fifty days after Passover. On the fiftieth day of Easter we celebrate the Holy Spirit as the power of God among us that heals, forgives, inspires, and unites. In the reading from Acts, images of wind and fire describe the Spirit poured out on disciples of all nations. In John's gospel the risen Christ breathes the Spirit on his followers on Easter evening. In the one Spirit we are baptized into one body, and at the Lord's table the Spirit unites us for witness in the world.
❤️🔥 “What does this mean?” the devout ask (Acts 2:12). For those gathered in that house, the event meant the birth of sudden, surprising, unmerited new life. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they burst from the house with a story to share about God’s wonders. But what does this event of Pentecost mean for us, today, many centuries later? God is at work here, now, in the world. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, God is working alongside as friend, truth-teller, comforter, and guide. In holy baptism, the Spirit rests on the heads of young and old alike. Filled with the Holy Spirit, a new, new story of how God is birthing sudden, surprising, and unmerited new life all around us, every day. We discover meaning from this Pentecost story today, not only for our own sake but for the sake of the world that so hungers for this life.
✝ Acts: Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told his disciples they would be filled with the Holy Spirit. Now, surrounded by signs of fire, wind, and a variety of languages in their midst, the people were amazed and astonished at Jesus’ promise coming true. https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=616317730
✝ Psalm: Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=616317763
✝ 1 Corinthians: Paul is helping the Corinthians understand the relationship between our God-given unity and Spirit-created diversity. The Spirit creates the unity of faith and gives all Christians diverse gifts for the common benefit of all. We need one another’s diverse spiritual gifts, because the same Spirit has given them to each person for the common good. https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=646512142
✝ John: The risen Jesus appears to his disciples, offering them a benediction, a commission, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=646513204
🙏🏼Prayer of the Day: God our creator, the resurrection of your Son offers life to all the peoples of earth. By your Holy Spirit, kindle in us the fire of your love, empowering our lives for service and our tongues for praise, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
(Sundays & Seasons © Augsburg Fortress)
>>A Closer Look at…
🔍 Acts 2:1-21
It's very easy to be distracted by all the spectacular things that are going on all around—the wind, flame and the speaking in tongues, which are often the focus when looking at this passage—can be challenging to communicate.
In verse 2 we read, "there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind" and in verse 3, "tongues, as of fire." This is a place where wind meets fire. D. Peterson writes about wind being an emblem for the spirit or creative breath of God and is a sign that God is about to accomplish a mighty work of renewal. Peterson continues that fire is also a symbol of God's presence, power, and holiness. This house, a house of people of faith, becomes the receptacle of the holy power of God for mighty renewal.
All the people in Jerusalem were astounded that they were able to understand—in their own language—what the disciples were saying. The struggle to understand what the locals are trying to say to us is, after all, one of the main challenges of international travel!
However, we need to be asking what it was that they were listening to. It wasn't just some random or incoherent phrase, as you might learn on ‘Duolingo.' What they heard being proclaimed was the message of God's works of power.
I was curious about aspects of community and individuality: "all together in one place," "entire house," "all of them were filled . . .began to speak. . .," "every nation under heaven," "all were amazed and perplexed," "standing with the eleven ... addressed them," "all flesh," "everyone who calls." In this dramatic heavenly event, with an emphasis on unity, there is a glimpse of how God looks at the people of earth in this new covenant era. The Holy Spirit is for all who are saved, who call on the name of the Lord. The Holy Spirit brings the fire and wind of God to everyone—not just ministers or elders! In this communal experience, every individual is given ability that is beyond human reasoning.
We can dwell on the languages spoken; whether they be earthly languages, as here, or heavenly tongues (‘glossolalia'), as Paul refers to Romans 8:26 and 1 Corinthians 14. But what if we also dwell on the effects of the ministry of the Holy Spirit which point to Jesus?
In verse 11 people heard about God's deeds of power. F.F. Bruce suggests hearing, ‘the praises of God in all the tongues of the dispersion being uttered by Galileans of all people, was nothing less than a reversal of the curse of Babel.'
In verses 14-16, Peter explains what God is doing, so that in the excitement, amazement and sneering of the fulfilment of prophecy, there is understanding and teaching. It is good for us to teach about the work of the Holy Spirit and of the gifts and abilities the Spirit gives to us.
(Rev Trish Archibald, Assistant Minister at Stirling North Parish Church, along with Faith Action staff members. www.churchofscotland.org.uk)
