Manuscript for Service for Pentecost

The Day of Pentecost

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

497 Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord

1    Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord,
With all Your graces now outpoured
    On each believer’s mind and heart;
    Your fervent love to them impart.
Lord, by the brightness of Your light
In holy faith Your Church unite;
    From ev’ry land and ev’ry tongue
    This to Your praise, O Lord, our God, be sung:
        Alleluia, alleluia!

2    Come, holy Light, guide divine,
Now cause the Word of life to shine.
    Teach us to know our God aright
    And call Him Father with delight.
From ev’ry error keep us free;
Let none but Christ our master be
    That we in living faith abide,
    In Him, our Lord, with all our might confide.
        Alleluia, alleluia!

3    Come, holy Fire, comfort true,
Grant us the will Your work to do
    And in Your service to abide;
    Let trials turn us not aside.
Lord, by Your pow’r prepare each heart,
And to our weakness strength impart
    That bravely here we may contend,
    Through life and death to You, our Lord, ascend.
        Alleluia, alleluia!

Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: CPH Limited Promotional License no. 119000000

Opening Versicles

L  This is the day which the Lord has made;

C  let us rejoice and be glad in it.

L  From the rising of the sun to its setting,

C  the name of the Lord is to be praised.

L  Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere;

C  I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

L  Make me to know Your ways, O Lord.

C  Teach me Your paths.

L  Sanctify us in Your truth.

C  Your Word is truth.

L  From the rising of the sun to its setting,

C  the name of the Lord is to be praised.

C  Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Old Testament Canticle                                                                                                                                                                                      LSB 261

C  The Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.

With joy will you draw water from the wells of salvation.

And you will say in that day:

“Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name,

make known His deeds among the peoples,

proclaim that His name is exalted.”

The Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.

Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done gloriously;

let this be made known in all the earth.

Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitants of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

The Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be forever. Amen.

The Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.

Readings From Holy Scripture

Reading                                                                                                                                                                                                       Genesis 11:1–9

L    A reading from Genesis, the eleventh chapter.

   1Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” 5And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

L    This is the Word of the Lord.

C    Thanks be to God.

Reading                                                                                                                                                                                                             Acts 2:1–21

   1When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

   5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

   14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
   and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
   and your old men shall dream dreams;
18even on my male servants and female servants
   in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19And I will show wonders in the heavens above
   and signs on the earth below,
      blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20the sun shall be turned to darkness
   and the moon to blood,
      before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

L    This is the Word of the Lord.

C    Thanks be to God.

Reading                                                                                                                                                                                                         John 14:23–31

   23Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

   25“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.”

L    This is the Word of the Lord.

C    Thanks be to God.

Responsory

L  Forever, O Lord, Your Word is firmly set in the heavens.

C  Lord, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells.

L  Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.

C  Lord, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells.

L  Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

C  Lord, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells.

TEN COMMANDMENTS

C    You shall have no other gods.

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

Honor your father and your mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

APOSTLES’ CREED

C    I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the holy Christian Church,

          the communion of saints,

     the forgiveness of sins,

     the resurrection of the body,

     and the life T everlasting. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

C    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 and ever. Amen.

Sermon

Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Jesus promised His disciples that He would send them the Holy Spirit, their Helper. He said, in connection with this Helper and Comforter, “Peace, I leave with you.”

Today, Pentecost, we praise our God for the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Our Helper and Comforter, by Whose aid we have peace.

The Holy Spirit brings us help and comfort when by granting us the certainty that we are loved and saved.

Here how St. Peter preached it, embolden by the Spirit on Pentecost, Peter  promised “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

That promise is comfort and help for those who fear death, or disease or the loneliness of isolation. To those in the darkness of fear and anxiety, there’s this Spirit given promise “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Consider the certainty with which Peter says that. Shall be saved. No “Maybe”s in Peter’s preaching. Don’t settle for “Maybe”s. The Holy Spirit of God wants you to be certain of your salvation. So He keeps on doing His work, giving you the means of grace, whereby you can receive your certainty.

The Holy Spirit works certainty in your heart and mind when you hear the absolution of your Lord, “I forgive you all your sins.”

The Holy Spirit works certainty in your heart and mind when you hear the words of Jesus read here, or read in your home or remembered on your way.

The Holy Spirit works certainty in your heart and mind when you hear the words of Jesus connected with the eating and drinking in the Sacrament of His body and blood.

It is meet right and salutary that we this day, thank and praise our God for the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Especially because there is so much going on to work against the certain faith that God loves us and wants to save us. Many have just abandoned the Lord and His word. Then they pressure us, “Ah, you still believe in that old stuff.”

Also, each Christian will have struggles deep inside until you die and go to heaven. Some struggles are very disturbing. “Will I be saved?” A tortured soul might worry. Let’s keep praying for the unhindered work of the Holy Spirit with His means of grace here in this place and in Christian churches all around the world, because we need his help and comfort especially when doubts arise.

“Have I done enough good to be saved?” The guilty conscience puts a crack in the certainty of faith. “I haven’t been good enough.” says the troubled soul. Again, let’s pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit here and throughout the Christian Church worldwide, because we need the work He does with the means of grace, the word of gospel and the sacraments, that troubled consciences can be cleansed and made right by the Gospel of our Savior Jesus who died to make us right.

The Holy Spirit, the Comforter, helps us and gives us peace, by giving us certainty of God’s love and forgiveness of our sins.

By the way, The Holy Spirit’s job is to comfort us. But He doesn’t only comfort. Sometimes He has to work to make you uncomfortable. When you get the attitude, saying, “I don’t need all this. Everyone else needs this kind of help. Others need repentance and forgiveness. I’m alright, because I am right. It’s everyone else who’s wrong.” Then the Holy Spirit’s work is to use the Holy Commandments of God to upset you, to make you uncomfortable to tell you things like this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” And that Holy Spirit works to make that law cut into your heart, until you break and say, “O, Lord have mercy on me. Forgive me my sins.”

Dear friends, with the help and comfort of the Holy Spirit, call upon the name of the Lord. In all situations, when you doubt, call upon the name of the Lord for certainty. When your conscience is hurting you  call upon the name of the Lord. When you repent and ask for forgiveness, call upon the name of the Lord.

And we praise god for the person and work of the Holy Spirit who gives us the sure and certain good news:   “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Amen.

Prayer

P  Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

      We pray to you, O God, Father Son and Holy Spirit, for we are your baptized believers,  given ears to hear and an eagerness to learn all that the you would teach us. Grant us open hearts to receive all that you have to give us, knowing that you have in store for us more than we can ask or imagine. Lord, in Your mercy,

C  Hear our prayer.

P  O Holy Spirit, grant renewal in our congregation, district, Synod and the whole Church on earth, that by your grace and power we would long to keep Your Word, dwell in Your peace, sing your praises and love our neighbors. In the midst of this worldwide crisis, turn the hearts of many to look to Jesus for help and salvation. Lord, in Your mercy,

C  Hear our prayer.

P  Father and fountain of all goodness, look in mercy on the nations of this world and graciously bless all who have been entrusted with civil responsibilities, giving them wisdom to serve with faithfulness and honor. Establish justice for all. Grant people in our nation the wisdom to practice civility, especially between people who may appear differently outwardly, but whom you see as you children. Bring peace to cities where there is violence and destruction of property. Lord, in Your mercy,

C  Hear our prayer.

P  O Lord, show mercy on those afflicted in body or spirit, and especially for those who are dear to our hearts including Bernice Davis, who is hospitalized in Sumner, Raymond Harrison, hospitalized in Waterloo, Kason Judisch that their hearts would neither be troubled nor afraid, for nothing can separate them from your Lord, in Your mercy,

C  Hear our prayer.

P  We pray for those who come to the holy altar this day, that they would come in faithful reverence and awe, recognizing how the fullness of blessing  given to them in Your very body and blood to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of their sins and the strengthening of their faith, Lord, in Your mercy,

C  Hear our prayer.

P  Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, all glory, honor and worship is Yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, both now and forevermore.

C  Amen.

Collect of the Day

L  O God, on this day You once taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit. Grant us in our day by the same Spirit to have a right understanding in all things and evermore to rejoice in His holy consolation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C  Amen.

Collect for the Word

L  Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C  Amen.

Morning Prayer

C    I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me.

Blessing

L  Let us bless the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

L  The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve us.

C  Amen.

Acknowledgments

Service of Prayer and Preaching from Lutheran Service Book

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2018 Concordia Publishing House.