Pentecost Celebration
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Introduction:
At Pentecost we celebrate the coming of the Spirit that Jesus promised and Father God using the Spirit to pour out blessings upon us.
Psalm 104 glorifies God as Creator.
In Romans we have a lot of reference to the Spirit. We can draw the inference that enslaved is not good and being a child of God is excellent.
John tells us that believers have formed a relationship with Christ. Not only does Christ form a special relationship with believers but He leaves to prepare a special place.

Veni Sanctus Spiritus
John Mason Neale translated from Latin

Scripture:
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2:21.
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. Ps. 104:33.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Rom. 8:14.
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? John 14:10.
All to Jesus I Surrender

All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.

Prayer: Dear Holy Lord God, you spoke the world into being.
Pour your Spirit to the ends of the earth,
that your children may return from exile
as citizens of your commonwealth,
and our divisions may be healed
by your word of love and righteousness. Amen.

Bless the Lord O My Soul 10000 Reasons
Matt Redman
performed by Shirin George

Prayer: Empowering God, you gave the church
the abiding presence of your Holy Spirit.
Look upon your church today and hear our petitions.
Grant that, gathered and directed by your Spirit,
we may confess Christ as Lord
and combine our diverse gifts with a singular passion
to continue his mission in this world
until we join in your eternal praise. Amen.

Kum Ba Yah, My Lord
African American Spiritual
performed by the Seekers

Prayer: Dear Living Lord God, you have created all that is.
Send forth your Spirit to renew and restore us,
that we may proclaim your good news
in ways and words that all will understand and believe. Amen.
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!

Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!

Keep Climbing!

Challenges in life are not easy to master. There is usually something about it that will give us pause for “second thoughts.” It may appear easier to succumb to failure than to give it a “big push.” When we have a buddy “watching our back,” we can hear the words of encouragement and muster the energy and strength to get back on track. Sometimes we may have no one else there except Jesus. Pray to the Lord. You will receive your reply. It may not be what you anticipated, but that will be OK. It is worth the realization to be able to say, “Jesus has my back (and there is no turning back)!”

No Turning Back
Brandon Heath

I have decided.
I called out His name.
I’m following Jesus now and
He knows the way.

Richard needed a push, and he got one. He was rock climbing with his friend Kevin who was the belayer (the one who secures the rope). Exhausted and ready to quit, Richard asked Kevin to lower him to the ground. But Kevin urged him on, saying he had come too far to quit. Dangling in midair, Richard decided to keep trying. Amazingly, he was able to reconnect with the rock and complete the climb because of his friend’s encouragement.

Prayer for Strength: “May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire! As Thou hast died for me, Oh may my love to Thee Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire!” – Martin Luther.

In the early church, followers of Jesus encouraged one another to continue to follow their Lord and to show compassion. In a culture riddled with immorality, they passionately appealed to one another to live pure lives. Rom. 12:1; 1 Thess. 4:1. Believers encouraged one another daily, as God prompted them to do so. Acts 13:15. They urged each other to intercede for the body (Rom. 15:30), to help people stay connected to the church (Heb. 10:25), and to love more and more. 1 Thess. 4:10.

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has connected us to one another. Therefore, we have the responsibility and privilege with God’s enablement to encourage fellow believers to finish the climb of trusting and obeying Him. – Marvin Williams. Daily Bread.

When was the last time you needed to urge someone to keep following Jesus? Who has encouraged you or stirred you to pursue holiness, to keep praying, or to enlarge your love for Jesus and others?

Encourage one another and build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Paul commended the Thessalonian Christians for being “a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.” 1 Thess. 1:7. In today’s reading, Paul urges them to continue to live lives that “Please God.” 1 Thess. 4:1. As believers, our desire should be to “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way.” Col. 1:10.

As Pastor teaches, so we learn. As we remember Jesus and His Love for us, let us remember our mothers all throughout the year.

Not Forgotten
I will not forget you! Isaiah 49:15.

At her mother’s 50th birthday celebration with hundreds of people present, firstborn daughter Kukua recounted what her mother had done for her. Kukua remembered times were hard and funds were scarce in the home. Kukua’s single mother deprived herself of personal comfort, selling her precious jewelry and other possessions in order to put Kukua through high school. With tears in her eyes, Kukua said that no matter how difficult things were, her mother never abandoned her or her siblings.

God compares His love for His people with a mother’s love for her child. The people of Israel felt abandoned by God during their exile. The Israelites complain, “The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” Is. 49:14. The Lord replies, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Is. 49:15.

Thank You, Lord, that I am Yours Forever.
When we are distressed or disillusioned, we may feel abandoned by society, family, and friends, but God does not abandon us. It is a great encouragement that the Lord says, “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Is. 49:16) to indicate how much He knows and protects us. Even if people forsake us, God will never forsake His own. – Lawrence Darmani. Daily Bread.

Thank You, Lord, that I am Yours forever. I’m thankful that I won’t have to walk through any experience alone.

God never forgets us. Amen.

Isn’t She Lovely
Stevie Wonder

The love of a mother for her newborn child serves as a powerful symbol of God’s love for us. Life has its inevitable painful surprises and upsets, and we can sometimes be tempted to doubt the goodness, protection, and provision of the God who has redeemed us. But as this wonderful Bible passage shows, our heavenly Father could no more forget about us than a nursing mother can turn her back on her child. The example of faithful parental care can serve as a reminder of God’s never-ending love.

Mothers Day Celebration
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Introduction:
Jesus lived and loved with a mother’s heart.
Jesus proclaims His Father’s love for the world and prays for His Father’s beloved children to be protected from the world. Jesus prays that the Father’s children will remain faithful and trust in the Holy Spirit.
Paul and Silas are on an adventure. They exorcise demons from a girl and land in prison. No good deed goes unpunished. They are Gods chosen ones. He rescues them with a shaking of the earth only the Lord can manage.
Our Psalm is a clear call to praise in song.
In Revelations the Word is clear. God is coming, let us prepare!

Scripture:
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. Acts 16:31.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory. Ps. 97:6.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen. Rev. 22:21.
These know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. John 17:26.

Amazing Grace
John Newton

Historical:

Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.

Prayer:
O Lord Living God,
long ago, faithful women
proclaimed the good news
of Jesus’ resurrection,
and the world was changed forever.
Teach us to keep faith with them,
that our witness may be as bold,
our love as deep,
and our faith as true. Amen.

Bless the Lord O My Soul.
Matt Redman

Bless the Lord O my soul
O my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name.

Prayer:
Open our hearts to your power moving
around us and between us and within us,
until your glory is revealed in our love of both friend and enemy,
in communities transformed by justice and compassion,
and in the healing of all that is broken. Amen.

Sing Them Over Again to Me.
Philip Bliss

Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty.

Prayer:
O Lord God of boundless power and grace,
call us to drink freely of the well of life
and to share the love of your holy being.
May the glory of your love,
made known in the victory of Jesus Christ, our Savior,
transform our lives and the world he lived and died to save.
We ask this in his name and for his sake. Amen.

You Are the Light of the World.
Hillsong Kids

You called me in to Your glorious light
I will not fear ’cause I’m walking with You and talking with You
From Heaven You came to show me life.

You are the light of the world
You are the light of my life
Hope of the earth, my Jesus.
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!

Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!

Ascension Celebration
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Ascension Celebration Introduction:
Acts 1: Embrace Ascension! Believe in the words Christ left Earth as we know it, I will send you the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 47: Our world may sometimes be a nasty place. Take solace in the fact that our Lord is watching over us! Pray and Listen. How we wish He will rescue us in the apparent worst of times. Listen to His response to our prayers.
John 17: Reflect for a moment. Can you imagine being an Apostle of Christ (I pray that you are today!) back in Jerusalem in 33 AD? You gave up everything to follow Jesus Christ, you trust in Him and love Him; you fall down when He is crucified; you find Him resurrected; and He returns after Death and Resurrection to be with you, surely as He was before. Now He must ascend to heaven, promising to send the Holy Spirit. What an emotional roller coaster!
The Spirit is among us today! Let us embrace the Spirit, walk in Its light and enjoy the blessing of Its love. Amen.

I Love to Tell the Story
Catherine Hankey (1866).
performed by the Chuckwagon Gang

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

Ascension Celebration Scripture:
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8.
Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy. Ps. 47:1.
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him. Eph. 1:17.
He opened their minds to understand the scriptures. Luke 24:45.

Prayer:
Risen and ascended Christ,
you surround us with witnesses and send us the Counselor,
who opens our minds to understand your teaching.
Bless us with such grace that our lives may become a blessing
for the world now, and in the age to come. Amen.

Here I am to Worship

Prayer:
We offer our prayers on behalf of our neighbors whose needs are known to us.
We pray both for the sisters and brother we know and for those who are strangers.
Open our minds to understand the scriptures, O God,
so that when sin cripples our hope, we may discover the freedom of your forgiveness;
when suffering and death overtake our lives, we may know the joy of the risen Christ;
and when we feel abandoned, we may comprehend the power of the promised Spirit,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Wind Upon the Waters
Marty Haugen (1986).
performed by Woodmont Church Choir

Wind upon the waters,
voice upon the deep;
rouse your sons and daughters,
wake us from our sleep.
Breathing life into all flesh,
breathing love into all hearts,
Living wind upon the waters of my soul.

Prayer:
Precious love, your ascended Son promised the gift of holy power.
Send your Spirit of revelation and wisdom, that in the blessed freedom of hope,
we may witness to the grace of forgiveness and sing songs of joy
with the peoples of earth to the One who makes us one body. Amen.

Will You Come and Follow Me The Summons
John Bell
performed by the Iona Community

Will you come and follow me
If I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know
And never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
Will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown
In you and you in me?

We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!

Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!

Advocate Celebration Shalom
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Advocate Celebration Shalom Introduction:
In Acts, the Holy Spirit will announce to Paul when and where it is time to preach the Word.
Our Psalm of David brings us Benediction, Blessing and Saving in our mission. What a wonderful prayer in song to begin the week!
In Revelations, we visit the new heaven and earth. What a splendid decorated place!
Jesus tells his disciples that though the world will no longer see Him, they will see Him because He will reveal Himself to them. Peace be with them, not the peace that we may settle for in the meaning of the absence of conflict, but rather Shalom, the peace can can only be found in and with the Father. The Holy Spirit will teach us that God is always there for us.
Shalom. Peace be with you.

Advocate Celebration Shalom Scripture:
The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. Acts 16:14.
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us. Ps. 67:1.
The angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Rev. 22:1.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. John 14:26.
Ps. 67:
Christ in Me Arise
Trevor Thompson

Christ in me arise and dispel all the darkness. Christ in me arise with your power and your strength. Christ in me pour out your blessing and healing. Christ in me arise and I shall rise with you.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, Mighty God,
in whom we know the power of redemption,
you stand among us in the shadows of our time.
As we move through every sorrow and trial of this life,
uphold us with knowledge of the final morning
when, in the glorious presence of your risen Son,
we will share in his resurrection,
redeemed and restored to the fullness of life
and forever freed to be your people. Amen.
Acts 16.
Trust and Obey
Lyn Alenjendrino Hopkins

Prayer:
O Lord God, your Son remained with his disciples after his resurrection,
teaching them to love all people as neighbors.
As his disciples in this age,
we offer our prayers on behalf of the universe
in which we are privileged to live
and our neighbors with whom we share it.
Open our hearts to your power moving
around us and between us and within us,
until your glory is revealed in our love of both friend and enemy,
in communities transformed by justice and compassion,
and in the healing of all that is broken. Amen.
Rev. 21.
Crown Him with Many Crowns
Matthew Bridges (1851).

Crown Him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon His throne;
Hark! How the heav’nly anthem drowns
All music but its own!
Awake, my soul and sing
Of Him Who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.
Prayer:
O Lord, Gracious God,
through a vision you sent Paul forth to preach the gospel
and called the women to the place of prayer on the Sabbath.
Grant that we may be like Paul and be found like Lydia,
our hearts responsive to your word and open to go where you lead us. Amen.

John.
Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
St Francis of Assisi

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your
love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord
And where there’s doubt, true faith in
you.
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!

Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!

Following Pastor on an April Sunday.
Today I woke at 5 am, did a few chores, made breakfast and was out the door to greet Pastor, who was already preparing for 7 am service at 6 with Matins.
We presented “Love One Another Celebration” for the Community.

Love One Another Celebration

Baptism at 10 am for happy parents, their active children and an infant that did not cry.
Luncheon at Noon begun with a prayer. So many people to visit!
Squeeze in a few hours “Walking the Street” visiting the Homebound and inviting everyone to next Sunday’s service and Mother’s Day Celebration the following Sunday.
There are several waves of raining buckets from occasional ominous clouds throughout the day.
Check some of the flyers and signs posted for Spirit’s upcoming events.
Community evening meal begun with a prayer of course. More people to visit.
Celebrate Recovery meeting to wrap up the official daylong schedule. Prayer.
Several unscheduled stops to visit and pray that always seem to find their way into the schedule.
End of the day Vespers.
Time to retire for this day.
Dear Lord, Thank you for a day fulfilling your plan! Amen.

Love One Another Celebration
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Love One Another Celebration Introduction:
In Acts 11, Peter must convince the “Chosen” (Jews), that he follows the Lord in communing with Gentiles. Peter does this through a “dream” that the Lord used to instruct him.
Psalm 148 is a poem of praise.
How do we explain to a non-believer what order and life we will experience in the place Jesus has prepared for us? Not an easy task, as John is challenged here in Rev. 21.
In John 13, we see how Jesus Christ showed unconditional love for all people. Scripture tells us of this love of Jesus that transcends all that we can muster in our daily lives as believers. Jesus does not want our piety, He wants us to perform loving acts toward others, even those we do not normally get along with.

Love One Another Celebration Scripture:
God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life. Acts 11:18.
Praise the LORD! Ps. 148:1.
He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Rev. 21:6.
Where I am going, you cannot come. John 13:31.
Come Lord Jesus
James Tealy
performed by Redemption City

Before the mountains could lift their heads, Before the stars drew their first deep breath,

Before the ocean embraced the golden shore, Jesus, You were there as the world was born.
Prayer:
Creator of the universe,
you made the world in beauty,
and restore all things in glory
through the victory of Jesus Christ.
We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured
by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed,
the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and peace,
to the glory of your name. Amen.
Spirit of the living God,
fall afresh on me.
Daniel Iverson (1929).
performed by Michael Daly.

Spirit of the living God,
fall afresh on me;
Spirit of the living God,
fall afresh on me.

Prayer:

Holy Lord God,
you have called us to follow in the way of your risen Son,
and to care for those who are our companions,
not only with words of comfort, but with acts of love.
Seeking to be true friends of all,
we offer our prayers on behalf of the church and the world.
Guide us in the path of discipleship,
so that, as you have blessed us,
we may be a blessing for others,
bringing the promise of the kingdom near
by our words and deeds. Amen.

How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds

John Newton (1774).

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
in a believer’s ear!
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds,
and drives away our fear.
Prayer:
Alpha and Omega, First and Last,
glory outshining all the lights of heaven:
pour out upon us your Spirit
of faithful love and abundant compassion,
so that we may rejoice in the splendor of your works
while we wait in expectation
for the new heaven and the new earth you promise
when Christ shall come again. Amen.
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Doxology
Thomas Ken

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!

Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!

Waterloo Fire Department went all out on its Pancake Feed.

Spirit goes all out to support this fundraising activity. This is a community engaging and educational opportunity. We are pleased to participate. We recommend everyone give it a try next time it comes around! Need more information? Contact Pastors Michael or Cathy Hanus: Spirit.Peace@outlook.com