Lord’s Day Worship
Pentecost Sunday
May 28th, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.
Psalm 118:24
“This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Prelude by June Ruyle, Organist
“God Bless Our Native Land”,
“Great God of Nations” – (St. Petersburg)
“Eternal Father, Strong to Save” (Navy Song), “Crossing the Bar”
Welcome and Announcements
Missionary Moment
Entering into Worship
Responsive Reading
Elder Alan Pitts
*Psalm 46
Leader: God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
All: Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
Leader: Though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
All: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
Leader: God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
All: The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
Leader: The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
All: Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
Leader: He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
All: “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
Leader: The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
*Hymn of Preparation – # 92
“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and pow'r are great;
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing;
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he,
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
That Word above all earthly pow'rs,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever.
Music Leaders – Jean-Paul Muresan and Roxanne Martindale
Invocation
Congregational Confession of Sin
Leader: Our sovereign heavenly Father, we humble ourselves now in your presence and confess that we have sinned against you and others.
All: We have not loved you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. All the wrongs that we have done are not hidden from you.
Leader: Our sins and failures weigh heavy on our hearts, and we feel how our fellowship with you has suffered. Forgive us and restore us, we pray, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, who loves us and gave himself for us.
All: All praise, honor, glory, and power be to you: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Private Confession of Sin
Assurance of Forgiveness
“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.” Amen
Revelation 1:5-6
*First Reading – Joel 2:28-32
Adoration and Praise
*Congregational Response – Hymn # 332
“Come Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove”
Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,
with all your quick'ning pow'rs;
kindle a flame of sacred love
in these cold hearts of ours.
In vain we tune our formal songs,
in vain we strive to rise;
hosannas languish on our tongues,
and our devotion dies.
And shall we then forever live
at this poor dying rate?
Our love, so faint, so cold to you,
and yours to us so great!
Come, Holy Spirit, heav'nly Dove,
with all your quick'ning pow'rs;
come, shed abroad a Savior’s love
and that shall kindle ours.
Confession of Faith The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Question 33: What is justification?
Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
Question 34: What is adoption?
Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.
*The Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be.
world without end. Amen, amen.
Offering “Praise the Lord Forever More” (Moldoveanu)”
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavn'ly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Word and Sacrament
Pastoral Prayer
Sermon Text – Acts 2:1-13
Sermon “Pentecost”
Reverend Dr. Paul Muresan
God’s Blessing on His People
*Congregational Response – Hymn # 103
“Holy God, We Praise Your Name”
Holy God, we praise your name;
Lord of all, we bow before you;
all on earth your scepter claim,
all in heav'n above adore you.
Infinite your vast domain,
everlasting is your reign.
Hark, the glad celestial hymn
angel choirs above are raising;
cherubim and seraphim
in unceasing chorus praising,
fill the heav'ns with sweet accord:
"Holy, holy, holy Lord."
Lo! the apostolic train
join your sacred name to hallow;
prophets swell the glad refrain,
and the white-robed martyrs follow;
and from morn to set of sun,
through the church the song goes on.
Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit, Three we name you;
while in essence only One,
undivided God we claim you,
and adoring bend the knee,
while we sing this mystery.
*Benediction
*Postlude by June Ruyle, Organist
“A Charge I Have to Keep”
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Sermon Notes
May 28th, 2023
Acts 2:1-13
“Pentecost”
Reverend Dr. Paul Muresan
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