MAY 23, :00 AM

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PENTECOST

MAY 23, 2021 – 10:00 AM

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Day of Pentecost

“Confirmation Sunday“

May 23, 2021– 10:00 AM

The congregation’s (C) responses are shown in bold print,

Pastor (P) and Assisting Minister (A) are regular print.

INTRODUCTION

Pentecost is a day of promises fulfilled. The promised Spirit of God is poured out. The baptized have become

"children of God" and "joint heirs with Christ." By the power of the Spirit we have seen the face of the Father in his only begotten Son and been saved by him. “Bless the Lord, O my soul. Let all that is within me, Bless His Holy Name!”

+ GATHERING +

PRELUDE

WELCOME

At the sound of the bell, the congregation stands and faces the Baptismal Font.

Worship begins “under the sign of the cross”.

GATHERING CALL

Pastor: Holy Spirit,

You are present from the dawn of creation;

You breathe life into all creatures;

You sustain us with living waters.

People: COME, HOLY SPIRIT.

By You we are born anew as Children of God;

You pray within us, when our prayers are too deep for words.

You are light. You are life.

You are goodness, and the source of every blessing.

You are the Lord, the Giver of Life.

Sanctify, Bless, and Breathe new life into the church, The Body of Christ on earth.

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PRAYER OF THE DAY

P. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C. And also with you.

P. Let us pray. Almighty and ever-living God, you fulfilled the promise of Easter by sending the gift of your Holy Spirit. Look upon your people gathered in prayer, open to receive the Spirit’s flame. May it come to rest in our hearts and heal the divisions of word and tongue, that with one voice and one song we may praise your name in joy and thanksgiving;

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C. AMEN.

CANTICLE OF PRAISE “O Sing to the Lord”

4 Oh, shout to our God, who gave us the Spirit.

Oh, shout to our God, who gave us the Spirit.

Oh, sing to our God, oh, sing to our God.

5 For Jesus is Lord! Amen! Alleluia!

For Jesus is Lord! Amen! Alleluia!

Oh, sing to our God, oh, sing to our God.

PRAYER FOR PENTECOST

(All people pray together, this ancient prayer of the Church) Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit

and we shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolations;

Through Christ Our Lord, AMEN.

1 Oh, sing to the Lord, oh, sing God a new song.

Oh, sing to the Lord, oh, sing God a new song.

Oh, sing to our God, oh, sing to our God.

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+ WORD +

SCRIPTURE READING

Acts 2:1-21 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ²And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. ⁵Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. ⁶And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. ⁷Amazed and astonished, they asked,

"Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes, 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, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹Cretans and Arabs — in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." ¹²All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" ¹³But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine." ¹⁴But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. ¹⁵Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning.

16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon 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 upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

19And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

20The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' (The congregation joins the lector in reading verse 21 together…….

In this way, we are gathered in one common confession, in the One Name of our Lord and Savior.

Hearing many voices and languages, we nevertheless, are and always will be ONE in the Lord. Whoever calls on the Lord – no matter the language, no matter the culture, no matter the race – God will hear, for there is no language that God does not understand!)

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ANTHEM “Come, O Source of Joy and Gladness”

arr. Michael Larkin Chancel Choir (video)

PSALM 104: 24-34, 35B

30You send forth your Spirit, and they are created;

and so you renew the face of the earth.

31May the glory of the LORD endure forever;

O LORD, rejoice in all your works.

32You look at the earth and it trembles; you touch the mountains and they smoke.

33I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;

I will praise my God while I have my being.

34May these words of mine please God. I will rejoice in the LORD.

35bBless the LORD, O my soul. Hallelujah!

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The congregation stands to welcome the gospel.

GOSPEL

John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15 P. The holy Gospel according to St. John.

C. Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said, ²⁶“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. ²⁷You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. ^16:4b“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. ⁵But now I am going to him who sent me. ⁷Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment. ¹²“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

P. The Gospel of the Lord. C. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON

“Your Advantage” Rev. John S. Hillmer The congregation stands to proclaim the word of God in song.

ALL: Alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in us the fire of your love. Alleluia!

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HYMN OF THE DAY “O Day Full of Grace”

Apostles’ creed

Congregation: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Confirmands: I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Congregation: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

“What does this mean?”

Confirmands: I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts sanctified and kept me in the one true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it united with Jesus Christ in the one, true faith daily in this Christian church the Holy Spirit abundantly forgives all sins – mine and those of all believers. On the last day the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead and will give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life.

This is most certainly true. AMEN.

(Explanation to the third article, Small Catechism)

PRAYERS of intercession

A. Each petition will end, “Your mercy is great.”

C. People respond, “Hear us, O God.”

AMEN.

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Ministers and Confirmands move to the Baptismal Font THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

P. Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God’s mercy and forgiveness. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.

C. Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family.

P. Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom.

C. At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit.

P. By the water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all. We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ.

C. Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace and love.

P. To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

C. AMEN.

THE AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM

(The renewal of Baptismal vows through the Rite of Confirmation) C-Confirmands P-Pastor

A.

Today we celebrate with Cole Schaeffer, Alexa Smith, Kevin Vickers, Richie Andree, Noah Thomley, Alex Loiselle, and Harper Paladino who are taking another step in their journey of faith. In Christian love each was presented for Holy Baptism. In our Baptisms, sacred promises were made:

o To faithfully bring us to the services of God's house o To teach us the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten

Commandments

o To place in our hands the Holy Scriptures

o And to provide for our instruction in the Christian faith.

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P. You were received into this fellowship and surrounded by the Body of Christ as expressed in the community of this congregation. I ask you now:

Do you this day in the presence of God and of this congregation acknowledge the gifts which God gave you in Baptism?

C I do. I wish to confirm my vows made at baptism.

P. In Baptism, we confess the faith received from the apostles. Do you believe the faith we have just declared?

C. Yes. It is the Rock on which I stand.

P. In Baptism we rise against the dominion of death. Do you renounce Satan and all evil powers which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?

C. I renounce all evil.

P. In Baptism, we are made one with Christ through faith. Do you turn to Jesus Christ and put your whole trust in his grace and love?

C. I put my trust in Jesus Christ.

P. May the Holy Spirit open your ears to receive God’s holy Word, and your mouth to proclaim God’s praise. I mark you with the sign of the cross.

May the cross of Christ always be between you and the forces of evil.

May the cross of Christ guard you and keep you from all harm. AMEN.

A. ______ has been instructed in the Christian Faith and desires to make public affirmation of his Baptism.

P. Let us pray…. Merciful God, we thank you for _____, whom you have made your own by water and the Word in baptism. You have called him to yourself, enlightened him with the gifts of your Spirit, and nourished him in the community of faith. Uphold your servant in the gifts and promises of baptism, and unite the hearts of all whom you have brought to new birth. We ask this in the name of Christ.

C. AMEN.

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THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION

WITH THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

P. Father in heaven, for Jesus’ sake, stir up in ____ the gift of your Holy Spirit; confirm his faith, guide his life, empower him in his serving, give patience in suffering, and bring him to everlasting life.

C. AMEN.

(Presentation of Confirmands)

Cole Schaeffer, Alexa Smith, Kevin Vickers, Richie Andree,

Alex Loiselle, Harper Paladino and Noah Thomley

Announcements

+ THE GREAT THANKSGIVING +

The presiding minister greets the congregation and invites all present to give thanks.

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EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

Almighty God, you so loved the world that you gave your only son, who in his life and teaching, healing and serving,

in his suffering and dying,

and especially in his rising and ascending, reflected your perfect love.

We give you thanks for his coming into the world to fulfill your will and to accomplish all things for our salvation.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: “Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance

of me.”

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

THE 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.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

P. Now let us feast on Christ, the bread of heaven. Hallelujah!

C. AMEN.

COMMUNION MUSIC “Here again”

as sung by Elevation Worship Lisa Watson, soprano

DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION

POST-COMMUNION BLESSING

P. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the gifts of his body and blood,

strengthen, keep and unite us, now and forever.

C. AMEN.

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+ SENDING +

THE BENEDICTION

P. The Lord Bless you and keep you,

The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, The Lord lift his countenance upon you, and ☩ give you peace.

C. AMEN.

SENDING HYMN “Breathe on me Breath of God”

DISMISSAL

A. Go in Peace. Serve the Lord!

C. Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE

Readings for Sunday, May 30, 2021

Isaiah 6:1-8 Isaiah’s vision and call

Psalm 29

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. (Ps.29:2) Romans 8:12-17

Living by the Spirit John 3:1-17

Entering the reign of God through water and the Spirit

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WORSHIP LEADERS – May 23, 2021 – 10:00 a.m.

PRESIDINGMINISTER Rev. John S. Hillmer

ASSISTING MINISTER Synodical Deacon Nadine Anderson COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Aida Fardella

HEAD USHER Fred Borchers

USHERS Tim Dorn, Kipp Van Pay

ALTAR GUILD Maggie Scott, Alice Deal,

POWERPOINT Alice Deal

VIDEO/ SOUND TECHNICIANS David Vickers, Barb Toepke

Connecting People to People, People to Christ,

and People to their role in the world The People of Grace, Ministers

Rev. Pedro Suarez, Bishop of the Florida / Bahamas Synod Rev. John S. Hillmer, Senior Pastor

Lisa Watson, Director of Traditional Music [email protected] Jim Sawyers, Organist [email protected] Laurie Sweigart, Director of Bell Choir [email protected]

Joan Beeman, Parish Nurse [email protected]

OFFICE STAFF

Maggie Gould, Office Manager [email protected] Kerri Shaw, Administrative Assistant [email protected] Fred Borchers, Custodian

SYNOD PARISH DEACONS Nadine Anderson

STEPHEN MINISTRY LEADERS Mickey Castor, Ruth Anderson, Karen Jankowski, Pr. John Hillmer

A Stephen Ministry Congregation

Rev. John S. Hillmer, Senior Pastor

3714 W. Linebaugh Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33618

813-961-8747 – www.gracetampa.org

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Church office hours 9 a.m. - noon, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Monday- Friday