The Day of Pentecost

Mother’s Day

May 11, 2008 9:00am

Thank You for sharing this time of worship with us. Do come again! If you do not have a local church home, we invite you to make your home with us. You will find Christian love, opportunities for spiritual growth, warm friendships, and an appreciation of being part of God’s family. Visitors: Please include your email address in the Friendship Register information. Thanks!

Please Don’t Rush Off After The Worship Service! Stick around for some refreshments and a little conversation. We hope you are able to stay! The Education Hour begins at 10:30am.

Assisting Us In Worship This Morning

Margaret Meier, organist

We Gather To Worship The Lord

WORDS OF WELCOME

Today is Pentecost, once a feast of Israel giving thanks to God with the first fruits of their crops, and now the day on which God sent His Spirit as He had promised. First is a reading from the prophet Joel who anticipates the gift of the Spirit. Then in the reading from Acts we hear Luke's record of the events of Pentecost. Finally, in the Gospel according to St. John our Lord explains what the gift of the Spirit will mean for His disciples.

On this day the old was transformed and the new day dawned fulfilling the prophet Joel's vision. The disciples saw an end to their long wait and with the Spirit came understanding and boldness. As we recall the gift of the Spirit we pray for that same understanding of God's Word and boldness to witness to the world the good news of salvation.

OPENING ANTHEM Praise Songbook, pages 36-37

“Breath of the Living God”

INVOCATION

Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Pastor: We stand before a holy God! Before Him we are guilty of sin and we would surely waste away if not for His abundant grace and mercy. Let us make confession of our sins, trusting His forgiveness in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

People: Father, we confess to You our sinfulness. We stand guilty before You and we make no excuses for our failures and our shortcomings. We ask for Your forgiveness, not because we are worthy but because Christ is worthy and we place our faith and trust in Him. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, cleanse us from all sin and restore to us a right relationship with You and with each other.

Sing: Holy Spirit, Love divine, cleanse this guilty heart of mine; (Hymn #183)

In Your mercy pity me; from sin’s bondage set me free.

Holy Spirit, Joy divine, cheer this saddened heart of mine;

Fill me with Your heav’nly peace; let it grow and still increase.

Pastor: Jesus said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, "'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" Jesus has come to give life and this life is one of abundant blessing. You are forgiven of all your sin through the shed blood of Jesus, your Savior. What you have freely received, you are privileged to share with others. As your pastor, I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Go in the assurance of forgiveness and share the Gospel news with the entire world.

People: Amen.

PRAYER

Pastor: O Lord, 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 in communion with the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Sing: Holy Spirit, Pow’r divine, dwell within this heart of mine;

Cast down ev’ry idol throne; reign supreme and reign alone.

See, to You I give my heart; cleanse my life in ev’ry part;

Your own temple I would be Now and for eternity.

OLD TESTAMENT Joel 2:28-29

(I will pour out My Spirit.)

And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

Sing: Holy Spirit, Light divine, shine upon this heart of mine;

Chase the gloom of night away; turn the darkness into day.

SECOND LESSON Acts 2:1-21

(Luke recounts the events on the day of Pentecost.)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-- we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

(At this time, people in the congregation will share some verses of the Bible

in various languages.)

GOSPEL LESSON John 16:5-11

(The work of the Holy Spirit.)

Jesus said, "Now I am going to Him who sent Me, yet none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?’ Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in Me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”

Pastor: This is the Gospel of our Lord.

People: Praise to You, O Christ.

APOSTLES’ CREED

Pastor: In Whom do you believe?

People: I believe in God, the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth.

I believe 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 is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

From there 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 everlasting. Amen.

HYMN Praise Songbook, pages 270-272

"Shine, Jesus, Shine"

PASTOR’S MESSAGE John 16:7

“Send The Spirit To Set Our Hearts On Fire!

RESPONSE (sung to the tune of Hymn #221)

Sing: Make in me a heart that's pure, lift my spirit, Grant me blessing.

Yours the Spirit who gives life. Yours the Spirit of Salvation.

To Your Church grant heav'nly guidance that in all ways we adore You.

Text (c) Russell Nebhut. Used by permission.

GATHERING OF THE OFFERINGS

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Pastor: O Lord of heaven and earth, You never meant for Your people to be lost in darkness and adrift in a sea of death. You sent forth Your Word to bring light to our world.

People: Lead us into Your light and grant us Your Spirit that we may know Your saving will.

Pastor: In blindness of sin we rebelled against Your perfect will, abused Your gracious gifts, and were hopelessly lost in darkness and death.

People: Then You sent Your Son who broke down the walls to set us free by His death and resurrection.

Pastor: He came into our world of death and claimed our burden for Himself and He breathed hope and life into our lost souls.

People: Open our eyes to His mercy, to His presence among us through Word and Sacrament, and to His good and gracious will for all people.

Pastor: O Spirit who has come to restore us lost and condemned creatures, breathe on us that we may be unmovable in faith and unfearing in witness to Christ.

People: Lead us to live our lives as high doxologies to the one eternal God---Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Pastor: Touch the sick with healing, uplift the sorrowing, comfort the grieving, and give peace to the dying, through Jesus Christ.

People: Lord, give Your mercy to all who stand in need of Your grace for healing, strength, and peace.

Pastor: Give peace to the nations, raise up leaders who love freedom and justice, and help us work for the good of the poor and needy.

People: O Lord, teach us to live for others as You lived for us.

Pastor: Give an increase of Your Spirit to all pastors, teachers, missionaries, and those who serve the Church, that they and each of us may serve You faithfully.

People: Lead us to remember our baptismal calling to new life and inspire us to use well and for Your glory all that You have entrusted to us.

Pastor: Lord, in Your mercy,

People: hear our prayer.

Pastor: Lord, we pray for... Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

People: Amen.

LORD'S PRAYER

ANTHEM Praise Songbook, pages 246-247

"Praise the Spirit in Creation"

PRAYER FOR MOTHER’S DAY

CLOSING ANTHEM Praise Songbook, page 266

"She Will Be Called Blessed"

This Week At Mt. Olive

Today: 8:45am Prayer Time in the Fireside Room

9:00am Family Worship Service

10:00am Refreshments and Social Time

10:30am Sunday School and Adult Education Hour

2:00pm Mt. Olive Chinese Church Worship Service

2:00pm Open House for Ed & Marcella Voss

7:00pm Coordinating Council Meeting

Monday: 6:30pm Neighborhood Flyer Distribution

7:00pm “Beautiful Feet” Bible Study

Wednesday: 5:30pm Confirmation Class

7:00pm Sunday School Teachers’ Meeting

Saturday: 9:00am The Great Give, Grow, & Grill Day and Kid’s Corner

Next Sunday: 9:00am Family Worship Service with Holy Communion

10:30am Congregational Assembly

Today’s Flowers Are Given By Ed & Marcella Voss in honor of their 90^th birthdays and their 65^th wedding anniversary. Congratulations! An Open House will be held this afternoon in thanksgiving to God for these blessings. The celebration will be held from 2:00 to 5:00pm at the Heritage Place of Roseville, 563 W Country Road B. All welcome!

Help Needed Monday Evening! We will be distributing 2,000 “Give, Grow, Grill Day” brochures door-to-door this Monday evening, May 12^th, at 6:30pm (rain date: Tuesday, May 13^th, 6:30pm). Your help in getting the word out will be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance for your help.

The Nominating Committee is seeking eligible candidates for the annual election to the Coordinating Council. Four positions are on the ballot: President, Outreach, Adult Discipleship, and Property & Grounds. Please prayerfully consider serving our congregation on the council and running for one of these offices. Elections are at the spring congregational assembly next Sunday, May 18. If interested please contact Greg Schuyler at 612-810-7521 or Liberty Belter at 651-428-5185.

Coming Very Soon: Our Third Annual Great Give, Grow, and Grill Day will be held this Saturday, May 17^th, from 9:00am until 3:00pm.

It starts with Give: Give blood to give life to folks who need it. This is open to all members and to the people of our community. The first appointment begins at 9:30am. If you are physically able and qualify as a donor, please give blood. Sign up today!

Then comes Grow. Our annual Plant Exchange has been an opportunity to meet the people of our neighborhood and provide a welcomed service. Because our date coincides with the Como area garage sale events, we anticipate many visitors who will take plants home to grow in their gardens.

Of course, the exciting G is Grill! From 11:00am until 2:00pm, free hot dogs, chips, beverages, etc., will be served to all who stop by. We’ll be on hand to greet visitors with a smile! A large tent will be set up in our parking lot.

Plus: This year we are adding a “Kid’s Corner” consisting of face painting, crafts, duck pond, and a Bible story stage. This will serve as this year’s VBS, and will run from 9:30am until 12:30pm.

So, as you can see, this Neighborhood Awareness Event will require much work and many hands. We need you to work in at least one area – from putting up and taking down the tent to welcoming and visiting with those who attend. Pray that the Lord bless our efforts!

Christian Life Ministries is hosting its 3^rd annual Walk For Life on Sunday, May 18^th, beginning at 3:00pm, at Casey Lake Park in North St. Paul. A potluck picnic will follow the Walk. Registration forms are available in the church office.

Quotes Regarding Mothers: "I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

"A mother is not a person to lean on but a person to make leaning unnecessary.” Dorothy Canfield Fisher

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her." George Washington (1732-1799)