Asbury United Methodist Church

May 19, 2024

Welcome!

Prelude

 Joys, Concerns, Announcements

Introit: “I Was Glad When They Said”, by Stan Pethel

 Please stand as you are able at *.

*Greeting (unison)

We will sing to the Lord as long as we live;

   We will sing praises to our God while we’re still alive.

Let our praise be pleasing to him;

   We are rejoicing in the Lord!

Let our whole being bless the Lord!

   Praise the Lord!  (from Ps. 104. alt.)

*Opening prayer (unison)

God of grace, you sent the promised gift of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and the women, upon Mary the mother of Jesus and upon his brothers. Fill your church with power, kindle flaming hearts within us, and cause us to proclaim your mighty works in every tongue, that all may call on you and be saved; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Hymn # 2120 TFWS “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness”

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,

Blow through the wilderness calling and free;

Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,

Stir me from placidness,

Wind, Wind on the sea.

You moved on the waters,

You called to the deep,

Then you coaxed up the mountains

From the valleys of sleep;

And over the eons you called to each thing:

Wake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,

Blow through the wilderness calling and free;

Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,

Stir me from placidness,

Wind, Wind on the sea.

You swept through the desert,

You stung with the sand,

And you goaded your people

With a law and a land;

And when they were blinded

With their idols and lies,

Then you spoke through your prophets

to open their eyes.

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,

Blow through the wilderness calling and free;

Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,

Stir me from placidness,

Wind, Wind on the sea.

You sang in a stable,

You cried from a hill,

Then you whispered in silence

When the whole world was still;

And down in the city

You called once again,

When you blew through your people

On the rush of the wind.

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,

Blow through the wilderness calling and free;

Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,

Stir me from placidness,

Wind, Wind on the sea.

You call from tomorrow,

You break ancient schemes,

From the bondage of sorrow

The captives dream dreams,

Our women see visions,

Our men clear their eyes,

With bold new decisions

Your people arise.

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,

Blow through the wilderness calling and free;

Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,

Stir me from placidness,

Wind, Wind on the sea.

Acts 2:1-21                              Carol Hills

 When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

  There were pious Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages. They were surprised and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them? How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; as well as residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya bordering Cyrene; and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own languages!” They were all surprised and bewildered. Some asked each other, “What does this mean?” Others jeered at them, saying, “They’re full of new wine!”

  Peter stood with the other eleven apostles. He raised his voice and declared, “Judeans and everyone living in Jerusalem! Know this! Listen carefully to my words! These people aren’t drunk, as you suspect; after all, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! Rather, this is what was spoken through 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 will see visions.
     Your elders will dream dreams.
      Even upon my servants, men and women,
         I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
         and they will prophesy.
  I will cause wonders to occur in the heavens above
     and signs on the earth below,
         blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.
  The sun will be changed into darkness,
     and the moon will be changed into blood,
         before the great and spectacular day of the Lord comes.

  And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Psalm 104:24-35 with sung response (UMH 826) Reading begins on pg. 827

Response: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, who rules all creation.

R

O Lord, how manifold are your works!

   In wisdom you have made them all;

   the earth is full of your creatures.

Yonder is the sea, great and wide,

  creeping things innumerable are there,

  living things both small and great.

There go the ships,

  and Leviathan whom you formed to play in it.

These all look to you,

  to give them their food in due season.

When you give to them, they gather it;

   when you open your hand, they are filled with good

        things.

When you hide your face, they are dismayed;

   when you take away their breath, they die

   and return to their dust.

When you send forth your spirit, they are created;

  and you renew the face of the ground.

May the glory of the Lord endure forever,

   may the Lord rejoice in his works,

who looks on the earth and it trembles,

  who touches the mountains and they smoke!

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;

  I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

May my meditation be pleasing to the Lord

  in whom I rejoice.

Let sinners be consumed from the earth,

  and let the wicked be no more!

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

  Praise the Lord!       R

 Anthem: “Voices of Praise”, by Tom Fettke

Romans 8:22-27              Carol Hills

 We know that the whole creation is groaning together and suffering labor pains up until now. And it’s not only the creation. We ourselves who have the Spirit as the first crop of the harvest also groan inside as we wait to be adopted and for our bodies to be set free. We were saved in hope. If we see what we hope for, that isn’t hope. Who hopes for what they already see? But if we hope for what we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.

 In the same way, the Spirit comes to help our weakness. We don’t know what we should pray, but the Spirit himself pleads our case with unexpressed groans. The one who searches hearts knows how the Spirit thinks, because he pleads for the saints, consistent with God’s will.

John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15                              Carol Hills

  “When the Companion comes, whom I will send from the Father—the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me. You will testify too, because you have been with me from the beginning. “I didn’t say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go away to the one who sent me. None of you ask me, ‘Where are you going?’ Yet because I have said these things to you, you are filled with sorrow.  I assure you that it is better for you that I go away. If I don’t go away, the Companion won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.  When he comes, he will show the world it was wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment.  He will show the world it was wrong about sin because they don’t believe in me.  He will show the world it was wrong about righteousness because I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me anymore.  He will show the world it was wrong about judgment because this world’s ruler stands condemned.

I still have many things to say

  “I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now.  However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you in all truth. He won’t speak on his own, but will say whatever he hears and will proclaim to you what is to come.  He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and proclaim it to you.  Everything that the Father has is mine. That’s why I said that the Spirit takes what is mine and will proclaim it to you.

Liturgist: The word of God for the people of God.   

People: Thanks be to God!

*Hymn: # 2119 TFWS “Where the Spirit of the Lord Is” (sing two times)

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is peace;

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is love.

There is comfort in life’s darkest hour;

There is light and life,

There is help and power in the Spirit,

In the Spirit of the Lord.

SERMON: “The Holy Spirit, the Companion”  Pastor Chuck

*Hymn # 420 “Breathe on Me, Breath of God”

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

Fill me with life anew,

That I may love what thou dost love,

And do what thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

Until my heart is pure,

Until with thee I will one will,

To do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

Till I am wholly thine,

Till all this earthly part of me

Glows with thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

So shall I never die,

But live with thee the perfect

Life of thine eternity.

Prayer Time– Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

   hallowed be your name,

   your kingdom come,

   your will be done, on earth as in heaven.  

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

  as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

  and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

 now and forever.  Amen

Offering

*Doxology # 94 (To the tune “Lasst Uns Erfreuen”)

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise god, all creatures here below:

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts!

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power up-lifts!

Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Prayer Of Dedication (Unison)

Holy Spirit, as you fill us and bring to life every aspect of our lives, so sweep up these our gifts and offerings, spreading them like matches and kindling to bring the warming fire of your love to people near and far. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

*Hymn # 543 “O Breath of Life”

O Breath of Life, come sweeping through us,

Revive your church with life and power.

O Breath of Life, come, cleanse, renew us,

And fit your church to meet this hour.

O Wind of God, come, bend us, break us,

Till humbly we confess our need.

Then in your tenderness remake us;

Revive, restore, for this we plead.

O Breath of Life, come, breathe within us,

Renewing thought and will and heart.

Come, love of Christ, afresh to win us;

Revive your church in every part.

* Benediction

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Today 5/19         

9:30 am                Bible Study 

10:45 am              Worship

Tuesday 5/21                 

9:30 am                        Quilters-Crafters

Wednesday 5/22

7:00 pm                Choir (last for the season)

Next Sunday 5/26

9:30 am                Bible Study 

10:45 am              Worship

Pastor Charles Layton  Cell: 712-420-5963

Website: www.theasburymethodistcr.com

Phone: 319-364-3188

Church office hours: Tue – Thurs 9am-1pm

To view live streaming or recordings please visit www.youtube.com and search for Asbury UMC CR and subscribe.

Prayer for at home:

A Prayer for Deliverance

Release all captives, we beseech Thee,

Lord whose mighty hand doth set men free;

And hear the glad acclaim of all Thy people

         Who praise and glorify but Thee.

Preserve the righteous ones who seek Thee,

And, in love, Thy unity proclaim;

O guard and bless with Thine abundant goodness,

         Thy people who revere Thy name.

Thou, Lord, who art alone exalted,

Turn to us and hearken to our plea.

We bless Thee, Thou who knowest all things hidden,

         Thy kingdom is unto eternity. 

(from Sabbath and Festival Prayer Book, © 1946, The Rabbinical Assembly of America and The United Synagogue of America)