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    May 24, 2020

    Enthusiasm

    Enthusiasm

    Passage: 1 Corinthians 2:10-11

    Speaker: Rev. Vivian McCarthy, Pastor

    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 (NRSV)

    Seventh Sunday of Easter

    May 24, 2020 - 10 am

    Opening Praise   More Like a Whisper  ~Jason Upton

    Listen

    Call to Worship

    Holiness, as taught in the Scriptures, is not based upon knowledge on our part. Rather, it is based upon the resurrected Christ in-dwelling us and changing us into His likeness.       ~A.W. Tozer Preparing for Jesus' Return: Daily Live the Blessed Hope
     
    To put it simply: the Holy Spirit bothers us. Because [the Spirit] moves us, [the Spirit] makes us walk [and] pushes the Church to go forward. And we are like Peter at the Transfiguration: 'Ah, how wonderful it is to be here like this, all together!' ... But don't bother us. We want the Holy Spirit to doze off ... we want to domesticate the Holy Spirit. And that's no good because [the Holy Spirit] is God,…that wind which comes and goes and you don't know where. [The Spirit] is the power of God, … the one who gives us consolation and strength to move forward. But: to move forward! And this bothers us. It's so much nicer to be comfortable.~ Pope Francis, Encountering Truth: Meeting God in the Everyday
     
    In order for the assembly (ekklesia) to be built up, every believer needs to rise up and be actively seeking the Lord and functioning according to the gifts that the Spirit has given each one.   ~Henry Hon
     
    Hymn Father, Spirit, Jesus
     
     

    Unison Prayer 

    We give you all praise, O God of our salvation.  We come with devotion to you, O Christ our redeemer.  We honor you, O Holy Spirit, our source of encouragement.  You are One God who sustains us with your love and your presence.  Empower us, Lord, to worship you in spirit and in truth.  Teach us to use our gifts for your purposes.  Give us the grace to rely on you to  breathe life into our meager offerings and for an outcome that is of your Spirit.   Amen.
     
    Proclamation and Response

    Scriptures & Meditation   Enthusiasm

    Listen

    John 14:26 (NRSV) 

    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.
     
    1 Corinthians 2:10-11 (CEB)
    10 God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, including the depths of God. 11 Who knows a person’s depths except their own spirit that lives in them? In the same way, no one has known the depths of God except God’s Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:10-11, CEB)
     
    Ephesians 1:17-20 (NRSV)
    17 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, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:17-20 NRSV)

     

    Joys and Concerns
          Prayers of the People
     
    Almighty God, before whom stand the living and the dead, we your children, whose mortal life is but a hand’s breadth, give thanks to you:
     
    For all those through whom you have blessed our pilgrimage, whose lives that have empowered us, whose influence is a healing grace,
          We lift up thankful hearts.
     
    For the dear friends and family members whose faces we see no more, but whose love is with us for ever,
          We lift up thankful hearts.
     
    For those who sacrificed themselves, our brothers and sisters who have given their lives for the sake of others,
          We lift up thankful hearts.
     
    That we may hold them all in continual remembrance, and ever think of them as with you in that city whose gates are not shut by day and where there is no night,
          We lift up thankful hearts.
     
    That we may now be dedicated to working for a world where labor is rewarded, fear dispelled, and the nations made one in pace.
     
    O Lord, save your people and bless your heritage.  Day by day we magnify you and worship your name, now and always.  Amen.
     
    Song  Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness ~James K. Manley

    Listen

     

    Chorus:
    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.  Chorus
     
    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.  Chorus
     
    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.  Chorus
     
    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.  Chorus

     

    Announcements

    •  Our weekly Sunday sermons and the Order of Worship are available on our website www.rumcweb.org. The sermon and script are posted by noon on Mondays.
    • Remember to start your Amazon shopping from the church's website www.rumcweb.org. 
    • Reisterstown United Methodist Church is distributing packaged lunches! When: June 6th. Where: 246 Main St., Reisterstown, MD 21136. 11:30-12:30 only. Please stay in your car and wear a mask. 
    • Prayer and devotion service is held each Wednesday at 6:30 pm
    • Mask Makers are needed. We are looking for people to sew masks, donate supplies and/or make monetary contributions. Please contact Karen Green or Susan Harry if you can help.
    • Our Pentecost celebration will be on May 31 with an outside, drive-in service at 10:00 am. Please bring a cupcake, muffin, etc and a candle to celebrate the birth of the church. The service will also be available on Zoom.

    Benediction