Heard And Understood
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For June 8, 2025:
Heard And Understood
by Dean Feldmeyer
Acts 2:1-21
Last week, after two failed attempts, Elon Musk’s SpaceX made a third try at launching a rocket that would prove he was seriously on his way to landing on the moon and, later, Mars. This time the spacecraft made it into space before it lost control, began to tumble and, in the words of a SpaceX spokesperson, experienced “a rapid unscheduled disassembly.”
For those speaking English, that’s spin-speak for: “fell apart.” For those who are crass and insensitive: “exploded.”
Not to worry, however. The company has assured us that the failure was, in fact, a “partial success.” That’s like saying that the F I got on my history exam was a “partial A” because I got a few of the questions right.
Linguists and cultural anthropologists tell us that human beings invented language for the purpose of communicating with each other. Now, however, thanks to politics, business, and, to a large degree, religion, language is becoming a tool for obfuscation, confusion, coverup, and control.
In the News / Culture
Last week, on May 17, in an op-ed piece for the Washington Post, writer Naftali Bendavid expressed some vexation about how Democrats may be alienating their own constituency as well as others they hope to win by adopting certain buzzwords and insisting that others do as well. These words, he says, have equivalents that are part of our common parlance, but liberals insist that the new words are better, more precise, more perfect, and the ones that must be used and understood by everyone who wants to be considered sensitive, inclusive, and genuinely democratic.
For example, rich people are referred to as “oligarchs,” hungry Americans are “people experiencing food insecurity” and prisoners are “justice-involved populations.” “Equality” is out, “equity” is in.
Bendavid quotes Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona), who asks why Dems insist on saying that they want to achieve “social equity” when they could just as easily say they want everyone to have an even chance? Kentucky’s Democratic governor Andy Beshear wants to know why the left insists on talking about “substance abuse disorder” when most people call it “addiction.” Bernie Sanders has abandoned “oligarchy” in favor of “greedy billionaires.”
Beshear believes that his fellow liberals, in genuine efforts to be more sensitive, have drained the power from many words. Saying someone has defeated “substance abuse disorder,” minimizes the sheer human triumph of beating addiction; decrying “food insecurity” fails to convey the tragedy of hungry children.
Democrats, according to many on the left, if they hope to win elections, need to start sounding more like the factory floor and less like the faculty lounge.
The muddying of language for political purposes isn’t restricted to the left, however. Some Republicans insist that people who use words like “economically disadvantaged” instead of “poor” and “LatinX” instead of Latina or Latino must be America hating socialists. The right has long excelled at using such “politically correct” terms as “woke,” “critical race theory” and “gender-fluid” to depict Democrats as out of touch.
Democrats respond by pointing out that those words are the language of activists on the extreme left and most members of the mainstream and center-left rarely, if ever even use them. But perception is reality for the right and if the Republican party can convince enough Americans that the left is saturated with elite, college educated, wishy-washy socialists who are trying to indoctrinate America’s youth with anti-American code words, well…
Of course, the same war over appropriate language is not taking place only in politics. Conservative and progressive Christianity have been fighting on that rhetorical front for nearly a century, at least since the words “fundamentalism” and “fundamentalist” came into common use around the turn of the 20th century.
Christians in the old line, liberal, mainstream churches cringe when asked if they are “born again” and “washed in the blood of Jesus.” Not wanting to get into a whole big thing, they prevaricate when evangelicals ask if they believe that the Bible is the “word of God.” They have no idea how to answer when asked if they are “saved.”
Conservatives, on the other hand, are suspicious when progressive Christians talk of Jesus as a champion of “justice” and they simply don’t understand how liberals can believe that the church is built on the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) that their favorite president has banned from all government agencies.
It isn’t just the way we interpret scripture and formulate theology that is keeping Christians apart, it’s how we express these same things through our language.
In the Scriptures
The Pentecost story in Acts offers many preaching points. We’ll focus on the unique and powerful communication between the disciples and the crowd when the Holy Spirit intervenes.
Quickly, then —
The day of Pentecost was an annual holiday celebration that the spring harvest had arrived and the early Jesus followers had gathered in one place, probably at someone’s house. Suddenly there was a sound like that of a violent wind and divided tongues like fire entered the room and rested on each of those there in the house and “all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.”
Underline that. They all began to speak in other languages. That’s important.
There follows an eyewitness testimony that there were people present, people who were born Jews and people who were converts to Judaism, from sixteen countries and areas, virtually the entire known world. And the Jesus followers were speaking in all their languages and being understood by them.
Most of the onlookers were astonished and impressed with this display of multi-lingual virtuosity. Others, not so much. They accused the Jesus followers of being drunk.
Peter, however, says that drunkenness is not to blame and as proof he points out that it’s only 9:00 a.m. and then launches into a homily, the contents of which are not part of our consideration, here.
For our purposes, the important parts of the text are:
Okay, full disclosure time.
I’m a preacher and a writer. Words are my life. I make my living with words. They are my medium. As paint is for a painter and marble is for a sculpturer, as notes are for a composer and flour is for a baker, so words are for me. I hate it when someone decides to unilaterally change the meaning of a word or make up a new word without warning and then blames me for not knowing about it and jumping immediately on board and with it and start using it the first time I hear it.
Not long ago, I used the word “shepherds” in a presentation and was interrupted during my speech by one participant who said, “and shepherdesses,” publicly correcting me and reminding me to be inclusive in my language. Rude, but okay, fair enough. I stood corrected.
The very next day, in another presentation, I heeded the correction I had received from the previous day and used the phrase, “actors and actresses, comedians and comediennes.” Following the presentation, I was pulled aside by a colleague and told that I was being grossly sexist for placing women in a separate category from their male counterparts, that male and female actors and comedians were doing the same work and should referred to with the same noun.
I wanted to throw my hands in the air and give up. This sensitivity stuff was just too hard.
Words have power, I get it. Even more than sticks and stones, they really can hurt, and they can heal, too. That’s why I refuse to use certain words and am shocked, dismayed, and offended when I hear someone else use them.
But the Jesus followers in the story of Pentecost, the people who were present for the birth of the Christian church, did not insist that everyone present learn and use their language. The Holy Spirit did not require the listeners to learn the language of the speakers.
No, the Holy Spirit gave the speakers the ability to speak in the language of the listeners so they could be heard and understood.
If we are serious about carrying the good news of Jesus Christ into the world, we must learn the languages of the world we are entering and not insist that they come to us and learn our language before we can share Jesus with them.
————
My wife and I live next door to a 28-year-old single mom and her 20-month-old (that’s “almost 2” in my language) son. We have sort of adopted them and become surrogate mom and dad, grandma and grandpa whenever we can. She knows that I’m a semi-retired United Methodist minister.
Leslie (not her real name) is completely and profoundly unchurched but her relationship with us has led her to explore what it might mean to be a Christian. Besides, she wants her son to grow up with what she has seen in us as Christian values.
So, rather than attend our church that is made up almost entirely of retired folks with no children’s program whatsoever, she decided to try the church a few miles away where her son attends occasional play-days and Mommy’s-day-off days.
That first Sunday we came home to find her sitting on our porch nearly in tears. “I felt completely lost,” she said. “I didn’t know what they were talking about. They talked about being saved. What is that? Saved from what? They talked about a tithe. I don’t even know what that means. They said Nathan and I are going to hell if we don’t get saved. Is that true?”
Later, after we reassured her and I calmed down from my own sense of anger and outrage, I thought of the people who had come into my church and the panic that seemed to fill them when we used words like sanctuary, narthex, nave, chancel, sacristy, and even fellowship hall. They must have felt like they had landed on another planet.
I began to suggest to my congregation that when visitors arrive, we use words and phrases that are a little more visitor friendly like worship center instead of sanctuary, and entry way instead of narthex, and front of the church instead of chancel.
Of course, some acted as if I was drunk to even suggest changing the way we talk about our church. Others, however, saw that hospitality, even evangelism, may very well begin not with insisting that people learn to speak our language but with us learning to speak theirs.
SECOND THOUGHTS
Asking in Jesus’s Name
by Katy Stenta
John 14:8-17 (25-27)
Here we are, where Philip claims that he will be satisfied if Jesus just shows us God. Jesus fires back that he has seen Jesus and yet he is still not satisfied. This reminds me of the Hamilton song where Hamilton and Angelica talk about how they will never be satisfied. They are always hungering for something that they cannot quite grasp and so it is hard for them to name or know. We humans are good at wanting things. In Disney movies it is formulaic to have a want/wish song to set up the plot. There is no journey without a quest.
Here, though, the quest is to see God. Jesus’ answer is that when you see Jesus you see God. But then Jesus sweetens the pot and says that whatever you ask in my name will be given to you.
This is a scary thought. There are a lot of things that are asked for in the name of Jesus.
Just this week, Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican senator from Iowa, did a pseudo-apology for remarks she made after a town hall attendee criticized the planned Republican Medicaid cuts by saying “People are going to die.” Ernst responded, “Well, we are all going to die.”
After identifying the incident in her filmed apology, she then made light of the hope that no one finds out that the tooth fairy isn’t real (as if that has anything to do with people dying from lack of medical care). At the end of the video, she (somewhat sarcastically) invites people to embrace “Jesus Christ for eternal and everlasting life.”
Dismissing people’s concerns for health care and food and inviting them to worship Jesus Christ as a band-aid to doing her job does not seem like a good ask in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Meanwhile Bishop William Barber and the Poor People’s Campaign were arrested on the round for praying for those who will experience cuts to Medicaid, including those in poverty and those with illnesses and disabilities.
What does God do when people are asking for contrary things in the name of God? Jesus says that if you love Jesus, you keep his commandments. And that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Jesus makes it clear that those who are on the side of love and truth will get what they need from God. May it be so, we pray. Amen.
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Mary Austin:
Acts 2:1-21, Genesis 11:1-9
Paradise Restored
To understand Pentecost, Cole Arthur Riley draws on the wisdom of Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison, sharing that “In her 1993 Nobel Lecture, Toni Morrison tells a parable of language and its capacity to destroy or liberate depending on how we wield it. The conventional wisdom of the Tower of Babel story is that the collapse was a misfortune. That it was the distraction, or the weight of many languages that precipitated the tower’s failed architecture. That one monolithic language would have expedited the building, and heaven would have been reached. Whose heaven, she wonders? And what kind? Perhaps the achievement of Paradise was premature, a little hasty if no one could take the time to understand other languages, other views, other narratives period. Had they, the heaven they imagined might have been found at their feet.”
Riley tells us that “Pentecost reminds us that the Spirit of God rejects assimilation under the guise of “unity.” This tale is not just about diversity; it’s not mere tokenism; it’s language as liberation. It’s the sound of excluded voices making something whole again…Could it be that Pentecost is paradise remembered on earth? What does it mean that in the story we are not told precisely what they communicated about the miracle or the divine? We know only that it was understood — that no tribe or tongue was excluded nor made a singular spectacle, but that a collective was born. Two thousand years after the Tower of Babel falls and fifty days after Christ rises from the dead, we find the story of Pentecost. The Spirit descends upon a sacred diverse gathering, and language is made portal to the divine. A path to God, to one another, and to shared imagination.” (from Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human)
No one is left out on this day of Pentecost.
* * *
John 14:8-17 (25-27)
Praying and Doing
As Jesus prepares his friends to live in the world without him, he says, “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” He invites them, and us, into a powerful spiritual mix of both prayer and action.
Katherine May says that her feelings about prayer have changed over the years. She reveals, “As I spend more time deliberately praying, rather than falling into it by accident sometimes, I find that the matter of doing comes up constantly. Whereas I once wasted energy on outrage at people who I thought were signaling their virtue rather than taking action, I now press myself to make myself useful in a practical way, somehow. It is often very, very small indeed, but then I am also very, very small in the context of the world. I no longer resent the offer of thoughts and prayers; instead I see it as a way of expressing kindness and care, even while acknowledging our helplessness.”
She adds, in the spirit of what Jesus is saying, “At its root, prayer is not a petition to a supernatural force, but an act of making contact with the transcendent part of ourselves, the part that knows its place in the human ecology. It is far from passive.” Prayer is a way to move toward the peace that Jesus gives us.
* * *
Acts 2:1-21
Each in Their Own Language
The Pentecost story involves everyone hearing the good news in their own language. The Holy Spirit is generous with the gift of language.
Nikhil Mahant argues that our imagination about the languages we don’t know is much too small. When we make up new languages for movies or TV, we think too narrowly. Mahant says, “Consider Klingon from Star Trek, now spoken by several Earthlings. Klingon’s claim to alienness is that it contains a peculiar set of sounds and an unusual sentence structure. But, like human languages, it still contains nouns and verbs, and the same structural elements, like subject and object… The development of constructed languages (referred to as ‘conlangs’) for fictional and other purposes draws primarily from linguistics…the formula for creating one essentially involves adapting familiar elements from how Earthlings communicate.”
Mahant says, “As a philosopher of language, I find this unsatisfying. The space of possible languages is vast, and full of exotic languages that are much weirder and stranger than any we have yet imagined…For instance, an alien language may be less like English, Swahili, or Cantonese, but more like maps…Alien modes of communication may also have additional levels, ones that we cannot yet foresee. Perhaps there is an affective level that can encode how exactly one feels — say, the nature and intensity of one’s pain. Or a phenomenal level that can encode qualitative experiences, such as an apple’s redness. Growing out of our anthropocentric bubble to explore how aliens might communicate will equip us better for a potential first contact scenario. But it will also make us more reflective about, and potentially improve, one of the greatest assets that our species possesses: language.”
No matter what languages the expanding universe may reveal, the Holy Spirit has the power to translate and to connect the creatures of God.
* * * * * *
From team member Chris Keating:
Acts 2:1-21
Of Pride and Pentecost (or, the day some Baptists worshipped in a bar)
Bert Montgomery, a Baptist pastor from Mississippi, reflects on the connections between Pentecost and the beginning of Pride month. Marking both celebrations, Montgomery once led Pentecost worship inside a local tavern. (It was too early to serve drinks, he adds.) Montgomery writes:
I can’t think of a better place for a church to meet for Pentecost than at a tavern with a reputation for inclusion, togetherness, diversity, and celebrations, as well as its year-round support of our local Pride group. Pentecost, not unlike Pride, is all about celebrating and affirming diversity, inclusion, and togetherness. Pride, not unlike Pentecost, is about joy bubbling up and bursting out.
It’s a reminder, Montgomery suggests, of how the power of the Spirit became a bridge of understanding between the apostles and the diverse people who happened to be hanging out in Jerusalem on Pentecost. “Again and again,” he continues, “throughout both testaments, and especially in the book of Acts, we discover holiness shines brightest in diverse, multicultural relationships, in the liberation of the confined, and in welcoming, affirming and celebrating the likeness of God in each and every person.”
* * *
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
The Earth is full of God’s creatures
God’s role as creator and sustainer of life is infused in Psalm 104’s thirty-five verses. Here the Spirit’s presence in bringing to life a diverse ecosystem of creation is celebrated with praise and awe. Perhaps the Psalm’s presence at Pentecost is a reminder that just as the Spirit sustains the church, it also sustains and enlivens a broad diversity of creatures. We’d do well to uphold the psalmist’s praise of creation, especially in a time when so many species are at risk of extinction.
Last month’s United Nation’s sponsored “World Biodiversity Day” offered education and updates on what has been called the “sixth mass extinction” of wildlife on Earth. Researchers note that more than 500 species of land animals will become extinct within 20 years. That is about the same number which was lost during the entire 20th century. The World Wildlife Federation notes that the destruction of habitats by humans has sped up an extinction rate which otherwise would have spanned thousands of years. One effect of climate change induced extinction is the vanishing popular of emperor penguin population, which is anticipated to become entirely gone by the year 2100.
* * *
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
These all look to you
Psalm 104’s honoring of the intimate connection between God, and multitudes of species is a reminder of the sacred importance biodiversity plays in our earthly home. University College of London scientist Georgina Mace notes the importance biodiversity plays in the world’s ecosystems. “The diversity of life on Earth is the defining feature of our planet,” Professor Mace reported to the European Biodiversity commission. “We don’t know of any other planets that have life on them. We developed and evolved with other species here and their diversity allows us to thrive. So, it’s very reckless to assume that we can do without them and that we don’t have some responsibility for all those other species.”
* * *
John 14:8-17 (25-27)
The Advocate Who Leads Us in Keeping God’s Commandments
Jesus teaches the disciples about the Spirit, whom he says will abide with them in his physical absence. He is clear that the Spirit’s presence will comfort, help, and protect the disciples as the shadows of his arrest and death deepen. John’s term for the Spirit is paraclete, of course — not the sort of dime store bird our grandmothers used to buy (parakeets), but paraclete, which Karoline Lewis notes is translated variously as “advocate, comforter, helper, intercessor.” (See Lewis, John, Fortress Biblical Commentary.)
We ought to reconsider the power that advocates offer in our world. During our daughter’s oath-taking ceremony as a new attorney, members of the Missouri Supreme Court reminded the fresh crop of attorneys of their role as “advocates” in the legal system. The importance of that role has been highlighted recently by those fighting on behalf of individuals detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Last week, advocates from several immigrant rights groups presented claims in a Florida court of what they called “troubling systemic failures to provide individuals detained in immigration custody with access to vital legal resources.” The groups claimed that the Federal Bureau of Prisons and ICE have failed to provide detainees with notices to appear, as well as access to documents, legal counsel, and mail pertaining to their cases.
* * * * * *
From team member Nazish Naseem:
Acts 1:14-21
The transformative power of the Holy Spirit
The personal conversation I shared with my cousin-in-law resonates deeply with the events described in Acts 2:1-21, where the Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles, empowering them to speak in various tongues. This moment marks a significant turning point, as it fulfills the promise of the Holy Spirit and demonstrates God’s intention for the gospel to reach all nations.
When my cousin-in-law spoke about his experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it reminded me of how the apostles were filled with the Spirit and began to speak in languages they had not known. While he did not experience speaking in tongues himself, his encounter with the Spirit led him to a profound understanding of forgiveness, a transformative power akin to the disciples’ experience that day in Jerusalem.
Just as the apostles were emboldened to share the message of Jesus in a way that transcended cultural and linguistic barriers, my cousin-in-law’s experience underscores the profound and personal impact of the Holy Spirit in individual lives. The theme of forgiveness and renewal mirrors Peter’s call to repentance in his sermon that follows the Pentecost event (Acts 2:14-21).
Ultimately, our conversation reflects the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in uniting believers and bringing about change, reinforcing the vital role of community and the personal experiences that contribute to our collective faith journey. It’s a journey we all share, and it’s the strength of our community that sustains us.
* * *
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Spirituality and reverence for creation
Imagine standing on a hillside as the sun rises, casting a warm golden glow over a vast landscape. Below, a river flows gently, teeming with life. Fish leap out of the water, splashing joyfully, while birds soar above, singing praises to greet the new day.
In the distance, a majestic deer grazes peacefully among the tall grass, symbolizing the beauty and harmony of creation. As you observe this scene, you realize that every creature, great and small, is intricately woven into a divine orchestration, each fulfilling its unique role in the world.
As the day unfolds, you notice the mountains standing tall and steadfast, a tangible reminder of God’s unwavering power. The silent lull of the midday heat brings a sense of the Creator’s warmth and care. You can almost hear the whispers of the wind urging you to acknowledge the wonder around you.
Later, as daylight begins to wane, the sky transforms into a canvas of vivid hues, creating a breathtaking backdrop for your moment of reflection. In this moment, you are filled with a deep sense of gratitude and reverence, echoing the psalmist’s call to worship. You realize that just as God’s hand provides for the animals, guiding their needs, he also watches over you, inviting you to rest in his presence.
As darkness descends, you are left with a peaceful heart, knowing that God’s spirit renews the earth and fills the night with hope. In that silence, you can’t help but join all of creation in giving thanks for the wonder of life and the promise of new beginnings, feeling the calming embrace of nature’s tranquility.
* * *
John 14:8-17 (25-27)
Illumination, companionship, and peace found in a relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit
Imagine standing in a sun-drenched room filled with golden light. As you enter, the warmth embraces you, and the rays illuminate every surface, revealing textures and colors that were previously unseen. In this space, shadows fade away, and clarity prevails. Just as this light allows us to perceive the beauty around us, Jesus, as the light of the world, is the divine source of spiritual illumination, revealing the true nature of God and inviting us to see him more clearly.
Have you ever longed for a trusted friend who is always by your side, someone who listens intently and supports you through thick and thin? This friend offers wisdom when you’re lost and comfort in times of trouble. The Holy Spirit, our unwavering and constant companion, not only guides us through life’s complexities but also provides a sense of security and reassurance, encouraging us to embrace truth and courageously fulfill our purpose.
Imagine a serene lake, its surface disturbed by a brisk wind. While the ripples dance on top, deep beneath the water, a tranquil stillness prevails. This is the kind of peace that Jesus offers us — a profound calm within our hearts, regardless of the chaos swirling around us. It serves as a powerful reminder that even when external circumstances are turbulent, we can find solace in God’s presence. This peace from Jesus can bring calm and reassurance amid life’s storms, enveloping us in a sense of tranquility and security.
Through these images, we learn that we are not alone on this journey. We are invited into a deeply personal and intimate relationship with Jesus, who reveals the Father’s heart, and we have the Holy Spirit to guide and sustain us. This relationship is not distant or abstract, but one that is close, personal, and deeply meaningful.
* * * * * *
WORSHIP
by George Reed
Call to Worship
One: O LORD, how manifold are your works!
All: In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
One: May the glory of the LORD endure forever who rejoice in creation.
All: We will sing praise to our God while we have being.
One: May our meditation be pleasing to God in whom we rejoice
All: Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD!
OR
One: The Spirit comes among us to speak to us.
All: We open our ears and hearts to God’s Spirit.
One: The words of the Spirit are words of life for all.
All: We welcome God’s message of abundant life.
One: The Spirit also desires to speak through us.
All: In the power of the Spirit, we will share God’s good news.
Hymns and Songs
O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
UMH: 57/58/59
H82: 493
PH: 466
GTG: 610
AAHH: 23
NNBH: 184
NCH: 42
CH: 5
LBW: 559
ELW: 886
W&P: 96
AMEC: 1/2
When in Our Music God Is Glorified
UMH: 68
H82: 420
PH: 264
GTG: 641
AAHH: 112
NCH: 561
CH: 7
LBW: 555
ELW: 850/851
W&P: 7
STLT: 36
I’ll Praise My Maker Wile I’ve Breath
UMH: 60
H82: 429
PH: 253
GTG: 806
CH: 20
Spirit of the Living God
UMH: 393
PH: 322
GTG: 288
AAHH: 320
NNBH: 133
NCH: 283
CH: 259
W&P: 492
Breathe on Me, Breath of God
UMH: 420
H82: 508
PH: 316
GTG: 286
AAHH: 317
NNBH: 126
NCH: 292
CH: 254
LBW: 488
W&P: 461
AMEC: 192
Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
UMH: 500
PH: 326
GTG: 688
AAHH: 312
NCH: 290
CH: 265
LBW: 486
ELW: 800
W&P: 132
AMEC: 189
Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song
UMH: 544
H82: 513
PH: 314
GTG: 285
NCH: 270
CH: 245
ELW: 403
W&P: 327
Wonderful Words of Life
UMH: 600
AAHH: 332
NNBH: 293
NCH: 319
CH: 323
W&P: 668
AMEC: 207
We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations
UMH: 569
NNBH: 416
W&P: 562
Pass It On
UMH: 572
NNBH: 417
CH: 477
W&P: 557
Break Thou the Bread of Life
UMH: 599
PH: 329
GTG: 460
AAHH: 334
NNBH: 295
NCH: 321
CH: 321
LBW: 235
ELW: 515
W&P: 665
AMEC: 209
Thy Word Is a Lamp
UMH: 601
GTG: 458
CH: 326
W&P: 664
O Word of God Incarnate
UMH: 598
PH: 327
GTG: 459
NNBH: 296
NCH: 315
CH: 322
LBW: 231
ELW: 514
W&P: 670
When the Church of Jesus
UMH: 592
CH: 470
ELW: 555
Create in Me a Clean Heart
CCB: 54
Change My Heart, O God
CCB: 56
Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who speaks to all of your creation:
Grant us the grace to learn to listen to others
so that we might share the good news of Jesus with them;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We praise you, O God, because you speak to all your creation. You know us completely and desire to share your words of life. Help us to learn to listen to others so that we might know them better. Then help us to speak your words to them in ways they can understand. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our failure to respect and listen to others.
All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have isolated ourselves from others and dismissed them because they speak in terms we do not agree with. Wek have not taken the time to get to know them and learn what is behind their choice of words. We see them as enemies instead of seeing Christ in them. Forgive us and open our hearts so that we may receive others as Christ receives them. Amen.
One: God is ever ready to help us draw together as children of the Most High. Receive God’s blessing and forgiveness and reach out to others.
Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God who comes to dwell with your children. From the beginning you have come to us and talked with us. Once again, we hear of your coming to dwell with us and among us. In all our diversity you help us to share with one another.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have isolated ourselves from others and dismissed them because they speak in terms we do not agree with. Wek have not taken the time to get to know them and learn what is behind their choice of words. We see them as enemies instead of seeing Christ in them. Forgive us and open our hearts so that we may receive others as Christ receives them.
We give you thanks for the gift of your Spirit that fills our hearts and draws us together as your children. We thank you for those who have listened to us so that they could share Jesus with us. We thank you for all the faithful ones who have spoken in the power of your Spirit.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for one another in our need and for those who have not been listened to. We lift up those who hunger for words of life but no one has shared with them in words they can understand.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)
All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father....Amen.
(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)
All this we ask in the name of the blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
* * * * * *
CHILDREN’S SERMON
Birthday Pary!
by Tom Willadsen
Acts 2:1-21
Supplies: pin wheels, balloons, bubbles, a sail boat, kazoos, harmonicas, any other toy you can get for less than a dollar to give to the kids — as long as it needs breath to make it work.
Today is Pentecost, the Church’s birthday!
What do you do on your birthday? Open presents? Have cake? Blow up balloons? Sing “Happy Birthday?”
Let’s all sing “Happy Birthday!” to the church!
Did you know that the church got a special present on its birthday? Pentecost is the day we remember and celebrate that the Holy Spirit blew into the disciples and made it possible for them to talk about Jesus in foreign languages. They told people about Jesus in languages they had never heard before! It was an amazing miracle.
The Holy Spirit looked like fire, so that’s why there’s a lot of red in church today.
The Holy Spirit moved like the wind. What can you tell me about the wind? What does the wind feel like? Do you like windy days? On a really hot day a cool breeze can feel really nice, but on a cold day the wind can make it feel even colder. Sometimes the wind can do a lot of damage, like a tornado or a hurricane.
I’ve got some things to show you.
Start with the pin wheel. Blow on it and watch it spin. Give it to one of the kids.
Blow some bubbles. Watch them float through the sanctuary. Give the bottle and wand to one of the kids.
You might want to have a kite to show, but it’s probably a bad idea to try to fly it in church.
Show a toy sailboat, point out that it needs wind to go anywhere. Without wind it might as well be Noah’s ark.
Blow on the kazoo. Give it to a little one. Same with the harmonica.
Point out that all these toys need wind, or breath to work. The church does too!
End up by blowing up some balloons, but don’t tie them. Let them go after they’re full of air. Watch how crazily they fly, completely unpredictable. That’s how the Holy Spirit works! It’s completely unpredictable, and it’s the force that makes the church grow and change. Happy birthday to the church! Thanks for helping me this morning.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, June 8, 2025 issue.
Copyright 2025 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
- Heard And Understood by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21.
- Second Thoughts: Asking In Jesus’ Name by Katy Stenta based on John 14:8-17 (25-27).
- Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Chris Keating, Nazish Naseem.
- Worship resources by George Reed.
- Children’s sermon: Birthday Party by Tom Willadsen.
Heard And Understoodby Dean Feldmeyer
Acts 2:1-21
Last week, after two failed attempts, Elon Musk’s SpaceX made a third try at launching a rocket that would prove he was seriously on his way to landing on the moon and, later, Mars. This time the spacecraft made it into space before it lost control, began to tumble and, in the words of a SpaceX spokesperson, experienced “a rapid unscheduled disassembly.”
For those speaking English, that’s spin-speak for: “fell apart.” For those who are crass and insensitive: “exploded.”
Not to worry, however. The company has assured us that the failure was, in fact, a “partial success.” That’s like saying that the F I got on my history exam was a “partial A” because I got a few of the questions right.
Linguists and cultural anthropologists tell us that human beings invented language for the purpose of communicating with each other. Now, however, thanks to politics, business, and, to a large degree, religion, language is becoming a tool for obfuscation, confusion, coverup, and control.
In the News / Culture
Last week, on May 17, in an op-ed piece for the Washington Post, writer Naftali Bendavid expressed some vexation about how Democrats may be alienating their own constituency as well as others they hope to win by adopting certain buzzwords and insisting that others do as well. These words, he says, have equivalents that are part of our common parlance, but liberals insist that the new words are better, more precise, more perfect, and the ones that must be used and understood by everyone who wants to be considered sensitive, inclusive, and genuinely democratic.
For example, rich people are referred to as “oligarchs,” hungry Americans are “people experiencing food insecurity” and prisoners are “justice-involved populations.” “Equality” is out, “equity” is in.
Bendavid quotes Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona), who asks why Dems insist on saying that they want to achieve “social equity” when they could just as easily say they want everyone to have an even chance? Kentucky’s Democratic governor Andy Beshear wants to know why the left insists on talking about “substance abuse disorder” when most people call it “addiction.” Bernie Sanders has abandoned “oligarchy” in favor of “greedy billionaires.”
Beshear believes that his fellow liberals, in genuine efforts to be more sensitive, have drained the power from many words. Saying someone has defeated “substance abuse disorder,” minimizes the sheer human triumph of beating addiction; decrying “food insecurity” fails to convey the tragedy of hungry children.
Democrats, according to many on the left, if they hope to win elections, need to start sounding more like the factory floor and less like the faculty lounge.
The muddying of language for political purposes isn’t restricted to the left, however. Some Republicans insist that people who use words like “economically disadvantaged” instead of “poor” and “LatinX” instead of Latina or Latino must be America hating socialists. The right has long excelled at using such “politically correct” terms as “woke,” “critical race theory” and “gender-fluid” to depict Democrats as out of touch.
Democrats respond by pointing out that those words are the language of activists on the extreme left and most members of the mainstream and center-left rarely, if ever even use them. But perception is reality for the right and if the Republican party can convince enough Americans that the left is saturated with elite, college educated, wishy-washy socialists who are trying to indoctrinate America’s youth with anti-American code words, well…
Of course, the same war over appropriate language is not taking place only in politics. Conservative and progressive Christianity have been fighting on that rhetorical front for nearly a century, at least since the words “fundamentalism” and “fundamentalist” came into common use around the turn of the 20th century.
Christians in the old line, liberal, mainstream churches cringe when asked if they are “born again” and “washed in the blood of Jesus.” Not wanting to get into a whole big thing, they prevaricate when evangelicals ask if they believe that the Bible is the “word of God.” They have no idea how to answer when asked if they are “saved.”
Conservatives, on the other hand, are suspicious when progressive Christians talk of Jesus as a champion of “justice” and they simply don’t understand how liberals can believe that the church is built on the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) that their favorite president has banned from all government agencies.
It isn’t just the way we interpret scripture and formulate theology that is keeping Christians apart, it’s how we express these same things through our language.
In the Scriptures
The Pentecost story in Acts offers many preaching points. We’ll focus on the unique and powerful communication between the disciples and the crowd when the Holy Spirit intervenes.
Quickly, then —
The day of Pentecost was an annual holiday celebration that the spring harvest had arrived and the early Jesus followers had gathered in one place, probably at someone’s house. Suddenly there was a sound like that of a violent wind and divided tongues like fire entered the room and rested on each of those there in the house and “all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.”
Underline that. They all began to speak in other languages. That’s important.
There follows an eyewitness testimony that there were people present, people who were born Jews and people who were converts to Judaism, from sixteen countries and areas, virtually the entire known world. And the Jesus followers were speaking in all their languages and being understood by them.
Most of the onlookers were astonished and impressed with this display of multi-lingual virtuosity. Others, not so much. They accused the Jesus followers of being drunk.
Peter, however, says that drunkenness is not to blame and as proof he points out that it’s only 9:00 a.m. and then launches into a homily, the contents of which are not part of our consideration, here.
For our purposes, the important parts of the text are:
- The Jesus followers were all together in one place.
- The Holy Spirit took that opportunity to intervene.
- The intervention of the Holy Spirit gave them the ability to speak in a whole bunch of languages not their own.
- They were understood.
Okay, full disclosure time.
I’m a preacher and a writer. Words are my life. I make my living with words. They are my medium. As paint is for a painter and marble is for a sculpturer, as notes are for a composer and flour is for a baker, so words are for me. I hate it when someone decides to unilaterally change the meaning of a word or make up a new word without warning and then blames me for not knowing about it and jumping immediately on board and with it and start using it the first time I hear it.
Not long ago, I used the word “shepherds” in a presentation and was interrupted during my speech by one participant who said, “and shepherdesses,” publicly correcting me and reminding me to be inclusive in my language. Rude, but okay, fair enough. I stood corrected.
The very next day, in another presentation, I heeded the correction I had received from the previous day and used the phrase, “actors and actresses, comedians and comediennes.” Following the presentation, I was pulled aside by a colleague and told that I was being grossly sexist for placing women in a separate category from their male counterparts, that male and female actors and comedians were doing the same work and should referred to with the same noun.
I wanted to throw my hands in the air and give up. This sensitivity stuff was just too hard.
Words have power, I get it. Even more than sticks and stones, they really can hurt, and they can heal, too. That’s why I refuse to use certain words and am shocked, dismayed, and offended when I hear someone else use them.
But the Jesus followers in the story of Pentecost, the people who were present for the birth of the Christian church, did not insist that everyone present learn and use their language. The Holy Spirit did not require the listeners to learn the language of the speakers.
No, the Holy Spirit gave the speakers the ability to speak in the language of the listeners so they could be heard and understood.
If we are serious about carrying the good news of Jesus Christ into the world, we must learn the languages of the world we are entering and not insist that they come to us and learn our language before we can share Jesus with them.
————
My wife and I live next door to a 28-year-old single mom and her 20-month-old (that’s “almost 2” in my language) son. We have sort of adopted them and become surrogate mom and dad, grandma and grandpa whenever we can. She knows that I’m a semi-retired United Methodist minister.
Leslie (not her real name) is completely and profoundly unchurched but her relationship with us has led her to explore what it might mean to be a Christian. Besides, she wants her son to grow up with what she has seen in us as Christian values.
So, rather than attend our church that is made up almost entirely of retired folks with no children’s program whatsoever, she decided to try the church a few miles away where her son attends occasional play-days and Mommy’s-day-off days.
That first Sunday we came home to find her sitting on our porch nearly in tears. “I felt completely lost,” she said. “I didn’t know what they were talking about. They talked about being saved. What is that? Saved from what? They talked about a tithe. I don’t even know what that means. They said Nathan and I are going to hell if we don’t get saved. Is that true?”
Later, after we reassured her and I calmed down from my own sense of anger and outrage, I thought of the people who had come into my church and the panic that seemed to fill them when we used words like sanctuary, narthex, nave, chancel, sacristy, and even fellowship hall. They must have felt like they had landed on another planet.
I began to suggest to my congregation that when visitors arrive, we use words and phrases that are a little more visitor friendly like worship center instead of sanctuary, and entry way instead of narthex, and front of the church instead of chancel.
Of course, some acted as if I was drunk to even suggest changing the way we talk about our church. Others, however, saw that hospitality, even evangelism, may very well begin not with insisting that people learn to speak our language but with us learning to speak theirs.
SECOND THOUGHTSAsking in Jesus’s Name
by Katy Stenta
John 14:8-17 (25-27)
Here we are, where Philip claims that he will be satisfied if Jesus just shows us God. Jesus fires back that he has seen Jesus and yet he is still not satisfied. This reminds me of the Hamilton song where Hamilton and Angelica talk about how they will never be satisfied. They are always hungering for something that they cannot quite grasp and so it is hard for them to name or know. We humans are good at wanting things. In Disney movies it is formulaic to have a want/wish song to set up the plot. There is no journey without a quest.
Here, though, the quest is to see God. Jesus’ answer is that when you see Jesus you see God. But then Jesus sweetens the pot and says that whatever you ask in my name will be given to you.
This is a scary thought. There are a lot of things that are asked for in the name of Jesus.
Just this week, Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican senator from Iowa, did a pseudo-apology for remarks she made after a town hall attendee criticized the planned Republican Medicaid cuts by saying “People are going to die.” Ernst responded, “Well, we are all going to die.”
After identifying the incident in her filmed apology, she then made light of the hope that no one finds out that the tooth fairy isn’t real (as if that has anything to do with people dying from lack of medical care). At the end of the video, she (somewhat sarcastically) invites people to embrace “Jesus Christ for eternal and everlasting life.”
Dismissing people’s concerns for health care and food and inviting them to worship Jesus Christ as a band-aid to doing her job does not seem like a good ask in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Meanwhile Bishop William Barber and the Poor People’s Campaign were arrested on the round for praying for those who will experience cuts to Medicaid, including those in poverty and those with illnesses and disabilities.
What does God do when people are asking for contrary things in the name of God? Jesus says that if you love Jesus, you keep his commandments. And that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Jesus makes it clear that those who are on the side of love and truth will get what they need from God. May it be so, we pray. Amen.
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Mary Austin:Acts 2:1-21, Genesis 11:1-9
Paradise Restored
To understand Pentecost, Cole Arthur Riley draws on the wisdom of Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison, sharing that “In her 1993 Nobel Lecture, Toni Morrison tells a parable of language and its capacity to destroy or liberate depending on how we wield it. The conventional wisdom of the Tower of Babel story is that the collapse was a misfortune. That it was the distraction, or the weight of many languages that precipitated the tower’s failed architecture. That one monolithic language would have expedited the building, and heaven would have been reached. Whose heaven, she wonders? And what kind? Perhaps the achievement of Paradise was premature, a little hasty if no one could take the time to understand other languages, other views, other narratives period. Had they, the heaven they imagined might have been found at their feet.”
Riley tells us that “Pentecost reminds us that the Spirit of God rejects assimilation under the guise of “unity.” This tale is not just about diversity; it’s not mere tokenism; it’s language as liberation. It’s the sound of excluded voices making something whole again…Could it be that Pentecost is paradise remembered on earth? What does it mean that in the story we are not told precisely what they communicated about the miracle or the divine? We know only that it was understood — that no tribe or tongue was excluded nor made a singular spectacle, but that a collective was born. Two thousand years after the Tower of Babel falls and fifty days after Christ rises from the dead, we find the story of Pentecost. The Spirit descends upon a sacred diverse gathering, and language is made portal to the divine. A path to God, to one another, and to shared imagination.” (from Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human)
No one is left out on this day of Pentecost.
* * *
John 14:8-17 (25-27)
Praying and Doing
As Jesus prepares his friends to live in the world without him, he says, “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” He invites them, and us, into a powerful spiritual mix of both prayer and action.
Katherine May says that her feelings about prayer have changed over the years. She reveals, “As I spend more time deliberately praying, rather than falling into it by accident sometimes, I find that the matter of doing comes up constantly. Whereas I once wasted energy on outrage at people who I thought were signaling their virtue rather than taking action, I now press myself to make myself useful in a practical way, somehow. It is often very, very small indeed, but then I am also very, very small in the context of the world. I no longer resent the offer of thoughts and prayers; instead I see it as a way of expressing kindness and care, even while acknowledging our helplessness.”
She adds, in the spirit of what Jesus is saying, “At its root, prayer is not a petition to a supernatural force, but an act of making contact with the transcendent part of ourselves, the part that knows its place in the human ecology. It is far from passive.” Prayer is a way to move toward the peace that Jesus gives us.
* * *
Acts 2:1-21
Each in Their Own Language
The Pentecost story involves everyone hearing the good news in their own language. The Holy Spirit is generous with the gift of language.
Nikhil Mahant argues that our imagination about the languages we don’t know is much too small. When we make up new languages for movies or TV, we think too narrowly. Mahant says, “Consider Klingon from Star Trek, now spoken by several Earthlings. Klingon’s claim to alienness is that it contains a peculiar set of sounds and an unusual sentence structure. But, like human languages, it still contains nouns and verbs, and the same structural elements, like subject and object… The development of constructed languages (referred to as ‘conlangs’) for fictional and other purposes draws primarily from linguistics…the formula for creating one essentially involves adapting familiar elements from how Earthlings communicate.”
Mahant says, “As a philosopher of language, I find this unsatisfying. The space of possible languages is vast, and full of exotic languages that are much weirder and stranger than any we have yet imagined…For instance, an alien language may be less like English, Swahili, or Cantonese, but more like maps…Alien modes of communication may also have additional levels, ones that we cannot yet foresee. Perhaps there is an affective level that can encode how exactly one feels — say, the nature and intensity of one’s pain. Or a phenomenal level that can encode qualitative experiences, such as an apple’s redness. Growing out of our anthropocentric bubble to explore how aliens might communicate will equip us better for a potential first contact scenario. But it will also make us more reflective about, and potentially improve, one of the greatest assets that our species possesses: language.”
No matter what languages the expanding universe may reveal, the Holy Spirit has the power to translate and to connect the creatures of God.
* * * * * *
From team member Chris Keating:Acts 2:1-21
Of Pride and Pentecost (or, the day some Baptists worshipped in a bar)
Bert Montgomery, a Baptist pastor from Mississippi, reflects on the connections between Pentecost and the beginning of Pride month. Marking both celebrations, Montgomery once led Pentecost worship inside a local tavern. (It was too early to serve drinks, he adds.) Montgomery writes:
I can’t think of a better place for a church to meet for Pentecost than at a tavern with a reputation for inclusion, togetherness, diversity, and celebrations, as well as its year-round support of our local Pride group. Pentecost, not unlike Pride, is all about celebrating and affirming diversity, inclusion, and togetherness. Pride, not unlike Pentecost, is about joy bubbling up and bursting out.
It’s a reminder, Montgomery suggests, of how the power of the Spirit became a bridge of understanding between the apostles and the diverse people who happened to be hanging out in Jerusalem on Pentecost. “Again and again,” he continues, “throughout both testaments, and especially in the book of Acts, we discover holiness shines brightest in diverse, multicultural relationships, in the liberation of the confined, and in welcoming, affirming and celebrating the likeness of God in each and every person.”
* * *
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
The Earth is full of God’s creatures
God’s role as creator and sustainer of life is infused in Psalm 104’s thirty-five verses. Here the Spirit’s presence in bringing to life a diverse ecosystem of creation is celebrated with praise and awe. Perhaps the Psalm’s presence at Pentecost is a reminder that just as the Spirit sustains the church, it also sustains and enlivens a broad diversity of creatures. We’d do well to uphold the psalmist’s praise of creation, especially in a time when so many species are at risk of extinction.
Last month’s United Nation’s sponsored “World Biodiversity Day” offered education and updates on what has been called the “sixth mass extinction” of wildlife on Earth. Researchers note that more than 500 species of land animals will become extinct within 20 years. That is about the same number which was lost during the entire 20th century. The World Wildlife Federation notes that the destruction of habitats by humans has sped up an extinction rate which otherwise would have spanned thousands of years. One effect of climate change induced extinction is the vanishing popular of emperor penguin population, which is anticipated to become entirely gone by the year 2100.
* * *
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
These all look to you
Psalm 104’s honoring of the intimate connection between God, and multitudes of species is a reminder of the sacred importance biodiversity plays in our earthly home. University College of London scientist Georgina Mace notes the importance biodiversity plays in the world’s ecosystems. “The diversity of life on Earth is the defining feature of our planet,” Professor Mace reported to the European Biodiversity commission. “We don’t know of any other planets that have life on them. We developed and evolved with other species here and their diversity allows us to thrive. So, it’s very reckless to assume that we can do without them and that we don’t have some responsibility for all those other species.”
* * *
John 14:8-17 (25-27)
The Advocate Who Leads Us in Keeping God’s Commandments
Jesus teaches the disciples about the Spirit, whom he says will abide with them in his physical absence. He is clear that the Spirit’s presence will comfort, help, and protect the disciples as the shadows of his arrest and death deepen. John’s term for the Spirit is paraclete, of course — not the sort of dime store bird our grandmothers used to buy (parakeets), but paraclete, which Karoline Lewis notes is translated variously as “advocate, comforter, helper, intercessor.” (See Lewis, John, Fortress Biblical Commentary.)
We ought to reconsider the power that advocates offer in our world. During our daughter’s oath-taking ceremony as a new attorney, members of the Missouri Supreme Court reminded the fresh crop of attorneys of their role as “advocates” in the legal system. The importance of that role has been highlighted recently by those fighting on behalf of individuals detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Last week, advocates from several immigrant rights groups presented claims in a Florida court of what they called “troubling systemic failures to provide individuals detained in immigration custody with access to vital legal resources.” The groups claimed that the Federal Bureau of Prisons and ICE have failed to provide detainees with notices to appear, as well as access to documents, legal counsel, and mail pertaining to their cases.
* * * * * *
From team member Nazish Naseem:Acts 1:14-21
The transformative power of the Holy Spirit
The personal conversation I shared with my cousin-in-law resonates deeply with the events described in Acts 2:1-21, where the Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles, empowering them to speak in various tongues. This moment marks a significant turning point, as it fulfills the promise of the Holy Spirit and demonstrates God’s intention for the gospel to reach all nations.
When my cousin-in-law spoke about his experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it reminded me of how the apostles were filled with the Spirit and began to speak in languages they had not known. While he did not experience speaking in tongues himself, his encounter with the Spirit led him to a profound understanding of forgiveness, a transformative power akin to the disciples’ experience that day in Jerusalem.
Just as the apostles were emboldened to share the message of Jesus in a way that transcended cultural and linguistic barriers, my cousin-in-law’s experience underscores the profound and personal impact of the Holy Spirit in individual lives. The theme of forgiveness and renewal mirrors Peter’s call to repentance in his sermon that follows the Pentecost event (Acts 2:14-21).
Ultimately, our conversation reflects the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in uniting believers and bringing about change, reinforcing the vital role of community and the personal experiences that contribute to our collective faith journey. It’s a journey we all share, and it’s the strength of our community that sustains us.
* * *
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Spirituality and reverence for creation
Imagine standing on a hillside as the sun rises, casting a warm golden glow over a vast landscape. Below, a river flows gently, teeming with life. Fish leap out of the water, splashing joyfully, while birds soar above, singing praises to greet the new day.
In the distance, a majestic deer grazes peacefully among the tall grass, symbolizing the beauty and harmony of creation. As you observe this scene, you realize that every creature, great and small, is intricately woven into a divine orchestration, each fulfilling its unique role in the world.
As the day unfolds, you notice the mountains standing tall and steadfast, a tangible reminder of God’s unwavering power. The silent lull of the midday heat brings a sense of the Creator’s warmth and care. You can almost hear the whispers of the wind urging you to acknowledge the wonder around you.
Later, as daylight begins to wane, the sky transforms into a canvas of vivid hues, creating a breathtaking backdrop for your moment of reflection. In this moment, you are filled with a deep sense of gratitude and reverence, echoing the psalmist’s call to worship. You realize that just as God’s hand provides for the animals, guiding their needs, he also watches over you, inviting you to rest in his presence.
As darkness descends, you are left with a peaceful heart, knowing that God’s spirit renews the earth and fills the night with hope. In that silence, you can’t help but join all of creation in giving thanks for the wonder of life and the promise of new beginnings, feeling the calming embrace of nature’s tranquility.
* * *
John 14:8-17 (25-27)
Illumination, companionship, and peace found in a relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit
Imagine standing in a sun-drenched room filled with golden light. As you enter, the warmth embraces you, and the rays illuminate every surface, revealing textures and colors that were previously unseen. In this space, shadows fade away, and clarity prevails. Just as this light allows us to perceive the beauty around us, Jesus, as the light of the world, is the divine source of spiritual illumination, revealing the true nature of God and inviting us to see him more clearly.
Have you ever longed for a trusted friend who is always by your side, someone who listens intently and supports you through thick and thin? This friend offers wisdom when you’re lost and comfort in times of trouble. The Holy Spirit, our unwavering and constant companion, not only guides us through life’s complexities but also provides a sense of security and reassurance, encouraging us to embrace truth and courageously fulfill our purpose.
Imagine a serene lake, its surface disturbed by a brisk wind. While the ripples dance on top, deep beneath the water, a tranquil stillness prevails. This is the kind of peace that Jesus offers us — a profound calm within our hearts, regardless of the chaos swirling around us. It serves as a powerful reminder that even when external circumstances are turbulent, we can find solace in God’s presence. This peace from Jesus can bring calm and reassurance amid life’s storms, enveloping us in a sense of tranquility and security.
Through these images, we learn that we are not alone on this journey. We are invited into a deeply personal and intimate relationship with Jesus, who reveals the Father’s heart, and we have the Holy Spirit to guide and sustain us. This relationship is not distant or abstract, but one that is close, personal, and deeply meaningful.
* * * * * *
WORSHIPby George Reed
Call to Worship
One: O LORD, how manifold are your works!
All: In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
One: May the glory of the LORD endure forever who rejoice in creation.
All: We will sing praise to our God while we have being.
One: May our meditation be pleasing to God in whom we rejoice
All: Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD!
OR
One: The Spirit comes among us to speak to us.
All: We open our ears and hearts to God’s Spirit.
One: The words of the Spirit are words of life for all.
All: We welcome God’s message of abundant life.
One: The Spirit also desires to speak through us.
All: In the power of the Spirit, we will share God’s good news.
Hymns and Songs
O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
UMH: 57/58/59
H82: 493
PH: 466
GTG: 610
AAHH: 23
NNBH: 184
NCH: 42
CH: 5
LBW: 559
ELW: 886
W&P: 96
AMEC: 1/2
When in Our Music God Is Glorified
UMH: 68
H82: 420
PH: 264
GTG: 641
AAHH: 112
NCH: 561
CH: 7
LBW: 555
ELW: 850/851
W&P: 7
STLT: 36
I’ll Praise My Maker Wile I’ve Breath
UMH: 60
H82: 429
PH: 253
GTG: 806
CH: 20
Spirit of the Living God
UMH: 393
PH: 322
GTG: 288
AAHH: 320
NNBH: 133
NCH: 283
CH: 259
W&P: 492
Breathe on Me, Breath of God
UMH: 420
H82: 508
PH: 316
GTG: 286
AAHH: 317
NNBH: 126
NCH: 292
CH: 254
LBW: 488
W&P: 461
AMEC: 192
Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
UMH: 500
PH: 326
GTG: 688
AAHH: 312
NCH: 290
CH: 265
LBW: 486
ELW: 800
W&P: 132
AMEC: 189
Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song
UMH: 544
H82: 513
PH: 314
GTG: 285
NCH: 270
CH: 245
ELW: 403
W&P: 327
Wonderful Words of Life
UMH: 600
AAHH: 332
NNBH: 293
NCH: 319
CH: 323
W&P: 668
AMEC: 207
We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations
UMH: 569
NNBH: 416
W&P: 562
Pass It On
UMH: 572
NNBH: 417
CH: 477
W&P: 557
Break Thou the Bread of Life
UMH: 599
PH: 329
GTG: 460
AAHH: 334
NNBH: 295
NCH: 321
CH: 321
LBW: 235
ELW: 515
W&P: 665
AMEC: 209
Thy Word Is a Lamp
UMH: 601
GTG: 458
CH: 326
W&P: 664
O Word of God Incarnate
UMH: 598
PH: 327
GTG: 459
NNBH: 296
NCH: 315
CH: 322
LBW: 231
ELW: 514
W&P: 670
When the Church of Jesus
UMH: 592
CH: 470
ELW: 555
Create in Me a Clean Heart
CCB: 54
Change My Heart, O God
CCB: 56
Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who speaks to all of your creation:
Grant us the grace to learn to listen to others
so that we might share the good news of Jesus with them;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We praise you, O God, because you speak to all your creation. You know us completely and desire to share your words of life. Help us to learn to listen to others so that we might know them better. Then help us to speak your words to them in ways they can understand. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our failure to respect and listen to others.
All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have isolated ourselves from others and dismissed them because they speak in terms we do not agree with. Wek have not taken the time to get to know them and learn what is behind their choice of words. We see them as enemies instead of seeing Christ in them. Forgive us and open our hearts so that we may receive others as Christ receives them. Amen.
One: God is ever ready to help us draw together as children of the Most High. Receive God’s blessing and forgiveness and reach out to others.
Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God who comes to dwell with your children. From the beginning you have come to us and talked with us. Once again, we hear of your coming to dwell with us and among us. In all our diversity you help us to share with one another.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have isolated ourselves from others and dismissed them because they speak in terms we do not agree with. Wek have not taken the time to get to know them and learn what is behind their choice of words. We see them as enemies instead of seeing Christ in them. Forgive us and open our hearts so that we may receive others as Christ receives them.
We give you thanks for the gift of your Spirit that fills our hearts and draws us together as your children. We thank you for those who have listened to us so that they could share Jesus with us. We thank you for all the faithful ones who have spoken in the power of your Spirit.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for one another in our need and for those who have not been listened to. We lift up those who hunger for words of life but no one has shared with them in words they can understand.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)
All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father....Amen.
(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)
All this we ask in the name of the blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
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CHILDREN’S SERMONBirthday Pary!
by Tom Willadsen
Acts 2:1-21
Supplies: pin wheels, balloons, bubbles, a sail boat, kazoos, harmonicas, any other toy you can get for less than a dollar to give to the kids — as long as it needs breath to make it work.
Today is Pentecost, the Church’s birthday!
What do you do on your birthday? Open presents? Have cake? Blow up balloons? Sing “Happy Birthday?”
Let’s all sing “Happy Birthday!” to the church!
Did you know that the church got a special present on its birthday? Pentecost is the day we remember and celebrate that the Holy Spirit blew into the disciples and made it possible for them to talk about Jesus in foreign languages. They told people about Jesus in languages they had never heard before! It was an amazing miracle.
The Holy Spirit looked like fire, so that’s why there’s a lot of red in church today.
The Holy Spirit moved like the wind. What can you tell me about the wind? What does the wind feel like? Do you like windy days? On a really hot day a cool breeze can feel really nice, but on a cold day the wind can make it feel even colder. Sometimes the wind can do a lot of damage, like a tornado or a hurricane.
I’ve got some things to show you.
Start with the pin wheel. Blow on it and watch it spin. Give it to one of the kids.
Blow some bubbles. Watch them float through the sanctuary. Give the bottle and wand to one of the kids.
You might want to have a kite to show, but it’s probably a bad idea to try to fly it in church.
Show a toy sailboat, point out that it needs wind to go anywhere. Without wind it might as well be Noah’s ark.
Blow on the kazoo. Give it to a little one. Same with the harmonica.
Point out that all these toys need wind, or breath to work. The church does too!
End up by blowing up some balloons, but don’t tie them. Let them go after they’re full of air. Watch how crazily they fly, completely unpredictable. That’s how the Holy Spirit works! It’s completely unpredictable, and it’s the force that makes the church grow and change. Happy birthday to the church! Thanks for helping me this morning.
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The Immediate Word, June 8, 2025 issue.
Copyright 2025 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
