This Week’s Theme
Receiving the Spirit of Adoption
Romans 8.14-17
Paul enjoins the Romans that through Christ they have been liberated from the power of the sinful nature. In fact, those who live according to the rule of that nature must die. Those who put to death the deeds of the body, however, will live. Everyone who is being led by the Spirit of God are, in fact, the very children of God. Those who believe have not received a spirit of slavery, leading us to fear of rejection from God again, but rather we have received a spirit of adoption as God’s very own kids, and we cry out like little children to him, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit who indwells us testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God, and if his children, then also his heirs, the very heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, our older brother! And, all this will be true if we experience the very things that he experienced, that we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
On the day of Pentecost, let us be mindful that through faith in the risen and ascended Christ, the Father has poured on us the Holy Spirit, the one who has regenerated us and brought adoption to us from God. We are now the very children of God, crying out like little children, “Abba, Father!” filled with his life, and clinging to the hope as heirs of the inheritance to come. All this by grace and through the love of God.
Preparing Our Hearts
Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation
O God, who at this time didst pour out thy Spirit upon thy Church to abide with it forever; grant that the same Spirit, indwelling our hearts, may keep us from falling; teach us to live according to thy will; enable us for the work thou givest us to do; uphold and comfort us in the hour of trial; beget in us the power to endure faithful to the end; and finally bring us to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the same Spirit liveth and reigneth one God, world without end. Amen.
~ Ernest Fremont Tittle (Tittle, p. 66)
Call to Worship
Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, Amen.
Praising Our God
Te Deum Laudamus
You are God: we praise you; you are the Lord; we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.
Praise and Thanksgiving (songs and prayers)
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Listening to His Voice
Chronological Reading for the Day
Saturday: Pss. 136; 146-150
Lectionary Readings for the Day
Psalm: Ps. 104.24-34, 35b
Acts*: Acts 2.1-21
Gospel: John 14.8-27
NT: Romans 8.14-17
Reflection: Silence and/or Journaling
Responding in Faith
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and 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, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
*In the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).
Prayers of Confession
Let us now confess our sins to God and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need.
Assurance of Pardon
Having faithfully confessed and renounced your sin, Christ also has been faithful to forgive your sins and to purify you from all unrighteousness. It is certain, that there is One who has spoken to the Father in your defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. His grace and peace are with you now. Amen.
Petitions and Supplications, Ending with The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
~ Matthew 6.9-13 (KJV)
Doxology (and/or closing song)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Departing to Serve
Benediction
Almighty Saviour, who, being exalted by the right hand of God, didst receive gifts for men: Send down the grace of thy Holy Spirit upon thy people, and grant that they may give cheerfully of their substance for the evangelizing of the world. Bless all those who are banded together for the spread of the Gospel; make them faithful and true witnesses in proclaiming thy glorious Name; and prosper the work of their hands upon them, that the light of thy truth may shine into the darkest corners of the earth. Hear us, O merciful Saviour, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, livest and reignest ever, one God world without end. Amen.
~ Canada Prayer Book (Suter 180)
Affirmation for the Day
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5.25).
Pray without Ceasing – Flash Prayer for the Day
Because we are the children of God, the Lord has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts crying, “Abba, Father!” (Gal. 4.6).
Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
The Holy Spirit, Teacher of All Things
John 14.23-29
Book Reading
Metaxas, Martin Luther