The Holy Spirit has granted every Christian divine gifts, special spiritual endowments given that we might serve one another and those in the world. Each of us has been granted unique gifts to enable us to fulfill the calling and commission that God has given us. The Holy Spirit is the pledge (down payment) of the future inheritance that we as Christians will receive when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to establish his Kingdom. The Spirit gives every believer a spiritual gift in order to edify other members of the body of Christ in the local church. The Holy Spirit comes to indwell every believer; no one is left out because the body requires the participation, contribution, and involvement of all members of the body.

Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation
Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise that you provided through Jesus your Son, the gift of the Holy Spirit. We celebrate his life and yield to his leading and power. Let his gifts be seen and heard among us, that we all can be edified and challenged to glorify you in all we say and do. For Christ’s sake, amen.

Call to Worship
Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, amen.

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.

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.

Benediction 
Holy Spirit, reveal to each of us the gifts that you have given us, and open up our hearts and minds to see how we may engage in the lives of others. Your gifts and calling are undeniable; we desire to honor God through the gifts you have granted to us. Make us fruitful through your grace, in Christ’s name, amen.

Pray without Ceasing – Flash Prayer for the Day
Holy Spirit, please provide me with opportunities today to serve others through your gracious gifts, that God may be honored in what I do.

The restoration of the people of God promised in Isaiah, and the eschatological priesthood that accompanies it, finds its origin in Jesus Christ, the Servant-Priest. The royal priesthood of Christ is the basis and pattern for the priesthood of all believers.

~ Uche Anizor and Hank Voss, Representing Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2016. p. 41.

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
Live a Baptized Life, Romans 6.1-5

Book Reading
Anizor and Voss, Representing Christ