Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
4768 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111
office: 652-8285; cell: 319-5424; home: 732-2631;
Email: ;
Church’s Website: www.ascension-wels.net;
Pastor Robert Green; Officers: President: Mike Neff; Vice President: Chuck Thompson; Secretary: Ralph Buehler; Elders: Mike Neff, Chuck Thompson, Ralph Buehler, Rick Grove, and Lance Pockey; Fellowship: Ron Althoff; Treasurer: Rick Grove; Properties: Larry Stoner; Publications: Terry Reilly; Stewardship: Franklin Stauffer; Evangelism: Steve Lange; Organists/pianists: Marge Metz, Scott Salesky, and Brook Larson; Willing Workers: Chairwoman: Barb Buehler; Secretary: Linda Graf; Altar Guild: Barb Buehler; LWMS Reporter: Marge Metz; Choir director: Lori Nowaczyk
June 8, 2014
Pentecost Sunday
Welcome Guests and Visitors!
We are glad you are here. Please sign the guest book, located on the cabinet to your left as you leave the sanctuary; or fill out the guest card in the pew and put it in the offering plate. Please include your e-mail or mailing address, if you would like to be added to our weekly e-mail for sermons, bulletins and announcements. There is restroom and a nursery in the narthex.
A personal prayer for before worship from page 10 in the hymnal Christian Worship: Heavenly Father, I have come to worship you. Draw near to me in your gracious Word, and assure me of your loving kindness. Curb my wandering thoughts, that with undivided attention I may hear your voice and sing your praise. Amen.
The order of service for today is The Common Service found on page 15 in the front of the hymnal.
Introduction to the service: Come, Holy Spirit! The Spirit is given on the first Christian Pentecost in fulfillment of promise and prophecy, and he continues to come to his faithful through Word and sacrament. Thus the Church never ceases to be renewed and to grow.
Opening hymn: 183 Holy Spirit, Light Divine (vs. 1 - 3)
Prayer of the Day: Holy Spirit, God and Lord, come to us this joyful day with your sevenfold gift of grace. Rekindle in our hearts the holy fire of your love that in a true and living faith we may tell abroad the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Father, one God, now and forever.
First lesson: This is the reading for the sermon.
Joel 2:28–29 (NIV84)
Has God abundantly poured his Holy Spirit upon you?
“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
Psalm 51b found on page 87 in the front of the hymnal. The Church sings David's beautiful psalm of petition for the continuing gift of the Spirit.
Second Lesson: In fulfillment of Jesus' promise and Joel's prophecy the Holy Spirit comes upon the apostles and disciples in Jerusalem on Pentecost. Boldly and with a miraculous gift of language the apostles preach the wonderful works of God in Christ Jesus to the crowd that assembles to hear and see what is happening. Peter, speaking for all the apostles, preaches a bold sermon of repentance and faith in Jesus.
Acts 2:1–21 (NIV84)
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “ ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Following the Verse of the Day the congregation joins in singing the Triple Alleluia as found on page 18.
Verse of the Day: Alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia. (From the antiphon: Come, Holy Spirit.)
Gospel reading: On the night of his betrayal the Lord Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to his disciples. The Spirit will come for their consolation and empowerment, and to the judgment of unbelief that rejects the Son.
John 16:5–11 (NIV84)
“Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
Sermon Hymn: 185 O Holy Spirit, Grant Us Grace
Sermon: By Pastor Green based on Joel 2:28–29
Has God abundantly poured his Holy Spirit upon you?
Sermon helps: Use the following as best serves you in listening to the sermon.
Telic note (the key points God is teaching in the reading): God in his grace and mercy promised long before that he would abundantly pour out his Holy Spirit upon all people, men and women, sons and daughters, allowing them to serve him in the proclamation of his saving Word. The prophecy and fulfillment of this on Pentecost serves as another building block of faith to assure us that his plan of salvation is true, for just as he sent the Holy Spirit so he sent the Savior!
Sad/Law (As I look at myself, what makes me sad about this reading, where do I see God’s law condemning my sin): Christians often fail to appreciate the abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit and its meaning for each believer. It becomes all too easy to joyfully receive the saving work of the Savior, and ignore the sanctifying work of the Spirit and his work to equip each believer to serve.
Glad/Gospel (What gives me joy in this reading, where do I see God’s love and forgiveness): God has abundantly showered us with his grace in sending the Savior and pouring his Spirit upon us. By his work Christ saves us by paying for our sins; by his work the Holy Spirit saves us by bringing us to faith, sustains us in faith, and then equips us to serve our God in faith, word and deed.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Offering: During the offering the congregation joins in singing hymn 183 Holy Spirit, Light Divine (vs.4 and 5)
The Prayer of the Church for Pentecost Sunday
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
M: Almighty, eternal, heavenly Father, on the day of Pentecost you poured out the Holy Spirit upon your Church, enabling your apostles to witness to all nations concerning your wonderful works. We thank you that by your Spirit we have been called to faith in Christ Jesus, given power to believe your Word, and gathered into the fellowship of your holy Church. Sanctify us that we, purged of our sins and unrighteousness, may be prepared for ever good work.
C: To this end aid us, by the witness of your Spirit, to know more deeply and truly the Holy Scriptures that we may become increasingly wise for salvation. Stir up your Church, O Lord, and work within her walls a zeal to seek the lost, to bind up the broken-hearted, to heal the afflicted, and to cheer all that mourn.
M: Give your Spirit room in our homes that he may lead every child who bears your name into the paths of love and obedience, and endow every parent with an understanding heart and gentle ways that together our families may adorn our faith in you with godliness and honor.
C: To all in trial or tribulation, the sick, the weary, the oppressed, the fearful, the needy and the lonely, give the peace of Christ. Let their cry come to you, O Lord, and grant them all things needful.
Special prayers of thanksgiving or intercession may be spoken here
M: Lord hear us as we bring you our silent prayers.
Silent prayers may be offered
M: Finally, through your Spirit bestow your grace on us all that we may ever walk in the light of your presence, both here and hereafter. In Jesus’ name, we set these requests before your mercy seat.
C: Amen.
Third Hymn: 471 Renew Me, O Eternal Light
Closing hymn: 578 Saints of God, the Dawn Is Brightening
For a prayer for after worship see page 11 of Christian Worship, A Lutheran Hymnal.
Announcements for the week of June 8th
Attendance last Sunday: 36; 6 computers were used watched it on the internet; 48 visits to the website including 8 from 4 cities in and around Harrisburg, from 14 states, and 2 from India.
This is what we believe here at Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church:
We believe: that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God; that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and therefore cannot save themselves. That we are saved by grace alone through faith in God's Son, Jesus Christ, who lived, died and rose again.
We also believe that it is the mission and responsibility of every member to reach out with the Gospel to all nations. That everything we do as a congregation should support this purpose. As servants of Christ, these beliefs will lead us to use our time, talents and treasures for the growth, preservation and the extension of Christ's Kingdom.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Strawberry Social will is today and all are welcomed to join after the service in the fellowship hall for a meal, strawberry desserts and fellowship.
Elections: Our nominating committee is seeking nominations for the following offices for our congregation’s election of new officers: President; Vice President; Secretary; Christian Education; Elders; Public Relations; Youth Ministry.
School of Outreach: Saturday, Sept. 27th, a School of Outreach put on by our WELS Evangelism Committee will be conducted in New Jersey from about 9:00 to 3:00. This will a good opportunity for us to get help in planning and implementing evangelism efforts in our area. It will work only if we can get enough members to go to have good discussion and planning. If you would like to go, please see Pastor or Steve Lange.
Friday, June 20, 7:00 pm Branches Band, they were here about a year and a half ago, will put on a concert. Branches Band exists to serve Christ through music. Members of the band Andy Braun (guitar, vocals, and harmonica), Jeremy Bakken (bass, piano, and vocals), and Rachel Braun (vocals, piano, and small percussion) travel all over the country with this ministry. They play hymns and original songs based on scripture to edify worship services, add fun to church functions, and much more!
For a complete schedule and more information about Branches Band, visit us at: www.branchesband.com or find us at www.facebook.com/branchesband. CDs and other merchandise will be available afterwards
Labor Day Retreat: Don't miss out on the Early-Bird Registration Rates (Rates go up July 4!) Each year, we come together at the Labor Day Retreat for fun and fellowship. It's a refreshing way toconnect with the Lord andrevitalize your spirit with friends, family & faith.
We've "set up camp" on welslabordayretreat.org with all the details for 2014. We have a great locationwith plenty of cabins, facilitiesfor all of our activitiesand excellent Bible Study classes(more about this, later!).There's a warm-water lake, swimming pools, trails, sports courts and everyone is invited!