Updated June, 2025
Note: Multiple song suggestions are provided; choose as many as fit your worship context.
Gathering for Worship
“Come, All You People” Gondo
“We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise” Dearman
“Gift of Christ from God Our Father” Mowbray
“Spirit, Working in Creation” Richards
Welcome
[Include a brief explanation of Pentecost and its connection to global mission.]
Call to Worship and Greeting from God
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” (Acts 2:1-3)
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:4)
The Spirit came upon God’s people that first Pentecost, and the Spirit continues to empower all who love Christ and seek to do his will. Grace, mercy, and peace be yours in abundance from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen!
We Greet Each Other
Confession and Assurance
Song of Petition
“Gracious Spirit, Heed Our Pleading” Niwagila
“Spirit of God, Who Dwells within My Heart” Croly
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God” Hatch
“Dwell in Me, O Blessed Spirit” Crosby
The Call to Confession
“Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. Do not be astonished that Jesus says to us: ‘You must be born from above.’” (John 3:6-8) So even as we sense the Spirit’s wind blowing through our hearts today, let us open ourselves before the Lord and confess our sins.
A Time of Silence for Personal Confession
Assurance of Pardon
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Rom. 8:15-17)
Song of Assurance
“Abba, Abba, Hear Us, We Cry” Donaldson
“Neither Death Nor Life” Haugen
“I Know Not Why God’s Wondrous Grace” Whittle
The Nations Come
[Children bring in flags from around the world. Two or more narrators use a litany found on the World Missions website at http://www.crcna.org/pages/flags.cfm. Or show PowerPoint slides of flags from around the world. Highlight the flags of the countries where your congregation’s missionaries are working. Check your denomination’s mission website for other potential resources.]
Litany for Pentecost
“Litany for Pentecost” SNC 170 or “Pentecost Power” by John Paarlberg (RW 55)
Song of Response
“For Your Gift of God the Spirit” Clarkson
“Give Thanks to God, the Father” Quinn
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
[Focus on the missionaries partnered with your congregation, the countries where they work, the people groups they are ministering among, and the local Christians they work alongside.]
Proclamation of the Word
Prayer for Illumination
Children’s Message: “Do I Have To?”
[Reflecting on a child’s change of heart to desire something good which at first seemed like an imposition.]
Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 9:16-19
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon: “Compelled by Christ’s Love”
- The love of Christ for us brought us salvation at great cost.
- Having received so great a salvation, we cannot keep silent about our Savior.
- Instead, we are compelled by the Spirit to share the gospel with others that they too might experience Christ’s love.
- With sensitivity and grace, but also with clarity and power, we declare that there is one God and Jesus is God’s Son.
We Respond
Song of Response
“Here I Am, Lord” Schutte
“Filled with the Spirit’s Power” Peacey
Offering for Missions
[While the offering is taken you may choose to show a video/DVD. Materials are available through Christian Reformed World Missions (www.crcna.org/pages/crwm_resources.cfm), the Reformed Church in America (www.rca.org), and many other mission organizations.]
We Go Out into the World
Commitment to Our Calling
As God’s people we are compelled by the Spirit and God’s Word. Compelled to
go into all the world.
Compelled to
preach the gospel to all nations.
Compelled to
baptize, to teach, to disciple.
As God’s Spirit-filled people, we are compelled to
work for peace in our lives, communities, and world.
Compelled to
act justly and love mercy
Compelled to
care for our family, friends, and those we don’t know.
The Holy Spirit is here, working in our midst, active in our lives. Let us leave here to serve God “wherever we are without fitting in, light in darkness, salt in a spoiling world.” (Our World Belongs to God)
Song of Commitment
“Canto de esperanza/Song of Hope” Schutmaat;Mtchell
“Go to the World!" Dunstan
“Father, We Love You” Adkins
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13)
Song of Praise
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” Ken
“Amen, siakudu misa/Amen, We Praise Your Name, O God” Molefe