May 24, 2026
PENTECOST SUNDAY
A Service of Prayer, of Song, of Welcoming, and of Experiencing the Pentecost Movement.
THEME: “The Gifts of the Spirit”
There is a theme for today and this is what it may be: The Holy Spirit is our experience of the dynamic, powerful, near presence of God. Our status quo is disrupted and transformed whenever the Holy Spirit comes to us, opening up new vistas for us and promoting new options.
This is Pentecost…this is today!!
Lead Minister: The Rev. Jope Langejans
Music Director: Cody Obst
Minister Emeritus: Rev. Gerry Scharff
Honorary Associate Ministers: Rev. Clint Mooney & Rev. Kelley Warner
Licensed Lay Worship Leaders: Bob Gibbenus & Fiona Hayes
Chair of Council: Vacant
Reader: Joan Shedden
Gathering
(*Indicates that you may stand if you are able…)
*OPENING INTROIT
MV # 23 “Come, O Holy Spirit” (Wind of Change)
WELCOMING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING of the PENTECOST FLAME (CANDLE of CHRIST)
Rev. Jope: Flames dancing, tongues of fire burning brightly, illuminating the shadowed places of our lives and searing radiance, all remind us of the first Pentecost. The Christ light brings a reminder of Pentecostal splendour. May the dazzling light be for us a spark of Holy Wonder.
(Laura Turnbull, Penticton, B.C., Gathering Magazine, Pentecost 1 2026 (year A), p. 27)
ACKNOWLEDGING OUR TERRITORY
Rev. Jope: Here at Lakeview United Church, we recognize that we all share this land with the first inhabitants of this area, all our Indigenous brothers and sisters of Treaty # 7 and our Metis peoples, with whom we seek to live in harmony with this land and all of its inhabitants. May we know that we are all treaty people.
*OPENING HYMN: VU # 207 “Spirit of God, Unleashed on Earth”
OPENING CALL TO WORSHIP (Coming Together)
Rev. Jope: I invite all of you, this morning, to come and settle yourselves in this sanctuary and to experience the wind and the flame of the Pentecost power…come and find inspiration to move you forward in your lives.
ALL: We have come with the diversity of racial groups, of gender differences, of status, of age, of mobility…we have come to find harmony with ourselves, with our family, and with the world.
Rev. Jope: Come with all of those who freely share…come and find true generosity which comes from the heart.
ALL: We have come to worship and to give thanks and joyful prayer…we have come to hear the Word which challenges each of us into action.
Rev. Jope: This is the day of Pentecost…this is the day where the Holy Spirit becomes unleashed into the world…this is the day where the message of love is poured out to all.
ALL: O Holy Spirit, come into this sanctuary and touch our spirits with your flame…touch our lives with your wind of newness.
Rev. Jope: Come…O Spirit of God…Come, O Spirit of Holiness… Come, O Spirit of Life and touch each of us this day.
ALL: Let us worship our God in the knowing that God calls us to heal the world and to share in the Kingdom of the Spirit. We offer ourselves now in prayer and in grateful thanksgiving as we centre ourselves with these words to the Holy One:
OPENING PRAYER (Unison)
O Holy One, oftentimes we may feel ourselves being like driftwood, sometimes purposeless and alone, drifting aimlessly, and then we realize that you, O Christ, gather us as fuel for your Pentecost fire. When your gift of the Holy Spirit lights us, we burn with your purpose and with your spark. Fill us this morning, as we pray that your very fire burning within may fill the world with your glow of your kin-dom. Blow into this day of Pentecost, filling your creatures of dust with Spirit…hang the conversations of angels over our heads and baptize us into the new day they announce. Come, O great wind, and anoint anew your disciples gathered here this morning…in Jesus’ name we offer this opening prayer…Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Rev. Jope: God says, let go of the things that are not life-giving. Let go of all that needs to die in order that they may rise to new life. In letting go, we are free to embrace new life. In our dying…is our rising…Amen.
*HYMN MV # 150 “Spirit God, Be Our Breath”
Engaging
(Reader: Joan Shedden)
FIRST SCRIPTURE PASSAGE
ACTS 2:1-21 (885) The Holy Spirit comes in wind and flame…
SECOND PASSAGE
1 CORINTHIANS 12:3b-13 (The Message) One spirit, many gifts…
HYMN of ILLUMINATION VU # 381 “Spirit of Life”
GOSPEL PASSAGE
JOHN 20:19-23 (883) Jesus appears behind closed doors…
MESSAGE “Where is the Holy Spirit Present for Us Today?”
Responding
Rev. Jope: Spirit Song, you dance with and through us, inspiring possibility and hope. Enliven our faith and embolden our justice. Blessed Trinity, we bring our gifts to be infused with your blessing. May they inspire possibility and hope. The offering will now be received…
OFFERTORY MUSIC
OFFERING DEDICATION PRAYER
Rev. Jope: In response to your call to give of ourselves, we bring these offerings to you. Where it truly represents us and our gifts, accept and multiply them in your love and your grace…Amen.
CLOSING PRAYER (Unison)
O Holy Spirit, send your gifts to fill this place and us and the world. Touch us with truth that burns like fire, with beauty that moves us like the wind; and set us free, O God, free to try new ways of living; free to forgive ourselves and others; free to love and laugh and sing; free to lay aside our burdens of security; free to join the battle for justice and peace; free to see and listen and wonder again at the gracious mystery of things and persons; free to be, to give, to receive, to rejoice as a child of your Spirit and free to get out of the boat and into the storm. And…teach us all how to dance, to turn around and come down where we want to be, in the arms and hearts of your people… and in you, that we may praise and enjoy you forever…
SUNG LORD’S PRAYER VU # 959
Blessing
*COMMISSIONING (unison)
Let us all claim the gift of the Spirit for our God never desires us to feel alone or abandoned. The Spirit is near. It is upon each of us. Let us be inspired to live with passion. The Spirit of God is with us. Thanks be to God! Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN MV # 156 “Dance with the Spirit”
BENEDICTION: (Rev. Jope)
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you…and may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you…and may the Lord give you the deepest of peace…go now into the world with a song in your heart…Amen.
RECESSIONAL
POSTLUDE MUSIC
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES for SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2026
GENESIS1:1 – 2:4a
PSALM 8
2 CORINTHIANS 13:11-13
MATTHEW 28:16-20