Pentecost
The word ‘Pentecost’ comes from the Greek meaning simply ‘fiftieth.’ Pentecost Sunday ends the season of Easter and symbolizes a new beginning. It celebrates the unleashing of the Holy Spirit on the world and the empowering of the church to reach the world with the gospel. In remembering Pentecost and living in light of this powerful turning point the church expresses gratitude to Christ for sending “another counselor” (John 14:16), celebrates the work of the Spirit in the renewal of all creation, and professes its confidence and security in knowing the Spirit’s power is available for its mission.
- Calling -
O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim Your praise.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God:
O come, let us adore him.
- Constitution -
Read/Listen, Meditate, Pray, and Contemplate on God’s Word, remembering that God is with you and ready to speak to you because he loves you.
Ecclesiastes 10
[1] Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
[2] A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right,
but a fool’s heart to the left.
[3] Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
[4] If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place,
for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
[5] There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: [6] folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. [7] I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
[8] He who digs a pit will fall into it,
and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
[9] He who quarries stones is hurt by them,
and he who splits logs is endangered by them.
[10] If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
he must use more strength,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.
[11] If the serpent bites before it is charmed,
there is no advantage to the charmer.
[12] The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor,
but the lips of a fool consume him.
[13] The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
and the end of his talk is evil madness.
[14] A fool multiplies words,
though no man knows what is to be,
and who can tell him what will be after him?
[15] The toil of a fool wearies him,
for he does not know the way to the city.
[16] Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
and your princes feast in the morning!
[17] Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,
and your princes feast at the proper time,
for strength, and not for drunkenness!
[18] Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
[19] Bread is made for laughter,
and wine gladdens life,
and money answers everything.
[20] Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king,
nor in your bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.
Ecclesiastes 11
[1] Cast your bread upon the waters,
for you will find it after many days.
[2] Give a portion to seven, or even to eight,
for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
[3] If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
[4] He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
[5] As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
[6] In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
[7] Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
[8] So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
[9] Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
[10] Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
Ecclesiastes 12
[1] Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; [2] before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, [3] in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, [4] and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low—[5] they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—[6] before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, [7] and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. [8] Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
[9] Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. [10] The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.
[11] The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. [12] My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
[13] The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. [14] For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Psalm 86
A Prayer of David.
[1] Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
[2] Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
[3] Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all the day.
[4] Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
[5] For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
[6] Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
[7] In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me.
[8] There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
[9] All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
[10] For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
[11] Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
[12] I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
[13] For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
[14] O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them.
[15] But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
[16] Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant,
and save the son of your maidservant.
[17] Show me a sign of your favor,
that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
Proverbs 13
[1] A wise son hears his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
[2] From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
[3] Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
[4] The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
[5] The righteous hates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.
[6] Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.
[7] One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
[8] The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
but a poor man hears no threat.
[9] The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
[10] By insolence comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.
[11] Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
[12] Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
[13] Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
[14] The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
[15] Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.
[16] Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
but a fool flaunts his folly.
[17] A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.
[18] Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
[19] A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
[20] Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
[21] Disaster pursues sinners,
but the righteous are rewarded with good.
[22] A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
[23] The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.
[24] Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
[25] The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
- Communion -
Pray for yourself, others, our church, our neighbors, and the world.
Pray the Lord’s Prayer & the collect of the week:
Our Father who art in heaven...
Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep us, we pray, from all things that may hurt us, that we, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with free hearts those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
- Commission -
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
Let us go forth in the name of Christ.