Trinity St. Andrew’s United Church
Order of Worship
Sunday, May 24th 2026
Pentecost Sunday
Prelude
Welcome & Telling Our Story
GATHERING
Gathering Chorus
Call to Worship
Holy Spirit, dance your light into the corners of our lives: when we are cold, bring us warmth; when we are afraid, bring us comfort; when we are lost, brighten the path; when we are unsure, mark the way; when we are in need, come into our presence concretely. Come, O Holy Spirit, come. Come, let us worship God together.
Hymn: Spirit, Open My Heart MV 79
Refrain:
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.
- God, replace my stony heart
with a heart that’s kind and tender.
All my coldness and fear
to our grace I now surrender. Refrain
- Write your love upon my heart
as my law, my goal, my story.
In each thought, word, and deed,
may my living bring you glory. Refrain
- May I weep with those who weep,
share the joy of sister, brother.
In the welcome of Christ,
may we welcome one another. Refrain
Gathering Prayer & Assurance of Grace
Generous God, you give us the gift of your Spirit, but we confess that we have not known how to use it. You send us the Spirit of courage, but we have been afraid. You send us the Spirit of truth, but we cling to our illusions. You send us the Spirit of healing, but we cannot let go of our hurts. Holy Spirit of forgiveness, come to us again: shake our hearts, set our souls on fire with your love: send us out into world rejoicing in your power. We hold out to you all our particular burdens of guilt and sin, and we ask for your help to live the way of your justice and love. Friends, look up in love. God’s unfailing love sustains and upholds us; God will never let us go. Where the Spirit is, there is freedom. Receive God’s unconditional forgiveness. Come alive in Christ! Amen.
Time for the Young & Young at Heart
Hymn: Open My Eyes, That I may See VU 371
- Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth thou has for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, they will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
- Open my ears, that I may hear
voices of truth thou sendest clear;
and while the wavenotes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!
- Open my mouth, and let me bear
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart and let me prepare
love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
Statement of Purpose
The sacrament of baptism proclaims and celebrates the grace of God. By water and the Spirit, we are called, claimed, and commissioned: we are called God’s own, welcomed as children of God; we are claimed by Christ, united with Christ, united with one another and the Christian community of every time and place; we are commissioned to Christ’s ministry of love, peace and justice, and strengthened by the Holy Spirit for the work of the church in the world.
Presentation of Candidates:
On behalf of the congregation of Trinity St. Andrews United Church, I present Joyce, Andy & Edmund, children of Carissa and Dylon Wisotzki for initiation into the body of Christ through baptism.
Profession of Faith & Promises
Do you believe in one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? I do, by the grace of God.
Desiring the freedom of new life in Christ, do you seek to resist evil, and to live inn love and justice? I do, God being my helper.
Will you follow the way of Jesus Christ? I will, God being my helper.
Will you join with your siblings in this congregation to share in the life, work, and ministry of Jesus Christ? I will, God being my helper.
And, will you share your faith with Joyce, Andy and Eddy, growing with them in faith, hope and love? I will, God being my helper.
Would the congregation please rise. As TSA, do you commit yourselves to support and nurture these persons within a community which worships God, loves and serves others, seeks justice, and resists evil? We do, by the grace of God.
Please remain standing as we recite one of our statements of faith: A New Creed. It is on page 918 in Voices United.
Statement of Faith A New Creed VU 918
THE NEW CREED
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
Pouring of Water & The Act of Baptism
Gracious and Holy God, we bless you for the gift of life, and, within it, the gift of water. Over its unshaped promise your Spirit hovered at creation. By water, comes the growth of the earth. Through water, you led your children out of Egypt. In the waters of the Jordan your child Jesus was baptized. Now may your Spirit be upon us and what we do, that this water may be a sign for all of new life in Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Joyce, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Andy, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Eddy, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Laying On of Hands
Joyce, Andy and Eddy, may the Holy Spirit, Love’s power, guide you, inspire you, and work within you, all the days of your life. Amen.
Presentation of Gifts & Symbols
May you receive these gifts: Visible signs of an invisible grace. May they remind you of God’s unconditional love and this congregation’s unwavering support of you. Amen.
Declaration & Congregational Welcome
In the name of Jesus Christ, Joyce, Andy and Eddy have been received into this community of faith, the body of Christ in the world. Let us celebrate as we sing Halle, Halle (VU958) twice through.
Sung Blessing: Halle, Halle, Halle x2 VU 958
Halle, halle, hallelujah! Halle, halle, halleujah!
Halle, halle, hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
WORD
Scripture: Acts 2: 1-21 Mike Gorman
This is the witness of the Church.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon The Church Finds Its Voice
Anthem
RESPONSE
Thanksgiving & Offering
On Pentecost, the Spirit came not to be contained, but to be shared. Tongues of fire rested on ordinary people, and suddenly fear gave way to courage, silence gave way to witness, and strangers became community. The Spirit still moves among us today — stirring generosity, compassion, and hope. As we offer our gifts this morning, we participate in that same holy movement: building community, serving neighbours, proclaiming love, and making room for God’s transforming work in the world. Let us bring our gifts with grateful hearts as we sing Know that God is Good (MV104).
Offertory Song Know That God is Good MV 104
Know that God is good, (3x)
God is good, God is good.
Offertory Prayer
Holy Spirit, receive these gifts we offer today. Take what we place before you and use it to bring hope, welcome, and love into the world. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hymn: One Bread, One Body VU 467
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless;
and we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
- Gentile or Jew, servant or free,
woman or man, no more. Refrain
- Many the gifts, many the works,
one in the Lord of all. Refrain
- Grain for the fields, scattered and grown,
gathered to one, for all. Refrain
SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION
Invitation
As we come to this table, we are reminded that this is not the table of Trinity St. Andrews United Church; nor is it the table of The United Church of Canada. It is the table of Jesus Christ, the family feast of the whole people of God. All who seek to be nourished and sustained in the journey of faith and love to live justly and in peace with neighbour, are welcome here. Let us eat and drink together for our strengthening in the faith, and for the sake of the world.
Call to Give Thanks
May God be with us.
God is here among us.
Let us open our hearts to God.
We open them to God and to one another.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
Thanksgiving
Holy God of wind and fire, your Spirit renews the face of the earth and warms the hearts of your people. We give you thanks for the gifts of pentecostal power: tongues that utter prophetic words of truth and justice; flames that kindle new visions of compassion and peace; fresh breezes that blow down the walls which separate us from you and one another. And so it is that we join with every voice on earth and in the heavens to give you praise in unison through our Song of Creation…
Song of Creation
Holy, holy, holy Lord. God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Remembering Jesus at the Table
On the night before he died, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to those who sat with him, saying: “Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup, saying: “This cup is the new covenant, sealed in my blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.” O God, Redeemer of all things, with grateful hearts we offer this bread and wine, fruits of your earth and of our labour, signs of your redemptive purpose for our lives and for all your creation. By this bread and cup, we remember Christ and share in the mystery of your being, your bliss, your purpose.
Affirmation of Memory and Hope
By what we do here, we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Prayer for Transformation
Send, O God, your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts, that all who share in this bread and cup may be the body of Christ: light, life, and love in the world. In this hope, and as your people we praise you.
Prayers of the People & The Prayer of Jesus
Creator God, at this time we remember all those with whom you would have us share your feast. We pray for all who are in sorrow or in pain… all who are ill or alone… all who live with fear, oppression, or hunger… all whom the world counts as last and least… We pray for the nations as they strive for peace and justice and for our families and friends. May they know the comfort of your presence wherever they are and however they are feeling. We pray this in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray by saying…Our Father…
Breaking the Bread and Filling the Cup
Jesus said: “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never be hungry; whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. The bread of freedom. The cup of solidarity.
Sharing the Bread and Cup
The gifts of God for the people of God. Come, for all things are now ready.
Prayer after Communion
Life-giving God, may we, who share Christ’s body, live his risen life; we, who drink his cup, bring new life to others; we, whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so that we and all your children shall be free, and all creation will live to praise your name. Amen.
SENDING
Hymn: Come, O Holy Spirit (Wind of Change) MV 23
- Come, O Holy Spirit, set the Church on fire;
strike it as the lightning hits a posing spire.
Burn away the structures and
consume the sham of our holy systems:
Come, in Jesus’ name!
Refrain: Come, come, come, in Jesus’ name!
Take our hearts by storm.
All the world lies open:
Pentecost is now! (2x)
- Blow away the cobwebs of our stubborn past.
Come, send flying from us myths unfit to last.
Wind of change, refresh us and disturb our calm;
teach us what true love is,
take our hearts by storm! Refrain
- Free from us the babble of our Babel mind;
spark in us a language all can understand.
Lighten then our darkness,
Come and show us how all the world likes open:
Pentecost is now! Refrain
(Last time) Amen!
Sending Forth
Go in peace. And may the Holy God surprise you on the way, Christ Jesus be your company, and the Spirit life up your life. Amen.
Sung Blessing: Go Now in Peace VU 964
Go now in peace, go now in peace.
May the love of God surround you everywhere,
everywhere you may go.
Postlude
