Renew us, O God, with your Spirit

Invocation and/or Invitation to Worship and/or Prayer
(from Psalm 104:24-34)

Leader:
Let us pray.
O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all.
Open your hand to us, O God, giver of good things. Do not hide your face from us.
Should you remove your Spirit from us, we shall surely return to the dust.
Send forth your Spirit in this worship service today and let us be re-created.
Renew us, O God, with your spirit.

To use as an invocation, end here with:
In Jesus' name. Amen.

People: Renew us, O God, with your Spirit.

Leader: The earth is full of your creatures.
Pray a short prayer for humankind and the people of God.
End with: Renew us, O God, with your Spirit.

People: Renew us, O God, with your Spirit.

Leader: Living things both great and small look to you for provisions.
Pray a short prayer for the earth and all creation.
End with: Renew us, O God, with your Spirit.

People: Renew us, O God, with your Spirit.

Leader: Yonder is the sea great and wide.
Pray a short prayer for the witness of the church in the world.
End with: Renew us, O God, with your Spirit.

People: Renew us, O God, with your Spirit.

Leader: I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have being.
Pray a short prayer for the music ministry.
End with: Renew us, O God, with your Spirit.

People: Renew us, O God, with your Spirit.

Leader: May our meditations be pleasing to you.
Pray a short prayer for the ministry of Word.
End with: Let us rejoice in the Lord. Renew us, O God, with your Spirit.

All: Renew us, O God, with your Spirit.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Choral Reading for the Day of Pentecost
(1 Corinthians 12:3b-13)
Choir: (Sung) Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray.
(Songs of Zion 121. Sing melody in unison, refrain only.)

Group 1: And no one can say, "Jesus is Lord"
except by the Holy Spirit.
Now there are varieties of gifts,
but the same Spirit;
and there are varieties of services but the same Lord.

Group 2: And there are varieties of activities,
but it is the same God
who activates all of them in everyone.
To each is given
the manifestation
of the Spirit
for the common good.

Choir: (Sung) I'm gonna sing when the Spirit says sing (3X)
and obey the Spirit of the Lord.
(Songs of Zion 81. Sing melody in unison.)

Group 1: To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit.

Choir: (Sung) I'm gonna preach when the Spirit says preach (3X)
and obey the Spirit of the Lord.
(Songs of Zion 81. Sing melody in unison.)

Group 2: To another faith by the same Spirit,
to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit.

Choir: (Sung) I'm gonna pray when the Spirit says pray (3X)
and obey the Spirit of the Lord.
(Songs of Zion 81. Sing melody in unison.)

Group 1: To another the working of miracles,
to another prophecy,
to another the discernment of spirits.

Group 2: To another various kinds of tongues,
to another the interpretation of tongues.

Choir: (Sung) I'm gonna shout when the Spirit says shout and
obey the Spirit of the Lord.
(Songs of Zion 81. Sing melody in unison.)

Both groups: All these are activated by one and the same Spirit,
who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Choir: (Sung) Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray.
Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray.
(Songs of Zion 121. Sing in harmony.)

Marilyn E. Thornton is the Development Editor of African American Resources at The United Methodist Publishing House and the Director of Christian Education at South End UMC in Nashville, TN.

"21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources: Worship Resources for May 15, 2005" Copyright © 2005 Marilyn E. Thornton. Used with permission.