5/24 - Power to be Christlike

 Greetings St. Andrew's Family

Pentecost is the celebration of God’s Spirit moving among ordinary people and transforming them for extraordinary love and service.

This weeks worship traces that movement carefully and beautifully.

We begin with the prelude, “Spirit Song,” opening ourselves to God’s presence. Then, through “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart,” to the tune of NATIONAL HYMN we pray for inward transformation. The hymn reminds us that the Spirit’s work begins not with spectacle, but with hearts willing to be shaped by divine love.

The centering song, “Holy Spirit,” brings that prayer into the language of today’s church. Its simple invitation — “You are welcome here” — captures the heart of Pentecost. We are not merely remembering something God once did. We are asking the Spirit to move among us now: to comfort, convict, heal, inspire, and renew.

In Acts 1:1–5, the disciples wait for the promise Jesus has given them. They do not yet know how the Spirit will arrive or what their lives will become afterward. They simply trust that God is preparing them for something greater.

That same trust shapes Christian life today. We rarely know exactly how the Spirit is working in us. Yet over time, the Spirit forms us into people who look more and more like Christ—people marked by compassion, courage, forgiveness, and grace.

The response song, “Sweet, Sweet Spirit,” reinforces this truth. Rather than moving immediately into familiar liturgy, the congregation lingers in the awareness that God’s Spirit is truly present among us.

The choir anthem continues the theme of renewal. Mark A. Miller’s setting of “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” honors the church’s tradition while breathing fresh life into it through a newly crafted tune called AZMONS GHOST. It is a reminder that the Holy Spirit is always renewing the church for each new generation.

Finally, we are sent out singing “Send Us Out.” Pentecost never ends inside the sanctuary. The Spirit fills us so we may carry Christ’s love into the world around us.

Come, Holy Spirit. Fill this place and fill our hearts. Shape us into people who reflect the love of Christ in all we do. Renew Your church with courage, compassion, and joy. And as we leave this place, send us out to be bearers of hope and peace. Amen.

Blessings 

Music Tom 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

7/6 - Freedom to Lead, Teach, and Serve

 Dear St. Andrew’s Family, Next Sunday, I have the honor of preaching as we gather during this July 4th holiday weekend. While our civic celebrations often focus on independence, our worship invites us to reflect on a deeper, enduring kind of freedom—the freedom we receive in Christ. The sermon is titled: “Freedom to Lead, Freedom to Teach, Freedom to Serve.” In today’s world, freedom is often seen as personal choice or independence. But Scripture offers a countercultural view: Christian freedom is not for self-indulgence, but for self-giving. It leads us into deeper connection, greater humility, and wider service. Guiding Scriptures Four key passages will frame our worship: Galatians 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.” Freedom in Christ is not about comfort or status—it’s about mutual love and service. 1 Peter 4:10 “Like good stewar...
Read more

7/13 - Light, Transformation, and a New Beginning

  Light, Transformation, and a New Beginning This Sunday marks a sacred milestone in our life together as we welcome  Pastor Norma  to the pulpit for her first Sunday of worship leadership at St. Andrew’s. She’ll be preaching on  2 Samuel 21:15–17 , a short but deeply resonant passage in which King David, exhausted in battle, is saved by Abishai—a companion who quite literally steps in to carry the weight when David no longer can. It’s a story about vulnerability, community, and light—how God often shines through the faithful presence of others. Pastor Norma’s theme of  light and transformation  flows throughout our worship. Our musical journey this week is intentionally curated to reflect both continuity and newness: We begin with  “Holy, Holy, Holy”  sung in  both English and Spanish  (v.1 English, v.1 Spanish, v.4 English, v.4 Spanish), symbolizing the universality of God’s holiness and our unity across language and culture. We follow...
Read more

6/29 - Comings, Goings, and New Beginnings

This will be a tough weekend across many churches. For us at St. Andrew's, it will be Pastor Sherri and Pastor David’s final service with us and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on how the musical and spiritual threads of the service are beautifully woven together. This weeks Bluey episode is "Camping"  It is an episode that teaches us of unexpected friendship, temporary goodbyes, and long-term impact that reminds us how people can come into our lives for a season — and leave us changed forever. That’s Pastor Sherri and Pastor David for us. They’ve camped with us — sometimes in the rain and mud of ministry, sometimes under starry skies — and now they’re heading to the next stop on their journey. Our message theme, “God Will Take Care of Us All,” grounded in Psalm 121:8 (“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore”),  assures us that while these changes bring tears and tenderness, we are not without care or guidance. God goes with them. God...
Read more