"The Spirit is Present” is a service of song and reflection tracing the Holy Spirit’s activity from creation, through redemption, to its work in the world around us and in us. Multiple song suggestions have been provided to reflect a breadth of musical styles. The e-version of this article has links where you can purchase the music, listen to it, and in many cases read background information and performance suggestions. The resources provided here can also be turned into a typical service by focusing on one section and incorporating a sermon on the passage, additional worship elements, and the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.
Call to Worship
The Spirit gathers us to worship God
And builds us up in faith, hope, and love
So that we may go into the world to proclaim the gospel
And work for justice and peace.
Let us worship God together.
—The Worship Sourcebook (TWS) Q.1.2.6 Belonging to God: Catechism Resources for Worship. p 5 [11], alt. Geneva Press, © 2003, Office of Theology and Worship, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Used by permission.
Sung Response
“Come, Holy Spirit” The Iona Community
“Come, Holy Spirit, Our Souls Inspire” Maurus
“O Holy Spirit, Come,” arr. Greg Scheer
“We Need the Power of the Holy Spirit” Smallwood
Opening Prayer
Come, Creator Spirit, and move over this chaotic world.
Come, Creator Spirit, and bring life to this world.
Come, Creator Spirit, and move over the chaos of our lives.
Come, Creator Spirit, and bring us new life. Amen.
—RW 35:20
Holy Spirit, Creator,
At the beginning you hovered over the waters;
You breathe life into all creatures.
Come into us, Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, Comforter,
By you we are born again as children of God;
You make us living temples of your presence;
You pray within us with prayers too deep for words.
Come into us, Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, Lord and giver of life,
You are light, you bring us light;
You are goodness and the source of all goodness.
Come into us, Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, breath of life,
You sanctify and breathe life into the whole body of the church;
You dwell in each one of its members;
And you will one day give new life to our mortal bodies.
Come into us, Holy Spirit. Amen.
—The Worship Sourcebook (TWS) Q.1.4.8 Copublished by: The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship; Faith Alive Christian Resources; Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI ©2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources. All rights reserved. Ecumenical Prayer from France
Opening Songs
“Come, Holy Ghost” Mills
“Send Us Your Spirit” Haas
“Spirit, Working in Creation” Richards
“Holy Spirit” by Jesus Culture
The Spirit is Present in Creation
Scripture Reading
Genesis 1:1–2:3
Idea: Consider using the video “Creation” from Saddleback Kids or “The Gospel Project for Kids Bible Story Video, Creation,” both available on YouTube.
Creation’s Praise to God
“All Creatures of Our God and King,” (st. 1–4, 6) Francis of Assisi
(Also consider the David Crowder version and the one by West Coast Revival.)
“God of Wonders” Byrd, Hindalong
“Praise the Lord, Sing Hallelujah” Bible Songs Hymnal, 1927; alt.
“We Worship You, Whose Splendor Dwarfs the Cosmos” Mayhew
Scripture Reading
Psalm 104:27–30 or the following litany
Send forth your Spirit, Lord;
renew the face of the earth.
Reader 1: Lord, you have made so many things. How wisely you made them all.Reader 2: The earth is filled with your creatures.
Reader 1: There is the ocean, large and wide,
Reader 2: where countless creatures live, large and small alike.
Reader 1: The ships sail on it, and in it plays Leviathan,
Reader 2: the sea monster that you made.
Send forth your Spirit, Lord;
renew the face of the earth.
Reader 1: All of them depend on you
Reader 2: to give them food when they need it.
Reader 1: You give it to them, and they eat it;
Reader 2: you provide food, and they are satisfied.
Send forth your Spirit, Lord;
renew the face of the earth.
Reader 1: When you turn away, they are afraid;
Reader 2: when you take away their breath, they die and go back to the dust from which they came.
Reader 1: But when you give them breath, they are created;
Reader 2: you give new life to the earth.
Send forth your Spirit, Lord;
renew the face of the earth. Amen.
—based on Psalm 104:24–30, TEV from TWS A.1.4.10
Prayer
How magnificent for us to ponder, triune God of grace,
how your Word spoke creation into being,
how your Spirit breathed life into every living creature.
Receive now our praise in concert
with the symphony of praise
and saints and angels in heaven—
all offered through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
—TWS 2nd edition, A.1.4.4
Song of Praise
“Praise the Spirit in Creation” Hewlett
“Soplo de Dios/O Living Breath” Augsburg Fortress
“Lord Send Out Your Spirit,” Harbor
What We Believe
Leader: We believe and confess also
that the Holy Spirit proceeds eternally
from the Father and the Son—
All: neither made,
nor created,
nor begotten,
but only proceeding
from the two of them.
Leader: In regard to order,
the Spirit is the third person of the Trinity—
All: of one and the same essence,
and majesty,
and glory,
with the Father and the Son,
Leader: being true and eternal God,
as the Holy Scriptures teach us.
—Belgic Confession Article 11: The Deity of the Holy Spirit
Song
“Have Mercy on Us, God Most High” Faber
“How Great Is Our God” Tomlin
The Spirit is Present in the Exodus
Scripture Reading
Numbers 11:16–29
Song of Hope
“Spirit, Spirit, of Gentleness” Manley
“Holy Spirit, Come,” Kimbrough
What We Believe
God’s Spirit speaks in the world
according to God’s ultimate word in Christ.
In every time and place,
in ancient cities and distant lands,
in technology and business,
in art and education,
God has not been left without a witness.
The Word has entered where we have failed to go.
—Our Songs of Hope, 8, Reformed Church in America
The Spirit is Present in the Prophets
Scripture Reading
Isaiah 61:1–3
What We Believe
The Spirit gathers people
from every tongue, tribe, and nation
into the unity of the body of Christ.
Anointed and sent by the Spirit,
the church is thrust into the world,
ambassadors of God’s peace,
announcing forgiveness and reconciliation,
proclaiming the good news of grace.
Going before them and with them,
the Spirit convinces the world of sin
and pleads the cause of Christ.
Men and women, compelled by the Spirit,
go next door and far away
into science and art,
media and marketplace—
every area of life,
pointing to the reign of God
with what they do and say.
—Our World Belongs to God, 30, © Christian Reformed Church in North America
The Spirit is Present in Confession and Assurance
Prayer of Confession
Sovereign Lord,
you have anointed us with your Spirit,
yet we have not shared your great gift.
Create in us a clean heart, O God.
Restore to us the joy of your salvation.
We have not proclaimed your good news to the poor.
We have not bound up the brokenhearted.
Create in us a clean heart, O God.
Restore to us the joy of your salvation.
We have not proclaimed your freedom to the captives.
We have not comforted those who mourn.
Create in us a clean heart, O God.
Restore to us the joy of your salvation.
Forgive us for closing our eyes to the needs of others.
Forgive us for limiting your abundance.
Create in us a clean heart, O God.
Restore to us the joy of your salvation.
Open our minds, Lord. Open our hearts, Lord.
Open our hands, Lord. Open our lips, Lord.
Give us a willing spirit to show your love to your world. Amen.
—based on Psalm 51; Isaiah 61; TWS Q.2.2.6
Sung Prayer
“Come Down, O Love Divine” Bianco da Siena
“Spirit Divine, Inspire Our Prayer” Reed
“Give Me a Clean Heart” Douroux
“Give Us Clean Hands” Hall
“Holy Spirit, Truth Divine” Longfellow
“Holy Spirit, Light Divine,” arr. Strohman
“Come, Holy Spirit, Come,” Gadsby, Ring
“Spirit of the Living God” Baughen, Iverson
“Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart,” arr. Digerness
Assurance of Pardon
The Spirit renews our hearts
and moves us to faith,
leads us into truth,
and helps us to pray,
stands by us in our need,
and makes our obedience fresh and vibrant.
God the Spirit lavishes gifts on the church
in astonishing variety—
prophecy, encouragement, healing,
teaching, service, tongues, discernment—
equipping each member
to build up the body of Christ
and to serve our neighbors.
—Our World Belongs to God, 29
What We Believe
We believe
that God’s lifegiving Word and Spirit has conquered the powers of sin and death,
and therefore also of irreconciliation and hatred, bitterness and enmity,
that God’s lifegiving Word and Spirit will enable the church to live in a new obedience
which can open new possibilities of life for society and the world.
—The Belhar Confession
The Spirit is Present in New Life
Scripture Reading
Ezekiel 37:1–14
(Note that the Hebrew word for Spirit and Breath are the same: Ruach)
Sung Response
“Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God” Getty, Townend (Full score is available at www.gettymusic.com/holy-spirit)
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God” Hatch
“Breathe on Me,” arr. Cameron Grey
“Hymn to the Holy Spirit,” Tuck
“Come Alive,” Daigle
“Dry Bones,” Cobb (This is not a congregational song, but could be used with an interpretive dance.)
Prayers of the People
Triune God,
When was the last time
that we heard the wind of your Spirit
roar through this place?
When was the last time
your fire lit up this room?
When was the last time
we took you at your word
and met together in expectation
of your Spirit filling this place,
and these lives with your Glory and Power?
Lord, you challenge us with Pentecost.
Do we believe that this
was a once in eternity experience,
never to be repeated?
That the Holy Spirit was poured out
on your followers for a single purpose,
and ended His work at that instant?
If so, then maybe that is why the Church
seems so powerless in this age,
helpless when faced with the needs
both spiritual and physical,
that we see in the world.
Lord, as we meet together,
and celebrate once again
the memory of that first Pentecost,
may it be for us as it was then
a moment of empowerment,
an awareness of your Glory in this dark world,
a life changing experience. Amen.
Prayer: ©John Birch, 2016 faithandworship.com Reprints permitted.
Alternate suggestion: RW 55, Pentecost Prayer by John Paarlberg
The Spirit is Present in All God’s People
Scripture Reading
Joel 2:28–31
Song of Hope
“Fear Not, Rejoice and Be Glad” Wright
“Pour Out, I Will Pour Out My Spirit,” Bell
What We Believe
At Pentecost, promises old and new were fulfilled.
The ascended Jesus became the baptizer,
drenching his followers with his Spirit,
creating a new community
where Father, Son, and Holy Spirit make their home.
Revived and filled with the breath of God,
women and men,
young and old,
dream dreams
and see visions.
—Our World Belongs to God, 28
Song of Pentecost
“Santo Espíritu, excelsa paloma/Holy Spirit, from Heaven Descended” (st. 1, 2) Blycker
“Spirit of God, Unleashed on Earth” Arthur
“Wind Who Makes All Winds That Blow” Troeger
“When Our Savior, Yesu, Went Away” Colvin
The Spirit is Present in Unity
What We Believe
The Holy Spirit builds one church,
united in one Lord and one hope,
with one ministry around one table.
The Spirit calls all believers in Jesus
to respond in worship together,
to accept all the gifts from the Spirit,
to learn from each other’s traditions,
to make unity visible on earth.
Come, Lord Jesus:
We are open to your Spirit.
We await your full presence.
Our world finds rest in you alone.
—Our Song of Hope, 17
Song of Unity
“Santo Espíritu, excelsa paloma/Holy Spirit, from Heaven Descended” (st. 3, 4) Blycker
“One People, Here, We Gather” Bringle
“We Are Your People” Wren
“Somos uno en Cristo/We Are One in Christ” Anon
The Spirit is Present in Us
What We Believe
The Holy Spirit sends the church
to call sinners to repentance,
to proclaim the good news
that Jesus is our Savior and Lord.
The Spirit sends the church out in ministry
to preach good news to the poor,
righteousness to the nations,
and peace among all people.
—Our Song of Hope, 16
Closing Prayer
Almighty God,
send us out filled with your life-giving Holy Spirit,
that we may proclaim your gospel through our words and deeds.
May your Spirit lead, equip, and empower us to
bring you glory now and always. Amen.
—TWS Q.9.1.7
Song of Commitment
“Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service” (st. 1, 2, 4) Bayly
“Go to the World” Dunstan
Blessing
May the Holy Spirit fall upon you, encompass you, and support you.
May the Holy Spirit transform you, lead you, and equip you.
May the Holy Spirit give you encouragement, strength, and comfort
to serve and worship our triune God both now and forever. Amen.
—TWS Q.9.2.5
Doxological Praise
“No hay dios tan grande/There’s No God as Great” Psalter Hymnal, 1987
