May 15, 2016 - Pentecost - Pentecost Youth Sunday and Promises Fulfilled

The photographs in this post only suggest the impact of the decked out sanctuary the congregation worshiped in today.  Thanks to the Liturgical Arts team of Michael Dinter, Susan Nolte and Toni Hartung, the day was made more meaningful by the space.

This was also a day where young adults set the tone and inspiration for worship.  .

The first Creator Praise song was Listen, God is Calling, a traditional Tanzanian tune and text.  This, together with Let Us Go Now to the Banquet which references the feast of the universe, introduced a larger, international feel to worship.  That  would be expanded and continued with the songs led by the youth during the Offertory, and dramatized in today's Second Lesson reading, the story of Pentecost. 

And the Pentecost story was dramatic when, in the middle of the story many of the youth began reading the passage in different languages.  Some the young adults had learned the language, others read in their native tongues.  The moment felt much less contained as a result and prompted new thoughts about the first Pentecost experience.

There were two songs, Keep Your Eyes on the Prize and For Everyone Born, that were sung in English during the Offertory songs the young adults led   The other songs were El Es Nuestra Paz, Yarabba Ssalami, Tu Fidelidad and Salaam eleikum.  The passion, promise and peace all these songs all shared in their hopes for humanity.

Promises made and promises fulfilled were celebrated today.  The Blessing of New Members to welcome Jon, Amber, Abigail and Jack Luebke to Creator represented the promises made at the service. The Blessing for Creator's High School Graduates; Timmy Mair and Brie Voss represented the promises fulfilled.
 
The overall feeling of the service was being strongly connected to the larger world.  That connection made me, personally at least, feel both smaller and larger in terms of perspective and my ideas about the world.

Instead of a sermon Pastor Michelle and the young adults shared stories about where they were seeing the Holy Spirit move in the world today. Much of what the youth shared came from the Justice Retreat and the recent Synod Assembly that may of them had the opportunity to attend.  These experiences had an impact on them and their view of the larger church.

The Lord Now Sends Us Forth was a powerful and joyous Sending Song for this service, emphasizing that we are sent forth. as the body of Christ, to make of all the world a better place to live.

How do we keep the Holy Spirit we sing about alive in our hearts?  The young adults helped Creator do that today.