A Creative Pentecost Service

The service below is intended primarily for churches that emphasize informal worship. Although it lacks the structure of more familiar liturgies, it presents clearly th traditional themes of Pentecost worship. Order of Worship Processional: "For Your Gift of God the Spirit" (Clarkson) Leader:As we gather for worship this Pentecost Sunday, we want to place ourselves before God, to be birthed anew with the breath of God's benevolent life through his Holy Spirit. We want to be led to Pentecost, but wish to do so without preempting the history of the Spirit's work in Israel. Today we worship God the Holy Spirit by beginning at the beginning, with the hovering, birthing Spirit of creation. First Reader:(dramatic reading of Genesis 1:1-31a, followed by silent pause, then:) Our loving God, we are awed by creation, by your ordered explosion of artistry. People:We bless you, Creator God, for your gift of love and delight. All: "Gloria, Gloria" (Taiz) Second Reader:And God saw that i…