The God Who Gathers and Scatters Christ City Church, Washington DC

On Pentecost Sunday, Matthew Watson retells the story of the birth of the Church — through the giving of God’s Spirit — and talks about how and why God both gathers and scatters us. [Acts 2:1-13]

Resources

Call to Worship (inspired by Joel 2 and Acts 2; written by Amy Sawyer)

Gather the people, bless your foolish church.

Bring together the elders, noisy kids,

nursing babies, newlyweds.

Let the priests, pastors, masters & servants come.

Let us all weep

between the porch and the altar.

Between the porch and the altar,

the Spirit comes, flames blaze.

Between the porch and the altar,

sons and daughters will prophesy.

Old women dream dreams

and young men see visions.

Between the porch and the altar,

the Spirit comes into this place.

Crackling Fire, light our tongues,

we carry your flame.

Prayer (written by St. Augustine)

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,

that my thoughts may all be holy;

act in me, O Holy Spirit,

that my works, too, may be holy;

draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,

that I love only what is holy;

strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,

to defend that is holy;

guard me then, O Holy Spirit,

that I always may be holy.

Amen.