Sunday 31st May 2020

WELCOME 
Welcome to Portstewart and to Burnside At Home.
We are still in Lockdown and unable to meet together physically
But we praise our Lord Jesus Christ that we are able to meet virtually
And worship Online.
Thank you for taking the time today to seek God.

At the moment the third item of praise is Be Thou My Vision, by Sunday hopefully this will become the Irish Blessing. 
Http://www.theirishblessing.com 
​Come Back After 12 on Sunday to view.

Phone Burnside
Phone Burnside continues, where you can listen to the sermon by telephone even if you have no internet access. Just over 20 people used the service last week, so it is available again on the same number. Everything is in a slightly different order but thank you for taking the time to listen.

Telephone 028 9344 7199

More Details Here

Sunday School
This week I am delighted that we have Sunday School once again.
There will still be a Children's Message as part of the service but we also have this 20 minute Sunday School from Campaigners Northern Ireland. You can either allow children to watch on a 2nd screen while you listen to the sermon, but better by far is to watch together and learn the songs and talk about the story. 
Even if you are not of Sunday School age I know of several adults who have enjoyed going back to Sunday School as last few weeks.  Thanks to Laura at Campaigners for providing this.

COMPLETE SERVICE
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Click on the Video below to view the complete service. Scroll down if you would like to read the text and view the individual sections.

Individual Parts Of The Service
Click on the videos below to view and read individual parts of the service.

INTRODUCTION
Thank you for joining us today.
These are such uncertain and worrying times
So we turn to God and his word to find hope and encouragement

You join us on what is a very important day for the Church
This is Pentecost Sunday
It is the Birthday of the Church
It is the day when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit

Now a lot of church activity around the Holy Spirit can be a little weird.
All sorts of things are done in the name of the Spirit,
Many of which disrespect our Saviour.

So today as we worship
I want us to be sensible,
But also to realise that the Holy Spirit is

Mysterious
Supernatural
Powerful
Comforting
A True helper.

When the Holy Spirit came,
It was the birth of the church
And today we are the church 
and we cannot be church without the Holy Spirt 

Jesus rose on Easter Sunday
Appeared for 40 days
Ascended into heaven
The disciples were told to wait
10 days 
Holy Spirit came at Pentecost

CALL TO WORSHIP
It was all foretold by the prophet Joel.

17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Acts 2:17,21 (NIV)

OPENING PRAYER

Thank you that you 
Rose from the dead
Conquered sin
Have offered us forgiveness
Thank you that you have ascended to Your Father’s side
Thank you that you have sent Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us

Today may we know the power of your Spirit
May we live, guided by Your Spirit
May we know you
Mysterious
Supernatural
Powerful
Comforting
A True helper.

OPENING PRAISE

Holy Spirit Living Breath of God
A prayer for God to breath his Holy Spirit into our lives

Holy Spirit, living Breath of God
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew my heart and make me whole.

Cause Your Word to come alive in me
Give me faith for what I cannot see
Give me passion for Your purity.
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.

Holy Spirit, come abide within
May Your joy be seen in all I do--
Love enough to cover ev'ry sin
In each thought and deed and attitude

Kindness to the greatest and the least
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my striving into works of grace.
Breath of God, show Christ in all I do.

Holy Spirit, from creation's birth
Giving life to all that God has made
Show Your power once again on earth
Cause Your church to hunger for Your ways.

Let the fragrance of our prayers arise.
Lead us on the road of sacrifice
That in unity the face of Christ
Will be clear for all the world to see.

Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God
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COMING UP​

Coming Up In Our Service Today

WHY JESUS​

​Because he is Alive
And lives in us through his Holy Spirit
Jesus would not be much good if he was crucified and buried and that was that
He conquered death
Ascended
Sent his Holy Spirit 
Now we don’t need to be alone

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

Theme:
The Holy Spirit is our power source.

CHILDREN’S PRAISE

Haven’t sung this for years -

We Want To See Jesus Lifted High

We want to see Jesus lifted high
A banner that flies across this land
That all men might see the truth and know
He is the way to heaven

We want to see Jesus lifted high
A banner that flies across this land
That all men might see the truth and know
He is the way to heaven

We want to see, we want to see
We want to see Jesus lifted high
We want to see, we want to see
We want to see Jesus lifted high

Step by step we're moving forward
Little by little we're taking ground
Every prayer a powerful weapon
Strongholds come tumbling down

And down and down and down

We're gonna see, we're gonna see
We're gonna see Jesus lifted high
We're gonna see, we're gonna see
We're gonna see Jesus lifted high

OFFERING

As we give thanks to God today, we want to dedicate our offering
​
Lord we thank you that you have given us so much in our lives
We thank you for Your Holy Spirit
May we live through you dwelling in us each day
Lord accept our offering and use it for your kingdom
AMEN

BIBLE READING
Matthew Beveridge
Acts 2:1-17 (NIV)

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 

we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.

BIBLE READING

Luke 3:15-16 (NIV)

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

PRAYER FOR OTHERS

Loving God,
We ask for the gift of your Holy Spirit
to help us pray as we ought.
Holy Spirit: Help Us.


We ask for the energy and vision of your Spirit
for those who are tiring in the battle against injustice and oppression:
for those exhausted by the struggle with poverty and hunger.
Holy Spirit: Help Us.


We ask for the hope and comfort of your Spirit
for those whose lives are overshadowed by illness or pain;
for those whose lives are darkened by sorrow or bereavement.
Holy Spirit: Help Us.


We ask for the peace and joy of your Spirit
for those living in the shadow of war and violence;
for those eaten up by guilt and anxiety
and whose Christian life has become hard and dry.
Holy Spirit: Help Us.


We ask for the guidance and strength of your Spirit
for those uncertain how to use their time, talents and gifts;
for those tempted to do what is wrong.
Holy Spirit: Help Us.


We ask for the love and courage of your Spirit
for those reaching out to comfort the distressed;
for those reaching out to others with the Good News of Christ.
Holy Spirit: Help Us.


Loving God,
We ask for the assurance of your Spirit
to know your presence with us in our daily lives:
in our relationships;
in our work and service;
in our worship;
in our times of joy and pain.
Holy Spirit: Help Us.


In Jesus’ name: AMEN


Amen

PRAISE 

Be Thou My Vision

On this Pentecost Sunday,
Members of churches all across Ireland, North and South
Have come together to sing this blessing
To sing this prayer for this land
That God would be our vision

Lord Be My Vision

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art -
Thou my best thought, by day or by night;
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father; thine own may I be,
Thou in me dwelling and I one with thee.

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance, now and always;
Thou and thou only first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art.

​High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

MESSAGE

Waiting Expectantly

The people were on tiptoe of expectation
Luke 3 v 15

PRAISE

Breathe on me, Breath of God​

Our final hymn is a prayer - 
Breath On Me Breath of God

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.​

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.

BENEDICTION
As we end our worship
My prayer of blessing to you today is this.

As we enter a new week,
may we experience God’s presence
Through His Holy Spirit being poured into our lives
over our heads and our thoughts and the words of our lips,
over our hearts and our feelings and emotions
and our compassion for all others,
and over our hands and our feet
as we put into action all that God commands us. 
​

During this week,
may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with each of us; Amen.

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A LITTLE EXTRA

As usual we end our service with the Family Hymn Sing from the Gettys