Worship Connection for May 23, 2021

Good morning!  This page is intended to both serve as a continuing worship option for those participating in our worship service from home, and to serve in place of print resources during our in-person worship.  Following the worship service on Sunday, one or more video recordings from the service will be placed on this page, including the sermon.  This may take several hours, due to the time needed to process the videos.  We will email the congregation when the recordings have been posted.  If you would like to be added to our congregational email list, please contact pvcob.alive@gmail.com.

• Wind and Word Bible Study will begin on June 8.  We will meet in the Pavilion at 7PM.

• Indoor seating is available in the sanctuary with the live stream of the service on the screen.

• The Shenandoah District Disaster Auction was this past weekend.  Thank you to everyone who contributed as volunteers, donors, and bidders!

• Softball season has started! Next week’s games are at 7:30 PM on May 24 and 25.  The full schedule can be found on the church website, www.pleasantvalleyalive.org.

• There will be a special called Congregational Business Meeting on June 27 to consider proposed by-law changes.  Details will be available soon.

• All are invited for 5th Sunday Coffee and Muffins during the Sunday School hour on May 30

• The Disaster Kit committee is preparing to receive groups of volunteers to assemble buckets and kits for Church World Service. Congregations or groups are challenged to provide 10 to 20 volunteers to come at a pre-arranged time to fill buckets or kits with supplies. The assembly will take place in the Disaster Ministries building in Weyers Cave, where the roll-up doors will be open and proper spacing can be achieved. CDC guidelines will be followed, with temperature checks and mask-wearing. Each packing session should last about two hours.
  • The District hosts the region’s Church World Service depot, and a tractor-trailer is expected to arrive in late May to pick up buckets, kits and other supplies. The committee has set a goal to have at least half of the buckets filled before the truck comes to load items. People interested in volunteering may contact Sarah Long at the District office to connect with an upcoming opportunity for assembling buckets and kits.

• Brethren Woods is looking for strong, solid Christians to serve in June and July during our summer camp program as Paid Summer Staff. Open positions include Nature Director, Maintenance Assistant, and male and female Counselors. Check out the Summer Staff webpage at http://www.brethrenwoods. to review job descriptions, get more information about serving at camp, and apply online! Male Counselors are especially needed and have been particularly difficult to secure for this 2021 summer season.

  In addition to paid staff, Brethren Woods depends on Volunteer Staff to serve as deans (Bible study and worship leaders), Health Managers, Kitchen and Maintenance Assistants, and day, half-week, or full-week Counselors for K-12th grade campers. Campers of parents (or grandparents) who volunteer for a full week of camp are eligible for a 50% discount on their camper costs. This discount is limited to two children per parent (or grandparent) per week. Get more information at http://www.brethrenwoods. to review job descriptions and apply online.

We gather this morning on Pentecost Sunday, the fiftieth day of Easter and a celebration of the arrival of the Holy Spirit among the disciples. On this day, God not only gave the image of flames appearing among them, along with the gift of interpretation so all could understand, but God also used Peter to bring three thousand people to Christ, to share in the forgiveness, love, and new life Jesus offers. We gather this morning to celebrate God’s gifting, The gifts we have received, and the greater gifts yet to come. God sends the Holy Spirit to reveal the promises of heaven to us.

God, be gracious to us and bless us
and make your face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.

                                        May all people live to praise you.

May your Spirit inspire our praise.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.

                                           May all people live to praise you.

May your Spirit inspire our praise.

May the people praise You with their whole hearts, O God;
May every man, woman, and child know your blessing.
May every man, woman, and child sing your praise.

                                            May all people live to praise you.

May your Spirit inspire our praise!

Acts 2:37-47 NRSV

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

This is My Father’s World

CCLI #1699256

When we let the Spirit of God move in us and work through us
we are able to help add that personal touch
to the sharing of the good news of God’s love for each person.
When we come together to give and serve and offer ourselves to those in need,
the impact of that compassion shown is multiplied.
When we present our gifts, we not only give of our earnings,
but also offer our time and talents – we offer all of ourselves.
We are able to show the true power of the church’s calling:
the power of love alive in and working through us.

Awaken our dreams,
expand our visions,
heal us for hope,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

-William Loader, adapted.
http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/reflectiveindex.html

Be Still

Verse 1
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here
Come bow before Him now
With reverence and fear
In Him no sin is found
We stand on holy ground
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here

Verse 2
Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around
He burns with holy fire
With splendor He is crowned
How awesome is the sight
Our radiant King of light
Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around

Verse 3
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
He comes to cleanse and heal
To minister His grace
No work too hard for Him
In faith receive from Him
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place

CCLI #1699256

Now, may God’s Holy Spirit,
sent in Christ’s name,
Fill you with Christ’s words.

Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Do not be afraid.
Christ’s peace go with you
For you, and all of creation,
Share Christ’s love. Amen.