We Hear Them Speaking: A Pentecost Call to Worship Experience

This Call to Worship takes a little advance preparation, but it also makes a powerful invitation to both the diversity and unity of Pentecost.

Each Call to Worship below begins and ends with the same words. However, each bold line diverges further so that by the middle, there are seven different proclamations happening at once. It is amazing to hear unity become diverse chaos and then resolve into unity again!

A few practical tips: I printed seven different versions of the bulletin, then mixed them up so that the versions were distributed through the congregation. I also told people that worship would include surprises, so the congregation wouldn’t think something was “wrong” and stop reading.

You could also lead this call to worship in a more “reader’s theater” style, with seven speakers up front, each reading one of the liturgies.

May the Spirit bless you as you prepare!

1.

On the day of Pentecost, they were all gathered in one place
and there was sound like a rushing wind.
Flames of fire appeared above them.
What Jesus had promised was coming true:
they began to speak in other languages,
and the Spirit gave the crowd the ability to understand;
the Spirit was truly being poured out on all people.
As one people, we call on the name of the Lord!

2.

On the day of Pentecost, they were all gathered in one place
and the Spirit came down like wind;
a tongue of fire rested on each of them.
What Jesus had promised was coming true:
the Spirit spoke through the disciples, in many languages.
The crowd was astonished, because they understood each word.
The prophet Joel was right; the Spirit belonged to everyone.
As one people, we call on the name of the Lord!

3.

On the day of Pentecost, they were all gathered in one place
and there was sound like a rushing wind.
God appeared as fire, like at the burning bush.
What Jesus had promised was coming true:
they shouted out God’s deeds of power.
It was a miracle! The people heard in their own languages.
The Spirit was truly being poured out on all people.
As one people, we call on the name of the Lord!

4.

On the day of Pentecost, they were all gathered in one place
and the Spirit came down like wind;
fire touched each of them, but they did not burn.
What Jesus had promised was coming true:
they spoke to people from all over the empire
and one community in the Spirit was born.
The prophet Joel was right; the Spirit belonged to everyone.
As one people, we call on the name of the Lord!

5.

On the day of Pentecost, they were all gathered in one place
and there was sound like a rushing wind.
God appeared as fire like at the burning bush.
What Jesus had promised was coming true:
a roar arose as the disciples went out to speak to the crowd.
The Spirit had never sounded so loud before;
the Spirit was truly being poured out on all people.
as one people, we call on the name of the Lord!

6.

On the day of Pentecost, they were all gathered in one place
and the Spirit came down like wind.
Fire touched each of them, but they did not burn.
What Jesus had promised was coming true:
the Spirit had never sounded so loud before! 
A roar arose as the disciples went out to speak to the crowd.
The prophet Joel was right; the Spirit belonged to everyone.
As one people, we call on the name of the Lord!

7.

On the day of Pentecost, they were all gathered in one place
and there was sound like a rushing wind.
God appeared as fire, like at the burning bush.
What Jesus had promised was coming true:
the whole crowd listened to the disciples.
It was a miracle! The people heard in their own languages.
The Spirit was truly being poured out on all people.
As one people, we call on the name of the Lord!