Day of Pentecost
May 20, 2018
Holy Communion at 8:30 and 11am

Children are invited to participate in the procession at the beginning of the service. 


Prayer of the Day
Mighty God, you breathe life into our bones, and your Spirit brings truth to the world. Send us this Spirit, transform us by your truth, and give us language to proclaim your gospel, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.



Scripture readings
Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104:24-34, Psalm 104:35b
Romans 8:22-27
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Sermon 
"Groaning and Sighing, Living not Dying"
John 15:26-27, John 16:4b-15; Romans 8:22-27
Come, Holy Spirit! Today is Pentecost, which some regard as the birthday of the church. But as Paul reminds us, the church is not so much something that was birthed as it is something continually being brought into this world. With the whole of creation, we groan with labor pains. But however difficult and painful this moment may be, new life is coming. In the meantime, we hope for what we do not see. The Spirit intercedes for us, keeping us connected to the promises of our crucified and risen Lord, Jesus Christ. And today, we glimpse and taste once more a foretaste of the feast to come. Groaning for more, we cry out, “Come, Holy Spirit!"

Hymns

In our prayers we remember the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Education hour at 9:45am

Sunday School, Pre-Confirmation, Confirmation students and teens meet in Fellowship Hall for a Pentecost celebration and volunteer appreciation.

Adult Education

Vaccines and Society

Laura Merwin, Assistant Professor of Biology, Concordia University Chicago
Although vaccines have saved millions of lives in the last 200 years, from their introduction they have provoked controversy and opposition. Within the context of historical and current anti-vaccination movements, this session will reframe the vaccine debate by discussing the idea of immunity as a social phenomenon. The choice to vaccinate not only confers protection to the individual, but is also a way to help protect the most vulnerable members of our local and global communities.  In the Seminar Room 

West Cook YMCA Fitness Assessment and Healthy Living Information Session
Learn more about a new partnership between the West Cook YMCA and Grace Church, focused on healthy aging. Hear more about an opportunity for older adults at Grace to receive fitness assessments and healthy living guidance. In the seventh grade/German classroom.

The Sunday morning Bible study group meets in the lower-level conference room.

The Grace Church Library is open and staffed on Sundays from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Look for books related to Adult Ed topics as well as many other subjects. The library is also open for self-service during the week.