My Discovery of Pentecost

Official insignia of the Unitarian Church of Transylvania showing a snake circling a dove, on a blue shield under a bejeweled crown. The dove and snake refer to a passage in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus says, "Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."
Official insignia of the Unitarian Church of Transylvania

Among Hungarian Unitarians, Pentecost remains one of the key holidays of the liturgical calendar. While on a pilgrimage to Transylvania in 2003, I was given the honour of preaching in a historic village church at Pentecost. The text was assigned, I resisted my prejudices, and in preparing to speak that day, I discovered the simple but profound meaning of Pentecost.

The church AGM will follow the service.

Service Leader: Rev. Stefan Jonasson
Service Coordinator: Christina Swindells-Nader

Welcome and Zoom Link

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Connect to the service with Zoom. Learn more about Zoom connections here.

Order of Service

Centering Thought

May we be inspired this day to sing out praise of this glorious life in a language beyond the power of speech, in a language of action

So that our lives might be a beacon of justice and love

— Tamara Lebak, from Prayer of Purpose and Inner Fire

Announcements and Welcome

Christina Swindells-Nader

Please submit congregational announcements to worship@uuwinnipeg.mb.ca before 9:00 am Sunday.

Centering Music

Six Pieces for Children, Op. 72: No.3 Allegretto, by Felix Mendelssohn

Daniel Clark

Opening Words

Many Hopes in Our Hearts, by Rebekah Savage

Christina Swindells-Nader

Chalice Lighting

Deep Calls Unto Deep, Joy Calls Unto Joy, by Gordon B McKeeman

Christina Swindells-Nader

Gathering Hymn

#347 Gather the Spirit

Responsive Reading

Our Journey Is to Transform, by Elizabeth Nguyen, led by Christina Swindells-Nader

Responses

No one is outside of the circle of love, and no one is disposable.

None of us is truly free until we are all free.

We make promises to honor love and justice above all else.

Land Acknowledgement

Christina Swindells-Nader

Affirmation

Love Is the Spirit

Story Wisdom

Elskan, with Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Sing and Rejoice

As children go downstairs to Religious Exploration

Offering

Our Share the Plate Partner for June is N’Dinawemak.

The offering will be gratefully received, during or after the service. Donation options are at this link.

Offertory

Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, K.333 (excerpt), by W.A. Mozart

Daniel Clark

Joys and Sorrows

Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Pastoral Hymn

#352 Find a Stillness (sung seated)

Reading

From Woodnotes II, by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Meditation

A Meditation for “Yes! And…”, by Rev. Diane Rollert, led by Christina Swindells-Nader

Hymn

#8 Mother Spirit, Father Spirit

Note: we will begin recording the sermon after the hymn. Barring technical problems it will eventually be shared on our YouTube and Buzzsprout channels.

Sermon

My Discovery of Pentecost, by Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Closing Hymn

#318 We Would Be One

Closing Words

If We Agree in Love, by Hosea Ballou

Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Chalice Extinguishing

Carry the Flame

Transition to AGM following the service (in person and on zoom)

Karaoke

All ages after the AGM, approximately 1pm

Gratitude

Gratitude to all who made this service happen, including

  • Leader: Rev Stefan Jonasson
  • Coordinator: Christina Swindells-Nader
  • Music: Daniel Clark (piano), Debby Lake (lyrics coordination, hymn consultation), Kelvin Seifert and Esther Kathryn (hymn consultation)
  • Music for Affirmation: Composed by P.J. Buchan
  • Coordinator Lifespan Religious Exploration (CLRE): Ana Castañeda Aguilera
  • Childcare: Paulina Hernandez
  • Tech Team: Ashlyn Noble, Arthur Burstow, Bryan Enaje, Charan Brar, Vladymyr Martynov, Ihor Pushkar
  • Ushers:  TBD
  • Set Up/Maintenance: Michael Thiessen, Jessica Hamm
  • Greeter: Paula Keirstead and others
  • Hospitality: Marian Siemens and many others
  • Chalice Sculptor & Banner Designer: Jo’Anne Kelly
  • Chalice Logo Designer: Nancy Gilbert
  • Share the Plate committee: Sara Allen, Lynn Clark, Paula Keirstead, Diane Pearce
  • Pastoral Care: Rev Stefan Jonasson
  • Website and office support: Nathalie Waite

To contact SunServ (Sunday Services Team) with feedback or ideas for future services, please email worship@uuwinnipeg.mb.ca

Want to help on Sunday mornings? You can sign up for a hospitality setup or cleanup shift. Please contact the Volunteer Resources Committee or Norm Cobb or Jim Gardiner for other ways to help.

Please limit fragrances and scented products as much as you are able, so we may include all in our beloved community.

Please keep aisles clear, particularly for people with mobility challenges, and turn off electronic devices during the service.

Please refrain from taking photographs and making recordings during and after the service unless you have the express permission of all people involved. Thank you