Music for At-Home Worship: Sunday, May 31 (Pentecost Sunday)

We are celebrating the Holy Spirit today!

Here's the account of the day of Pentecost in the second chapter of Acts, and after that you'll find Holy Spirit-themed music for your at-home worship time.  Let's sing when the Spirit says sing . . . how about right now?

Want to know more about Pentecost?  Here's a great article that explains both the Old Testament and New Testament significance of this day.

Acts 2:1-13

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

The Pentacost by Gerard de Lairesee (Dutch). Public Domain

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Read the rest of Acts chapter 2 here.  

PRELUDE
Revive Us Again
Words and music by William Paton Mackay, arranged for solo piano by Larry Shackley

We praise thee, O God, for the Son of thy love,
For Jesus who died and is now gone above.

Refrain:
Hallelujah, thine the glory!
Hallelujah, Amen!
Hallelujah, thine the glory!
Revive us again.

We praise thee, O God, for thy Spirit of light,
Who has shown us our Savior and scattered our night. [Refrain]

All glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain,
Who has borne all our sins and has cleansed ev'ry stain. [Refrain]

Revive us again -- fill each heart with thy love;
May each soul be rekindled with fire from above. [Refrain]

HOLY SPIRIT HYMNS FOR YOU TO SING AT HOME!   
Sweet, Sweet Spirit

Words and Music by Doris Akers

Here's the story behind this gospel song by Doris Akers, inspired by a spontaneous prayer moment with the choir she was directing in 1962.

Here's a wonderful video featuring Doris Akers performing her song.

Matthew 3:16-17
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Galatians 5:22
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace

There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place,
And I know that it’s the spirit of the Lord;

There are sweet expressions on each face,
And I know they feel the presence of the Lord.

Sweet Holy Spirit,
Sweet Heavenly Dove,
Stay right here with us,
Filling us with Your love,
And for these blessings
We lift our hearts in praise,
Without a doubt we’ll know
That we have been revived
When we shall leave this place. (repeat)

Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Words by Edwin Hatch, Music by Robert Jackson

Here is the history behind this hymn, and here is a recording of this hymn by contemporary Christian vocalist Steve Green.

Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

John 21:22

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

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.

Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart

Words by George Croly, Music by Frederick Atkinson

Here's a lovely recording of this hymn with voices by the Cathedral Choral Society (Washington National Cathedral), and here is the story behind the hymn. 

John 4:24
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. 

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,
and make me love Thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
no sudden rending of the veil of clay,
no angel visitant, no opening skies;
but take the dimness of my soul away.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
one holy passion filling all my frame;
the kindling of the heaven-descended Dove,
my heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

POSTLUDE

I'm Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing
Traditional African-American Spiritual, arranged for solo piano by Anthony Giamanco

I'm gonna sing when the Spirit says sing,
I'm gonna sing when the Spirit says sing;
I'm gonna sing when the Spirit says sing
And obey the Spirit of the Lord.

I'm gonna shout when the Spirit says shout,
I'm gonna shout when the Spirit says shout;
I'm gonna shout when the Spirit says shout
And obey the Spirit of the Lord.

I'm gonna preach when the Spirit says preach,
I'm gonna preach when the Spirit says preach;
I'm gonna preach when the Spirit says preach
And obey the Spirit of the Lord.

I'm gonna pray when the Spirit says pray,
I'm gonna pray when the Spirit says pray;
I'm gonna pray when the Spirit says pray
And obey the Spirit of the Lord.