May 23, 2021 is Whitsunday – The Day of Pentecost

Our Guidelines for Worship & Events have been updated, effective Friday, May 21, 2021

Today is the Day of Pentecost, the fiftieth day of Eastertide. The Church recalls its roots in the house of Israel as it celebrates the conclusion of a “week of weeks,” that is, the Easter Season of seven weeks.  Pentecost is a traditional day for baptisms, and in the Prayer Book tradition of the Episcopal Church Pentecost is also known as “Whitsunday” because the baptized are clothed in white garments.  The liturgical color for the day, however, is red, symbolizing the fire of the Holy Spirit.  Ordinary time, the “Season after Pentecost,” begins tomorrow.  Next Sunday, the first Sunday after Pentecost, is Trinity Sunday.


Today’s In Person Worship

  • Every Sunday at 8am the Eucharist (Rite 1) is celebrated in the Church.  The service is from the red Book of Common Prayer, beginning on page 323, and includes 2 pre-recorded hymns, and lasts about 45 minutes. Weather permitting coffee and tea are available in Garden afterwards.
  • Every Sunday at 10am the Eucharist (Rite 2) is celebrated in the Church. The service is from the red Book of Common Prayer, beginning on page 355.  See below for detailed music information.  The service lasts about an hour.  Weather permitting coffee and tea are available in Garden afterwards.
  • Please review these Guidelines before attending worship at Christ Church.

Today’s Live-Stream Worship & Sermon Archives


Sunday Offerings & Financial Donations to Christ Church

Christ Church is supported by the generosity of members and friends who donate time, talent, and money to the church to ensure that it is open, staffed, safe, and active. God has given each of us many gifts and we are called to use them to build up the church and to show the spread the love of God to our community. Click on the Donate Button for a variety of ways to support Christ Church, including one-time donations, annual pledges, and raising funds through FaceBook or Amazon.


Today’s Propers (Collect & Lections from Holy Scripture)

The Collect

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The First Lesson
Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.  Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs– in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”  But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ ”

The Psalm

Psalm 104:25-35, 37
Benedic, anima mea

25 O Lord, how manifold are your works! *
in wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

26 Yonder is the great and wide sea
with its living things too many to number, *
creatures both small and great.

27 There move the ships,
and there is that Leviathan, *
which you have made for the sport of it.

28 All of them look to you *
to give them their food in due season.

29 You give it to them; they gather it; *
you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

30 You hide your face, and they are terrified; *
you take away their breath,
and they die and return to their dust.

31 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
and so you renew the face of the earth.

32 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; *
may the Lord rejoice in all his works.

33 He looks at the earth and it trembles; *
he touches the mountains and they smoke.

34 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *
I will praise my God while I have my being.

35 May these words of mine please him; *
I will rejoice in the Lord.

37 Bless the Lord, O my soul. *
Hallelujah!

The Epistle
Romans 8:22-27

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

The Gospel
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Jesus said to his disciples, ”When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.  “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.  “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.


Today’s Music
Last Sunday’s pre-recorded anthem, which accidentally didn’t make it into the livestream or in-person service, can be heard here:
Peace I leave with you by Jeffrey Hoffman (b. 1970)

At the 8am and 10am services, the following recorded hymns and anthems will be offered by our full choir:

Hymn in Procession: “Hail this joyful day’s return”
Words: attributed to Hillary of Poitiers (4th century), translated by Robert Campbell (1814-1868), alt.
Music: SONNE DER GERECHTIGKEIT, from Bohemian Brethren, Kirchengesang (1566), harmonized by Jan Oskar Bender (1909-1994).
Music copyright © 1969 by Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Licensed under OneLicense.net A-713125.
Recording, photography, and video production by Jeffrey Hoffman with assistance from Jabea Kisob.
This performance copyright © 2021 by the Parish of Christ the Redeemer (Christ Church), Pelham, New York.
All Rights Reserved.

Anthem by the choir: If ye love me by Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585)

If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another comforter,
that he may ‘bide with you forever;
E’en the sp’rit of truth.

— John 14:15–17, The Tyndale/Coverdale Bible (1535)

Music by Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585), transcribed and edited by Peter Le Huray (1930-1992).
This edition copyright © 1965 by Blandford Press, Ltd./Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. Licensed under OneLicense.net A-713125.
Recording, photography, and video production by Jeffrey Hoffman with assistance from Jabea Kisob.
This performance copyright © 2021 by the Parish of Christ the Redeemer (Christ Church), Pelham, New York.
All Rights Reserved.

Hymn in Procession: “Come down, O love divine”
Words: Bianco da Sienna (c. 1350- c. 1434), translated by Richard Frederick Littledale (1833-1890).
Music: DOWN AMPNEY, by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958).
Music first published in The English Hymnal, 1906. Originally copyright by Oxford University Press, this work has by now entered the public domain.
Any remaining copyright is licensed under OneLicense.net A-713125.
Recording, photography, and video production by Jeffrey Hoffman with assistance from Jabea Kisob.
This performance copyright © 2021 by the Parish of Christ the Redeemer (Christ Church), Pelham, New York.
All Rights Reserved.

At the 10am Service the following music selections will be offered  live by Jeffrey Hoffman, organist and choir director, and our soloist, bass-baritone Simon Cram on Sunday morning:

At the offertory, solo: 14. Aria: “Lord God of Abraham,” from Elias (Elijah), Op. 70 by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847)

Draw near, all ye people, come to me!

Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
This day let it be known that Thou art God,
And that I am Thy servant!
Lord God of Abraham!
Oh shew to all this people
That I have done these things according to Thy word.

Oh hear me, Lord, and answer me!
Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
Oh hear me and answer me,
And shew this people that Thou art Lord God.
And let their hearts again be turned!
— text from 1 Kings 18:36-37, compiled and adapted from Luther Bibel by Julius Schubring (1839-1914), translated by William Bartholomew (1793–1867)

This work is in the public domain.

Solo during communion: Every time I feel the Spirit, traditional African-American spiritual, arranged by Henry Thacker Burleigh (1866-1949)*

Ev’ry time I feel the Spirit
moving in my heart, I will pray.
Yes, ev’ry time I feel the Spirit
moving in my heart, I will pray.

Upon the mountain when my Lord spoke,
out of his mouth came fire and smoke.
The Jordan river, chilly and cold,
It chills the body, but not the soul.
Ev’ry time I feel the Spirit, etc.

All around me looked so shin’
I asked my Lord if it all was mine.
There ain’t but one train that’s on this track,
it runs to heaven and runs right back.
Ev’ry time I feel the Spirit, etc.

This work is in the public domain.

*This pioneering African-American classical singer, composer, and arranger studied at The National Conservatory of Music in New York City (which, sadly, closed in 1952) and broke ground in 1894 when he was hired as the baritone soloist by St. George’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan — where he served for 52 years — at a time when other Episcopal churches in New York City were closed to black worshippers. He also served Temple Emanu-El in a similar capacity from 1900-1925. Burleigh concertized in some of Europe’s great concert halls and is credited with introducing the composer Antonín Dvořák to the rich melodic tradition of the spiritual, which inspired that composer’s beloved “New World” Symphony.


Parish Prayer List

Please note that names are listed alphabetically by last name of the person being prayed for (if it is known).  We do not list last names for privacy reasons. For pastoral emergencies call or text one of the clergy: Father Matt (914.471.0260),  Deacon Katie Lawrence (914.589.1628), Deacon Chisara Alimole (914.338.5194), or call the parish office (914.738.5515) .  If you have any updates (birthdays, prayers additions, etc., please let us know.) Please submit names you wish to be included by Tuesday morning, to Marie at: marie@christchurchpelham.org.

Our prayers are asked especially for: Marion, Shane, Rosemary, Rob, Marcia, Mike, Anne, Ginny, Beverly, Barbara, Mary, Ralph, Jed, Didi, Josephine,  Sammy, Ryan, Monica, Rebecca, Janet, Amina, Alexia Grace, Alison, John, Emma, Hildy, Jason, Yen, Susan, Sue, Xandra, Sigi, Joyce, Julie, Scott, Sherrie, Michelle, James, Karen, Lisa, Laurelyn, Rob, Drue, Rob, Bill, Andrea, Sue,  Lael, M & D, Sandy,  and Katie.

We give thanks for those celebrating birthdays this week and in the coming week:  J.D. Calder (May 17), Drue Weild (May 17), Ashley Dolan (May 20), Pamela Lent (May 24) and Bill Scherer (May 28).

We give thanks for Father Matt’s 6th Anniversary at Christ Church (May 26).

And we give thanks for the 26th Anniversary of Michael Fawcett and Michael Moynihan (May 16).

We pray for those in our Armed Services especially: Joseph, Kevin, Jack, Leopold, Philip, Jake, Matthew, Robert, Philip-Jason,  Nicholas, Sam, Jack, Helen, Mitchel, Tia, Tyrese, and Terrence.

We pray that all elected and appointed officials may be led to wise decisions and right actions for the welfare and peace of the world, especially Joseph our President and Andrew our Governor.

We remember and pray for all Americans who have died from COVID-19, and we pray also for all who mourn.

We pray for those who have died.

Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord

And let light perpetual shine upon them.

May their souls and the souls of the departed, through the mercy of God,

rest in peace.  Amen


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