[Worship] PENTECOST WORSHIP RESOURCES--Part 1

["Charity" <choirangel@excite.com>]

DEAR GOOD LIST-ONES--

If you are involved in worship leadership in your church, and your church is small to medium-size, you are probably wearing a multiple of hats in addition to your music/worship functions. Choir directors and ministers of music often have oversight of Christian education and other ministries, in addition to preparing service music and planning worship.

If you are presently engaged in designing worship for the  Festival of Pentecost, you may feel "pressed" to come up with new ideas. This is especially true in non-liturgical churches, or in churches which are attempting a Pentecost celebration for the first time, and you may be the one who has to "pull it all together." :-) Feel free to use these concise resource lists for your worship planning--these will assist you in choosing music which reflects the myriad biblical themes of Pentecost.

FESTIVAL OF PENTECOST 

I. Biblical names of the festival
 
A. Shavuot--Weeks. Reference to the seven weeks between Passover and Pentecost--source of "the Great Fifty Days." The wheat and barley harvest of ancient Israel was gathered during thistime.
B. Chag haBikkurim--Festival of Firstfruits--this is the most common biblical designation for the feast.
C. Chag haKatzir--Festival of Harvest.
D. Pentecoste--from the Greek word meaning "fiftieth". This term was used by Greek-speaking Jews in the diaspora, and by Gentiles.

II. Other festival names for Pentecost

A. "Zeman Mattan Torahtenu"--time of the giving of our law.
B. Whitsuntide, Whitsun--literally, "White Sunday tide". This is the common term used in Great Britain, Commonwealth countries and churches of the Anglican Communion; a reference to the white garments worn by clergy and baptismal candidates on Pentecost, a favorite day for baptisms and confirmation rites.
C. Pascha rosatum--the "Rose Easter"--this Latin term refers to the 4th century Italian practice of dropping rose petals in churches and cathedrals on the worshippers, to simulate the "tongues of fire" in the Acts 2 account. Many European countries retain some form of "Pascha rosatum" as the designation for Pentecost--"Rosalia" "Rousalia" "Pasqua rosa", etc. Many Slavic countries retain some form of "Zeleniya Sviata"--Green Holy Days, a reference to the custom of carrying birch branches and flowers into the church, and decorating the church with spring greenery.

MUSIC TIP--if your congregation is multiethnic, consider using hymns and songs that reflect the heritages of your congregation. This reinforces the universality of the Church as the "called out ones" of all nations. A good source for multicultural Christian songs and hymns is:"Halle, Halle--We Sing the World Round" published by the Choristers Guild. You can obtain this through Lorenz Publishing at: 1-800-444-1111.

Charity Dell
JubilateDeo@ureach.com
"Jubilate Deo omnis terra" (Psalm 100:1)

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