Worship Order for April 19, 2020

Introduction

Welcome to Worship!

Today we continue to celebrate that Jesus is raised from the dead! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Our scripture readings continue to paint a picture of hope in the face of death and peace in the face of fear. And so these words cling to us today: Hope and Peace.

Gather with loved ones, in the same room or on the phone, and participate in worship. As you do, even if these words are on a big tv, a computer screen, or a tablet, remember this. This is worship. It is not something you watch. Worship is participatory in nature. Certainly it is different than if we were in the same room singing and praying together. But, I encourage you to engage your hearts, sing and say the words, give of your heart and mind to this time as we encounter the risen Lord Jesus together.

Order of Worship

A Prelude to center our hearts on the One who conquered the grave

We call on the Name of the Triune God: An adult can say: We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

a Litany of Praise

An Opening Song

Openning Prayer

Living God, you are our life, our hope, our strength. Grant that we who have not seen may have the faith to trust in you through all things, that we might receive the peace of Christ; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

CONFESSION

Even the obstacle of death has been removed between us and God.
    If death no longer stands in our way,
    we can be sure that our sin does not either.
    Let us confess our sins
    that they may be washed away by the mercy of our risen Lord Jesus.

A song to reflect upon as our Confession

We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
    hear the Good News of the Gospel:
    The tomb is empty!  Our Lord and Savior has risen from the grave!
    That which has been dead is alive!
    No barrier, none whatsoever, can keep us from the love of God!
    I announce to you this day that our sins are forgiven!
    Alleluia!  Amen!

Sharing Option: In celebration of the New Life we have in Jesus, share a time this week when you caught someone doing something beautiful and good for someone else. If you are sheltered alone, take a moment and write a note, email, text or call someone who has blessed you.

Reading God’s Word

1 Peter 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Sharing Option: What speaks to you in this Word from the Lord?

Another Song for Worship

Today’s Gospel

John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Today’s Sermon

Some Discussion Questions:

1. Here is a link to the scene from Jaws on scars
2. Like the actors in the scene, share a scar story
3. Do you have any open wounds during these days? Pains that are still cutting at your soul because of the changes that Covid19 have brought.
4. Why do you think it is important that Jesus still has his scars?
5. Think back on a time when you were at Peace (Shalom)?
6. Why did Jesus breath on the disciples?

We Profess the Nicene Creed:

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father.  Through him all things were made.  For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven;  by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man.  For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.  On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;  he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.  With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.  He has spoken through the prophets.  We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.  We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.  We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.  Amen

Prayer

For our prayers today I invite you to practice the Faith 5. The Faith5 is a simple devotional tool that you can use to process your day together as a family as well as in your own reflective heart through journalling. The steps are simple and yet profound.

1. Share your Highs and Lows: the best and worst part the past week
2. Read, again, this Word from today’s Gospel: “Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.'”
3. Talk about how God’s Word of Peace connects to your highs and lows.
4. Pray through your highs and lows.
5. Bless one another. Trace the sign of the cross on foreheads or hands and says these or similar words: “Jesus loves you and so do I.”

You can learn more about the Faith5 here

A quick word and Update regarding Offerings and Finances at POP

Pray together the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name

Thy kingdom come, they will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

Lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory

Forever and ever. Amen.

A Closing Song

A Closing Benediction

Christ is risen!

He is risen, indeed!

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

CHRIST IS RISEN! ALLELUIA!

HE IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA

Since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again;
death no longer has any power over him.

The life he lives, he lives to God. Alleluia!

Because of our sins, he was handed over to die;
and he was raised to life in order to put us right with God.

The life he lives, he lives to God. Alleluia!
May the God of peace, who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus, provide us with every good thing we need in order to do his will; and the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever. Amen.

A Postlude of Praise

Sunday School with Mrs. Mac!!

And Craft Time with Ms. Mamie!!