Worship Order for April 26, 2020

Introduction

Welcome to Worship!

Today we continue to celebrate that Jesus is raised from the dead! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Indeed is a big part of the story as well as the gift of breaking bread together.

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. 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, Jesus reveals himself and is present with us in the breaking of the bread. May our hearts burn within us and our eyes be opened to his presence among us and for us through his redeeming work; 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.

A time to Process your Week through Scripture

Psalm 116:1-14

Read this Psalm and share about which of these words/phrases are resonating within you and the week that has been and the week that is ahead.

Reading God’s Word

1 Peter 1:17-25

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for

“All flesh is like grass
    and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
    and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Sharing Option: What other stories from scripture or hymns/songs of praise come to mind as you read these words?

Another Song for Worship

Today’s Gospel

Luke 24:13-35

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Today’s Sermon

Some Discussion Questions:

1. Who is the coolest or most famous person you have ever eaten with?
2. What is your favorite meal?
3. During these days when we can’t eat out at restaurants, which one do you want to visit first for a dine in experience?
4. What’s a story from the Old Testament that points to Jesus?
5. Why do you think kitchen/dinning room tables are important?

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

Every Wednesday night in the Youth Zone, as the youth gather to pray at the end of the time, our dear brother Jeffery leads the youth and leaders in the Lord’s Prayer. We miss many things about not being together. Thanks to this video, we can have a taste of the faithfulness of Jeffery as he leads us in 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

here is a Sunday School Lesson with Mrs. Mac!