Introduction
Welcome to Worship!
Today we continue to celebrate that Jesus is raised from the dead! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! His resurrection continue to draw us into His future. His living changes our living. And His promise is to draw us unto himself. Until that day, we continue to pursue the crucified and risen One with everything we have and all that we are. We also recognize this Sunday as a time to give thanks to God for our Mother’s and those who are like Mom to us. Take a moment, as we begin worship, to pause and pray to our Father in heaven as you give thanks for the role of strong and powerful women in your life who have shaped and formed you. Thanks Mom!
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
In Peace, Let us pray to the Lord
Lord, Have Mercy
For the Peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy
For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
An Opening Song
Amazing Grace
Great things He Hath Done
Openning Prayer
O God, you make the minds of the faithful to be of one will. Grant that your people would love what you command and desire what you promise, that, among the manifold changes of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joys are to be found; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
God’s Word Comes to Us
Acts 6:1-7
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Sharing Options: The 12 Apostles’ knew their calling–prayer and the ministry of the Word–care for the neglected was not their calling. Instead of being pulled from their calling they found another way to do this good work. How do you know what God is calling you to do?
Has there ever been a time when you have said no to a good thing because you knew it was not what you were called to do? Share what that experience was like–or what you would need to be able to say no in such a situation.
1 Peter 2:1-10
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
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 and Sermon
Some Discussion Questions:
- Tell a story from an epic road trip in your past. And, maybe, dream about a place you would like to road trip to once this pandemic has subsided.
- Thinking of one of your best friends, what was the event or moment or series of events that drew you closer to become best friends?
- When was a time that your church family really showed up for you to help you through a difficult time?
- Understanding Jesus as “The Way” is foundational to our faith. Does it change your understanding of this if we think of a road trip?
- What have you missed most about these days of the pandemic and social distancing?
- Giving thanks for your Mom, what are one or two ways that the influence of your mom is still shaping you life today?
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.
- Share your Highs and Lows: the best and worst part the past week
- Read, again, this Word from today’s Gospel: “Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.'”
- Talk about how God’s Word of Peace connects to your highs and lows.
- Pray through your highs and lows.
- 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
On This Mother’s Day, we give thanks to God for all mothers, and those who are like mothers to us.
Follow the Button to Worship with your Offering and Tithes
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
Nobody
Crown Him with many Crowns
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
And so, may the author and perfecter of our faith, Jesus Christ–the crucified and risen one, make you perfect in every way to do that which is well pleasing in His sight. Through the power of the Holy Spirit both now and forever.
Amen.
