Worship Order for May 3, 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

Come, walk in green pastures.
We follow the Shepherd.
Come, lie down in green pastures.
We trust the Shepherd.
Come, dine at the table of abundance.
We are fed by the Shepherd.
Come, dwell in God’s house.
We live in the Shepherd’s care.

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.

God’s Word Comes to Us

Acts 2:42-47

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Psalm 23 in Song

1 Peter 2:19-25

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

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:

1. Name some things that this pandemic has robbed you of these days.
2. How has you understanding of protection changed in light of this pandemic?
3. Think of a time or share a story about a time when you felt you were living life to its fullest
4. What do you think it means that Jesus came to give us life abundant today, and not just eternal life in the afterlife?
5. What’s something that you are looking forward to in the week ahead that will help you live into abundant life? How will you make time for it this week?

A Quick Video to Drive Home the Point

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

An Offertory Song, as we entrust the World into the Hands of our Good Shepherd

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

Come, walk in green pastures.

We follow the Shepherd.

Come, lie down in green pastures.

We trust the Shepherd.

Come, dine at the table of abundance.

We are fed by the Shepherd.

Come, dwell in God’s house.

We live in the Shepherd’s care.

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.

A Postlude of Praise

here is a Sunday School Lesson with Mrs. Mac!