the sixth Sunday of Eastertide

May 17, 2020

W O R S H I P   G U I D E

[NOTES: A leader should read the Scriptures and prayers in plain text. All should read together the words in bold. Headings and words in italics are for guidance and instruction, and need not be read aloud. All words of songs should be sung together. The lyrics in bold are repeated refrains. The worship guide works best viewed on a computer or tablet when possible.]

GATHERING

[God calls his people to worship him and prepares our hearts to hear his Word.]

Call to Worship  |  1 Peter 3:13-22

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

One: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Christ is risen! 
He is risen, indeed!
The tomb is empty! 
The stone has been rolled away!
Thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Risen Lord.
Death has been swallowed up in victory!    
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
Christ is risen!
He is risen, indeed!
Come, let us worship the Risen Christ!

Sing: His Heart Beats

His heart beats his blood begins to flow
Waking up what was dead a moment ago
And his heart beats now everything is changed
'Cause the blood that brought us peace with God
Is racing through his veins
And his heart beats his heart beats

He breathes in his living lungs expand
The heavy air surrounding death
Turns to breath again
He breathes out his Word in flesh once more
The Lamb Of God slain for us is a lion ready to roar
And his heart beats

So crown him the Lord of Life
Crown him the Lord of Love
Crown him the Lord of All

He took one breath and put death to death
Where is your sting O grave
How grave is your defeat
I know I know his heart beats


He rises glorified in flesh clothed in immortality
The first-born from the dead
He rises and his work's already done so he's resting
As he rises to reclaim the bride he won
And his heart beats

The last enemy to be destroyed is death
The last enemy to be destroyed is death
He must reign until no enemy is left
The last enemy to be destroyed
To be destroyed is death oh

His heart beats he will never die again
I know that death no longer has dominion over him
So my heart beats with the rhythm of the saints
As I look for the seeds the King has sown
To burst up from their graves

I know I know he took one breath
And put death to death
Where is your sting O grave
How grave is your defeat
I know I know he took one breath
And put death to death
Where is your sting O grave
How grave is your defeat
How great how great is his victory

I know I know his heart beats
His heart beats
I know I know his heart beats his heart beats

Sing: Death Was Arrested

Alone in my sorrow and dead in my sin
Lost without hope with no place to begin
Your love made a way to let mercy come in
When death was arrested and my life began

Ash was redeemed only beauty remains
My orphan heart was given a name
My mourning grew quiet my feet rose to dance
When death was arrested and my life began

Oh Your grace so free washes over me
You have made me new now life begins with You
It's Your endless love pouring down on us
You have made us new now life begins with You


Released from my chains I'm a prisoner no more
My shame was a ransom He faithfully bore
He cancelled my debt and He called me His friend
When death was arrested and my life began

Our Savior displayed on a criminal's cross
Darkness rejoiced as though Heaven had lost
But then Jesus arose with our freedom in hand
That's when death was arrested and my life began

Oh we're free free forever we're free
Come join the song of all the redeemed
Yes we're free free forever amen
When death was arrested and my life began


WORD

[God speaks to his people through the Scriptures in the power of the Holy Spirit.]

Prayer For Illumination

Almighty God,
through your only Son you overcame death
and opened to us the light of eternity.
Enlighten our minds and kindle our hearts
with the presence of your Spirit,
that we may hear your words of comfort and challenge
in the reading of the scriptures,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Scripture Reading  |  Hebrews 10:19-25

[Read the text together and then play the teaching video.]

Sing: King of Kings

In the darkness we were waiting without hope without light
Till from Heaven You came running there was mercy in Your eyes
To fulfill the law and prophets to a virgin came the Word
From a throne of endless glory to a cradle in the dirt

Praise the Father, praise the Son
Praise the Spirit three in one
God of Glory Majesty
Praise forever to the King of Kings


To reveal the kingdom coming and to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation You did not despise the cross
For even in Your suffering You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation Jesus for our sake You died

And the morning that You rose all of heaven held its breath
Till that stone was moved for good for the Lamb had conquered death
And the dead rose from their tombs and the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who'd come to the Father are restored

And the Church of Christ was born then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this Gospel truth of old shall not kneel shall not faint
By His blood and in His Name in His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ who has resurrected me

TABLE

[God unites his people to himself as we respond to his Word.]

Prayers of the People

Gracious Father, every good and perfect gift is from you.
May we hold fast to your goodness
with joy and thanksgiving
even in these days of uncertainty.

[Take a moment to thank God for ways he has blessed you in the last week.]

Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.”
At your command, the sick were made well.
Come to our aid now,
in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus,
that we may experience your healing love.

[Take turns praying for each of the following:]
-   Comfort for those who are afraid.
-   Healing for those who are sick
-   Provision for doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers.
-   Other people and situations God has laid on your heart.

We know you are the Prince of peace, Lord of lords, the King of kings.
We praise you for your goodness and your mercy,
And we ask this all in the name of Jesus, our Lord.
Amen.

Confession and Assurance

Let us confess our sins to God.

[Silence may be kept.]

Most merciful God,
we confess that 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.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name.
Amen. 

As you have promised us in your Word so we believe, and find assurance:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[1 John 1:9]

Let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

Communion

What I received from the Lord is what I deliver to you, that the Lord Jesus Christ, on the very night when he was betrayed, took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat. This is my body, broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And in the same way after supper, he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to the disciples, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread, and whenever you drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again. These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord in the gift of his Son.

[Those who are baptized may share in the bread and the cup.]

Sing: Hymn of the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit guide my vision
Help me see the way You see
Always Jesus ever Jesus
Christ in all as Christ in me

Holy Spirit guide my speaking
Words of grace and truth abound
Let my lips be filled with stories
Of the mercy that I've found

You're the light You're my path
You're the Shepherd of my soul
All I am all I have
Holy Spirit lead me on


Holy Spirit guide my hearing
Wake my ears to words You speak
In the thunder in the stillness
Let Your voice be clear to me
Let Your voice be clear to me

Holy Spirit lead me onward
Walking through the great unknown
Trusting leaning holding clinging
Till the day You lead me home

SENDING

[God sends his people out to love and serve him in the world.]

Closing Prayer

O Christ, our high priest,
Give us confidence in your blood to draw near to the Father.
May we, with full assurance in our baptism,
hold fast to our hope without wavering.
For you, who have promised, are faithful.

Father, as we long to meet together,
may we not neglect our love and good works for one another,
but encourage one another as we see the Day drawing near.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who reigns forever with you and the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

Benediction

Go in peace, rejoicing in your risen Savior,
to live in the power of his resurrection
for the sake of his glory and his Kingdom here on earth.
Amen.

What Now?

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