[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 | Acts 2:14a, 22-32
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,
“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: 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!
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: 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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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 | Genesis 3:1-15
[Read the text together and then play the teaching video.]
Sing: Sovereign Over Us
There is strength within the sorrow
There is beauty in our tears
And You meet us in our mourning
With a love that casts out fear
You are working in our waiting
Sanctifying us
When beyond our understanding
You're teaching us to trust
Your plans are still to prosper
You've not forgotten us
You're with us in the fire and the flood
Faithful forever perfect in love
You are sovereign over us
You are wisdom unimagined
Who could understand Your ways
Reigning high above the heavens
Reaching down in endless grace
There is beauty in our tears
And You meet us in our mourning
With a love that casts out fear
You are working in our waiting
Sanctifying us
When beyond our understanding
You're teaching us to trust
Your plans are still to prosper
You've not forgotten us
You're with us in the fire and the flood
Faithful forever perfect in love
You are sovereign over us
You are wisdom unimagined
Who could understand Your ways
Reigning high above the heavens
Reaching down in endless grace
You're the lifter of the lowly
Compassionate and kind
You surround and You uphold me
And Your promises are my delight
Even what the enemy means for evil
You turn it for our good
You turn it for our good
And for Your glory
Even in the valley You are faithful
You're working for our good
You're working for our good
And for Your glory
Compassionate and kind
You surround and You uphold me
And Your promises are my delight
Even what the enemy means for evil
You turn it for our good
You turn it for our good
And for Your glory
Even in the valley You are faithful
You're working for our good
You're working for our good
And for Your glory
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.â€
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.
- 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.
Amen.
Confession and Assurance
Let us confess our sins to God.
[Silence may be kept.]
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.
[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.
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.
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.]
[Those who are baptized may share in the bread and the cup.]
Sing: O Church Arise
O Church arise and put your armour on
Hear the call of Christ our Captain
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given
With shield of faith and belt of Truth
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies
An army bold whose battle cry is love
Reaching out to those in darkness
Our call to war to love the captive soul
But to rage against the captor
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole
We will fight with faith and valor
When faced with trials on ev'ry side
We know the outcome is secure
And Christ will have the prize for which He died
An inheritance of nations
Arise shine for your Light has come
Arise shine for the risen Son
Lift your eyes we are His radiant bride
Arise O Church arise
Hear the call of Christ our Captain
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given
With shield of faith and belt of Truth
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies
An army bold whose battle cry is love
Reaching out to those in darkness
Our call to war to love the captive soul
But to rage against the captor
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole
We will fight with faith and valor
When faced with trials on ev'ry side
We know the outcome is secure
And Christ will have the prize for which He died
An inheritance of nations
Arise shine for your Light has come
Arise shine for the risen Son
Lift your eyes we are His radiant bride
Arise O Church arise
Come see the cross where love and mercy meet
As the Son of God is stricken
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet
For the Conqueror has risen
And as the stone is rolled away
And Christ emerges from his grave
This victory march continues 'til the day
Every eye and heart shall see Him
So Spirit come put strength in every stride
Give grace for every hurdle
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful
As saints of old still line the way
Retelling triumphs of His grace
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When with Christ we stand in Glory
As the Son of God is stricken
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet
For the Conqueror has risen
And as the stone is rolled away
And Christ emerges from his grave
This victory march continues 'til the day
Every eye and heart shall see Him
So Spirit come put strength in every stride
Give grace for every hurdle
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful
As saints of old still line the way
Retelling triumphs of His grace
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When with Christ we stand in Glory
SENDING
[God sends his people out to love and serve him in the world.]
Closing Prayer
O God our fortress,
guard us against the enemy of our souls.
Grant us wisdom in your Spirit to see through all deception,
that we may walk in the light that overcomes the darkness.
Give us knowledge in your Son, the divine Word,
that we may remain steadfast in the truth.
Remind us that we are loved by our Father in heaven,
that we may know and believe that you are always good.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
For yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
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?
If you have questions about Jesus and what it means to follow him, we would love to talk with you about it. Get in touch with us any way that works for you, call our office, send us an email, send us message on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. We'll get back to you as soon as we can and find a good way to meet with you while maintaining social distancing, to pray with you and talk with you about your next steps in your walk with Jesus.
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Need prayer? Click here to send us your prayer requests, (personal or anonymous). If you want us to follow up with you, we'll be happy to give you call and pray with you.