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Worship from Home
April 19, 2020

Invocation

God of resurrection hope, as You have raised Jesus Christ from death, raise us to a new outlook on life. Fill us this day with Your Holy Spirit. Call us back from places of despair and distraction. Lift the dullness of our new daily routine so that we can see You with us, right now. Show us the path of true life, that we may know joy beyond joy in Your light. Still today, enable us to proclaim, Christ is risen! Alleluia!”

Song | Now Let the Vault of Heaven Resound

Now let the vault of Heav’n resound
In praise of love that doth abound,
“Christ hath triumphed, alleluia!”
Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear,
Repeat their song of glory here,
“Christ hath triumphed, Christ hath triumphed!”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Adoring praises now we bring
And with the heavenly blessèd sing,
“Christ hath triumphed, Alleluia!”
Be to the Father, and our Lord,
To Spirit blest, most holy God,
Thine the glory, never ending!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Words by Paul Z. Strodach (1876-1947).
Tune “Lasst Uns Erfreuen”, 1623; harmonized Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 98

1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him. 2 The Lord has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations.3 He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; 5 make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. 8 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; 9 let them sing before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Song | Sing of the Lord’s Goodness

Sing of the Lord’s goodness, Father of all wisdom,
Come to Him and bless His name.
Mercy He has shown us, His love is forever,
Faithful to the end of days.

Come, then, all you nations,
Sing of the Lord’s goodness,
Melodies of praise and thanks to God!
Ring out the Lord’s glory,
Praise Him with your music,
Worship Him and bless His name!

Courage in our darkness, comfort in our sorrow,
Spirit of our God most high;
Solace for the weary, pardon for the sinner,
Splendor of the living God.

Praise Him with your singing, praise Him with the violin,
Praise God with the lute and harp;
Praise Him with the cymbals, praise Him with your dancing,
Praise God ‘til the end of days!

Prayers of Confession

Gracious Father, these are strange days! We find ourselves somewhat like the disciples after Easter, hiding behind closed doors. But you walked into their closed-off room to declare, “Peace be with you!” How we long to hear You say that again! Make Yourself known to us, we pray. O Risen Lord, give us eyes to see You, ears to hear Your voice, and hearts filled with gratitude for Your salvation. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Friends, it is true!
God has not cast us away – in Christ, we have been gathered together
and adopted as sons and daughters.
In Jesus Christ, you are forgiven – thanks be to God!

Passing the Peace

Text, email, or call a friend and extend the love of Christ to them.

Children’s Blessing | 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7

Love is… patient
Love is kind
It does NOT envy
It does NOT boast
It is NOT proud
It does NOT dishonor others
It is NOT self-seeking
It is NOT easily angered
It keeps NO record of wrongs
It does NOT delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth
Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres

Affirmation of Faith | Apostles Creed

We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Proclamation of the Word | Goodie Bell

1 Corinthians 12:12-31
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Song of Response | We Will Feast in the House of Zion

We will feast in the house of Zion;
We will sing with our hearts restored;
He has done great things, we will say together;
We will feast and weep no more.

We will not be burned by the fire;
He is the Lord our God.
We are not consumed by the flood;
Upheld, protected, gathered up.

In the dark of night, before the dawn –
My soul, be not afraid,
For the promised morning, oh how long?
Oh God of Jacob, be my strength!

Every vow we’ve broken and betrayed,
You are the Faithful One;
And from the garden to the grave
Bind us together, bring shalom.

Words and Music by Sandra McCracken and Joshua Moore, 2015. CCLI #43066

Focus on Mission

David Kasali, PhD, Co-Founder and President of Congo Initiative and Rector Emeritus, UCBC, and a Blacknall Deep Common Journey Partner.

Prayers of Thanksgiving & Intercession

Lord, You declare your love for this world. You are active. In this time of crisis, pour out mercy and tenderness. Give us eyes to see beauty, and let it transform us. Open our hearts to receive your right judgement. Enable us to act with your compassion and generosity. In these weeks following resurrection Sunday, help us to look for you among the living.

Holy Spirit, we thank you for giving different kinds of gifts to build the church so the church can love the world. As you reveal those gifts among us, help us to pay attention. As you make ways for people to use those gifts, big and small, draw us together in joy and gratitude. Thank you that you've created us to need each other. Help us receive this as good news.

We pray that the virus will be suppressed, and that people throughout the world will work together to do what is necessary.

Give answer as we pray: Lord, have mercy.

For the Church, that we may be a source of light for the world by showing the love of Jesus Christ. Lord, have mercy.
For all who are isolated and in agony of mind or body that by our friendship and our help your love be made present to them. Lord, have mercy.
For those in public office, that they use their authority to safeguard the well-being and dignity of human life. Lord, have mercy.
For the many millions of people who are unemployed and in financial need (especially _____), that they find meaningful work, receive help and experience your provision as they trust in you. Lord, have mercy.
For those who are addicted to alcohol or drugs, give the ability to seek and receive help. Lord, have mercy.
For those who are sick (especially _____), may they know your healing, comfort and care. Lord, have mercy.
For those who provide care (especially _____), give them strength, courage, and rest. Lord, have mercy.
For those who are grieving (especially _____), may they find comfort in your presence. Lord, have mercy.
For all of us, called to new life in Christ, that our willingness to live for others will bring hope to our world. Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray as Jesus taught us: Our Father...

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.

Benediction

Song | Salvation Belongs to Our God

Salvation belongs to our God,
Who sits upon the throne,
And unto the Lamb....

Praise and Glory, Wisdom and Thanks,
Honor and Power and Strength
Be to our God forever and ever! (3x)
Amen!

And we the redeemed shall be strong
In purpose and unity,
Declaring aloud....