Welcome
Thank you so much for joining us! The following page will take you through the order of worship for this Sunday.
If you are new, welcome! We also want to invite you to learn more about us. You can do so by selecting the button below.
If you are new, welcome! We also want to invite you to learn more about us. You can do so by selecting the button below.
A few tips for parents:
- Plan for your time – read through the guide and prepare the room where you are gathering
- Make your time joyful – have fun!!!
- Remember, it’s primarily about a relationship, not a task to scratch off
- Have your kids participate in age and maturity appropriate ways – reading, singing, etc.
Time of Reflection
“The country’s idols are being exposed.”
~Ekemini Uwan, writer, speaker and public theologian
“There is no equality. The only thing people all have in common is that they are all going to die.”
~Bob Dylan, legendary singer-songwriter
“…a Christian is not so much a person who has solved the problem of pain, suffering and the coronavirus, but one who has come to love and trust a God who has himself suffered.”
~John Lennox, professor at the University of Oxford
Surround me with your boundless love
Confound me with your boundless love
I was drowning in the sea, lost as I could be
When you found me with your boundless love
You dumbfound me with your boundless love
You surround me with your boundless love
~John Prine (1946-2020), singer-songwriter
“This non-event, this thing that nobody noticed except his friends and family turned out to have the power to transform the entire Roman Empire and the course of human history more profoundly than any other single event over the past 2,000 years.”
~Henry Louis Gates Jr., author and Harvard professor, speaking of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
“…the majority of New Testament scholars today, not conservatives, not fundamentalists, concur with the facts of Jesus’ honorable burial, his empty tomb, his postmortem appearances, and the origin of the disciples’ belief in his resurrection. This is a surprising truth, not widely appreciated by non-specialists.”
~Dr. William Lane Craig, American philosopher and professor
“If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen—nothing else matters.”
~Jaroslav Pelikan (1923-2006), Yale professor and scholar
~Ekemini Uwan, writer, speaker and public theologian
“There is no equality. The only thing people all have in common is that they are all going to die.”
~Bob Dylan, legendary singer-songwriter
“…a Christian is not so much a person who has solved the problem of pain, suffering and the coronavirus, but one who has come to love and trust a God who has himself suffered.”
~John Lennox, professor at the University of Oxford
Surround me with your boundless love
Confound me with your boundless love
I was drowning in the sea, lost as I could be
When you found me with your boundless love
You dumbfound me with your boundless love
You surround me with your boundless love
~John Prine (1946-2020), singer-songwriter
“This non-event, this thing that nobody noticed except his friends and family turned out to have the power to transform the entire Roman Empire and the course of human history more profoundly than any other single event over the past 2,000 years.”
~Henry Louis Gates Jr., author and Harvard professor, speaking of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
“…the majority of New Testament scholars today, not conservatives, not fundamentalists, concur with the facts of Jesus’ honorable burial, his empty tomb, his postmortem appearances, and the origin of the disciples’ belief in his resurrection. This is a surprising truth, not widely appreciated by non-specialists.”
~Dr. William Lane Craig, American philosopher and professor
“If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen—nothing else matters.”
~Jaroslav Pelikan (1923-2006), Yale professor and scholar
Opening Prayer
(select someone from your group to open your service in prayer)
Call to Worship
adapted from 1 Corinthians 15
LEADER: Christ is risen!
PEOPLE: He is risen, indeed!
LEADER: Death is swallowed up in victory.
PEOPLE: O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?
LEADER: The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
PEOPLE: But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
LEADER: Christ is risen!
PEOPLE: He is risen, indeed!
LEADER: Christ is risen!
PEOPLE: He is risen, indeed!
LEADER: Death is swallowed up in victory.
PEOPLE: O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?
LEADER: The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
PEOPLE: But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
LEADER: Christ is risen!
PEOPLE: He is risen, indeed!
Songs & Liturgy
(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY
(Charles Wesley, 1739)
(Charles Wesley, 1739)
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth reply. Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King: Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once, He all doth save: Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Allelulia!
Fought the fight the battle won; Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise; Alleluia!
Christ has opened Paradise. Alleluia!
Soar we now, where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head; Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise; Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies. Alleluia!
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth reply. Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King: Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once, He all doth save: Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Allelulia!
Fought the fight the battle won; Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise; Alleluia!
Christ has opened Paradise. Alleluia!
Soar we now, where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head; Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise; Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies. Alleluia!
PUBLIC DOMAIN
RESPONSIVE READING
Psalm 30 (ESV) A Song of Victory by Jesus, Son of David
LEADER: I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
PEOPLE: O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
LEADER: Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
PEOPLE: Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
LEADER: By your favor, O Lord,
you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.
PEOPLE To you, O Lord, I cry,
and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
LEADER: “What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?”
PEOPLE: “Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”
LEADER: You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
ALL: O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
LEADER: I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
PEOPLE: O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
LEADER: Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
PEOPLE: Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
LEADER: By your favor, O Lord,
you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.
PEOPLE To you, O Lord, I cry,
and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
LEADER: “What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?”
PEOPLE: “Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”
LEADER: You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
ALL: O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
HERE IS LOVE
(William Rees, 1855; William Edwards, 1915; Matt Giles, Vell Rives)
(William Rees, 1855; William Edwards, 1915; Matt Giles, Vell Rives)
Here is love vast as the ocean,
Loving-kindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten
Throughout heav’n’s eternal days.
On the Mount of Crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the flood-gates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love like mighty rivers
Poured incessant from above;
Heaven’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.
Here is love that conquered evil:
Christ, the firstborn from the grave;
Death has failed to be found equal
To the life of Him Who saves.
In the valley of our darkness
Dawned His everlasting light;
Perfect love in glorious radiance
Has repelled death’s hellish night.
That same love beyond all measure,
Mocked and slain by hateful men,
Lives and reigns in resurrection
And can never die again.
Here is love for all the ages,
Radiant Sun of Heav’n He stands,
Calling home His Father’s children,
Holding forth His wounded hands.
Here is love, vast as the heavens;
Countless as the stars above
Are the souls that He has ransomed,
Precious daughters, treasured sons.
We are called to feast forever
On a love beyond our time;
Glorious Father, Son, and Spirit
Now with man are intertwined.
©2018 Sovereign Grace Worship (Capitol CMG Publishing). CCLI #1791178
Loving-kindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten
Throughout heav’n’s eternal days.
On the Mount of Crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the flood-gates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love like mighty rivers
Poured incessant from above;
Heaven’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.
Here is love that conquered evil:
Christ, the firstborn from the grave;
Death has failed to be found equal
To the life of Him Who saves.
In the valley of our darkness
Dawned His everlasting light;
Perfect love in glorious radiance
Has repelled death’s hellish night.
That same love beyond all measure,
Mocked and slain by hateful men,
Lives and reigns in resurrection
And can never die again.
Here is love for all the ages,
Radiant Sun of Heav’n He stands,
Calling home His Father’s children,
Holding forth His wounded hands.
Here is love, vast as the heavens;
Countless as the stars above
Are the souls that He has ransomed,
Precious daughters, treasured sons.
We are called to feast forever
On a love beyond our time;
Glorious Father, Son, and Spirit
Now with man are intertwined.
©2018 Sovereign Grace Worship (Capitol CMG Publishing). CCLI #1791178
Sharing
(as a lead into the Prayer Time, as a group share how you are feeling and what you are learning; below are suggested questions)
- What are you learning about life/God lately?
- What do you want to pray for this week?
- What fears are you experiencing with this pandemic?
Prayer
(have an open time of prayer or appoint one or two to pray)
- Confession of sins
- Praise and thanksgiving to God
- Petitions
- Pray for our health care workers and public officials
- Pray for others whose professions put them at particular risk of the virus
Listen to Sermon
“Our Victory in Christ”
Romans 8:31-39 (ESV)
preached by Pastor Don Willeman
Romans 8:31-39 (ESV)
preached by Pastor Don Willeman
Confession of Faith
The Apostles’ Creed (circa 5th Century)
LEADER: Christian, what do you believe?
CONGREGATION: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe 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 arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I 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.
*i.e. suffered under the judgment of God for His people
**i.e. “universal”
LEADER: Christian, what do you believe?
CONGREGATION: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe 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 arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I 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.
*i.e. suffered under the judgment of God for His people
**i.e. “universal”
Sharing Time
(have everyone share one thing that struck them from the sermon)
Song
(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
IN CHRIST ALONE
(Stuart Townend, Keith Getty)
(Stuart Townend, Keith Getty)
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground his body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as he stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His, and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from his hand,
Till he returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
©2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) CCLI#1791178
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground his body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as he stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His, and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from his hand,
Till he returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
©2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) CCLI#1791178
Closing Prayer
(select someone to close your time in prayer)
Benediction
(The leader or individual should read this aloud relishing in the confident assertion that Christ has conquered.)
Listen to the good word of the Conquering King Jesus for you: “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:17-18)
Listen to the good word of the Conquering King Jesus for you: “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:17-18)