Easter Worship - April 12, 2020
/Happy Easter! Thanks for joining us for this week’s Home Worship! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed, Alleluia! As you gather, we invite you to take a moment to set up your space differently. Sit at your dining room table or arrange chairs in your living room. Set out a candle, a bowl, and a small pitcher of water before you. This week maybe you want to include a cross or a white cloth. If you’ve gathered with a group, you can take turns reading and praying so that everyone has a chance to help lead us in worship. The sections in bold can be read aloud together.
“Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it. He destroyed Hell when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh… Hell took a body, and discovered God. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see. O death, where is thy sting? O Hell, where is thy victory? Christ is Risen, and you, O death, are annihilated!”
“Q 45: How does Christ’s resurrection benefit us?
A: First, by his resurrection he has overcome death, so that he might make us share in the righteousness he obtained for us by his death.
Second, by his power we too are already raised to a new life.
Third, Christ’s resurrection is a sure pledge to us of our blessed resurrection.”
GATHERED BY GOD
WELCOME
Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth, Amen.
-Psalm 124:8
LIGHTING THE CANDLE
Action: Light a candle
One: Jesus Christ
All: is the Light of the World.
One: The Light shines in the darkness,
All: and the darkness did not overcome it.
-John 8:12; John 1:5
INVITATION TO WORSHIP
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
In our anguish we cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting us free.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
The LORD is our strength and our song;
he has become our salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
We will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
The LORD has done this;
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
-from Psalm 118
SONG OF PRAISE
“Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”
Christ the Lord is risen today! Alleluia!
All creation, join to say: Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high; Alleluia!
Sing, O heavens, and earth, reply: Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won; Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise; Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise. Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King; Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now your sting? Alleluia!
Once he died, our souls to save; Alleluia!
Where your victory, O grave? 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!
PRAYER FOR RENEWAL
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed. Alleluia!
Lord, we gather on this triumphant day, with Alleluias ringing, but this does not feel like any Easter we can remember. Stuck in our homes, separated from one other, it is hard to lift our voice in praise.
Lord, have mercy.
We come to you today with grief, anxiety, loneliness, ragged routines, fighting kids, weary bosses, bills still due, loved ones lost, fear of illness. The darkness still pervades. The tomb still seems closed. Lord, have mercy.
In this silence, Lord, meet us in our darkness, in our need, in our hunger and thirst for you…
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, roll away the stone in us. Raise us to new life. Open our eyes that we might see you standing before us, calling our name. Enter into this locked room and fill us with your presence. Shine your light into our darkness and dispel it forever, that our sins may be forgiven, our grief comforted, our loneliness eased, and our hope reawakened.
Lord, have mercy! Amen.
PROMISE OF GRACE
Action: Pour water into the bowl
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness”
-Lamentations 3:21-23
SONG OF ASSURANCE
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Refrain
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow—
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain
OFFERING
We respond to the love and grace of Jesus by giving back our whole lives to God in worship. In this offering, we give our financial gifts as a symbol that all we have comes from God and is to be used for God’s glory. Even though we aren’t worshiping together, our ministry still continues! Please continue to support us!
DOXOLOGY
May be spoken or sung
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him, above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
LISTENING TO GOD
Scripture: John 20:1-31
Sermon: “While It Was Still Dark”
Pastor Andy Kadzban
DISCUSSION
Take a few moments to reflect on what you just heard. What did you find challenging, helpful, or troubling this week? What do you think God is saying to you right now? Where do you need to see resurrection hope where it’s still dark?
If you’re worshiping with kids, click here for the kids’ discussion guide!
RESPONDING TO GOD
SONG OF PRAISE
“Yet Not I, But Through Christ In Me”
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy my righteousness and freedom
My steadfast love my deep and boundless peace
To this I hold my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to his
Oh how strange and divine I can sing all is mine
Yet not I but through Christ in me
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side the Savior he will stay
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need his power is displayed
To this I hold my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley he will lead
Oh the night has been won and I shall overcome
Yet not I but through Christ in me
No fate I dread I know I am forgiven
The future sure the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And he was raised to overthrow the grave
To this I hold my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released I can sing I am free
Yet not I but through Christ in me
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For he has said that he will bring me home
And day by day I know he will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
To this I hold my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to him
When the race is complete still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I but through Christ in me
APOSTLES’ CREED
We join our voices together with Christians throughout the ages and across the world to proclaim these words:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
We hear the words and sing “Christ The Lord Is Risen Today”, but this is a strange Easter. We gather huddled in our homes, afraid to come out. We gather in the midst of fear, uncertainty, anxiety, worry. We gather with confusion and doubt. We gather while it’s still dark in the world. We have a growing sense of our need of You, Christ. We are far more familiar with lament and sadness and loss this year. With raggedness we enter into this story more fully. We come with Mary to the tomb shrouded in darkness and despair. We run with John and Peter to figure out what on earth is going on and what it could mean. We huddle with the disciples in fear. We doubt with Thomas. And You meet us in all of it. So, we raise our cry for Easter radiance, for your glory and resurrection power to pierce the darkness.
We pray for all those who suffer:
For the hungry and the homeless, the destitute and the oppressed
For the sick, especially for all those who suffer in this pandemic
For those in loneliness, fear, and anguish
For those who face temptation, doubt, and despair
For the sorrowful and bereaved
For prisoners and captives
For those who put their own lives at risk to serve others
We pray for all nations and people of the earth and for those in authority among them
For the United States and its leaders in every branch of government
For our state, our county, our town, and their leaders
For all who serve the common good
For all those who have not received the Gospel of Christ
We pray for Your Church
For its unity in witness and service
For its leaders and all those whom they serve
For the Reformed Church in America, our classis, and all the churches within it
For Wyckoff Reformed Church and its ministry in this community
Come, Lord Jesus. Shine your light and dispel our darkness. Let it be so. As we wait with resurrection hope, we too offer up the prayer you taught us saying:
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.
SONG OF PRAISE
“Father, Let Your Kingdom Come”
Refrain:
Hallelu, hallelujah, Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah, Father, let Your kingdom come
May the works of my hands bring You joy (x4)
Refrain
May the words from my mouth speak Your peace (x4)
Refrain
You make all things new
You make all things new
In places we don’t choose
You make all things new
Refrain
SENT WITH GOD’S BLESSING
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up his presence to you and give you his peace,
Now and always, Amen.
-Numbers 6:24-26
To stay connected with what’s going on at WRC, check out the following video of announcements
Our congregation is able to do what it does because of your contributions! Even though we aren’t meeting in person during this season, you can continue to give your gifts to God. Visit www.wyckoffreformed.org/give to set up your one-time or recurring gift online. You’re also welcome to mail a check or set us up as an automatic payment through your bank!
Check out these playlists to guide your prayer and worship this week
Music to guide your prayer and reflection for this week
A YouTube playlist of kid’s music for this week!
“Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”, Words: Charles Wesley, 1739. Music (EASTER HYMN 7.7.7.7 with alleluias): Lyra Davidica, 1708. Public Domain
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”, Words: Thomas Chisholm, 1923. Music: William Runyan, 1923. © 1923, Renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Company. Used by Permission.
“Yet Not I, But Through Christ in Me”, Words and Music: Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, Rich Thompson, © 2018 CityAlight Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music [DC Cook])), Used by Permission, CCLI# 2588005
“Father, Let Your Kingdom Come”, Words and Music: Ben Cooper, Latifah Alattas, Liz Vice, Paul Zach, Madison Cunningham, Orlando Palmer, and Isaac Wardell. © Hymns From The Porter's Gate (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC). Used by Permission, CCLI #2588005