May 10, 2020
/Thanks for joining us for this week’s Home Worship! 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. 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.
“Here the entire community makes the confession. “Therefore we will not fear” (v. 2) states the marvelous prospect that trust opens up. Faith makes one unafraid. Concern and caution may persist, but for those who make the confession, trust prevails”
“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. It was meet to sing this twice over. It is a truth of which no believer wearies, it is a fact too often forgotten, it is a precious privilege which cannot be too often considered. Reader, is the Lord on thy side? Is Emmanuel, God with us, thy Redeemer? Is there a covenant between thee and God as between God and Jacob? If so, thrice happy art thou. Show thy joy in holy song, and in times of trouble play the man by still making music for thy God”
GATHERED BY GOD
WELCOME
Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth, Amen.
-Psalm 124:8
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
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.
INVITATION TO WORSHIP
“Be still and know that I am God”
-Psalm 46
SONG OF PRAISE
“Be Still, My Soul”
Be still my soul the Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide
In every change He faithful will remain
Be still my soul thy best, thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end
Be still, my soul! Your God will undertake
To guide the future as He has the past
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake
All now mysterious shall be bright at last
Be still my soul the waves and winds shall know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below
Be still my soul the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord
When disappointment grief and fear are gone
Sorrow forgot love's purest joys restored
Be still my soul when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last
Psalm 46:1, 7
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Silence (pause to meditate on these words before repeating)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
SONG OF PRAISE
“A Mighty Fortress is Our God”
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper he, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe does seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same;
And he must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God has willed his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo! his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.
That Word above all earthly powers— no thanks to them—abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever!
PRAYER FOR RENEWAL
O Christ, may we grow into the words of the psalmist--that you are our refuge and strength; that you are our confidence, our fortress; that you are ever present, therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.
You know our struggle to trust you. You see the fragility of our faith. Weary of a suffering world, a broken relationship, job insecurity, or financial strain, we build strongholds for ourselves and secure our undoing. Forgive us, Lord. May we know our strength to endure in your enduring the cross; our victory in your victory over darkness; our power to overcome in your overcoming the grave.
Lord, still our hearts and quiet our minds so that your word can set to work in us. Spirit, silence our tongues so that you can form our mouths to sing your praise.
PROMISE OF GRACE
“He Will Hold Me Fast”
When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold through life's fearful path;
For my love is often cold; He must hold me fast.
Refrain:
He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast;
For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast.
Those He saves are His delight, Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in his holy sight, He will hold me fast.
He'll not let my soul be lost; His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast.
Refrain
For my life He bled and died, Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life, He will hold me fast
'Till our faith is turned to sight, When He comes at last!
Refrain
Action: Pour water into the bowl and remember your baptism!
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: Psalm 46
Sermon: Psalms for the Journey
Pastor Andy Kadzban
DISCUSSION
Take a few minutes to reflect on what you just heard. What did you find challenging, helpful or troubling this week? Where do you need to be still? Where do you need to remember that the Lord of Hosts, the God of Jacob is with you?
RESPONDING TO GOD
SONG OF Response
“Psalm 46 (Be Still)”
God is our refuge, our strength, and our shield,
an ever-present help.
We will not fear, though the earth gives way,
and the mountains crash into the sea,
Refrain:
There is a river whose streams will make glad
The city of our Most High King.
God is within her, and she will not fail;
He helps her at break of the day
The nations in uproar, men’s kingdoms they fall,
He speaks and the earth melts away.
The worst we imagine, the strongest of storms
Our fortress it will still remain
Refrain
Be still, and know that I am God.
Come, let us see what the Lord has done,
The ruins He brings to the earth.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth,
He shatters the bow and the spear.
There is a river whose streams will make glad
The city of our most High King.
God is within her, and she will not fail,
Listen and hear the Lord say:
Be still, and know that I am God...
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
Lord our creator and sustainer, we seek your face in the sanctuary of prayer. Come, our refuge and strength, and hear our cries for help:
We lift up to you all those in need of your steadfast presence. In the tumult of change to job security, to relationships, to family dynamics with people home or people lost, to anxiety about health, groceries, mortgages, academic uncertainty, we ask for your strength, your help, your peace.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
We lift up to you all of our neighbors. May your grace and sustaining power be known among our healthcare workers, our police force, grocery store workers and gas station servers. Lord, help our neighbors in Paterson and Hackensack who feel the direness of a halted economy so deeply and desperately. Help places like Oasis, Family Promise and the County Shelter in Hackensack, Lighthouse Pregnancy Center, Star of Hope, and our food pantry to continue to bless the community and provide basic needs.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
We lift up to you our hurting world. Mend the devastation of violence and war, civil unrest, famine, destruction at the hands of weather, poor infrastructure, corrupt governments, failing policies and our current pandemic. Lord, bless organizations like Opportunity International, the Red Cross, UNICEF, and Habitat for Humanity who are trying to help so many in need. Bless our missionaries who find themselves in tense and volatile conditions. We ask for your protection, for your mercy, for your shalom to show up in the world in tangible ways.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
We pray that all of us might find fullness in being still and making room for your Spirit to move in new ways. Lord, we pray for deep renewal and joy to mark this time even as the earth changes and the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.
The Lord of hosts is with us! The God of Jacob is our refuge!
All this we pray in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray 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.
SENDING SONG
“When Peace Like a River”
The Virtual Chancel Choir
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!
“A Mighty Fortress is Our God”, Words: based on Psalm 46, Martin Luther, 1529; tr. Frederick H. Hedge, 1852. Music: Martin Luther, 1529. Public Domain
“He Will Hold Me Fast”, Words: Original Words VV 1-2 by Ada Habershon; New words and music by Matt Merker. © 2013 Getty Music Publishing (BMI) / Matt Merker Music (BMI), Used by Permission, CCLI #2588005
“Psalm 46”, Words and Music: Mike Crawford, © 2009 Mike Crawford, adapted by Isaac Wardell, © 2012 Bifrost Arts Music, Used by Permission, CCLI #2588005
“When Peace Like a River” Words: Horatio G. Spafford, 1873. Music: Philip P. Bliss, 1876. Public Domain.