May 17, 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.
“Anything that depletes life—as with sickness or natural disasters—is like a death (Ps. 38:3; 91:5-6; 1-2:11). Anything that diminishes life, such as the experience of oppression, or that corrupts life, as with sin, or that warps and distorts an aspect of life, as with depression or madness, is like death (Ps. 88:4-5). Anything that mutes life, like the experience of enforced silence, is death. Anything that reduces life to an alienated existence, such as an individual losing community, or that decimates life, such as with imprisonment or the attack of an enemy, is described as an experience of death (Ps. 102).”
“The wicked, indeed, regard themselves as secure, the farther they are from God; but the godly consider themselves happy in this one thing, that he directs the whole tenor of their life.”
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
“Praise the Lord, all you nations!
Extol him, all you peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us
And the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever
Praise the Lord!”
-Psalm 117
SONG OF PRAISE
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; brothers and sisters, draw near,
join me in glad adoration!
Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things is wondrously reigning,
sheltering you under his wings, oh, so gently sustaining.
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
sent by his gracious ordaining?
Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
as with his love he befriends you.
Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the amen sound from his people again.
Gladly forever adore him!
Psalm 116:1-2
I love the Lord, for he hears my voice.
He will hear my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me
I will call on him as long as I live.
PRAYER FOR RENEWAL
Almighty one, gracious one, merciful one, righteous one, I must be saved! In the disquiet and distress, bring me again to your rest. I am lost and withered in my striving. Forgive my sin that keeps me from receiving your rescue and your peace. Forgive my sins that atrophy my vows to you, that hollow out my words of adoration and commitment, that forsake my baptism.
I call upon your name, O Lord. Save my life!
PROMISE OF GRACE
“Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.”
-Psalm 116:5
SONG OF GRACE
“You Have Redeemed My Soul”
You have redeemed my soul
From the pit of emptiness
You have redeemed my soul
From death
Repeat
I was a hungry child
A dried up river
I was a burned-out forest
And no one could do anything for me
But you put food in my body
Water in my dry bed
And to my blackened branches
you brought the Springtime rain of new life
And nothing is impossible for you
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 116
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? Why do you love the Lord? How has the Lord dealt bountifully with you?
RESPONDING TO GOD
SONG OF RESPONSE
“Be at Rest (Psalm 116)”
I love the Lord, he heard my voice
He heard my cry for mercy
Because he turned his ear to me
I call upon his name
The cords of death entangled me
The anguish of the grave
When sorrow overcame my soul
I cried “O Lord please save!”
Refrain:
You delivered my soul from death
My eyes from tears
My feet from stumbling, Lord
That I may walk before you Lord my God
As long as I shall live
O how can I repay the Lord
For all the grace he’s shown me?
I’ll lift to him salvation’s cup
And call upon his name
I’ll speak of him with every breath
I’ll do all I have promised
I’ll trust him when affliction comes
And all men let me down
Refrain
How precious in the sight of God
The death of all his saints
Now I am one of them indeed
You’ve freed me from my chains
I’ll praise you for your righteousness
Your mercy and your grace
I’ll gather with the church of God
And I will praise your name
Refrain
Be at rest O my soul
Be at rest once more
Be at rest O my soul
For the Lord has been good to you
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
I love the Lord, for he hears my voice.
He will hear my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me
I will call on him as long as I live.
Lord, we cry out on behalf of our family…
Lord, we cry out on behalf of our neighbors and community groups…
Lord, we cry out on behalf of ours and neighboring churches, who are seeking to serve and guide spiritually and physically…
Lord, we cry out on behalf of the poor and ridiculed, the outcast and systematically oppressed…
We cry out for the sick and dying, alone in hospital rooms or unremarkable places outside of the healthcare system…
Lord, we cry out on behalf of our country’s divisive and unsure political landscape…
We cry out for a hurting and broken world…
We call upon your name, O Lord, save us!
Let it be that we see you bring the world into your rest. As we wait and hope, holding glimpses of such peace, we lift up the prayer that 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.
SENDING SONG
“Take My Life”
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only, for my King;
Always, only, for my King.
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise;
Let them flow in endless praise.
Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne;
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne;
It shall be Thy royal throne.
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!
“Praise to the Lord, The Almighty”, Words: Joachim Neander, 1680; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1863. Music: Anonymous, 1665. Public Domain
“You Have Redeemed My Soul”, Words and Music: Don Chaffer, Lori Chaffer, © 1999 Hey Ruth Music, Used by Permission, CCLI #2588005
“Be at Rest (Psalm 116)”, Words and Music: Matt Searles, © 2011 Matt Searles, Used by Permission, CCLI #2588005
“Take Me Life”, Words: Frances R. Havergal. Music: Henri A.C. Malan. As Performed by Norton Hall Band, Public Domain