May 24, 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.
“I have read that during the process of canonization, the Catholic Church demands proof of joy in the candidate, and although I have not been able to track down chapter and verse I like the suggestion that dourness is not a sacred attitude.”
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
“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
‘The Lord has done great things for them.’
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.”
-Psalm 126:1-3
SONG OF PRAISE
“O God, Our Help in Ages Past”
O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:
Under the shadow of your throne
your saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is your arm alone,
and our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood
or earth received its frame,
from everlasting you are God,
to endless years the same.
O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
still be our guard while troubles last,
and our eternal home!
Psalm 46:1-3
“God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.”
PRAYER FOR RENEWAL
The walls are unsure, but you are my stronghold.
The trouble lurks at every turn, but you are my help, my strength.
Fear and uncertainty are pervasive; O Lord, be incessant in your pursuit of us. Come, with your power and your grace.
The tumult is dragging our best, our noble, our strategized systems of security, of coping, of achieving to breaking. O come, calm the storm. O come, speak peace.
Come, restore us to our fortune: a place at your table. Come restore our identity in you--the suffering servant, the victorious one, the radiant king. Restore our broken hearts; restore abiding joy and hope; restore us to the promises of our baptism, to the waters of life.
We are weeping, Lord. We are aching, O God.
PROMISE OF GRACE
“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
‘The Lord has done great things for them.’
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.”
-Psalm 1126:1-3
SONG OF GRACE
“New Every Morning”
In the beginning, you hovered over the water
You broke an unbroken silence
You spoke light into darkness
And there was light
In the beginning, we were made in your image
And we were naked without shame
Till we fell for the darkness
And there was night
Refrain:
Your mercies are new
Your mercies are new
New every morning
(Repeat)
In the beginning, there was the Word and he was God
And the Word was with God
And he dwelt among us
And there was life
Oh, in the beginning, the Lamb of God was broken
And his life was poured out
For the sins of the world
And there was life
Refrain
At the cross, at the cross
Where I first saw your light
At the cross, at the cross
I received my sight
At the cross, at the cross
Where you laid down your life
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 126
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 has God been faithful to you in the past? Where are you sowing in tears and praying for a harvest of joy?
RESPONDING TO GOD
SONG OF RESPONSE
“Psalm 126”
Our mouths they were filled, filled with laughter
Our tongues they were loosed, loosed with joy
Restore us, O Lord! Restore us, O Lord!
Refrain
Although we are weeping, Lord, help us keep sowing
The seeds of your kingdom for the day you will reap them
Your sheaves we will carry; Lord, please do not tarry
All those who sow weeping will go out with songs of joy
The nations will say, “He has done great things!”
The nations will sings songs of joy
Restore us, O Lord! Restore us, O Lord!
Refrain x2
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 we lift up the same prayer as before, but now we lift up our neighbors: the poor, the orphaned, the widowed, the disillusioned, the ostracized, the lonely, the stigmatized and estranged.
The walls are unsure; O Lord, be my neighbor’s stronghold.
The trouble lurks at every turn; O Lord, be their help and their strength.
Fear and uncertainty are pervasive; O Lord, be incessant in your pursuit of them, with your power and your grace.
The churning, the tumult is dragging our best, our noble, our strategized systems of racial and economic equality, distribution of goods, health care, deference, and civility, to breaking. O come, calm the storm. O come, speak peace.
Come, restore and welcome my neighbor to fortune; a place at your table. Come, restore and declare their identity in you--the suffering servant, the victorious one, the radiant king. Restore their broken hearts; restore abiding joy and hope where there is despair and sorrow. Restore and extend the promise of grace, of refuge, and wholeness. The whole world is weeping, Lord. The whole world is aching, O God.
Come, Lord, and hear us as we lift up the prayer you taught us:
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
“We Will Feast in the House of Zion”
Refrain:
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
Refrain
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
Refrain
Every vow we’ve broken and betrayed
You are the Faithful one
And from the garden to the grave
Bind us together, bring shalom.
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!
“O God, Our Help in Ages Past”, Words: Isaac Watts, 1719. Music: William Croft, 1708. Public Domain
“New Every Morning”, Words and Music: Audrey Assad and Matt Maher, ©2016 Be Essential Songs, I Am A Pilgrim Songs, Fortunate Fall Music. Used by Permission. CCLI #2588005
“Psalm 126”, Words and Music: Isaac Wardell, ©2012 Bifrost Arts Music. Used by Permission. CCLI #2588005
“We Will Feast in the House of Zion”, Words and Music: Joshua Moore and Sandra McCracken, ©2015 Integrity Worship Music, Paper News Publishing, joshmooreownsthismusic. Used by Permission. CCLI #2588005