May 31, 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.

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

As we celebrate Pentecost, we remember the promise Jesus made to the disciples--to us--before ascending into heaven:

“The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”  - John 14:26-27

Come, Holy Spirit, come fill our hearts!

SONG OF PRAISE

“Come, Holy Ghost”

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
And in our hearts take up thy rest;
Come with thy grace and heav'nly aid
To fill the hearts which thou hast made,
To fill the hearts which thou hast made. 

O Comforter, to thee we cry,
Thou heav'nly gift of God most high,
Thou font of life and fire of love,
And sweet anointing from above,
And sweet anointing from above. 

Refrain:
Be not afraid, where you go there I am with you. (x2) 

O Holy Ghost, through thee alone
Know we the Father and the Son;
Be this our firm unchanging creed,
That thou dost from them both proceed
That thou dost from them both proceed. 

Praise we the Lord, Father and Son,
And Holy Spirit, with them one;
And may the Son on us bestow
All gifts that from the Spirit flow,
All gifts that from the Spirit flow.
Refrain

PRAYER FOR RENEWAL

Come, Holy Spirit, like a violent wind, and fill our hearts. Rain upon our dry and dusty lives. Wash away our sin and heal our wounded spirits. Kindle within us the fire of your love to burn away our indifference. Rest on our shoulders and redirect our wandering feet. We need you, Christ, more than we even know.
Adapted from The Worship Sourcebook

PROMISE OF GRACE

Action: Pour water in the bowl and remember that you have been washed clean by God!

“Those who love me, I will deliver;
   I will protect those who know my name.
 When they call to me, I will answer them;
   I will be with them in trouble,
   I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them,
   and show them my salvation.”
-Psalm 91:14-16

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

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 91

Sermon: Psalms for the Journey
Rev. Taylor Holbrook

DISCUSSION

Take a few minutes to reflect on what you just heard. What did you find challenging, helpful or troubling this week? What was your before and after? What promises do you hear from God this week?

RESPONDING TO GOD

SONG OF RESPONSE

“On Eagles’ Wings”

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord
Who abide in His shadow for life
Say to the Lord: "My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!" 

Refrain:
And He will raise you up on eagles' wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His hand 

The snare of the fowler will never capture you
And famine will bring you no fear
Under His wings your refuge, His faithfulness your shield
Refrain 

You need not fear the terror of the night
Nor the arrow that flies by day
Though thousands fall about you, 
Near you it shall not come
Refrain

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, you are our refuge and our fortress, our God, in whom we trust. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 

So, we call upon you Lord, turn your ear to our prayer:
O God, source of love and compassion in the suffering of all your children, we offer our compassion also for the hungry and the sick in body, mind, or heart; the depressed and the lonely; all living in fear and under stress; stricken in grief; the unemployed and the rejected; those burning with hatred; and those whose cries for justice in a broken world were renewed this week.

Lord, you are our refuge and our fortress, our God, in whom we trust. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

As we stand in hope and expectation of Your faithfulness, we offer the prayer you 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

“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heav'n to earth come down:
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown:
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter ev'ry trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into ev'ry troubled breast;
let us all in thee inherit,
let us find the promised rest:
take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
set our hearts at liberty. 

Come, Almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love. 

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!

“Come, Holy Ghost”, Words and Music: from Veni Creator Spiritus, attr. Rhabanus Maurus (776-856), Bruce Benedict, Ray Mills, 2005, © 2006 Cardiphonia Music/Raymond G. Mills, Used by Permission, CCLI #2588005

“You Have Redeemed My Soul”, Words and Music: Don Chaffer, Lori Chaffer, © 1999 Hey Ruth Music, Used by Permission, CCLI #2588005

“On Eagles’ Wings”, Words and Music by Michael Joncas, © 1979 OCP Publications, Used by Permission, CCLI #2588005

“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”, Words: Charles Wesley, 1747. Music (HYFRYDOL): Rowland H. Prichard, 1831. Public Domain