Beacon Worship 4/11/2021

We hope you join us for worship, either live-streaming on our Youtube Channel or via Zoom. Email info@thewordatbeacon.org for zoom info.

Gathering Time (unmuted)

Feel free to say hi and check in with others before the service begins!

Welcome/Announcements

• There will be a worship focus group after worship today. All are welcome to join.

• This is the last call for the Mission Study survey. You’re invited to fill it out today!

• Our virtual midweek prayer gathering will be this Wednesday at 6pm on Zoom

Facing God (from Psalm 133)

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

Leader: How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity.

All: It is like the precious oil on the head, running down over the collar.

Leader: It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.

All: For there the Lord ordained God’s blessing, life for evermore.

Leader: Let us worship God.

Easter People

Easter people, raise your voices,

Sounds of heaven in earth should ring.

Christ has brought us heaven’s choices;

Heavenly music, let it ring.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Easter people, let us sing.

Fear of death can no more stop us

From our pressing here below,

For our Lord empowered us

To triumph over every foe.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Onto victory now we go.

Every day to us is Easter,

With its resurrection song.

Even when life overwhelms us

Easter people, sing this song.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Everlasting Sunday song!

Laying Down Our Burdens & Assurance

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

All: God of love and life, in raising Jesus from the grave, you shattered the power of evil and death. We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear, bound by the ways that lead to death. Forgive us, God of mercy. Help us to trust your power to make us knew, that we might know the joy of life abundant given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. Amen.

Leader: The Good News is that Christ has come and Christ will come again.

All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.

Refrain: Beautiful Things

You make me new,

You are making me new

You make me new,

You are making me new

Children's Bible Story

Lectio Conversation (Psalm 84)

(Hold onto this question while we read our scripture.)

What stands out to you about this text?

How lovely is your dwelling place,

O Lord of hosts!

My soul longs, indeed it faints

for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh sing for joy

to the living God.

Even the sparrow finds a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself,

where she may lay her young,

at your altars, O Lord of hosts,

my King and my God.

Happy are those who live in your house,

ever singing your praise.

Happy are those whose strength is in you,

in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

As they go through the valley of Baca

they make it a place of springs;

the early rain also covers it with pools.

They go from strength to strength;

the God of gods will be seen in Zion.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;

give ear, O God of Jacob!

Behold our shield, O God;

look on the face of your anointed.

For a day in your courts is better

than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than live in the tents of wickedness.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

he bestows favor and honor.

No good thing does the Lord withhold

from those who walk uprightly.

O Lord of hosts,

happy is everyone who trusts in you.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Discussion

Homily

What Wondrous Love Is This

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,

When I was sinking down, sinking down.

When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,

Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,

Christ laid aside his crown for my soul!

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing,

To God and to the Lamb I will sing;

To God and to the Lamb, who is the great I am,

While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;

While millions join the theme, I will sing!

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,

And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;

And through eternity I’ll sing on.

Prayers of the People

Now is the time when we share the prayers on our hearts and minds. If you have a private prayer, you can email them to us throughout the week and the pastoral team will pray over them.

If you have a prayer, please unmute your mic to share.

After each prayer, I will lead our response on mute:

Lord in your mercy // hear our prayers

***

Now I will offer a prayer for the greater community and world. We will end by saying the Lord’s Prayer together in whatever language you prefer. Let us pray.

(muted)

Leader: Just as God/Christ taught us to pray...

All: 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.

Offering

To give online, click here: https://www.thewordatbeacon.org/donate

To give your prayers, email us at info@thewordatbeacon.org

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless Babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died

The love of God was satisfied

For every sin on him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground his body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave he rose again

And as he stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me

For I am his and he is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From a life’s first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no human plan

Could ever pluck me from His hand

‘Til he returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I stand

‘Til he returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I stand

Sending/Blessing (from 1 John 1)

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

As we close this time together, let us read this word from first letter of John:

All: We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it— we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Leader: The steadfast love of God goes with you, the deep and abiding peace of Christ goes with you, and the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit goes with you, now and always. Amen.

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