Today is the second week of Eastertide.
Easter has implications.
Jesus is – right now – the reigning and ruling King of the Universe.
Envisioning Jesus as the King he is also has implications.
We are called to a life of faith that involves not just thinking well of Jesus
but aligning every aspect of our lives to Jesus…
pursuing a Jesus-shaped life.
Today we begin to explore the implications of living in a world
where a resurrection has happened.
Gathering Time
Great is Thy Faithfulness with It Is WellRandy Wolthuis
Declaration of Trust & God's Greeting
People of Jesus Christ, in whom are you trusting?
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
Grace, mercy and peace to you in the name
of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Praise to Our Risen King
"Come, People of the Risen King" (Getty/Townend)
Come people of the Risen King who delight to bring Him praise
Come all and tune your hearts to sing to the Morning Star of grace
From the shifting shadows of the earth we will lift our eyes to Him
Where steady arms of mercy reach to gather children in
Chorus
Rejoice, rejoice! Let ev'ry tongue rejoice
One heart, one voice, O Church of Christ rejoice!
Come those whose joy is morning sun and those weeping through the night
Come those who tell of battles won and those struggling in the fight
For His perfect love will never change and His mercies never cease
But follow us through all our days with the certain hope of peace
Come young and old from ev'ry land, men and women of the faith
Come those with full or empty hands and the riches of His grace
Over all the world His people sing; shore to shore we hear them call
the truth that cries through ev'ry age: our God is all in all!
Opening Affirmations (Colossians, selected)
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;
things have been created through him and for him.
So whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
For in Christ all the fullness of God lives in bodily form,
and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
And let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit,
singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
"Up & Alive" Luke & Anna Hellebronth
Mercy every morning, rising like the dawn
God of all creation, the wonder of it all
You're the song of freedom, you're the only way
Every new beginning is by grace
Chorus
Up and alive in Jesus
into a life of freedom
Hallelujah, Christ is risen!
Up from the grave you raised me
out of the darkness saved me
Hallelujah, Jesus Savior!
You can still the panic, you can break the chains
You're the only healer, the greatest ever name
Through the cross forgiven, everything has changed
Every new beginning is by grace (chorus)
Ohh, oh-oh-ohh
Bridge
Worthy, worthy
you're the only name we're singing
Holy, holy
to you the highest praise! (2x, then chorus)
Sharing Christ Peace
Because God has given us his peace, we are invited to share the peace of Christ with others. Whether digitally through a text message or by turning to someone next to you, share the peace of Christ now with the words: "The peace of Christ be with you!" If you are on the receiving end of these words, you are invited to reply, "And also with you."
The Peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you!
Time of Confession
Call to Confession from Hebrews 4
Seeing that we have a great High Priest
who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God,
let us therefore approach the throne of grace with fullest confidence,
that we may receive mercy for our failures
and grace to help in the hour of need.
In the strength of this assurance, let us confess our sins to God.
Prayers of Confession
(After each section labeled [silence],
you are invited to remain silent and reflective and,
if you choose, write or journal your reflections and prayers)
Almighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave,
you shattered the power of sin and death.
We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear,
bound by the ways that lead to death. [Silence]
We overlook the poor and the hungry
and pass by those who mourn. [Silence]
We are deaf to the cries of the oppressed
and indifferent to the calls for peace. [Silence]
We despise the weak
and abuse the earth you made. [Silence]
Help us to trust your power
to change our lives and make us new,
that we may know the joy of life abundant
given in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Words of Assurance from Colossians 2
When you were dead in your sins...God made you alive with Christ.
He forgave us all our sins, which stood against us and condemned us;
he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
Prayers of the People Christian Verwys
Prayers of the People CVerwys April 19 2Christian Verwys
Offering
A life of generosity, for all who know Christ, means the opportunity to draw closer to God, now and in eternity. It means joy, a fulfilled heart, and the potential to store up treasures in heaven. Once you take hold of it, once you begin to feel the change generosity brings into your life, you will feel a strong calling to share the message with others.
Please consider continuing to give or setting up giving by clicking HERE.
Song of Preparation:
"Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God" (Getty/Townend)
Word of God
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:1-4 Megan Nollet
Colossians 3.1-4 Megan NMegan Nollet
Message: "Alive in Christ" Jon Sherrill
Series: Following Jesus
fifthrc-041920Jon Sherrill
Our Response
“Christ Be in My Waking” Stuart Townend/Simon Brading
Christ be in my waking as the sun is rising
in my day of working, with me ev'ry hour
Christ be in my resting as the day is ending
calming and refreshing, watching through the night
Christ be in my gladness, for the joy of living
thankful for the goodness of the Father's hand
Christ be in my sorrow in my day of darkness
knowing that I follow in the steps he trod
Chorus
Jesus, this is my devotion
all my life to know you
ev'ry day to walk with you
Savior, you're my deepest longing
you're the One I live for
Teach me Lord to walk with you
Christ when hope has faded, nothing left to cling to
every pleasure jaded, every well is dry
Christ the loving Shepherd draws me with his kindness
leads me from the desert to the streams of life (chorus)
Christ be in my waking as the sun is rising
in my day of working, with me ev'ry hour
Christ be in my resting as the day is ending…
Benediction
God go before you to lead you,
God go behind you to protect you,
God go beneath you to support you,
God go beside you to befriend you.
Do not be afraid.
May the blessing of God the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit be upon you.
Do not be afraid.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Amen.
Postlude: "Up and Alive"
"Following Jesus" Video Class, Mondays at 7:00PM
*If you need the link or phone number to connect with this class
email info@fifthrc.org for details to join in