Home Worship 4/19
BIBLE STUDY
Zoom at 9am. Password 509
Here is the handout.
PRAYER TIME/FELLOWSHIP
Meet on Zoom at 10am. Password 509. It takes about 20 minutes
WORSHIP SERVICE
Other options:
Notes if you're concerned about the church year:
The Easter season is a highlight of the church year. Every year we read passages that are integral to being Christians, such as "I am the Good Shepherd," "I am the Vine and you are the branches" and "As I have loved you, so you should love one another." Because those passages are so important, and because many of them focus on our love for each other as Christians, I am saving them for when we are together again in-person.
For the next few weeks I will put together special services focused on "trust in God overcoming fear", selecting Bible passages that I think will be particularly pertinent during the coronavirus crisis. Then, when we come back together sometime in May or June, we will resume the church year with Palm Sunday and celebrate the entire Easter season through Pentecost, which I think will be more impactful than normal when our normal lives, including in-person services, have been "resurrected" and we are filled with a once-in-a-lifetime societal joy. I've also cut it down to two readings to keep it shorter.
WORSHIP OPENING
Welcome everyone. It's time to worship God, so let's put aside planning and worrying and whatever might distract us, and spend the next few minutes focused on the Lord.
OPENING HYMN
Zoom at 9am. Password 509
Here is the handout.
PRAYER TIME/FELLOWSHIP
Meet on Zoom at 10am. Password 509. It takes about 20 minutes
WORSHIP SERVICE
Other options:
- You can watch last week's WELS Easter worship service. Many people enjoyed it. An hour video. All words on the screen.
- You can check out The Vine's worship here. An hour video. Nothing else needed.
- Cross of Christ in Boise has services with music posted. A 30 minutes sermon with PDF bulletin and YouTube song options.
- Illumine, the hip WELS franchise in Rock Hill, SC/Seattle. Several short videos, sort of like what I have, but much hipper.
- dozens of other great options.
Notes if you're concerned about the church year:
The Easter season is a highlight of the church year. Every year we read passages that are integral to being Christians, such as "I am the Good Shepherd," "I am the Vine and you are the branches" and "As I have loved you, so you should love one another." Because those passages are so important, and because many of them focus on our love for each other as Christians, I am saving them for when we are together again in-person.
For the next few weeks I will put together special services focused on "trust in God overcoming fear", selecting Bible passages that I think will be particularly pertinent during the coronavirus crisis. Then, when we come back together sometime in May or June, we will resume the church year with Palm Sunday and celebrate the entire Easter season through Pentecost, which I think will be more impactful than normal when our normal lives, including in-person services, have been "resurrected" and we are filled with a once-in-a-lifetime societal joy. I've also cut it down to two readings to keep it shorter.
WORSHIP OPENING
Welcome everyone. It's time to worship God, so let's put aside planning and worrying and whatever might distract us, and spend the next few minutes focused on the Lord.
OPENING HYMN
OPENING IN THE NAME OF THE TRINITY
Leader: We worship in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Leader: "Beloved in the Lord: let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness."
Speak along if you are able, or the leader can read and everyone agree in your hearts: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
(brief pause)
Leader: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. In accord with his promise and by the authority he has given his church (John 20:23), I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER FOR BLESSING ON WORSHIP
Leader: "Be with us now as we gather in your name. Bless us through the hearing of your word. Give us hearts that are eager to believe what you promise and obey what you command, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen."
Leader: We worship in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Leader: "Beloved in the Lord: let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness."
Speak along if you are able, or the leader can read and everyone agree in your hearts: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
(brief pause)
Leader: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. In accord with his promise and by the authority he has given his church (John 20:23), I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER FOR BLESSING ON WORSHIP
Leader: "Be with us now as we gather in your name. Bless us through the hearing of your word. Give us hearts that are eager to believe what you promise and obey what you command, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen."
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Our readings today focus on Psalm 91, a very relevant portion of Scripture that only occurs once every three years in the regular cycle of readings.
FIRST READING: Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the Lord, who is my refuge—
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Now listen to this exposition and musical rendering of Psalm 91:
Our readings today focus on Psalm 91, a very relevant portion of Scripture that only occurs once every three years in the regular cycle of readings.
FIRST READING: Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the Lord, who is my refuge—
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Now listen to this exposition and musical rendering of Psalm 91:
Or try this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qIiw5B94TA-eR_Kb0XUJkuTioTXH1F5t/view
If you can't access the file either way Sunday morning, please email/text asap and I'll send it to you.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qIiw5B94TA-eR_Kb0XUJkuTioTXH1F5t/view
If you can't access the file either way Sunday morning, please email/text asap and I'll send it to you.
SECOND READING: Matthew 4:9-12
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Now listen to the following exposition and hymn which expresses our trust in Jesus, who is always there for us:
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Now listen to the following exposition and hymn which expresses our trust in Jesus, who is always there for us:
CREED
For fun, try to recite it from memory. If you need help, click here.
OFFERING
At this time you may write a check and mail it church, as described on this page, which also tells you how to set up online giving.
Also, if you'd like to offer your time, there is still plenty of raking and other outdoor work to do at the church. Contact Jake Laete to get specific instructions, or start with areas closest to the building.
CONNECTION CARD SUBSTITUTE
Instead of a connection card, leave an encouraging comment on our Facebook page! Or call a friend from church. Perhaps say hello to some of our shut-in members on Facebook (Jean Johnson, Carol Taylor, and Christine Glardon all use Facebook).
PRAYER
Take a moment to ask for prayer requests.
BLESSING
Leader: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and always. Amen.
Optional last song. It has a summary of the Lord's prayer and some other passages of Scripture:
For fun, try to recite it from memory. If you need help, click here.
OFFERING
At this time you may write a check and mail it church, as described on this page, which also tells you how to set up online giving.
Also, if you'd like to offer your time, there is still plenty of raking and other outdoor work to do at the church. Contact Jake Laete to get specific instructions, or start with areas closest to the building.
CONNECTION CARD SUBSTITUTE
Instead of a connection card, leave an encouraging comment on our Facebook page! Or call a friend from church. Perhaps say hello to some of our shut-in members on Facebook (Jean Johnson, Carol Taylor, and Christine Glardon all use Facebook).
PRAYER
Take a moment to ask for prayer requests.
- Remember to include prayers of thanks and prayers asking for things, both for you and for others.
- Remember to ask for spiritual blessings as well as physical blessings.
- It is fine to have a short prayer. It doesn't need to sound super-fancy or ultra spiritual, just speak to God from the heart.
- Bring these thanks and requests to God in your own way, then close
- Leader: Lord we ask you to bless the following:
- Adam Todd (nephew of Kellie Britton) and his family as he has been deployed to Guam to do medical work with the national guard, and his wife is expecting soon.
- Carolyn Ratz's granddaugher Jamie is in isolation after her roommates exposure to the coronavirus.
- Carolyn Ratz's wrist continues to heal
- Steve Anson's recovery from a broken hip
- The Yang family as they adjust to life with baby Rainier
- The O'Haver family's upcoming move
- Michelle Most deliberating a call to serve here
- Kathy Gebhardt's family as they mourn the death of her mother but celebrate her entrance into eternal life
- Let this time of isolation be a time of spiritual growth for all of us at St. Matthew, and may we appreciate more the freedom we have to worship you together when this present crisis has passed
- We ask that the coronavirus crisis would pass sooner rather than later
- Say the Lord's Prayer
BLESSING
Leader: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and always. Amen.
Optional last song. It has a summary of the Lord's prayer and some other passages of Scripture:
