Celebration

31 December: Liturgy + Set List

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  • WONDER AND GIFT

    The Church calendar says that Christmas is more than a day, it is a season. So we are still in the season of Christmas, remembering Christ’s coming, and anticipating His return. As we sing together this morning, I want to encourage you to look back over the past year and search for ebeneezers - remembrances of God’s care, help, and provision. Hold those things in your heart and mind, and sing from that place, sing from that remembrance this morning.

  • BEHOLD

  • HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarate Word: Grant that this light, kindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one god, now and for ever. Amen.

  • ONLY A HOLY GOD

    Readings: Luke 1:26-33, Matthew 1:1, 12-16

    This is the word of the LORD. The kind of people Jesus came from reveals the kind of people Jesus came for. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.

    Sermon: Luke 1:26-56

    Writer Frederick Buechner says, ‘The grace of God means something like: "Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are, because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us... I love you." If you are here this morning as a follower of Jesus, as you look back over 2023 and as you look ahead to 2024 you have nothing to fear, because the Lord who loves you says in His Word: ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ God is so kind, so good, so gracious, he can work all things for our greater good, and His greater glory. As we close out our morning and our year, we’re going to sing about God’s glory with a song that will have a familiar melody, but maybe words which are unfamiliar. Would you stand if you’re able…

  • All Glory Be To Christ

24 December: Liturgy + Set List

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  • WONDER AND GIFT

  • O COME LET US ADORE HIM

  • O COME O COME EMMANUEL

    If you have been with us this Advent season you know that we have been looking at the mothers of Jesus - women in the genealogy of Jesus. And we have said throughout this series, ‘The kind of people Jesus came from reveals the kind of people Jesus came for.’ And what Scripture tells us is that Christ came to win for Himself, to purchase with His blood, a bride made up of people from every tribe, tongue, nation, and language on the earth. This is part of what the angels say to the shepherds, ‘This is good news of great joy which will be for all the people.’ And this morning we get to hear some of our people - who call Life Church home - read us the story of this good news in a few of the languages representing the people Jesus came for:

    Luke 2:1-7 (in Spanish), Luke 2:8-13 (in Vietnamese), Luke 2:14-20 (in English)

  • COME THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS

    Sermon: 2 Samuel 11:1-27

    I love what the Psalmist says - even the darkness is not dark to you, for the night is as bright as the day. This is Jesus, the Light of the World illuminating the darkness of our sin, the darkness of our lives, the darkness of the world. Let’s sing about Him, and to Him, and to one another - would you stand if you’re able…

  • LIGHT OF THE WORLD (SING HALLELUJAH)

    Reading: John 1:9-18

    We light a candle to remember that Jesus is the Light of the World. And if you are here this morning as a follower of Jesus, you carry the very life and light of Christ in you and with you as you walk into a darkened world.

  • SILENT NIGHT (SON OF GOD, SON OF MAN)

  • O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL

16 April: Liturgy + Set List

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  • ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING

    Call to Worship: Psalm 121

    Life Church, what is your only hope and help? It is not found within yourself. It is not your ability to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, try harder, be better, or do more. No, your help and hope is always and only the person of Jesus. And that reality should thrill our hearts and fuel our worship this morning. We opened our Easter gathering last week with this song, and we are going to sing it together. It moves quickly, so we’ll teach you the chorus first:

  • REJOICE

  • THE GREATNESS OF OUR GOD

    Sermon: Mark 6:30-44

    God always meets us in the desolate places. Sometimes with loaves and fishes, always with the blessed, broken, and given life of Christ. Only a Holy God, only a Holy God, only a Holy God. Would you stand if you’re able, we’ll sing together:

  • ONLY A HOLY GOD

  • RAISE UP THE CROWN (ALL HAIL THE POWER)

    Benediction

Tuesday Refocus: April 11

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“The resurrection of Jesus is the 'Amen!' of the Father placed upon the 'It is finished!’ of the Son.” - Herman Bavnick

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:12-14

Finally, fully, completely forgiven. 

There is no work left to be done.

Rejoice!

Lord, we echo the amen! Amen and amen.

Rejoicing,

AB

9 April: Liturgy + Set List

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REJOICE

Welcome + Call to Worship: Psalm 111:1-4, 9

  • AND CAN IT BE

  • ALL HAIL KING JESUS

    Let’s confess what we believe and what we celebrate this morning. I will read the parts marked ‘Leader,’ and together we’ll read the parts marked ‘All’:

Corporate Prayer:

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen.

All: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Leader: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

All: He has given us new life and hope.

He has raised Jesus from the dead.

Leader: God has claimed us as his own.

All: He has brought us out of darkness.

He has made us light to the world.

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen.

All: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

—based on 1 Peter 1:3-5 [From the Worship Sourcebook]

Sermon: Ephesians 2:4-7

Scripture tells us that we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Let’s sing this morning in light of that day - the further up, and further in revelation of God’s glory. Would you stand if you’re able:

  • O PRAISE THE NAME (ANÁSTASIS)

  • SON OF SUFFERING

    Benediction: 1 Peter 1:3-4

Good Friday: Liturgy + Set List

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  • TRISAGION

Welcome + Invitation to Rest

God, it is good to be near You. Would you help me become aware of your presence and nearness in this moment?

Psalm 46:10

  • I SHALL NOT WANT

  • MY JESUS I LOVE THEE

Invitation to Remember

God, where was I far from You today? Whether in thought, word, or deed?

Hebrews 8:12

  • GOODNESS OF GOD

  • O PRAISE THE NAME (ANÁSTASIS)

Invitation to Rejoice

God, would you show me how to endure in light of the fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore promised to me as a follower of Christ?

Psalm 16:11

  • NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD

Message: Ephesians 2:1-3

Invitation to Repent

God, in Your kindness would You lead me to repentance?

Mark 1:14-15

  • OUR JESUS

  • ALL HAIL KING JESUS

Corporate Confession

Merciful God, We confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, By what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In Your mercy forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, And direct what we shall be, So that we may delight in your will and walk in Your ways, To the glory of Your holy name. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. [From the Book of Common Prayer]

Communion

Invitation to Request

Father, would You give me the ability to respond like Jesus: requesting of You honestly, while also in humility surrendering to Your will?

Matthew 26:39

  • FORGIVEN FOREVER

Thank you for being here with us tonight. If you’d like to use this space to continue to Rest, RememberRejoice, Repent, or Request, the band will continue to play for the next moments. As you go, please leave the auditorium and the lobby in silence, carrying the hope and anticipation of the resurrection. We’ll see you on Sunday.

Tuesday Refocus: January 31

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“To fold one’s hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” - Karl Barth

Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Can there be any other response when we recognize that we are engaged in a battle that is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12)? We are people who live in humble dependence for our very breath (Acts 17:25).

If our very breath is a need we cannot supply in our own strength, how much more do we need to be people to are anxious for nothing but pray about everything (Philippians 4:6-7)?

When I pray, I acknowledge my dependence on God both to God and to myself. When I fail to pray I acknowledge my attempts at self-sufficiency both to God and to myself.

Lord, may prayer be the language of my dependence upon you. May it be the beginning of an uprising in the disorder of my own heart, and life, and in the world. Let it be so, amen.

Dependent,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: January 24

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“The day is coming when there shall be a congregation that shall never break up, and a Sabbath that shall never end, a song of praise that shall never cease, and an assembly that shall never be dispersed.” - J.C. Ryle

On this side of eternity, we see everything in part. Everything is as though looking through a dim glass (1 Corinthians 13:9-12). This is the place where familiarity and ache collide as we recognize our citizenship is another kingdom (Philippians 3:20). 

This is the place where we say ‘Come quickly, Lord Jesus.’ 

This is the place where we cry ’Save us!’

Here all things are fractured and yet still reflect a sense of glory - a sense of what has been and what will be.

So we give ourselves to the Bride knowing that the Groom will soon return. We rest knowing that one day our labor will be joy and fulfillment. We sing today knowing that one day there will be a new song, an everlasting song of praise to our God. We stand shoulder to shoulder week after week with those against whom we sin, and who have sinned against us knowing that one day our lives will no longer bear the marks of pain we have experienced or inflicted.

God, for that day we live with expectation and hope. May we practice now what will give us a glimpse, and a taste of what will one day be. Hallelujah, amen.

With expectation,

AB

22 January: Liturgy + Set List

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Call to Worship: Psalm 139:1-6

If you are here this morning as a follower of Jesus, you can come boldly to your Father not because of your righteousness but because of Christ’s complete righteousness. We get to celebrate the person and work of Christ together this morning, let’s sing:

  • HOUSE OF THE LORD

  • HIS MERCY IS MORE

God’s mercy is greater than all our sins, that is the only reason we can read and pray these words with joy instead of fear:

LEADER:

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

ALL:
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a] Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

LEADER:

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. (Psalm 139:7-18)

Sermon: Mark 1:29-45

Elisabeth Elliot says, “Leave it all in the hands that were wounded for You.” The wounded, healing hands of the King who has forgiven us not partially, or temporarily, but forever. Would you stand if you’re able, we’ll sing together:

  • FORGIVEN FOREVER

    The Apostles’ Creed

    Baptisms

  • JESUS PAID IT ALL

    Benediction: Based on Isaiah 1:18, Mark 1:45

15 January: Liturgy + Set List

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  • THE GREATNESS OF OUR GOD

    Call to Worship: Psalm 40:5

  • HOW GREAT THOU ART

  • ABIDE

    That song is taken largely from John 15 - where Jesus says ‘I am the vine and you are the branches, abide in me, and I in you, because apart from me you can do nothing…’ 

    You and I are incapable of saving ourselves, and even beyond that, you and I are incapable of living the life God has called us to live apart from the ongoing work of Christ in us and through us. You and I cannot love God and love our enemies apart from Christ working in us and through us.

    Tomorrow is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. A day set aside to remember and celebrate the life and ongoing work of Dr. King. And remembering is right and good. But I think as followers of Jesus it is also right to be challenged by Dr. King’s faith in action. And as we remember, and are challenged by the ongoing work or racial justice in our country and around the world, and as we remember and are challenged by the counter-cultural life that God calls us to live as His followers, and as we are increasingly aware of our need for Christ to work in us and through us, we are going to pray. I will read this corporate prayer first so you can see and hear the words, and then we will pray this together.

    Corporate Prayer:

Almighty God, you created us in your own image: Grant us grace to contend fearlessly against evil and to make no peace with oppression; help us to use our freedom rightly in the establishment of justice in our communities and among the nations to the glory of your holy name; though Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. [Book of Common Prayer]

Sermon: Mark 1:14-28

Repent and believe the Gospel - that is the invitation of Christ in this passage, but it is also the invitation of Christ for every person here, whether you are a follower of Jesus or not. Let’s use these next songs as prayers of repentance and belief. Would you stand if you’re able, we’ll sing together…

  • THERE IS A REDEEMER

  • SON OF SUFFERING

    Benediction: Matthew 28:18-20

October 4: Tuesday Refocus

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“…suffering can never be solved. It can only be shared in compassion, shared in community, and every effort to put ourselves in charge of the relief effort weakens the very sharing in which our hope resides.” - Parker Palmer

Sorrow, suffering, pain, and death are normal and common living in a world after the Fall of Genesis 3. But we know this is not the world God intended for humanity. Perhaps this is why we resist the reality of brokenness with such force - because we know it is not supposed to be this way. As followers of Jesus, we can rest in the truth that, ‘The last enemy to be destroyed is death.’ Because Jesus died a death to sin ‘…once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God.’ (1 Corinthians 15:26, Romans 6:10).

Knowing that death has died frees us from the need to fix its sway over this already and not yet world. The death of death enables us to suffer with and to weep with those who weep, rather than attempt to fix something Christ will make new (Romans 12:15, Revelation 21:5).

Jesus, as you wept over the grave of your friend Lazarus, knowing full well that you would raise him to life, may we weep with those who weep, knowing that you will one day make all things new once more. Amen.

With,

AB