Good Friday - The Cross Reflection Experience - April 14, 2017

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I've always been a hands-on learner.  So I have always appreciated churches that work to engage all of our senses through worship.  This year, we wanted to provide many opportunities for people to see, experience, remember, reflect, respond and worship Jesus as we looked at His life, death, and resurrection.  One of the ways we did that was by creating remembrance stations for individuals, families and Gospel Communities to experience together.

1. Splinter [Romans 5:12]

2. Stone [Matthew 16:24-25]

3. Frankincense + Myrrh [1 Peter 2:24]

4. The Garden [Matthew 25:36-46]

5. Blood [Luke 22:39-46]

6. Tear [Matthew 27:51]

7. Thread [Isaiah 1:18]

8. Communion [Luke 22:14-20]

*This concept was inspired in large part by theGathering Fort Mill from Easter 2016.

Maundy Thursday - April 13, 2017

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Maundy Thursday was a really special night.  And for me that began with the preparations and rehearsals - they felt different - they felt worshipful in a way that I haven't experienced in my time of planning before.  God was obviously using my time leading up to that night to speak truth to my own heart that I was trying to articulate to those we would be leading.  It was the times of secret place worship that fed our gathered time.

Because Maundy Thursday remembers when Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples and instituted the Communion, we set up intentionally in a circle around the center of the room.  And at the center of the room - communion.  It is the center of relationship, the center of God's heart, and the central part of our gathering.  At the center of any family gathering is the table - at the center of God's family gathering - The Lord's Table. 

WELCOME:  Luke 19:35-44, 22:14-23, 47-53, 63-71, Matthew 27:15-26, 32-46, Luke 23:44-45, John 19:28-3

DOXOLOGY

HERE IS LOVE

O THE DEEP DEEP LOVE OF JESUS

MAN OF SORROWS (Traditional)

MAN OF SORROWS (Hillsong)

Special Song: BONDS OF LOVE

This is a song that I wrote with Shelly Moore specifically for this evening...

The bonds of love a seal a sign Creation and Creator bind
The Word of God in overflow with breath and dust God’s image sown

The bonds of love reached down below, affections set, God draws His own                                             Once enemies, now calls us friends, He will be with us till the end

The bonds of love sent Christ the Son All wrath consuming love in One                                             Obedient in death and loss, He took our place upon the cross

The bonds of love have never loosed, though hell approached they will not move                                 Defeating fear and death and grave, the bonds of love forever reign

BREAD - Confession: "Merciful God, for the things we have done that we regret, forgive us; for the things we have failed to do that we regret, forgive us; for all the times we have acted without love, forgive us; for all the times we have reacted without thought, forgive us; for all the times we have withdrawn care, forgive us; for all the times we have failed to forgive, forgive us. For hurtful words said and helpful words unsaid, for unfinished tasks and unfulfilled hopes, God of all time, forgive us and help us to lay down our burden of regret. Amen." [The Worship Sourcebook]

CUP

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD

ASSURANCE: We have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.  Brothers and sisters in Christ, the Jesus we remember tonight is the Savior of the world. In Christ we are forgiven. And through him God abides with even us.  Praise God, from whom all blessings flow! —based on 1 John 4:14-16, NRSV

THE WONDROUS CROSS - JESUS MESSIAH - LORD I NEED YOU

HOW DEEP THE FATHER'S LOVE FOR US

WHEN I SURVEY

MY JESUS I LOVE THEE

BENEDICTION: The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, remain with you always. Amen.
—based on Philippians 4:7

POWER TO REDEEM

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As you plan, prepare and pray - you're also hoping and praying that the direction you're feeling the Holy Spirit leading you to pursue in song choice, liturgy, and space will help to communicate that heart and vision of worship, and not hinder it with distraction.

One of the most humbling pieces of feedback I heard as a result of this night, was about an older woman in our church who recently lost her non-believing husband; who said it was the first time since her husband died that she felt and peace and was able to sleep through the night and wake up rested.  And those are the times that the Spirit whispers He is ultimately the One who leads and speaks for all of our planning and preparation is nothing without His movement.  Praise God.

Set List - April 9

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Welcome/Call to Worship:

All: 'Let us see Your glory!' [Ex 33:18]
Leader: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
    Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
    righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey. [Zech 9:9]
All: 'Let us see Your glory!'
Leader: Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord, strong and mighty,
    the Lord, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And lift them up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord of hosts,
    He is the King of glory! [Ps 24:7-10]
All: 'Let us see Your glory!'

HOSANNA (PRAISE IS RISING) - HOSANNA

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

Sermon

THERE IS A REDEEMER

Communion:

Hear the Word of the Lord from Psalm 118:
Let those who fear the Lord say,
     'His steadfast love endures forever.'
Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
     the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
     He has become my salvation.
I shall not die, but I shall live, 
      and recount the deeds of the Lord
In Christ, God answers us and sets us free!
In Christ, we are forgiven!  Thanks be to God.
[based on Psalm 118:4-5,14,17]

JESUS, ONLY JESUS

YOU ALONE CAN RESCUE

 

Set List - March 12

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Welcome/Call to Worship: 

 

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•THIS I BELIEVE (THE CREED) 

•GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

Giving: Hebrews 12:1-2

•THE WONDROUS CROSS

Sermon

Communion

•LOVE PURSUED

Philippians 2:6-11

'He was bruised for our transgressions and He bears eternal scars / He was raised for our salvation and His righteousness is ours / praise oh praise Him, praise the glory of this lavished grace so full / lift your souls now and receive the glorious impossible.' [Carl Cartee - 'The Glorious Impossible']

•I STAND AMAZED (HOW MARVELOUS) 

•JESUS IS BETTER

Set List - February 26

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Welcome/Call to Worship: Hosea 6:1

•REJOICE

•MIGHTY TO SAVE/ALWAYS (tag Chorus)

•TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

Sermon

Communion

Confession/Assurance: 

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.  For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
[Isaiah 30:15, 18]
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.

Hear the good news! "I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me,
and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me." [Jeremiah 33:8]

•MY JESUS I LOVE THEE-MAN OF SORROWS (tag: Bridge, Chorus) 

•LOVE CAME DOWN

Those That Co-suffer

Music and ministry open the door to relationship.  Together they provide equal opportunity for front row views into times of joy and celebration as well as deep valleys of brokenness.  In relationship we bear one another's burdens - co-suffer.  In song we set the table for people to feel, pray, and respond.  Both an overwhelming privilege.

And this week music and ministry were married as I sang at the funeral of eight-month old Sophie Grace - the daughter of some of our closests friends in Liverpool. 

When I'm tempted to run from the pain that I desperately don't want to feel, I am so grateful for ministry and music that welcome me into relationship and co-suffering.

 'I'll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death / and praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath / and say when the death dew lies cold on my brow / if ever I love Thee my Jesus 'tis now.'

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