God meet with you as you worship the risen and reigning Lord Jesus together with us.
This morning we attend to God’s Word throughout worship, in particular from the letter of 1 Peter. Peter celebrates the hope that is ours in the resurrection of Jesus Christ: hope for salvation, peace, forgiveness, righteousness.
After the sermon (which you can watch here), there is a guide here for an extended time of prayer, interceding before God for the needs of our local communities, our country, and our world. You are welcome to add to this litany any and all concerns that you have.
You may also download this worship guide and the weekly bulletin as PDFs:
GOD GATHERS US
GOD INVITES US TO WORSHIP
Read aloud:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
— 1 Peter 1:3-5 —
OUR OPENING PRAYER
If worshiping with your spouse and/or children, have one person pray this aloud for all.
We give you thanks, great God,
for the hope we have in Jesus,
who died but is risen and rules over all.
We praise you for his presence with us.
Because he lives, we look for eternal life,
knowing that nothing past, present, or yet to come
can separate us from your great love
made known in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
If you choose, you are invited to listen to and/or sing along with “Goodness of God.”
OUR PRAYER OF CONFESSION
We will celebrate communion together in our homes again next Sunday, separately. In preparation for that celebration, we confess our sins to God in humility, mindful of our need for His grace and mercy.
If worshiping with your spouse and/or children, have one person pray this aloud for all.
If worshiping alone, pray this or your own personal confession of sin.
Lord God,
bring new life where we are worn and tired;
new love where we have turned hard-hearted;
forgiveness where we feel hurt and where we have wounded;
and the joy and freedom of your Holy Spirit
where we are prisoners of ourselves.
Redeem, renew, and reconcile us
to yourself and to one another
that we may be your faithful people,
obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who rules the world and is head of the church, his body.
Amen.
GOD’S PROMISE OF FORGIVENESS
If worshiping with your spouse and/or children, have one person read these verses aloud for all.
If worshiping alone, read these verses either aloud or silently. Consider journaling your prayer of response to these promises!
Christ himself suffered for sins once. He was not guilty, but he suffered for those who are guilty to bring you to God. His body was killed, but he was made alive in the spirit. And in the spirit he went and preached to the spirits in prison [that is, hell] who refused to obey God long ago in the time of Noah. God was waiting patiently for them while Noah was building the boat. Only a few people — eight in all — were saved by water. And that water is like baptism that now saves you — not the washing of dirt from the body, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. And this is because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. Now Jesus has gone into heaven and is at God’s right side ruling over angels, authorities, and powers.
— 1 Peter 3:18-22 (New Century Version)—
Believe this good news, and live in it!
GOD SPEAKS TO US
Watch the April 26 video “We Are: the Body (part 2)” at this time.
GOD SENDS US
DISCUSSION
Discuss with each other, or journal on your own, what you hear the Holy Spirit saying to you in this morning’s sermon.
- How is God challenging you today?
- How is God comforting you today?
- What would you like to put into action?
You are welcome to sing “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” (#284, v.1,4)
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love
All praise to the Father, from whom all things come
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son
And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love
OUR PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
If you are worshiping alone, or with your spouse or family, one person should read the prayer prompts aloud.
Or, if you choose, two or more can share the leader role.
After each prompt, everyone should respond, “Lord, hear our prayers.”
Leader:
Let us pray:
Lord God Almighty,
Even now, in crisis, we rejoice in You, and give You thanks.
You alone are our refuge and strength.
We pray for our church family. We pray for the old and the young, the sick and the healthy, the vulnerable and the strong.
All:
Lord, hear our prayers.
Leader:
We pray for our neighbors, and our communities. We pray for teachers, firefighters, police officers, EMT’s, nurses, and doctors.
All:
Lord, hear our prayers.
Leader:
We pray for the Assisted Living Center and Good Samaritan Society, for the staff and the residents, and their families.
All:
Lord, hear our prayers.
Leader:
We pray for the Mike Durfee State Prison, for the staff and inmates, and for the Living Stone Prison Church.
All:
Lord, hear our prayers.
leader:
We pray for the Bon Homme County Food Pantry, for those who give, and those who receive.
All:
Lord, hear our prayers.
Leader:
Lord, we lift up to you our state, and country, and world.
We pray for those who lead us: our governor, our president, our elected representatives. Give them wisdom and truth, that we might have peace.
All:
Lord, hear our prayers.
Leader:
We pray those who have to work right now, and for those who cannot work right now.
All:
Lord, hear our prayers.
Leader:
We pray for the sick, and the dying, and those who are grieving.
All:
Lord, hear our prayers.
Leader:
We pray for the worried, the lonely, and the fearful.
All:
Lord, hear our prayers.
Leader:
We pray for the lost, those who are far from you, and for those who are reaching out in mission and love.
All:
Lord, hear our prayers.
Leader:
And for the concerns of our own hearts, we pray:
(All are welcome to lift up prayer requests to God.)
We pray all this in Jesus’ name, and we pray as he taught us:
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.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.
SENT WITH GOD’S BLESSING
Read aloud God’s sending and blessing for us, His church:
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
— 1 Peter 3:8-9, 4:8 —
The God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
— 1 Peter 5:10, 14 —
Amen!
EMMANUEL REFORMED CHURCH 