GCPC Worship – April 26, 2020

Words of Approach   

~ Matthew 11.28-29

[Have one person read these verses aloud.]

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Song of Approach               

Come Ye Sinners

Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched, Weak and wounded, sick and sore; / Jesus, ready, stands to save you, Full of pity, joined with power. / He is able, He is able; He is willing; doubt no more.

Come ye needy, come, and welcome, God’s free bounty glorify; / True belief and true repentance, Every grace that brings you nigh. / Without money, without money Come to Jesus Christ and buy.

Let not conscience make you linger, Nor of fitness fondly dream; / All the fitness He requires Is to feel your need of Him. / This He gives you, this He gives you, ‘Tis the Spirit’s rising beam.

Lo! The Incarnate God, ascended; Pleads the merit of His blood. / Venture on Him; venture wholly, Let no other trust intrude. None but Jesus, none but Jesus Can do helpless sinners good.

Words: Joseph Hart
Tune: Matthew S. Smith
CCLI #360938/#20167508

 Prayer of Approach

[Have one person pray the Leader part aloud; all respond aloud.]

Leader: God of goodness and grace, we long for your presence, for the peace your promises bring, and for the assurances we have received through the gift of your Son.

All: May we, your people, this day and every day, have open eyes to see and open ears to hear your presence among us. Open us to your Holy Spirit, and prepare us for worship.

Invitation to Confession     

~ taken from Psalm 28 and Hebrews 10

[Have one person read these verses aloud.]

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Therefore, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience.

 

Prayer of Common Confession

[ALL Pray this prayer aloud.]

Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what for us feels like a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Silent Confession of Personal Sin & Brokenness

[Spend a moment in silent confessing prayer. If you are not sure what to pray here is a sample prayer to use as is or as a template:]

Father of Mercies, I make so many mistakes; I turn away from you so often. I need you so much. Thank you that you so loved the world that you sent Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sins. Amen.

 

Words of Grace   

~ Adapted from 1 Corinthians 15

[Have one person read this passage aloud.]

Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the gospel which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved. Let us remember what has been delivered to us as of first importance through the gospel: That Christ died for our sins, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day, all in accordance with the Scriptures; that he appeared to Peter, then to the twelve, and then to more than five hundred at one time; and that he has been raised from the dead as the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. Death is swallowed up in victory! Therefore, let us be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor is not in vain.

Song of Celebration          

Living Hope

How great the chasm that lay between us / How high the mountain I could not climb / In desperation, I turned to heaven / And spoke Your name into the night / Then through the darkness, Your loving-kindness / Tore through the shadows of my soul / The work is finished, the end is written / Jesus Christ, my living hope!

Who could imagine so great a mercy? / What heart could fathom such boundless grace? / The God of ages stepped down from glory / To wear my sin and bear my shame / The cross has spoken, I am forgiven / The King of kings calls me His own / Beautiful Savior, I’m Yours forever / Jesus Christ, my living hope!

Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free / Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me / You have broken every chain / There’s salvation in Your name / Jesus Christ, my living hope

[REPEAT]

Then came the morning that sealed the promise / Your buried body began to breathe / Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion / Declared the grave has no claim on me!

Then came the morning that sealed the promise / Your buried body began to breathe /  Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion / Declared the grave has no claim on me! / Jesus, Yours is the victory, whoa!

Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free! / Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me! /  You have broken every chain / There’s salvation in Your name / Jesus Christ, my living hope!

Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free! / Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me! /  You have broken every chain / There’s salvation in Your name/ Jesus Christ, my living hope! / Jesus Christ, my living hope! / Oh God, You are my living hope.

© Essential Music Publishing, Bethel Music Publishing
Words & Lyrics: Phil Wickham / Brian Mark Johnson
CCLI #360938/#20167508

 

Prayers for God’s Protection, Provision, and Guidance

[Spend a season in prayer as a group. One person should lead into and end the season of prayer. You may choose to have one person lead through all of the petitions; or you may divide the petitions up for different people to lead. But after each petition allow time for any to pray as the Spirit leads:]

Almighty God, in Jesus Christ you taught us to pray and to offer our petitions to you in his name. Guide us by your Holy Spirit, that our prayers for others may serve your will and show your steadfast love, through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Let us pray for the world: God our creator, you made all things in your wisdom, and in your love you save us. We pray for the whole creation. Overthrow evil powers, right what is wrong, feed and satisfy those who thirst for justice, so that all your children may freely enjoy the earth you have made and joyfully sing your praises, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

[Individual prayers may be offered aloud or in silence.]

Let us pray for the church: Gracious God, you have called us to be the church of Jesus Christ. Keep us one in faith and service, breaking bread together and proclaiming the good news to the world, that all may believe you are love, turn to your ways, and live in the light of your truth, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

[Individual prayers may be offered aloud or in silence.]

Let us pray for peace: O God, whom we cannot truly love without also loving our neighbors, remove hate and prejudice from us and from all people, so that your children may be reconciled with those we fear, resent, or threaten, and may live together in your peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

[Individual prayers may be offered aloud or in silence.]

Let us pray for those who govern us: Mighty God, sovereign over the nations, direct those who make, administer, and judge our laws – the president, our governor, and others in authority – that, guided by your wisdom, they may lead us in the way of righteousness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

[Individual prayers may be offered aloud or in silence.]

Let us pray for the sick: Merciful God, you bear the pain of the world. Look with compassion on those who are sick; cheer them by your Word and bring healing as a sign of your grace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

[Individual prayers may be offered aloud or in silence.]

Let us pray for those who sorrow: God of comfort, stand with those who sorrow and who have suffered loss, that they may be sure that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, shall separate them from your love, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

[Individual prayers may be offered aloud or in silence.]

Mighty God, whose Word we trust, whose Spirit enables us to pray, accept our requests and further those that will bring about your purpose for the earth, through Jesus Christ, who rules over all things. Amen.

 

Offering

Our giving is an act of worship. It is a response to who God is and to God’s grace. Giving is a way that God invites us to participate in His work.  If you would like to give a tithe or offering today, you can do so by clicking: www.gracecovpca.org/resources/giving

 

Meditation on God’s Word

 Scripture: Psalm 103

[Have one person read this passage aloud. Then have one person, or several people, pray for the Holy Spirit to speak through this Word and message.]

 Message: Bless the Lord O My Soul  (See video)     

                        Rev. W. Dennis Griffith, Lead Pastor

Song of Dismissal    

How Firm a Foundation

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! / What more can He say than to you He hath said, You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health; In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth; / At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea, As thy days may demand, shall My strength ever be.

“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid; / I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.”

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of grief shall not thee overflow / For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply; / The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”

“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to his foes; /  That soul, though all hell should endeavor to break, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”

Words: R. Keene
Tune: Folk Tune
Public Doman

Benediction

 

***

 NOTES:

 

Passage Next Week: 

       Mark 6.30-44

 

Worship Leaders Today

• Piano/Guitar: Isaiah Day
• Vocalist: Rachel Bartelmay
• Message: Rev. W. Dennis Griffith, Lead Pastor
• Benediction: Rev. Camper Mundy, Associate Pastor
• Video/Sound/Tech: Tim Nargi
• Video Assist: Charley Bartelmay

 

 

Special Note on Supporting the Mission & Work of Grace Covenant:

During these extraordinary times, the life and ministry of our church will continue – even when we are not able to meet corporately for worship.  We humbly but boldly ask the people of Grace Covenant to continue to give generously for the benefit of God’s kingdom here in Williamsburg and beyond.

You can make your gifts in two ways:

1) Online at www.gracecovpca.org/resources/giving

2) Sending your check to the church offices at 1677 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg VA  23185

If you would like to make a special gift to help those from our church and community who are in need during this crisis, please write “Mercy Ministries” on the memo line of your check or select that fund when making a gift online.