REDEMPTION PEORIA | LITURGY FOR THE LORD’S DAY

April 5, 2020 | Palm Sunday

GREETING | CLICK HERE for a greeting from Josh

People of God, 

Although we cannot be together as our normal practice allows, we have an exciting (and oddly packaged) opportunity to join together in spirit with one another and with the early church by worshiping as they worshiped: in our homes with those closest to us. We encourage you to use the following liturgy (simply translated as “the work of the people”) to worship with your household. This is a guide, not a rule. You may feel free to change anything to fit your abilities as worshipers. 

Those with gifts for music, prayer, speaking, etc. are encouraged to lead as they are able. If there is a musician in the household, they are especially encouraged to lead; this would be preferred over the provided recordings. Or, perhaps you read the lyrics together, utilizing them for the poems that they are. Those words may jump out differently than they do when you sing them.

And much like our early church brothers and sisters — use the gifts available to you. Lead as skillfully as you are able. Be creative. Glorify God. Seek to be formed into the image of Christ. 

In other words: WORSHIP.

We suggest that you gather with a group of no more than 10 individuals if possible, or perhaps alone or with your family. Of course, if you have had known contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or if you are experiencing symptoms of any kind, we ask that you refrain from gathering with anyone outside your household. In terms of how to proceed with this liturgy, feel free to assign parts depending on your circumstances. However, we would make the following suggestion: Select a leader who will read all the “LEADER” parts. Everyone else should read the “ALL” parts. For our usual Sunday feel, think of them as “Y’ALL” parts, even. If you’re alone, remember that you’re not alone. You have the Father, Son, and Spirit with you as you’re guided by them through the Word.

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NOTEBefore you jump in, take several moments to listen to this re-tuned hymn text from Martin Luther. | LISTEN

Now, take more time and remember the truth again. | LISTEN

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GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP We begin our time with a call to worship to remember together that worship starts with God, not us.

CALL TO WORSHIP | based on John 12:13

LEADER: King Jesus comes! King Jesus, Son of God, Son of Man, Messiah.

ALL: King Jesus, King of all!

LEADER: Recall the words of the Scriptures: “A great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’”

ALL: In praise we adore you, King Jesus. Enter our hearts today as you entered Jerusalem long ago, and lead us, by faith, in the way everlasting. Amen.

HYMN | “COME THOU FOUNT (ABOVE ALL ELSE)” | LISTEN & SING

ALL: Come Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues agove; Praise the Mount, I’m fixed upon it; Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my ebenezer, hither by Thy help I’ve come; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home Jesus sought me when a stranger, wand’ring from the fold of God; He to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wand’ring heart to Thee Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love; Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it; seal it for Thy courts above

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CONFESSION, LAMENT & RENEWAL A healthy reorientation to the reality that God is holy, we are sinners. and Jesus saves us.

CORPORATE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE | a litany of lament for our current pandemic

LEADER 1: Hear our cry, Almighty God. Listen to our prayer. How long will we have to hide in our homes from this invisible enemy? Where will it strike next? And whom? And what if…? Our screens relay a continuous escalation of suffering and death around the world. Panic and anxiety abounds. Our souls are weary from the strain of the life-altering unknowns. Heavenly Father, from the depths of our pain and confusion, we cry out to You. From fear-filled hearts and anxious minds, we plead with You — just as they did so long ago — Hosanna, save us! Rescue us, Father of compassion and grace. We lift up our eyes to You, Lord God, the One who sits enthroned in heaven. Father, may you shower your mercy on all who have contracted the virus. On all who have lost loved ones to this sickness and are in mourning and anguish. Lord, have mercy.

ALL: Lord, hear our prayer.

LEADER 2: On all who are unable to earn an income because their jobs have been suspended. On those who face an uncertain future with regard to their work and income. Lord, have mercy.

ALL: Lord, hear our prayer.

LEADER 3: We cry out for healing and needed resources. We cry out for comfort and peace on all medical professionals and caretakers attending to those infected with the virus, and on all scientists and technologists striving to find a vaccine and to make it available — Lord, have mercy.

ALL: Lord, hear our prayer.

LEADER 4: On all leaders of institutions and governments as they make decisions to try and contain the virus, we pray for strength int he long and exhausting hours of

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labor. We pray for wisdom in the research and in the difficult decisions ahead. Lord, have mercy.

ALL: Lord, hear our prayer.

LEADER 5: On all who have not yet contracted the virus, on the most vulnerable of our society who are unable to buy extra food or get proper medical attention, on all disciples of Jesus Christ seeking to know how to reflect His love to others within this crisis — Lord, have mercy.

ALL: Lord, hear our prayer.

LEADER 6: The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the expanse of the universe. And yet this earth is no longer as You created it to be, Holy Father. Our earth groans from the devastation caused by the curse of the Fall. Our God, Your Word is true. One day You will liberate creation from its bondage to decay and death. Life is sacred and precious in Your sight. You are the God who sees us and sustains us.

Nothing can separate us from the Father’s unfailing love and kindness, not even sickness or the fear of tomorrow. You are our Light as we walk in this present darkness. We will remember to celebrate the beautiful gifts You have given us in this present moment.

Almighty God, You are our rock, our refuge from the enemy, our hiding place. You calm our frantic thoughts and fill our despairing hearts with joy and strength. In Your presence living water springs forth in the wildness.

ALL: You restore our souls.

HYMN | “GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH” | LISTEN & SING

ALL: Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah; pilgrim through this barren land I am weak, but Thou art mighty; hold me with Thou powerful hand Bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore (x2) Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing waters flow Let the fiery, cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through Strong Deliverer, be Thou still my strength and shield (x2)

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When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside Death of death and hell’s destruction, land me safe on Canaan’s side Songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee (x2) Land me safe on Canaan’s side! Bid my anxious fears goodbye!

ASSURANCE OF PARDON IN THE GOSPEL | based on Hebrews 4:14-16

LEADER: What great news the gospel is — that one day our anxious fears will completely subside. Take assurance in God’s Word, which says this in Hebrews: Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

ALL: Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

HYMN | “THE LOVE OF GOD” | LISTEN & SING

ALL: The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen could ever tell It goes beyond the highest star, and yet it reaches deeper still Though generations will pass away and earthly kingdoms will fall His boundless love shall never fade, in valley low our mountain tall

REFRAIN: Amazing love, how rich and pure How measureless and strong From age to age it will endure And will ever be our song

Could we, with ink, the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made Were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade To write the love of God above would drain the oceans all dry Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though it be stretched from sky to sky

The saints and angels will never stop singing to tell Your perfect love Oh, can you hear — our anthem is ringing — we can’t get loud enough

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A WAY OF THE PASSING OF PEACE DURING THESE TIMES

THE LORD’S PRAYER

ALL: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

HYMN | “YET NOT I BUT THROUGH CHRIST IN ME” | LISTEN & SING

ALL: What gift of grace is Jesus, my Redeemer There is no more for heaven now to give He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace To this, I hold — my hope is only Jesus, for my life is wholly bound to His Oh, how strange and divine, I can sing, “All is mine!” Yet not I, but through Christ in me

The night is dark, but I am not forsaken; for by my side, the Savior He will stay I labor on in weakness and rejoicing, for in my need HIs power is displayed To this, I hold — my Shepherd will defend me Through the deepest valley, He will lead Oh, the night has been won and I shall overcome! Yet not I, but through Christ in me

No fate I dread — I know I am forgiven The future sure, the price it has been paid For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon And He was raised to overthrow the grave To this, I hold — my sin has been defeated Jesus now and ever is my plea Oh, the chains are released; I can sing, “I am free!” Yet not I, but through Christ in me

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With every breath, I long to follow Jesus For He has said that He will bring me home And day by day, I know He will renew me Until I stand with joy before the throne To this, I hold — my hope is only Jesus All the glory evermore to Him! When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat: “Yet not I, but through Christ in me!”

PREPARATION FOR THE WORD | based on Psalm 119:105

LEADER: Your Word, O Lord, is a lamp to our feet;ALL: Without it we cannot see.

LEADER: And your Word, O Lord, is a light upon our path;ALL: Without it we lose our way.

HEARING GOD’S WORD “Do you want to hear God speak? Read the Bible out loud.” — John Piper

SCRIPTURE READING | MATTHEW 6:9-13

LEADER: Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

LEADER: This is the Word of the Lord!

ALL: Thanks be to God!

PRAY NOW: Pray for an area(s) where you want to see God’s kingdom come.

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SERMON | "AS IT IS IN HEAVEN" | PASTOR SEAN

FAMILY RESOURCES | CLICK HERE for a greeting from Summer CLICK HERE for this week’s Parent Pack CLICK HERE for the podcast Summer mentioned in her greeting CLICK HERE for this week’s coloring page

OFFERING | We are still able to give online or by mail (if you write checks).

We are still able to give online, friends. If you prefer to write a check you can still mail it to our central church address, but at this time online giving would be preferred. Your generosity is needed now more than ever with the many opportunities to serve our neighbors during this time. Please CLICK THIS LINK below to give online. It’ll open in a new browser window.

If you would like to mail a check, please make checks out to “Redemption Church” with “Redemption Peoria” written clearly in the memo line. Then mail checks to:

Redemption Church: 1820 West Elliot Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85233

HYMN | “IN CHRIST ALONE” | LISTEN & SING

ALL: In Christ alone, my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song This cornerstone, this solid ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm What heights of love, what depths of peace When fears are stilled, when strivings cease My comforter, my all in all; here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh; fullness of God in helpless babe This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones he came to save ’Til on that cross, as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied For every sin on him was laid, here in the death of Christ I live There in the ground, his body lay; light of the world, by darkness slain Then bursting forth, in glorious day, up from the grave he rose again

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And as he stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost its grip on me For I am his and he is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death — this is the power of Christ in me From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from his hand ’Til he returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

DOXOLOGY | LISTEN to us sing this from a night of worship a few years ago.

ALL: Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praise Him, all creatures here below Praise Him above, ye heavenly host Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost Amen.

BENEDICTION A blessing for the road, or even into social distancing/sheltering in-place.

CLOSING BLESSING

LEADER: May the grace of Christ, which daily renews us, And the love of God, which enables us to love all, And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, which unites us in one body Make us eager to obey the will of God until we meet again, whether gathered or scattered, through Christ Jesus, our Lord.

LEADER: Peace be with you!

ALL: And also with you!

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