Liturgy for March 22, 2020

March 22nd, 2020 | April Karli

I Saw The Light

I wandered so aimless life filled with sin,

I wouldn’t let my dear Saviour in

Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night

Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

I saw the Light, I saw the Light

No more darkness, no more night

Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight

Praise the Lord! I saw the light!

Just like a blind man I wandered along,

Worries and fears I claimed for my own

Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight

Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

I saw the Light, I saw the Light

No more darkness, no more night

Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight

Praise the Lord! I saw the light!

I was a fool to wander and and stray

Straight is the gate and narrow the way

Now I have traded the wrong for the right

Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

I saw the Light, I saw the Light

No more darkness, no more night

Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight

Praise the Lord! I saw the light!

Call to Worship

The season of Lent is a time that is set aside  

to embrace our mortality, shortcomings and brokenness.

Today we come,

As participants and hosts,

Whether passionate believer or hopeful skeptic,

To share our hope that death ends in resurrection.

If you are new to our liturgy,

we welcome you to be a full participant or a thoughtful observer.

Let us wait together for a moment of quiet.

(Wait for a short moment of silence)

In times of prosperity,

when success and comfort would draw us away

from the way of the cross,

In darker times of trial and worry

when we feel alone,

abandoned to wander in the valley of the shadow,

In the routine of each day,

in the work we do, in our lives with family and friends,

in the light of each day, and in the rest of each night,

Heavenly Father, as a family of believers in this congregation,

we pray that all we do together be governed by your love for us in Christ.

Keep his cross before us,

so that we are always ready

and eager to follow him!

We pray these things

by the grace of God,

the empathy of the Son,

and the sustaining breath of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Your Everlasting Love

Your everlasting love is higher, higher

Higher than the sky

Your everlasting love is higher, higher

Higher than the sky

Higher than the sky

Oh the wonder of, your everlasting love

Is higher than the sky (jump, jump, jump)

Your everlasting love is deeper, deeper

Deeper than the sea

Your everlasting love is deeper, deeper

Deeper than the sea

Deeper than the sea

Oh the wonder of, your everlasting love

Is deeper than the sea (jump, jump, jump)

Higher than the heavens above

Is the glory of Your wonderful love

I’m lost in the mystery of Your love!

Your everlasting love!   1–2–3!

Your everlasting love is reaching, reaching

Reaching out to me

Your everlasting love is reaching, reaching

Reaching out to me

Reaching out to me

Oh the wonder of, your everlasting love

Is reaching out to me (jump, jump, jump)

Higher than the heavens above

Is the glory of Your wonderful love

I’m lost in the mystery of Your love!

Your everlasting love!   1–2–3!

Your everlasting love is higher,

Deeper, reaching out to me

Your everlasting love is higher,

Deeper, reaching out to me

Reaching out to me

Oh the wonder of, your everlasting love

Is reaching out to me (jump, jump, jump)

Jesus, Saviour Pilot Me

Jesus, Saviour, pilot me

Over life’s tempestuous sea;

Unknown waves before me roll,

Hiding rock and treach’rous shoal.

Chart and compass come from Thee.

Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.

As a mother stills her child,

You can hush the oceans wild;

Boist’rous waves obey Thy will

When You say to them, “Be still!”

Wondrous Sovereign of the sea,

Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.

When at last I near the shore,

And the fearful breakers roar

Grant me long and the peaceful rest,

Then, while leaning on Your chest,

May I hear You say to me,

“Fear not, I will pilot thee.”

Chart and compass come from Thee.

Wondrous Sovereign of the sea,

May I hear You say to me,

“Fear not, I will pilot thee.”

Jesus, Saviour pilot me.

Prayer of Confession 

Lent is a reminder to pull into perspective our short life

That from dust we came and to dust we shall return

Let us acknowledge together that we are only human

and cry out to God, by whom we are beloved.

I’ll read both the reader and the response. 

Please read the response along with me.

Let us pray to God,

who alone makes us dwell in safety:

For all who are affected by coronavirus,

through illness or isolation or anxiety,

that they may find relief and recovery:

Lord, hear us,

Lord, graciously hear us.

For those who are guiding our nation at this time,

and shaping national policies,

that they may make wise decisions:

Lord, hear us,

Lord, graciously hear us.

For doctors, nurses and medical researchers,

that through their skill and insights

many will be restored to health:

Lord, hear us,

Lord, graciously hear us.

For the vulnerable and the fearful,

for the gravely ill and the dying,

that they may know your comfort and peace:

Lord, hear us,

Lord, graciously hear us.

Reveal to us our half-hearted struggles and apathy towards justice

Where we have been indifferent to the pain and suffering of others

Our hearts are parched from wandering in a desert of sin.

Create in us a clean heart, O God, and put a right Spirit within us

Nurture the faint stirrings of new life

where your spirit has taken root and begun to grow

Our hearts are parched from wandering in a desert of sin.

We commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray,

to the mercy and protection of God.

Merciful God,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.   Amen.

Prayers of the People

We now invite you into a time of prayer. This is an opportunity for us to support one another and participate by sharing our prayer requests.

Many may need to share, esp during this time. Please keep your prayers to a sentence or two so that everyone who wishes to share is able to. 

We welcome any guests among us and welcome you to pray with us and share a prayer request as well. 

If you have a prayer request, let us know in the chat box. We’ll unmute your mic so you can share.

If you have something you’re thankful for, end your prayer with…

“Let us bless the Lord” and we’ll respond together, “Thanks be to God.”

If you have something you’d like prayer for, end your prayer with…

“Let us pray to the Lord” and we’ll respond together, “Lord, have mercy.”

“With the prayers that have been spoken, and those that are unspoken,

let us finish by praying this prayer together…”

For the things that are seen

and for those that are unseen

For the things that are known

and for those that are unknown

For that which has been done

and for that which has been left undone

We have hope in you O God

Who acknowledges our humanity

Who calls us into community

Who embraces our sadness and sin

And invites us into our true and whole selves.

We rest knowing our broken spirits don’t define us

but invite us to growth, In the covering of your empathy and love.

Our trust is in You, O Lord.

Now and forever.

Amen.

Eucharist

(Today we’ll receive the Eucharist in our homes, separated by space, but knitted together by God’s Spirit. Please read the bolded responses along with me as we pray together.)

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

All things come from you, O Lord,

And of your own have we given you.

Is God with us?

God is.

Is Christ among us?

Christ is.

Is the Spirit here?

The Spirit is.

We are God’s people.

We are redeemed.

—

It is right and our delight to give you thanks and praise,

great Father, living God, supreme over the world,

Creator, Provider, Savior and Giver.

From a wandering nomad you created your family;

for a burdened people you raised up a leader;

for a confused nation you chose a king;

for a rebellious crowd you sent your prophets.

In these last days you have sent us your Son, your perfect image,

bringing your kingdom, revealing your will,

dying, rising, reigning, and remaking your people for yourself.

Through him you have poured out your Holy Spirit,

filling us with light and life.

You are our shepherd; there is nothing we lack. You are with us in the darkest valley. You prepare a table before us, even in the presence of our enemies. You anoint our heads with oil; the cup of blessing overflows.

— 

On the same night that he was betrayed

he took bread and gave you thanks;

he broke it and gave it to his disciples saying,

“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.”

Amen. His body was broken for us.

—

(Let us all take the bread together. Body of Christ, broken for you.) 

Pause for everyone to take the bread

In the same way, after supper he took the cup

and gave thanks;

he gave it to them, saying,

“Drink this, all of you;

this is my blood of the new covenant

which is shed for you and for many

for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

We are brothers and sisters through his blood.

We have died together,

we will rise together,

we will live together.

(I invite us all to take the cup together. Blood of Christ, shed for you.)

Pause for everyone to take the cup

Let us finish our time of communion together by reading aloud this prayer:

Almighty God, eternal Father,

we have sat at your feet,

learned from your word,

and eaten from your table.

We give you thanks and praise

for accepting us into your family.

Send us out with your blessing,

to live and to witness for you in the power of your Spirit,

through Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead.

 —

(The people accompany the first three responses with a sweep of the arm towards the cross on the screen, and their final response with a sweep towards heaven.)

All our problems

We send to the cross of Christ.

All our difficulties

We send to the cross of Christ.

All the devil’s works

We send to the cross of Christ.

All our hopes

We set on the risen Christ.

—

We now come to the time where we remember that nothing in this life is truly ours, but that all is a gift from God. 

It is especially important during this crisis to remember to give to your local congregation whether that is Austin Mustard Seed or elsewhere. 

We encourage you to celebrate God’s generosity and to give back as God has given to us online at austinmustardseed.org/giving).

If you are new or participating in our liturgy for the first time, please be our guest this morning. 

We will sing one more song together as we prepare to close. This time is now yours, and we invite you to participate in worship.

Arise, Shine for Your Light Has Come

Arise shine for your light has come
and the glory of God is on you
Rise see though the earth grows dark
that the Lord will arise upon you
The Lord will arise upon you

Nations will come to your light
Lift up your eyes and see
We’ll gather together and all come to you
And your love will be all that we know
Your love will be all that we know

Arise come to the open gates
for the Lord is welcoming you
Fear not for the Lord brings peace
and redemption to all who believe
redemption to all who believe

Nations will come to your light
Lift up your eyes and see
We’ll gather together and all come to you
And your love will be all that we know
Your love will be all that we know

The sun will not shine
cause you’ll be all the light that we need
and violence will end
all the wars that we wage will cease
Oh the sun will not shine
cause you’ll be all the light that we need
and violence will end
all the wars that we wage will cease
We will glorify your name
We will glorify your name
We will glorify your name
We will glorify your name

Nations will come to your light
Lift up your eyes and see
We’ll gather together and all come to you
And your love will be all that we know
Your love will be all that we know

Nations will come to your light
Lift up your eyes and see
We’ll gather together and all come to you
And your love will be all that we know
Your love will be all that we know

Benediction

Austin Mustard Seed, as we end our liturgy today,

Let’s go encouraging one another

to carry on in this somber season: 

Go forth with a steady step

As you face the days ahead.

Live, certain that in many ways,

God provides faith for darkened hours,

Courage in despairing nights,

And calm in depressing circumstances.

Revel in your joys.

Recall your blessings,

and Walk in the Light.

Love your neighbors  

and put others before yourself.

So that you may also love your Savior,

and participate in the communal work of renewal

For in our communal work,

our brokenness, pain and humanity is brought into healing

Because in the suffering of our darkness

we find our Savior, who hung on a cross.

We pray these things by: the humble power of God,

the quiet strength of Christ, and the pervasive light of the Spirit, Amen.

Go in Peace,

Live the Church,

See you throughout the week.