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tbc Sunday Bulletin

Sunday, April 12 | Easter Sunday

we’re glad you can join us for worship!

This worship guide is meant to be a companion to the Livestream service. You can join us live at 11am on Sunday morning, or watch the recorded service later, following along with the words to Hymns, etc. in a separate window or on your phone, or print this guide out if you like!

PRELUDE: “Noel Nouvelet” (Pethel), Judy Fiske

This organ piece is based on the French Noel “Noel Nouvelet.”  The tune is used at both Christmas and Easter. The Easter text is “Now the Green Blade Riseth.”
V. 1 Now the green blade riseth, from the buried grain, Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain; Love lives again, that with the dead has been: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green. 
V. 2 In the grave they laid Him, Love who had been slain, Thinking that He never would awake again, Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green. 
V. 3 Forth He came at Easter, like the risen grain, Jesus who for three days in the grave had lain, Quick from the dead the risen One is seen:  Love is come again like wheat that springeth green. 
V. 4 When our hearts are wintry, greiving, or in pain,Jesus touch can call us back to life again, Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green. 

CALL TO WORSHIP: “Easter” (Cherwien)

From the way things appear on earth when a person dies it seems the end.
But Christ has shown us otherwise.
Spring follows winter.
Trees which dropped their leaves and slept through the dark time now bud and leaf again.
Crocus blossoms burst from snow.
Christ bursts from the grave.
Spring follows winter.
The sun follows the night.
Easter follows Good Friday.
Do not be afraid, said the angel at the empty tomb.
Do not be afraid, he is risen from the dead.
The dark of night is past.
The sun arises for the new day.
All shall be well. All shall be well.
All: CHRIST IS RISEN, CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED! (3 times)

HYMN #194: “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” (EASTER HYMN)

V. 1:
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven join to say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, Ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

V. 2:
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened Paradise, Alleluia! 

V. 3:
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O Death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once he all doth save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

V. 4:
Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Solo: “They Could Not” (Cloninger/Harris), Terry Witt

Gospel Reading: John 20:1-10

HYMN #196: “Alleluia No. 1”

Chorus: Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to His name.

V.1:  Jesus is Lord of all the earth. He is the King of creation.

Chorus: Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to His name.

V. 2: Spread the good news o’er all the earth; Jesus has died and has risen.

Chorus: Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to His name.

OFFERTORY: “Rise Again” (Holm), Ron Simmons

DOXOLOGY

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

Continue to Connect

We know many of you are longing for deeper connections and spiritual sustenance during this season of isolation. We are working hard to create new opportunities for community and support for those connected to Tabernacle both locally and globally. In order to help you find the right places to connect, we have created an online interest form. Whether you regularly attend TBC, or have just found us online this Holy Week, we would love for you to join us for some of these opportunities!

Meg Lacy Vega Leadership Roundtable

Finding Community during COVID

We know many of you are longing for deeper connections and spiritual sustenance during this season of isolation. We are working hard to create new opportunities for community and support for those connected to Tabernacle both locally and globally. We have a number on ongoing groups that are open for new participants to join. We will also be creating new 8-week groups that will begin mid-April and continue through mid-June. If you are interested in getting plugged into one of these, or hearing about other upcoming opportunities for connection during COVID, please fill out the following information and one of our pastoral staff will be in touch with you to help you discern the right next steps for you and your family.

Meg Lacy Vega Worship & Fellowship

Maundy Thursday: Gathering for Holy Conversation

In John 13, Jesus gathers his disciples together around a table. After he washes their feet, he commands us to love one another as he has has loved us. (By the way, the meaning of the Latin word Maundy is commandment.)

To celebrate Maundy Thursday this year, we invite you to share a meal and holy conversation with others virtually. Invite one or two other families or individuals to participate with you by gathering at their table, with their meal, at the same time. Use it as an opportunity to reflect on who you feel God is nudging you to connect with or reach out to during this season. 

Details for the Meal
Virtual Format – You can use any form of virtual connection that works for you. There are many free video conference services, including FaceTime (Apple), Google Hangouts, and Skype, and audio only options, such as FreeConferenceCalling.Com. Tabernacle Community, If you need help setting one of these up, please contact Meg@tbcrichmond.org and she will assist. Members of sister churches are encouraged to reach out their pastoral staff members for assistance.

Who – One of the gifts of our traditional Maundy Thursday meal is its inter-generational nature. We encourage you to use this meal as a time to connect with someone outside of your typical circle or age group, or even someone that lives in another part of the world but who is connected to Tabernacle through Livestream ministry or other avenues.

Time – There is not a single time for this event, as we expect folks to gather at various times depending on what works best for their schedule. Be sure to consider time zone differences should you want to dine with someone that doesn’t live in your neck of the woods.

Holy Conversation: Group Reflection Questions

Spend the first part of the meal catching up with one another, sharing the gifts and challenges of this season together. When you feel ready, we invite you to transition into a time of Holy conversation using the following questions that bring us into connection with the Passover meal Jesus shared with his disciples.

  1. Why is this night different from all other nights? Why do we call this particular Thursday “holy”?
  2. Share one word about how you are feeling in the midst of this Holy Week, as we navigate the rituals and rhythms in a totally different way (virtually).
  3. Lent began nearly 40 days ago, when our whole world was totally different. Lent is meant to be a time of prayer, preparation and fasting. We are probably all praying, preparing, and fasting, but maybe for different reasons that we originally planned: 
    • What is your prayer during this season?
    • How do you sense God is using this time to prepare you?
    • What are you fasting from–whether by choice, or maybe because your life has changed in a way that has forced you to give up or let go of something you love? 
  4.  Why these symbols– why do you think Jesus gathered the disciples for a meal?
  5.  Why the bread? Why the cup? Why do you think Jesus chose these elements to remind the disciples of his love?

You may choose to celebrate communion together, with whatever bread and cup you have available. You may choose to end with a blessing, or with sharing of prayer concerns. 

Blessing the Bread, the Cup 
A Blessing for Holy Thursday by Jan Richardson

Let us bless the bread 
that gives itself to us 
with its terrible weight, 
its infinite grace.

Let us bless the cup 
poured out for us 
with a love 
that makes us anew.

Let us gather 
around these gifts 
simply given 
and deeply blessed.

And then let us go 
bearing the bread, 
carrying the cup,
 laying the table 
within a hungering world.

tbc Testimonies, Worship & Fellowship

Visual Testimony: Week of March 29, 2020

Christ is at work among us.

Christ is at work among us. We are an extension of his hands, feet, and heart.

We celebrate the creative use of the the gifts and resources God has given us.
We testify as an expression of gratitude to Jesus, and also to encourage those he his using to bring light in darkness!

Thank you, Tabernacle, for your courage, love, and faithfulness.

Christ is at work among us.

Christ is using the church as an extension of his hands, feet, and heart. Help us testify!

Please send screenshots, written testimonies, and videos to Pastor@tbcrichmond.org. Please just be sure you have permission to share, especially if minors are in the images.

tbc Media, Worship & Fellowship

Palm Sunday

A poem entitled Palm Sunday, by Malcolm Guite

Now to the gate of my Jerusalem, the seething holy city of my heart, the Savior comes. But will I welcome Him? Oh crowds of easy feelings make a start; They raise their hands, get caught up in the singing, and think the battle is won.Too soon they’ll find the challenge, the reversal He is bringing changes their tune. I know what lies behind the surface flourish that so quickly fades; Jesus, come break my resistance and make me your home. 

Painting, Palm Sunday by Kai Althoff

Readers: Kristen Cavallo and Phil Dawson

Music by Ryan Corbitt

tbc Sunday Bulletin, Worship & Fellowship

Sunday, April 5 | Palm Sunday

We strive to be a congregation rooted in the participatory worship of God, where personal relationships are nurtured and all persons are encouraged to creatively and meaningfully express their unique gifts and stories in the worship experience. While our expression of worship looks a little different in this season, we are so glad to be able to participate together via Livestream.

This worship guide is meant to be a companion to the Livestream service. You can join us live at 11am on Sunday morning, or watch the recorded service later, following along with the words to Hymns, etc. in a separate window, or print this guide out if you like!

The diversity of our unique theological heritages is one of our God’s greatest gifts at Tabernacle. One of markers of the gift is our diverse convictions about the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Jesus opens the table to everyone. That said, we also believe that each person should remain true to their convictions.  Some of us were raised in traditions that believe communion should only be received after someone has been baptized or confirmed, while others were raised to believe that no specific criteria is required for participation. There is a wide assortment of beliefs about the symbolism and meaning of communion.

We are a priesthood of all believers, an eclectic and beautiful circle of Jesus followers. We celebrate our differences. We make space for people to grow in their understanding of theology while also honoring the places we’ve come from. 

We want you to know that it’s okay for you, or your loved ones, to partake of the elements if you feel that it is appropriate to do so. We also want you to know that it’s okay for you, and your loved ones, to abstain. Regardless, all of us sit at the table together. 

PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION AND/OR BLESSING: 
1) Please arrive to worship with bread and cup prepared. In our tradition, there is complete freedom in the specific type of bread or wine/juice that is brought to to the table.

2) At the designated moment in worship, our Pastor will lead the congregation in the partaking of the elements. 

3)  Should you, or someone in your household, choose to abstain, one of the Pastors will offer a special blessing  through the chat feature in the live-streamed worship service.

SOLO: Denise Lowe Walters, “Ride On King Jesus”

CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Lift up your heads, you mighty gates; behold, the King of glory waits; the King of kings is drawing near; the Savior of the world is here!
People: Who is the King of Glory?
Children: The Lord Strong and Mighty!
People: Who is the King of Glory?
Children: The Lord Strong and Mighty!
People: Who is the King of Glory?
Children: The Lord Strong and Mighty!

Hymn #175: “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” (ST. THEODOLPH)

V. 1: All glory, laud and honor to Thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. Thou art the Kin of Israel, Thou David’s royal Son, who in the Lord’s name comest, the King and blessed One! 

V. 2: The company of angels are praising  Thee on high; and we will all creation in chorus make reply. The people of the Hebrews with palms before Thee went; our praise and prayer and anthems before Thee we present. 

V. 3: To Thee, before Thy passion they sang their hymns of praise; to Thee, now high exalted, our melody we raise. Thou didst accept their praises, accept the praise we bring, who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King!

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

GOSPEL READING: Mark 14:3-9

SOLO: Terry Witt, “The Alabaster Jar”

HYMN #171: “What Wondrous Love is This”

V. 1: What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul. 

V. 3: To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing; to God and to the Lamb, I will sing.  To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am,” while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, while millions join the theme, I will sing.

Join us this afternoon at 4PM for a special Holy Week service.

tbc Worship & Fellowship

All of us sit at the table together.

The diversity of our unique theological heritages is one of our God’s greatest gifts at Tabernacle. One of markers of the gift is our diverse convictions about the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Jesus opens the table to everyone. That said, we also believe that each person should remain true to their convictions.  Some of us were raised in traditions that believe communion should only be received after someone has been baptized or confirmed, while others were raised to believe that no specific criteria is required for participation. There is a wide assortment of beliefs about the symbolism and meaning of communion.

We are a priesthood of all believers, an eclectic and beautiful circle of Jesus followers. We celebrate our differences. We make space for people to grow in their understanding of theology while also honoring the places we’ve come from. 

We want you to know that it’s okay for you, or your loved ones, to partake of the elements if you feel that it is appropriate to do so. We also want you to know that it’s okay for you, and your loved ones, to abstain. Regardless, all of us sit at the table together. 

PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION AND/OR BLESSING: 
1) Please arrive to worship with bread and cup prepared. In our tradition, there is complete freedom in the specific type of bread or wine/juice that is brought to to the table.

2) At the designated moment in worship, our Pastor will lead the congregation in the partaking of the elements. 

3)  Should you, or someone in your household, choose to abstain, one of the Pastors will offer a special blessing  through the chat feature in the live-streamed worship service. 

tbc Leadership Roundtable

Susan Randolph Braden | Funeral Service March 31, 2020

Thank you for joining us to celebrate the life of Susan Randolph Braden. Please join us in singing the hymns below during the service. You can view the Livestream video here, and offer condolences to the family through the chat feature or by adding a message at www.blileys.com.

He Keeps Me Singing

V. 1: There’s within my heart a melody; Jesus whispers sweet and low, “Fear not, I am with you, peace, be still,” in all life’s ebb and flow.

Chorus: Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, fills my every longing, Keeps me singing as I go.

V. 3: Though sometimes He leads through waters deep, trials fall across the way; though sometimes the path seems rough and steep, see His footprints all the way.

Chorus: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, fills my every longing, Keeps me singing as I go.

V. 4: Feasting on the riches of His grace, resting ‘neath His sheltering wing, Always looking on His smiling face, that is why I shout and sing.

Chorus: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, fills my every longing, Keeps me singing as I go.

Blessed Assurance

V. 1: Blessed assurance, Jesus is Mine! Oh, what foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Chorus: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

V. 3: Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest: watching and waiting, looking above, filled with His goodness lost in His love.

Chorus: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

Wonderful Grace of Jesus

V. 1: Wonderful grace of Jesus greater than all my sin; how shall my tongue describe it, where shall its praise begin? Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free, for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

V. 3: Wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching the most defiled, by its transforming power ransoming God’s dear child, purchasing peace and heaven for all eternity and the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Chorus: Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus, deeper than the mighty rolling sea; higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain, all sufficient grace for even me; broader than the scope of my transgressions, greater far than all my sin and shame. O magnify the precious name of Jesus, praise His name!