Blog – Page 38 – Tabernacle Baptist Church

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!

Worship: Sunday, March 29 | Lent five

CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP: “Deliver Us” (Peterson)
CALL TO WORSHIP: “Returning to the Soil” (Cherwien)

Every fall, we cut our garden to the ground: perennials, herbs, shrubs, roses.
We cut our garden to the ground, for the winter must come.
The flowers have bloomed and gladdened the days of many.
The herbs have refreshed and healed.
The roses have given fragrance and color to our home.
It is not cruelty that we cut our garden to the ground:
it is simply the right time.
And so the stems are cut and returned to the soil, and the stems will become soil and nourish the next generation of flowers, just as the leaves that fall become soil and nourish the next generation of leaves.
When our winter approaches it is not cruelty that we are returned to the soil.
It is simply the right time.
It is simply the right time.
And our stories, our songs, our lives will nourish the next generation in the great cycle of life that turns about us.

HYMN #281: “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”

V. 1: Love, divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven to earth come down,
fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
all Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love Thou art;
visit us with Thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.

V. 2: Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit,
let us find the promised rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.

V. 3: Come, Almighty to deliver,
let us all Thy grace receive;
suddenly return, and never,
never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
glory in Thy perfect love.

V. 4: Finish, then, Thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see Thy great salvation
perfectly restored in Thee:
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before Thee,
lost in wonder, love and praise.

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.

ANTHEM: “The Tree Song” (Medema)

V. 1: I saw a tree by the riverside one day as I walked along, Straight as an arrow and pointing to the sky growing tall and strong. “How do you grow so tall and strong?” I said to the riverside tree. This is the song that my tree friend sang to me:

Chorus: I’ve got roots growing down to the water, I’ve got leaves growing up to the sunshine, and the fruit that I bear is a sign of the life in me.
I am shade from the hot summer sun-down, I am nest for the birds of the heaven. I’m becoming what the Lord of Trees has meant me to be: A strong young tree.

V. 2: I saw a tree in the wintertime when snow lay on the ground, Straight as an arrow and pointing to the sky, and winter winds blew all around.
“How do you stay so tall and strong?” I said to the wintertime tree. This is the song that my tree friend sang to me: [Repeat Chorus]

V. 3: I saw a tree in the city streets where buildings blocked the sun. Green and lovely I could see it gave joy to ev’ryone: How do you grow in the city streets?” I said to the downtown tree. This is the song that my tree friend sang to me: [Repeat Chorus]

HYMN #272: “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” (ST BRENDAN’S)

V.1: 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 all unity may one day be restored.

Chorus: And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

V. 2: We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand. We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand. And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land.
[Repeat Chorus]

V. 3: We will work with each other; we will work side by side. We will work with each other; we will work side by side.
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride by our love, by our love, Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

V.4: 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.
[Repeat Chorus]

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.

March 22, 2020February 13, 2021 tbc Media, Worship & Fellowship

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 7:15-28

March 20, 2020March 20, 2020 tbc Media, Worship & Fellowship

Church helping CHURCH: practical thoughts for Pastors navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Pastor Friends, many of us, if not all of us, are struggling to determine the best way for us to lead our flocks in the COVID-19 Pandemic. I’ve struggled with where to begin. I’ve found it incredibly challenging to navigate leadership in the current moment while simultaneously planning for a long season ahead. It’s easy to feel stuck.
I’m hearing from friends serving in smaller congregations. Many are struggling with the lack of resources, time, and the technology gap.

I’ve created a series of five brief videos to share some observations, offer practical advice, and urge us to work together. I share it hesitantly as I don’t want to suggest that I’ve got anything figured out. Many of the ideas that are shared are simply ideas. We’re still trying to figure out implementation. That said, I have a conviction that we should be learning from one other, through failure and success alike.

If you find these videos helpful, please pass them along. Iif not, just ignore them and press on. Regardless, I hope you will consider practical ways that you might share your insights and encouragement to one another.

Lastly, sisters and brothers serving in congregations that are further along with the technology gap, let’s do everything in our power to make space in our digital spaces. Let’s think creatively about how we can share our resources with generosity and humility. We’re in this together!

1. This is the first video in a series of brief/specific recordings created for Pastors navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. The first video offers a brief introduction and shares some ideas for setting priorities.

If you find the series helpful, please feel free to pass it along. I encourage you to find your way to offer support to sisters and brothers serving in pastoral roles. Let’s learn from one another. Let’s share our resources. Let’s use this moment to show the world what unity looks like in the body of Christ. Let’s use this moment to mobilize compassion.

2. The second video in this series focuses on the unique challenge of Pastoral Care and some pratical thoughts on how we mobilize our congregants to offer care to one another.

If you find this video helpful, please feel free to pass along. I encourage you to find a way to offer support to sisters and brothers serving in pastoral roles. Let’s learn from one another. Let’s share our resources. Let’s use this moment to show the world what unity looks like in the body of Christ. Let’s use this moment to mobilize compassion.

3. The third video in this series focuses on our prioritization of churches directly sharing resources and connecting in unique ways.

4. The fourth video in this series focuses on practical ways we can connect with congregants not comfortable with technology or don’t have the means to access the internet.

5. The fifth video in this series offers practical advice on the use of technology and the importance of what we’re projecting to our congregants.

Being the Church in the Coronavirus Pandemic: A one hour conversation with Dr. Art Wright, Theologian in Residence at CBF VA

We have experienced tremendous disruptions to daily life as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across our nation and the globe. Many of us as church leaders are struggling to find ways to adapt to the situation. On Thursday, March 19, 2020, Sterling Severns (Senior Pastor, Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond, VA) and Art Wright (Theologian in Residence for CBFVA and member at Tabernacle Baptist) talked via Zoom about how Tabernacle is navigating these challenges and adapting to offer worship, educational and fellowship opportunities, and pastoral care right now. In our conversation we discuss some of the practical challenges that we are facing, key technology that we are using as we strive to be church virtually, and we also reflect on deeper theological and spiritual dimensions of leading churches during these trying times. We are sharing this conversation in hopes that it is helpful for churches near and far.

RESOURCES:

How to Lead Online Worship Without Losing Your Soul—or Body 8 tips for stewarding church technology in a time of social distancing by W. David O. Taylor

ZOOM Meeting- Supporting Older Adults during Covid-19, March 27

Praying for each of you. Love each of you!

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Sterling W. Severns, Pastor

PS: Hope has created a unique “button” at the bottom of the free TBC App and a new page on our website, dedicated to sharing latest/greatest info on what is happening at TBC.

Membership: please be prepared to vote on Tues, March 31

One the core principles for Baptists is Autonomy of the Local Church. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, each congregation determines how it’s members will make significant decisions together. In the current COVID-19 crisis, we’re going to need to be creative in how to make decisions together. We encourage members to educate themselves through the website, TBC App, and/or communicating with church leadership. The church office will be in touch by March 20, 2020 with details about multiple formats for voting.

Click here to download ballot

Click here to listen to the podcast about the creation of a new finance team.

A message from Will Cumbia to TBC:

Benediction, Beth McM. 3.29.20

Luke 13:6-8, Ben and Cate

Sunday, March 29 | Lent Five