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Combined Worship: First Baptist Church Cooperstown NY, First Presbyterian Church Cooperstown NY and Tabernacle Baptist Church, Richmond VA. September 6, 2020
The visit with Rev. Joe Perdue and the congregants from First Baptist and First Presbyterian was a balm to my broken soul. I can tell that they are struggling with many of the same things we struggle with. There were technical difficulties that they worked through real time. Mask usage and distancing was mixed.
There were prayer requests for loss of a loved one, adjusting and healing and a request for the people of Vietnam. Joe also asked for prayers for the people of Rochester NY. Because of the murder of a man by police last spring and the violent response to the protestors from local police. This was close to home as Joe has two pastor friends in Rochester who are walking through this. He asked for prayer for “peace but not at the expense of justice”. The two pianist, tenor soloist and hammered dulcimer player were all delightful. I enjoyed the comfortable mixture of musical styles throughout the service, with English classical, a spiritual and the black national anthem. The sermon “Fault Lines” was an excellent illustration of the behavior of conquerors. God sent 10 plagues before Pharaoh let the people go. The reminder that there are natural consequences for actions and that God’s grace has often given us forgiveness. He recounted the trouble and demonic forces that we face in 2020. Joe said that when things are as bad as they can possibly be, we are called to worship and encounter God. He closed in challenging us. God chooses to act through us, so we “better get to it”. He challenges us to do the work of the Exodus in caring for others, wearing masks, hearing people of color, valuing black lives, protecting, and serving our neighbors. I was truly inspired by the closing “We are not obligated to complete the work, neither are we free to abandon it”. The closing was equally powerful with the Canticle of Turning as the last hymn and a benediction from Benedictine Sister Ruth Fox of Sacred Heart Monastery.
May God bless you with discontent with easy answers, half-truths, superficial relationships, so
that you will live from deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, abuse, and exploitation of people, so
that you will work for justice, equality, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and
war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and to change their pain to joy.
May God bless you with the foolishness to think you can make a difference in this world, so
that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done.
If you have the courage to accept these blessings, then God will also bless you with:
In the coming days we should continue to pray for the unrest in New York as well as other communities including our own. We need to lift up First Baptist in prayer as they begin a bible study on race. We should pray that God’s provision be upon them in their upcoming fundraiser.
I am thankful that God has graced us with Joe Purdue and will make sure to pray regularly for his ministry and the community in Cooperstown.
Respectfully Submitted By
Denise L. Walters
Celebrating Churches Crossing Racial Boundaries: Neighbors Under the Son in Ashland
First Baptist Church of Ashland is a mostly White church; their neighbor, Shiloh Baptist Church, is mostly Black. For the past year, teams from each congregation have been partnering to build friendships and learn how worship can bind the two churches together. Terry and I joined their remote service on September 6 for a celebration of that partnership, “Neighbors Under the Son.”
It was a wonderful worship service. Readings, reflections and prayers from members of the two teams gave a glimpse into the year they spent talking, fellowshipping, praying and working together. The service also included original worship songs written and led by songwriting interns from Urban Doxology, a summer program that mentors young adults in learning how worship can help them bridge racial boundaries (Tab’s own Alan Lowery was an intern with them not long ago!).
Finally, the pastors of each church preached together about repentence and reconciliation. Pastor Josh Hayden of FBC said the world approaches sin in two ways–seeking revenge or avoidance–but the church has a different call. “If we as the church will acknowledge the sin between us, staying out of the ditches of revenge or avoidance, healing can begin. There is no resurrection without the cross, no healing without repentence.”
Pastor Randell Williams of Shiloh said the question is, “How much is the price of a person’s dignity or humanity?” He said there is a price to loving others across racial lines, a cost to not standing by while others devalue the person I care about. But, he added, “If we are faithful to repent, God will take on the matter; He will not leave us alone in working this out.”
Pastor Josh said the partnership between the two churches started small, with just 12 people from each church committing to build their relationships over a year. “We brought our two fish and fives loaves, and told God we needed a miracle to help this little group become friends, a foretaste of God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven,” he said.
“And,” he added, “we found God’s intervention came through our shared intention. It is in the small places that healing begins.”
In a time when the voices about race in the U.S. are strident and the anxiety is high, it was such an encouragement to see two churches who are building friendships in the context of the kingdom of God. It’s obviously God’s providence that they began their relationships before the pandemic and the groundswell of tension in the wake of George Floyd’s killing. And this worship service offered a prophetic word in a world that values and devalues according to the color of skin. God’s way to healing is neither avoidance or vengeance, but open-hearted confession and repentance, which opens the door for reconciliation.
As a friend recently reminded me, “Racism can’t be healed with the head, but only with the heart and the body.” The partnership between First and Shiloh put feet to bridging the distance between them, and spoke through the heart in confession of the sin of separation. In turn, hearts are being healed and learning to love. I’m sure the journey so far has been neither easy nor perfect, but it lifted my spirits to hear the good news of these two congregations learning to walk together.
And what about my own church family? My hope is that we at Tab, like First and Shiloh, will be open to God’s call to us. God brought together “neighbors under the Son” in Ashland…what might God want to do between us and our neighbors at Meadow and Grove? I pray our ears, eyes and hearts will be open.
The service is available on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/1stashland (“Neighbors Under the Son”)
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=694200051180614
Submitted by Beth McMahon
The Prelude portion of worship on the Sabbath is a time spent at the beginning of the day deliberately reminding yourself of the presence of God in your life and preparing to spend the day celebrating and enjoying that presence.
You could choose to do this in many different ways. Some people will spend time in prayer, some will read and reflect on the scripture passages for the day, some will take a walk outside paying close attention to the beauty of creation all around them, some will listen to music, some may choose to engage in a small creative project. There are numerous ways to turn your heart and mind toward acknowledging the presence of God. These activities are personal and for many people private.
God calls us into personal relationship, but God also calls us into a communal relationship with others who are worshiping each Sabbath. If you would like to participate in a communal preparation for worship on the Sabbath, the resources for this are found in this space. You may join this Livestream experience of preparation for the Sabbath at any time between 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM to prepare silently with others in our congregation for worship on the Sabbath Day. Stay for as long as you like! The lighting of the Christ Candle at the beginning of worship reminds us that we are deliberately stepping into the presence of God. Come quiet your mind and soul, light your candle and prepare to worship God.
Prelude is just the beginning of a day of worship. We hope you’ll also join us for a virtual church-wide communal gathering at 11AM (EDT) and spend time with a small group of other disciples nurturing your spiritual growth. Find more information about our rhythm of Sabbath here.
We would love for you to let us know you’re here. This worship guide is meant to be a companion to our 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!
CALL TO WORSHIP: 1 Kings 19:1-14
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
HYMN #383: “Near to the Heart of God”
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.
SCRIPTURE READING: Jeremiah 29:10-14, Romans 12:1-3, Luke 6:46-49
Tab Members and Visitors are invited to join us on July 26 as we meet to take a look at how God has been at work in our midst this year. You can read reports from staff and key leaders in advance of the meeting, and will have an opportunity to ask questions during the meeting.
The Ad Hoc Constitution Revision Committee will be presenting the revised Constitution and Bylaws at the Quarterly Meeting on July 26th. This will just be an information sharing opportunity with a vote by ballot to accept the document being held two weeks later. They will also share a page of items that may require Constitution and Bylaws changes later and also topics discussed at the Town Hall meetings that did not involved changes in the document, but were important for follow up later.
We want to hear from you as we make plans for what church will look like in the coming months! If you call Tab home in any way, please take some time to complete our survey about your experience engaging with the church during the pandemic and how we can best support one another in our faith journeys moving forward. The survey will be open for you to offer your thoughts through July 30.
This summer, we will actively covenant together in multiple ways, particularly in our physical gatherings in one another’s homes. You can find more details related to our expectations, hopes, and practices here.
Whether you’ve been coming to Tabernacle for years, or just recently started worshiping with us online, we are glad you’re here! We invite you to participate in other opportunities for fellowship and discipleship as well. We are currently in the midst of a podcast series, led by Art Wright. It is a discussion about Revelation, and how apocalypses, in addition to anticipating the end of the world, reveal things about our current realities. Listen to this week’s episode, and sign up for the Facebook group if you’re interested in further discussion!
Our Community Ministry is actively serving neighbors on a weekly basis. We have consistently seen about 50 families each week, and sometimes up to 100! If you would like to support this key ministry to our neighbors, our current needs include:
We would love for you to let us know you’re here. This worship guide is meant to be a companion to our Livestream service. You can join us live at 11am on Sunday morning, watch the recorded service later, or participate live on Wednesday evening at 8:30pm (EDT) on Facebook, following along with the words to hymns, etc. in a separate window or on your phone, or print this guide out if you like!
We encourage you to prepare your elements before we begin if you would like to participate.
HYMN: “The Church’s One Foundation”
CHILDREN’S MOMENT: Rev. Jerusha Moses
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.
SCRIPTURE READING: Jeremiah 31:33, Psalm 100:3, Ephesians 2:19-22
The Eyes of Christ | Susan Palo Cherwien
Where is the servant church
amidst the bluster
and boast?
Look to the tables:
Look to the dining tables
where stranger and misfit
find both food and welcome.
Look to the altar tables
where humility and justice
roll down.
Look to the bread:
Broken
shared
at the altar
broken
shared
in the home
broken
shared
in the lunch break
broken
shared
in the open heart.
Look to the eyes:
eyes that rejoice
eyes that weep
eyes that celebrate
eyes that see
the Christ clothed in humanity
Where is the servant church?
Look to the eyes that see,
across the table,
through broken bread,
the eyes of Christ
in each
returning
gaze.
This summer, we will actively covenant together in multiple ways, particularly in our physical gatherings in one one another’s homes. You can find more details related to our expectations, hopes, and practices here.
Whether you’ve been coming to Tabernacle for years, or just recently started worshiping with us online, we are glad you’re here! We invite you to participate in other opportunities for fellowship and discipleship as well. We are currently in the midst of a new podcast series, led by Art Wright. It is a discussion about Revelation, and how apocalypses, in addition to anticipating the end of the world, reveal things about our current realities. Listen to this week’s conversation, and sign up for the Facebook group if you’re interested in further discussion!
Our Community Ministry is actively serving neighbors on a weekly basis. We have consistently seen about 50 families each week, and sometimes up to 100! If you would like to support this key ministry to our neighbors, our current needs include:
We would love for you to let us know you’re here. This worship guide is meant to be a companion to our 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!
We will partake in Communion at the end of today’s service. We encourage you to prepare your elements before the service begins at 11AM if you would like to participate.
CALL TO WORSHIP: “Trinity Sunday” (Malcolm Guite, Sounding the Seasons, Seventy Sonnets for the Christian Year)
In the Beginning, not in time or space,
but in the quick before both space and time,
in Life, in Love, in co-inherent Grace,
in three in one and one in three, in rhyme,
in music , in the whole creation story,
in his own image, his imagination,
the Triune Poet makes us for his glory,
and makes us each the other’s inspiration.
He calls us out of darkness, chaos, chance,
to improvise a music of our own,
to sing the chord that calls us to the dance,
Three notes resounding from a single tone,
to sing the End in whom we all begin;
Our God beyond, beside us and within.
SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 19, Luke 3:21-23, Luke 3:16, Luke 24:49, Acts 2:1-4
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.
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.
A word from our pastor. We have an opportunity to re-frame the narrative. As we do so, members and staff are sharing voices that are shaping and reshaping their perspectives. You can find some suggested resources from Rev. Meg Lacy Vega and Kate Ayers on our blog. If you have voices that you’d like to share, resources that have been meaningful to you, email a video to meg@tbcrichmond.org or severns@tbcrichmond.org.
Whether you’ve been coming to Tabernacle for years, or just recently started worshiping with us online, we are glad you’re here, and invite you to participate in other opportunities for fellowship and discipleship as well! There are several groups meeting regularly that are open to newcomers, and our Community Ministry is actively serving neighbors on a weekly basis.
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!
We will partake in Communion at the end of today’s service. We encourage you to prepare your elements before the service begins at 11AM if you would like to participate.
CALL TO WORSHIP: “Ascension Day” (Malcolm Guite, Sounding the Seasons, Seventy Sonnets for the Christian Year)
We saw his light break through the cloud of glory
whilst we were rooted still in time and place,
as earth became a part of heaven’s story
and heaven opened to his human face.
We saw him go and yet we were not parted,
He took us with Him to the heart of things.
The heart that broke for all the broken-hearted
is whole and heaven-centered now, and sings;
sings in the strength that rises out of weakness,
Sings through the clouds that veil him from our sight,
whilst we ourselves become his clouds of witness
and sing the waning darkness into light;
His light in us and ours in Him concealed,
which all creation waits to see revealed.
HYMN #215: “Rejoice, the Lord is King”
V. 1: Rejoice, the Lord is King:
your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
and triumph evermore:
lift up your heart, lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
V. 2: Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
the God of truth and love;
when He had purged our stains,
He took His seat above:
lift up your heart, lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
V. 3: His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules both earth and heaven;
the keys of death and hell
are to our Jesus given:
lift up your heart, lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, Rejoice!
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 Lesson: Matthew 28:16-19
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.
Whether you’ve been coming to Tabernacle for years, or just recently started worshiping with us online, we are glad you’re here, and invite you to participate in other opportunities for fellowship and discipleship as well! There are several groups meeting regularly that are open to newcomers, and our Community Ministry is actively serving neighbors on a weekly basis. The Soul Care Project is a digital series that that you can follow along with at your own pace. It offers a weekly theme promoting practices to help us care for our souls by connection with ourselves, God, and the world. We encourage you to listen to this week’s podcast and interact with the resources available on our Facebook and Instagram feeds.
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!
We will partake in Communion each Sunday during this Easter Season. We encourage you to prepare your elements before the service begins at 11AM if you would like to participate.
PRELUDE: Judy Fiske
CALL TO WORSHIP: Mark Andrist “Lord I Lift Your Name on High”
CALL TO WORSHIP: “Who Was This Jesus?” (Susan Palo Cherwien)
Who was this Jesus we call Christ, the Anointed One?
Who is this who said I AM?
I am the Vine. I am the Gate. I am the Bread of Life. I am the Light of the World.
Who is this at whose Name every knee should bend?
We know Christ Jesus was steeped in divinity one with God, the Breath, the Heartbeat, of creation.
We know Jesus was compassion, excluding no one, having mercy on all.
We know he set aside time to be alone in prayer.
He sat at table with the whole spectrum of people he met.
He helped people who were outside the circle of acceptability.
He taught in stories.
He wept at his friend’s death.
He suffered with those who were suffering.
He asked hard questions.
He challenged the values of his society.
He loved without promise of return.
And so when we pray, “Come Lord” when we sing “Give Me Jesus” we are praying into our lives all that Jesus Christ is:
compassion, discernment, mercy, joy at friendship, suffering with the suffering.
We are praying into our lives the ability to love without promise of return.
HYMN #606: “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High”
Lord, I lift Your name on high,
Lord, I love to sing Your praises
I’m so glad You’re in my life,
I’m so glad You came to save us
You came from heaven to earth to show the way;
from the earth to the cross, my debt to pay.
From the cross to the grave,
from the grave to the sky,
Lord, I lift Your name on high.
Gospel Lesson: John 20:30
Prayer: This prayer was originally given by Rev. Anna Miller on May 10, 2009. Anna is currently serving on staff at River Road Church, Baptist. Her son Adam is graduating from James Madison University this year and recently took a job as the band director at Parry McCluer High School in Buena Vista, VA, where Rev. Bryon LePere is the pastor of Buena Vista Baptist Church. Bryon served on staff at Tabernacle about 17 years ago. His daughter is a member of the band’s flag corps.
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.
TRIO: “Be Not Afraid”
HYMN #196: “Alleluia No. 1” (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: Tony Williams, “Because He Lives” (Matt Maher)
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.
Whether you’ve been coming to Tabernacle for years, or just recently started worshiping with us online, we are glad you’re here, and invite you to participate in other opportunities for fellowship and discipleship as well! There are several groups meeting regularly that are open to newcomers, and our Community Ministry is actively serving neighbors on a weekly basis. The Soul Care Project is a digital series that that you can follow along with at your own pace. It offers a weekly theme promoting practices to help us care for our souls by connection with ourselves, God, and the world. We encourage you to listen to this week’s podcast and interact with the resources available on our Facebook and Instagram feeds.
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: Judy Fiske
CALL TO WORSHIP: “We have not seen…and we believe” (Joseph T. Nolan)
We believe in God whom we do not see because of Jesus who was seen and people who live by His Spirit.
We believe in God whom we do not see because of truth and beauty, love, goodness, and integrity, which make the divine a part of human life.
We believe in a heaven we have not seen because love is stronger that death and all our hopes cannot find fulfillment in this life.
We believe in the Spirit we cannot see because we see the Creator Spirit at work in our lives and hear the Spirit’s voice in our silence.
We believe in the earth and its people in spite of the evil we see because we have shared their goodness.
We believe in a providence we do not always see because God made us, and here we are, with ten billion years behind us.
We believe in the resurrection in spite of the death we see because we have been raised up many times, and passed from death to life.
We believe in God whom we do not see because of the One who said, “He who sees me sees the Father.”
We have seen him in our humanity, in His risen body, and we believe.
HYMN #606: “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High”
Lord, I lift Your name on high,
Lord, I love to sing Your praises
I’m so glad Your’re in my life,
I’m so glad You came to save us!
You came from heaven to earth to show the way;
from the earth to the cross, my debt to pay.
From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky,
Lord, I lift Your name on high.
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: John 20:19-29
SOLO: Anna Tuckwiller, ““I Never Leave Your Hands” by JJ Heller
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.
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.
We hope you’ll join us this afternoon at 2PM for our quarterly Church-Wide Business Meeting! Members and visitors are welcome; this is a key opportunity to participate in the life of our church. This will be one of the more unique business meetings we’ve had over the last 130+ years, but we look forward to praying together, celebrating the ways God is at work among us, and offering updates on our financial status and other operations of the church. We encourage you to read through the written reports before the meeting.
We also have a need for members to vote before 5PM today on a decision about whether or not to accept funding from the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program in order to help with payroll expenses for our Childcare Center Ministry and church staff. Additional information and instructions for voting are available in video and audio formats, as well as a written Q&A, here.
Whether you’ve been coming to Tabernacle for years, or just started worshiping with us online recently, we are glad you’re here, and invite you to participate in other opportunities for fellowship and discipleship as well! There are several new groups starting up or starting new studies, and our Community Ministry is actively serving neighbors on a weekly basis. The Soul Care Project is a new digital series that started this week. It will offer a weekly theme promoting practices to help us care for our souls by connection with ourselves, God, and the world. We encourage you to listen to this week’s podcast and interact with the resources available on our Facebook and Instagram feeds.
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: “In the Garden,” Judy Fiske
This hymn is a favorite from 1912, about the time our 1st building was built on this corner of Grove Avenue and Meadow Street. The hymn is often criticized because he does not mention the name of Jesus in the text, but rather relies on the capital H in he and him to let us know that Jesus is the central person in this song. This song does paint a beautiful picture of encountering Jesus in the garden.
“In the Garden”
V. 1 I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses; and the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.
Chorus: And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own, and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.
V. 2 He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing; and the melody that He gave to me within my heart is ringing.
V. 3 I’d stay in the garden with Him, though the night around me be falling; but He bids me go; through the voice of woe, His voice to me is calling.
CALL TO WORSHIP: “I’ve Just Seen Jesus” (Gaither/Daniels)
This song was presented by Susan Braden on April 1, 2018. This was one of the few times, if not the only time, that she stood at the pulpit at Tabernacle to sing with Ryan Corbitt accompanying her. She usually sang from the piano accompanying herself. This is a powerful reminder of what Mary Magdalene was feeling as she left the empty tomb and encountered the risen Jesus Christ. Susan was deep into her cancer treatment when she sang this song for worship. She lost that battle this year, 2020, on March 27. We are blessed to have these recordings of her powerful testimony.
POEM: The Magdalene’s Blessing for Easter Day
You hardly imagined standing here, everything you ever loved suddenly returned to you, looking you in the eye and calling your name.
And now you do not know how to abide this hole in the center of your chest, where a door slams shut and swings open at the same time, turning on the hinge of your aching and hopeful heart.
I tell you, this is not a banishment from the garden. This is an invitation, a choice, a threshold, a gate. This is your life calling to you from a place you could never have dreamed, but now that you have glimpsed its edge, you can not imagine choosing any other way.
So let the tears come as anointing, as consecration and then let them go. Let this blessing gather itself around you. Let it give you what you will need for this journey. You will not remember the words—-they do not matter. All you need to remember is how it sounded when you stood in the place of death and heard the living call your name.
HYMN #223: “Crown Him with Many Crowns”
V. 1 Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne; Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own: awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee, and hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.
V. 2 Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed o’er the grave, and rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save; His glories now we sing who died, and rose on high, who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
V. 3 Crown Him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways from pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise: His reign shall know no end, and round His pierced feet fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.
V. 4 Crown Him the Lord of love! Behold His hands and side, those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified: all hail, Redeemer, hail! for Thou hast died for me! Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.
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: John 20:11-17
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.
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.
We know many of you are longing for deeper connections and spiritual sustenance during this season of isolation. 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 found us online more recently, we would love for you to join us for some of these opportunities!
Our Community Ministry is currently open for no-contact emergency food pickup each Saturday morning. Volunteers are packing bags on Fridays, and there are also opportunities to help from home! Sign up if you’d like to help, and email April Kennedy with any questions.
