Dear <<First Name>>,
Chris Dean is our guest preacher today. He and his wife Julie hope to leave later in the year for evangelistic missionary work with CMS in TImor Leste. We hope you enjoy Chris' message and also the extra video with his wife sharing about their upcoming mission plans.
I pray you are able to find another Christian in your household to share in the prayers and content included in this email. It is even worth singing together (turn up the sound) to encourage each other at this time. Remember as you engage in the contents of this service, you do so in unity with others in the BAC family. Please try to use your normal Sunday service time to worship together.
Your Pastor,
Wayne
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Call to Worship: (leader reads)
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10
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Opening Prayer: (say together)
Gracious God, we humbly thank you for life and health and safety,
for freedom to work, leisure to rest, and for all that is beautiful in creation
and human life.
But, above all, we praise you for our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
for his death and resurrection; for the gift of your Spirit;
and for the hope of sharing in your glory.
Fill our hearts with all joy and peace in believing;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Bible Reading: Luke 24:36-53 (read aloud)
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marvelling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
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Respond Together:
Discuss with the others in the room the names of those people you know who most need to know about the love and forgiveness of Jesus in this season.
The leader prays for those friends that have been named.
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Confession of Sin and Assurance of the Gospel:
The leader invites:
‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson they shall be like wool.’
Isaiah 1.18
Let us now confess our sins to almighty God.
Heavenly Father,
you have loved us with an everlasting love,
but we have broken your holy laws
and have left undone what we ought to have done.
We are sorry for our sins
and turn away from them.
For the sake of your Son who died for us,
forgive us, cleanse us and change us.
By your Holy Spirit,
enable us to live for you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The leader declares:
God desires that none should perish,
but that all should turn to Christ, and live.
In response to his call we acknowledge our sins.
God pardons those who humbly repent,
and truly believe the gospel.
Therefore we have peace with God, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2.4–5
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Prayers: (leader or group members pray these and any other concerns on your heart)
Sovereign Lord, you are the hope and healer of your people and have promised a world where there is no more sickness or crying or death.
By your death and resurrection you have set your people free from the penalty of sin and death.
We pray your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Please prosper the work of those who are seeking a vaccine for the coronavirus, please strengthen those who are treating the sick, please comfort those who are mourning the loss of loved ones or living in fear of this disease.
Please give to governing authorities wisdom in their management of this crisis, and give to your people your peace beyond understanding, generous and wise hearts and a renewed trust in your sovereign goodness and glory.
Turn the hearts of many now experiencing fear and anxiety that they they may find that peace which is the fruit of the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray, Amen.
The Lord's Prayer: (pray together)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen
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