GATHERING LITURGY
Preparation
Spend some time with The Bible Project’s introduction to the Gospel of John.
Spotify playlist to sing along
Gather
Welcome
Candle
Trygve: In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Welcome to the Gathering Hope College!
And this is why we gather… we believe that Christ is the light of the world and in him there is no darkness at all… the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it at all!
Let us worship the God who comes to us as Light from true light!
Song
“God with Us”
Oh You’ve come to bring peace to be Love
To be nearer to us
You’ve come to bring life to be Light
To shine brighter in us
Oh Emmanuel God with us
Chorus
Our Deliverer You are Savior
In Your presence we find our strength
Over ev’rything our Redemption
God with us, You are God with us
Oh You’ve come to be Hope to this world
For Your honor and name
And You’ve come to take sin to bear shame
And to conquer the grave
Oh Emmanuel God with us
Bridge
You are here
You are holy
We are standing in Your glory (Lord)
Song
“Praise the Lord/Rejoice”
Praise the Lord
O my soul rejoice
For his love is strong and
His mercies are never ending
All that I’ve needed you have provided
Great is your faithfulness
O Lord your mercy is new every morning
Great is your faithfulness
All the people sing
Chorus
Praise the Lord
O my soul rejoice
For his love is strong and
His mercies are never ending
From the beginning you have been with me
Great is your faithfulness
When I am downcast your love is steadfast
Great is your faithfulness
And all the people sing
Bridge
Holy Holy Lord God almighty
So worthy to be praised
Holy Holy Lord God almighty
My soul will bless your name
Holy Holy Lord God almighty
So worthy to be praised
Holy Holy Lord God almighty
My soul will bless your name
All the people sing
Confession:
Based off of Psalm 23
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
But, O Lord, we are consumed with wanting more.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.”
But, O Lord, other pastures seem greener. The waters aren’t always still. Our souls still thirst.
“He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.”
O Lord, we long to be led by you, though we may complain along the path.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff– they comfort me.”
And yet, O God, we do sometimes fear. May we feel your presence, your comfort and your forgiveness anew.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
O God, sometimes we refuse to sit down at your table. Forgive us and help us to see your overflowing mercy.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.”
Forgive us, God, and lead us into your house.
Assurance
Romans 8:38–39
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Song
“Nothing to Fear”
When you pass through the waters
I will be with you
And the depths of the rivers
Shall not overwhelm
When you walk through the fire
You will not be burned
I am the Lord I am the Lord
Chorus
And there is nothing to fear nothing to fear
There is nothing to fear nothing to fear
For I am with you always
In the depths of your sorrow
I wept beside you
When you walked through the shadow
I drew you near
Yesterday today tomorrow
Always the same
I am the Lord I am the Lord
Bridge
What can separate you from my perfect love
Word
John 1:1-16 The Prologue of John
(If you can’t get the video to work, read the prologue three times slowly)
Table
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest . . .I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (Mt. 11:28 and Jn. 6:35
During this season we will grieve not sharing the Lord’s Supper with our hope community. Coming to the table together in Dimnent is a moment of shared glory with our beautiful Hope community. Here is a link to the liturgy that we often say together if you’ve been curious and want to spend some more time with it. As you share a meal in your space this Sunday evening pray that your community would be filled with Christ even in this fasting season of separation.
Link to Great Prayer
Prayers of the People:
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he gave them this prayer. Please join with Christians of all times and all places in praying with Christ tonight. We’ve added some ‘extras’ for your time of intercession. We pray especially mindful of our deep need and dependency on God in the time of Covid 19.
Let us pray
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Your name. . .
[Prayers of adoration and thanksgiving–how has God blessed you this week? How has he shown himself faithful, gracious, merciful?]
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. . .
[Prayers of longing for God’s peace and wholeness in your life, in the life of family, friends, the Hope community]
Give us this day our daily bread . . .
[Pray for the needs of your community–God’s keeping of medical personnel, God’s care of those who are alone, fearful, and anxious; God’s healing for those who are sick, God’s help for those who know the loss of job or income, etc.
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us . . .
[Prayers for reconciliation and forgiveness]
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. . .
[Prayers for the healing of the world, that hope may abound at Hope, for personal struggles with temptation and evil]
For Your is the Kingdom, the power,
And the glory, forever. Amen!
Song
“Living Hope”
How great the chasm that lay between us
How high the mountain I could not climb
In desperation I turned to heaven
And spoke Your name into the night
Then through the darkness Your loving-kindness
Tore through the shadows of my soul
The work is finished the end is written
Jesus Christ my living hope
Who could imagine so great a mercy
What heart could fathom such boundless grace
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken I am forgiven
The King of kings calls me His own
Beautiful Savior I’m Yours forever
Jesus Christ my living hope
Chorus
Hallelujah praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ my living hope
Then came the morning that sealed the promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me
Jesus Yours is the victory whoa
Sending
Song
“Not Finished Yet”
I am tethered to Your every word
My heart ever after Your heart first
I will trust You here I will trust You here and now
My hope always set in who You are
Even when I can’t see every part
I will trust You here I will trust You
Chorus
I won’t forget the things You’ve done
For I know that this is just the beginning
You’re not finished yet You’re not finished yet
Until I see Your promise come
God with all I am I’ll keep believing
You’re not finished yet You’re not finished yet
You don’t play games it’s not who You are
You’re not the type to mislead my heart
I can trust You here I can trust You here and now
I’ve only known You to keep Your word
I’ve only found love at every turn
I can trust You here I can trust You
Bridge
Until the dry bones wake until the mountains shake
Until the darkness breaks
I will praise You I will praise You
Candle
Trygve: Hope College, no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel basket? That would be like failing to stay home in this quarantine…that would be dumb!
Trygve: You don’t put it under a bushel basket, you put it on a…
Hope: Lampstand!
Trygve: And it gives light to the entire…
Hope: Hoooouuuuussssssse.
Trygve: Conversation, bedroom study session, Zoom class, Google Hangout, Facebook Live event….Wherever you are at, whatever you do, and whoever you are with – may God’s light and love shine through you, so that each person you encounter might experience in some measure the love and light of God. Stand where you are and hold your hands out….(The Holy Spirit will cover the distance!).
And as we step into this week together let us sing the song that anchors our hope in God…
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God all creatures here below
Praise God above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.