Moms Who Pray

Moms who pray make all the difference!

Last weekend I spent time with a group of moms, who flew into Holland from various places around the country – for the sole purpose to pray for Hope College, its leadership, and students who attend Hope. It was one of the more encouraging moments of this difficult season. They were so eager to know how they could best pray for Hope’s campus. Since the fall this group of moms has been praying together virtually, but they had never met each other face to face. Their sole common-denominator was that they were moms who had a son or daughter who attends Hope College, and they are moms who pray. I mean these moms PRAY! It was beautiful to experience them become friends in person, and who at the same time are held together in prayer.

I take seriously moms who pray. In my experience, A mother who with regularity intercedes and advocates for their children, families, and communities in prayer is a power and force to honor. I believe a mothers prayer is at the heart of all that is good in the world. Prayer does not require an advanced degree, or a title, or any kind of special training. It simply requires love. This love is what makes a mother’s prayer so powerful and inviting to me. More than anything else, a love that is directed in prayer is difficult to ignore – even for God! A praying mom is one, who I believe, is at the heart of the Christ.
I was blessed to be raised by a praying Mom and it made all the difference in my life – and the life of our family. These Moms I was with this weekend requested to meet with me to simply hear what is on my heart, and to know how best to pray for me, my marriage and family, Hope College, and our ministry. It was a beautiful morning together. What struck me was there spiritual seriousness and dependence on God. There was a sincerity in them that was disarming. I was inspired by their faith and faithfulness. They sought nothing other than to serve and encourage. These moms are part of a long and noble tradition of Mothers who pray, and whose prayers, make all the difference.

One of the greatest theologians of the Church, Augustine of Hippo, credits his mother, Monica, whose prayers he credits for God’s continued mercy and patience on his life. In the The Confessions, Augustine writes:

“‘You put forth your hand from on high’ (Ps. 143:7), and from this deep darkness ‘you delivered my soul’ (Ps. 85:13). For my mother, your faithful servant, wept for me before you more than mothers weep when lamenting their dead children. By the ‘faith and spiritual discernment’ (Gal. 5:5) which she had from you, she perceived the death which held me, and you heard her Lord. You heard her and did not despise her tears which poured forth to wet the ground under her eyes in every place where she prayed. You heard her.” (The Confessions Book III. xi (19)

It is not an understatement to say that Monicas, Augustine’s mother, prayers changed the course of the history.

I applaud all the Moms! Especially, I celebrate those Moms who pray. If you are Mom I encourage you to keep praying. The Lord hears you. Don’t lose heart. The Lord hears your tear soaked prayers – and he does not ignore you. Never cease and never give up praying for your loved ones. It may just make all the difference for them and this world God so loves!

Chapel – Friday, April 24

We Sing Together in Worship

Praise The Lord Ye Heavens

Members of the Student Worship Team

We Listen To The Word Proclaimed

Trygve Johnson – Dean Of The Chapel

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7 (NRSV)

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Chapel – Wednesday, April 22

We Sing Together in Worship

Goodness Of God

Members of the Student Worship Team

We Listen To The Word Proclaimed

Hannah VanderSlice – Hope College Class of 2020

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

John 11:4 (NIV)

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Chapel – Monday, April 20

We Sing Together in Worship

All Creatures Of Our God And King

Members of the Student Worship Team

We Listen To The Word Proclaimed

Jill Nelson – Chaplain of Small Groups

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

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Gathering – Sunday, April 19

Preparation: 

Welcome to the Easter season Hope College! Eastertide is 50 days from Easter to Pentecost where we walk with the stunned disciple’s from the empty tomb to the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the church birthed into the world!

Spotify playlist for Singing 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.  And on this resurrection Sunday we proclaim the one who shone from the empty tomb…  

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

     The Lord is risen Indeed!

Jesus Christ is risen from the grave!

      He is risen indeed!

Let us worship the risen God who comes to us as Light from true light!

SONG: Only a Holy God

Verse 1
Who else commands all the hosts of heaven
Who else could make every king bow down
Who else can whisper and darkness trembles
Only a Holy God

Verse 2
What other beauty demands such praises
What other splendour outshines the sun
What other majesty rules with justice
Only a Holy God

Chorus
Come and behold Him
The One and the Only
Cry out sing holy
Forever a Holy God
Come and worship the Holy God

Verse 3
What other glory consumes like fire
What other power can raise the dead
What other name remains undefeated
Only a Holy God

Verse 4
Who else could rescue me from my failing
Who else would offer His only Son
Who else invites me to call Him Father
Only a Holy God
Only my Holy God

CCLI Song # 7073332

SONG: Oceans 

Verse 1 
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep my faith will stand

Chorus 1
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Verse 2
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sov’reign hand will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now

Bridge
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Saviour

Chorus 2
I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

CCLI Song # 6428767

CONFESSION:

Almighty God,
you have raised Jesus from the grave
and crowned him Lord of all.
We confess that we have not bowed before him
or acknowledged his rule in our lives…
We have gone along with the way of the world
and failed to give him glory.
Forgive us and raise us from sin,
that we may be your faithful people,
obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who rules the world and is head of the church, his body.
Amen

ASSURANCE:
(say it out loud!)

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—
and raised us up with him and seated us with him
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
so that in the ages to come he might show
the immeasurable riches of his grace
in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

—Ephesians 2:4-7, NRSV

SONG: Goodness of God

Verse 1
I love You Lord
Oh Your mercy never fails me
All my days
I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
I will sing of the goodness of God

Chorus
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God

Verse 2
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest night
You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a father
I’ve known You as a friend
I have lived in the goodness of God

Bridge
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
With my life laid down
I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me

CCLI Song # 7117726

CREED

United with Christians around the world, let us proclaim the faith handed down through the ages in the Apostles Creed.

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead and buried;
he descended into hell;
the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and the life everlasting.  Amen.

WORD

Jesus Appears to His Disciples
John 20:19-30

Read the passage outloud to yourself, or your small gathering.

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 community.  Along with many churches around the world we are in a season of observing “spiritual communion.” 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. 

Here is a prayer you can pray as you worship through this service.

“Dear Jesus, I believe that you are truly and spiritually present in the bread and wine.  I love you above all things, and I desire to possess you within my soul. And since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I earnestly pray you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, together with all your faithful people [gathered around every table of your Church], and I embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.”

Prayers of the People:  

Risen and reigning Lord,
truly you are a high priest
who has passed through the heavens.
Truly you were tested as we are,
and yet were without sin.
With boldness we approach your throne,
deeply assured of your mercy and grace
in our time of need.
And so we pray, O Lord of glory.

Your rising and your reigning
give hope to your people.
May all who live without hope today
taste and see that you are good.
So we pray, O Lord of glory.

Your rising and your reigning call us, your people,
to testify to your goodness.
Equip each of us today
to be bold witnesses of Easter news.
So we pray, O Lord of glory.

Your rising and your reigning
call all the nations of the world
to stop their scheming and seek your peace.
May your Spirit convict all people
to submit to your rule and to pursue true peace.
So we pray, O Lord of glory.

Your rising and your reigning
call each of us to turn from the path of death
to the path of obedience and life.
Send your Spirit to strengthen our resolve,
and help us to live as people of life and light.
So we pray, O Lord of glory.

Your rising and your reigning
bring life and light and healing.
May all who suffer in the valley of the shadow of death and disease
know your healing presence.
So we pray, O Lord of glory.

Your rising and your reigning
are firstfruits of all that is to come:
justice, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit.
May your kingdom come quickly.
So we pray, O Lord of glory.

May we, your Easter people,
never fail to bless and thank you
for your immeasurable love and sure promises.
All praise to you, risen Christ,
who with the Father and the Spirit lives
in perfect communion forever and ever. Amen.

SONG: Your Labor Is Not Vain

Verse 1
Your labor is not in vain
Though the ground underneath you
Is cursed and stained
Your planting and reaping are never the same
But your labor is not in vain

Chorus
For I am with you I am with you
I am with you I am with you
For I have called you
Called you by name
Your labor is not in vain

Verse 2
Your labor is not unknown
Though the rocks they cry out
And the sea it may groan
The place of your toil may not seem like a home
But your labor is not unknown

Verse 3
The vineyards you plant will bear fruit
The fields will sing out and rejoice with the truth
For all that is old will at last be made new
The vineyards you plant will bear fruit

Verse 4
The houses you labored to build
Will finally with laughter and joy be filled
The serpent that hurts and destroys shall be killed
And all that is broken be healed

CCLI Song # 7097868

SENDING

SONG: Raised with Christ

Verse 1
The firstborn of all creation
The world was made for Your delight
Taking on our human nature
Becoming sin to give us life

Pre-Chorus
You hold everything together
From beginning to the end
With a love no one can measure
Stronger than the grip of death

Chorus
I’ve been raised with Christ
The old has gone the new has come to life
I will lift my voice and sing Your praise
Forever I will sing Your praise

Verse 2
I fix my eyes upon the heavens
I set my mind on things above
You are the prize You are my treasure
How sweet the name that rescues us

Bridge
We have found our freedom we are free indeed
The empty grave is our victory
Our sin is cancelled He has nailed it to the cross
The King of heaven is alive in us

CCLI Song # 7118133

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!  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.

—

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