What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged - Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness - Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge - Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He'll take ad shield you; You will find a solace there.
Lord, the light of Your love is shining,
In the midst of the darkness shining.
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us;
Set us free by the truth You now bring us.
Shine on me, shine on me.
CHORUS: Shine, Jesus, shine! Fill this land with the Father's glory.
Blaze, Spirit blaze! Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow! Flood the nations with grace and mercy.
Send forth Your Word, Lord, And let there be light!
As we gaze on Your kingly brightness,
So our faces display Your likeness.
Every changing from glory to glory,
Mirrored here, may our lives tell Your story.
Shine on me, shine on me. CHORUS
Lord I come, I confess,
Bowing here, I find my rest.
Without You, I fall apart.
You're the One that guides my heart.
CHORUS: Lord, I need You, Oh, I need You.
Ev'ry hour I need You.
You're my one defense, my righteousness,
Oh, God, how I need You.
Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more.
Where grace is found is where You are.
Where You are, Lord I am free.
Holiness is Christ in me. CHORUS
Bridge So teach my song to rise to You.
When temptation come my way.
When I cannot stand, I'll fall on You;
Jesus, You're my hope and stay.
CHORUS
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows, like sea billows, roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Chorus: It is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control:
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul. Chorus:
My sin, O the joy of this glorious thought,
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! Chorus:
And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul. Chorus:
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.
CHORUS: Hallelujah! Praise the One who set me free!
Hallelujah! Death has lost its grip on me.
You have broken ev'ry chain,
There's salvation in Your name.
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
Then came the morning that sealed the promise.
Your buries body began to breathe.
Out of the silence the roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me.
Jesus, Yours is the victory.
CHORUS 2X
Jesus Christ, my Living Hope.
God, You are my Living Hope!
James writes to Christians who have begun to take their faith for granted. He
writes to wake them up and renew their zeal. Too often, we old-time Christians allow
our faith to become stagnant. We need to remember again the wonder of our God and
then the power of following Him. There are many James in the New Testament. This is
likely the brother of Jesus.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by
their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But
if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast
about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from
heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and
selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then
peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial
and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of
righteousness.
It's Maundy or Holy Thursday, the night before Jesus would be crucified. Jesus
is celebrating the Passover with His disciples. John records Jesus' words and His prayer
for that night. Jesus knew that the next few days would be confusing the terrifying
for them. Jesus would be arrested and killed. They were afraid that the leaders would
come after them as well. So Jesus takes some time to reassure and comfort the disciples.
23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My
Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with
them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These
words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all
things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave
with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not
let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 "You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to
you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the
Father is greater than I
25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and
pleased to do.
27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one
knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the
Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give
you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and you fill find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy
and my burden is light."
INVOCATION
Pastor: We worship this morning in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES & PRAYERS
P: God, our Father, each day is a gift of Your grace.
C: Your mercies are new every morning.
P: Guide our steps by the light of Your Word.
C: Shield us from harm and keep us from evil.
P: Better than life is Your love.
C: Put joy in our hearts and praise on our lips. Alleluia!
P: We pray together:
C: Heavenly Father, we have come to worship You. Draw near to us in
Your gracious word and assure us of Your loving kindness. Curb our
wandering thoughts that we may hear Your voice and sing Your
praises. Open our hearts by Your Spirit, that we may believe in Jesus
and grow day by day in Your grace. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
CONFESSION OF SINS
P: We have come into the presence of God who created us to love and serve
Him as His dear children, but we have disobeyed Him and deserve only His
wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to Him and plead
for His mercy.
C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In
countless ways I have sinned against You and do not deserve to be
called Your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy
on me according to Your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and
take away my guilt.
Not the labors of my hands can fulfill Thy law’s demands.
Could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone. Thou must save and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress, helpless look to Thee for grace.
Foul, I to the fountain fly – Wash me, Savior, or I die!
P: Jesus says to His people: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.”
His death paid for the guilt of your sins and the sins of the whole world. Do
you believe this?
C: Yes, I believe.
P: Because of the promise of our Savior Jesus, I pronounce to you that your
sins are forgiven. Be assured that you are a dear child of God and an heir of
eternal life.
C: Amen.
P: We Pray.
C: O Lord, my God, I thank You for the love You have shown me in Jesus
Christ, my Savior. Let me live in the peace of forgiveness, help me
fight against temptation, correct whatever wrongs I can, and serve You
and those around me with love and good works. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Amen.
Note: After each reading...
P: This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God.
PSALM 116
P: I love the LORD, for He heard my voice;
C: He heard my cry for mercy.
P: Because He turned his ear to me,
C: I will call on Him as long as I live.
P: The cords of death entangled me,
C: The anguish of the grace came over me;
P: I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
C: Then I called on the name of the LORD:
P: "LORD, save me!"
C: The LORD is gracious and righteous;
P: Our God is full of compassion.
C: The LORD protects the unwary;
P: When I was brought low, He saved me.
C: Return to your rest, my soul,
P: For the LORD has been good to you.
C: For you, LORD, have delivered me from death,
P: My eyes from tears,
C: My feet from stumbling,
P: That I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
ALL: Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it
was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forever and ever.
Amen.
THANK OFFERING
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
(2 Corinthians 4:18)
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS:
Claira Hebert, Abby Hebert,
Forrest Colbeck,
Luis Alvarado, Luis Alvarado
PRAYERS
THE LORD’S PRAYER: 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For
the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours now and forever.
Amen.
(Our prayer team is always ready to go to the throne of the Father for you.
For prayer chain requests, email prayer@livinghopereunion.church.)
SONG VERSE
This is the threefold truth on which our faith depends
And with this joyful cry worship begins and ends:
Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!
BENEDICTION
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS