We step aside from our Matthew series this week for a one-off Eastertide message on the practical implications of the resurrection for our daily lives.
If you’re asking yourself, “I know about Easter, but what in the world is Eastertide?”, visit The Christian Year, our artistic accompaniment to the church calendar, for a short explanation and some music, art, and written prayer for the season.
Here’s how you can prepare for this Sunday!
1. Read our text, Colossians 3:1–4.
In this season of Eastertide, what does it mean to live in light of the resurrection? What does the resurrection mean for us practically in our every day lives?
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
Don’t have Spotify? Click the song title below to see song on YouTube.
CALL TO WORSHIP: Revelation 1:4–6
Glory Be To God The Father (Horatius Bonar, Joel Limpic)
How Great Thou Art (Stuart K. Hine addl. verse JD Raab)
CONFESSION OF SIN: Parts Adapted from The Book Of Common Prayer:
Glorious and gracious God,
we come before You today with humble hearts.
We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed.
We have not loved You with our whole hearts,
and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
Father, forgive our blindness to Your glory.
Jesus, awaken us to Your resurrection power.
Spirit, draw near to us and lead us into life.
Remind us who You are, and who we are in You!
Let us live this next week with wide eyes and open hearts.
In the powerful name of Jesus, amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: 1 John 3:1–2
Who You Say I Am (Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan) / I Am Loved (Jonathan Smith, Jason Ingram, Mack Brock)
PASSING THE PEACE
What is Passing the Peace?
(Click to Read)
(Click to Read)
When we’ve met as a large group on Sundays, we’ve always had a time of greeting one another after singing. Many churches call this time “passing the peace.” In some church traditions, one person will say to another, “The peace of Christ be with you” to which the other person responds, “And also with you.”
While potentially unfamiliar for some, we felt that “passing the peace” during greeting times at home could be a powerful act in this age marked by very little external peace. In Isaiah 9, Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace. He wants His kingdom to be marked by this very peace! We want to “pass” to one another this peace that only Jesus can give, especially at a time like this.
It might feel a bit cheesy, but we encourage you to actually pray the peace of God over each other during our times. We encourage you to look into each other’s eyes as you say, “The peace of Christ be with you!” and have others respond with, “And also with you.” Be open-hearted to Jesus, asking Him to fill you with His peace.
SERMON & COMMUNION
Through And Through (Will Reagan) / Before The Throne Of God (Charitie Lees Bancroft arr. Citizens, Shane & Shane)
BENEDICTION
