PRELUDE
“I Love you, Lord"
by Laurie Klein and Douglas E. Wagner
Darlene Skinner
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SILENCE
Set a timer for 5 minutes and use a breath prayer.
On the inhale, mentally say: “O Lord…”
On the exhale: “…free my soul.”
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OPENING WORD (Ephesians 4:7-8)
Each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.”
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OPENING HYMN
"God of Grace and God of Glory"
Torin Wright & Darlene Skinner
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God of grace and God of glory, on thy people pour thy power;
crown thine ancient church’s story; bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour.
Lo! the hosts of evil round us scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!
Fears and doubts too long have bound us; free our hearts to work and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days, for the living of these days.
Cure thy children’s warring madness, bend our pride to thy control;
shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal, lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal.
Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore;
let the search for thy salvation be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, serving thee whom we adore, serving thee whom we adore.
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"The Spiritual Art of Subtraction"
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SPECIAL MUSIC
“Precious Lord, Take My Hand"
Torin Wright & Darlene Skinner
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OFFERING
Each week we have the chance to show gratitude for the abundant gifts God has given us. As we continue to build up the church’s ministry in Moore County, we invite you to give online or send in a check, and to use your talents to support local agencies.
Click
here
for this week’s opportunities.
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SECOND SONG
“All Hail the Power/Crown Him” from Tommy Walker
the Connections Praise Band
Click
here
to view and sing along!
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All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem and
Crown Him Lord of all
Bring forth the royal diadem and
Crown Him Lord of all.
Ye chosen seed of Israel's race,
Ye ransomed from the fall
Hail Him who saves you by His grace and
Crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him who saves You by His grace and
Crown Him Lord of all.
[Chorus]
Crown Him Lord of all
At His feet we fall
Crown Him, crown Him
Hail the King of Kings
Robed in majesty
Crown Him, crown Him
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Let every kindred every tribe
On this terrestrial ball
To Him all majesty ascribe
and crown Him Lord of all
To Him all majesty ascribe and
Crown Him Lord of all.
O that with yonder sacred throng we
At His feet may fall
We'll join the everlasting song and
Crown Him Lord of all
We'll join the everlasting song and
Crown Him Lord of all.
[Chorus]
Crown Him Lord of all
At His feet we fall
Crown Him, crown Him
Hail the King of Kings
Robed in majesty
Crown Him, crown Him
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SCRIPTURE LESSON
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin), so as to live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God. For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does.
I Peter 3:18-22 and 4:1-2, 6
MESSAGE
"Easter in Captivity: Spirits in Prison"
by Pastor Sarah
Click
here
to view the sermon.
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CLOSING HYMN
"My Hope is Built"
Torin Wright & Darlene Skinner
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My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Refrain: On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.
Refrain
His oath, his covenant, his blood support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay.
Refrain
When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found!
Dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne!
Refrain
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We pray for all children and students to be able to carry forward a love of learning, discovering the many good gifts of your world. Help their teachers not lose heart. Help those students who struggle with concepts—help them get the help they need. Give all caregivers patience, and enable everyone to finish out the school year strong. Lord, in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all governors and legislators, all leaders everywhere, that they might listen to your still small, voice as they seek to choose what’s best. Let your voice be the voice that overpowers voices of negativity and insecurity. Let your voice guide them as they guide us. Create in them a purity of heart and help them carry out your will. Lord, in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.
We pray for our nation, that all divisiveness would be transformed by the miracle of your grace. Reconcile us with each other. Bridge the gap and build bridges where it seems no bridge could be built. Show yourself to be a God of unity, and unite us across lines of hatred or racism, transforming our sin into a place where your mercy is revealed. Lord, in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all people in grief, especially those of our church family who have lost a parent in recent weeks. Lord, you are our loving Parent, yet we need our earthly parents all our lives. Surround us with comfort. Renew our strength for each day, that we might live out the best legacy our parents leave. Lord, in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.
We pray that none of us would lose heart, but all of us would carry out your work in our community. Let us not grow weary of doing good. Give us a commitment to protect those around us and to be gentle on the earth. Lord, in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.
Amen.
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