ANNOUNCEMENTS
Copies of the Upper Room are in a plastic bin on the bench right outside the doors of the church. Feel free to stop by and pick up a copy for your daily devotions.
You can also drop off crackers and fruit cups to the church anytime. There is a large plastic bin by the front doors for donations. We are in desperate need of crackers. Two shipments (400 cracker packs) were lost in transit and have not been delivered.
If you ordered a lily at Easter and would like to pick it up or donate it to a church member, contact Marilyn Mahan at maj63@twc.com to make arrangements.
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PRELUDE
"My Shepherd Will Supply My Need" arr. Alice Jordan
Darlene Skinner
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SILENCE
Set a timer for 5 minutes and use a breath prayer.
On the inhale, mentally say: “Like a child upon its mother’s breast…”
On the exhale: “…my soul is quieted within me.”
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OPENING WORD
O Lord, I am not proud; I have no haughty looks.
I do not occupy myself with great matters, or with things that are too hard for me.
But I still my soul and make it quiet, like a child upon its mother’s breast;
my soul is quieted within me.
O Israel, wait upon the Lord, from this time forth for evermore.
Let us worship the Lord!
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OPENING HYMN
"Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You"
Torin Wright & Darlene Skinner
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1 Joyful, joyful, we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before thee,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
2 All thy works with joy surround thee,
Earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around thee,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Call in us to rejoice in thee.
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3 Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
4 Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
Love divine is reigning o’er us,
Binding all within its span.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.
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The Psalms have been our prayers and songs for centuries. They capture our highest and lowest emotions, turning them over to God as a farmer turns over dark soil for seeds to take root. Christian martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “The more deeply we grow into the psalms and the more often we pray them as our own, the more simple and rich will our prayer become.”
Take 5 minutes now to memorize a four-verse psalm through Pastor Sarah’s strategic teaching. The psalm’s structure lends itself to easy memorization. You’ll find this psalm bringing balm to you at all times of day and night—especially when you’re feeling anxious.
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PRAYER
Lord, we quiet ourselves before you as children quiet themselves in the lap of their mother.
You are our nurturing, protecting, caring God.
Help us still our souls before you this morning.
Rid us of all pride, haughtiness, and worry.
Free us to be a people who wait upon the Lord,
waiting upon you with calm and with great joy. Amen.
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SPECIAL MUSIC
“Amazing Grace” arr . Craig Courtney
Torin Wright & Darlene Skinner
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OFFERING
As our Lord has set us free from our imprisonments, so we can partner with God in liberating others. There are ways to help out in Moore County. Click
here to offer your efforts in service to the Son who has set us all free, free indeed.
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SECOND SONG
"All Creatures of Our God and King"
the Connections Praise Band
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SCRIPTURE LESSON
MESSAGE
"Easter in Captivity: Locked In a Room with an Open Door"
by Rev. David Beam
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CLOSING HYMN
"Surely the Presence of the Lord"
Torin Wright & Darlene Skinner
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Surely the presence of the Lord
is in this place,
I can feel His mighty power
and His grace.
I can hear the brush of angels’ wings,
I see glory on each face.
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.
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A set of blessings, beatitudes, for our current times:
Blessed are you mask-makers, for you help us breathe easier. Bless the work of your hands and the Maker who gave you that skill.
Blessed are you who stay at home, for you are protecting all. God keep you persevering in your commitment.
Blessed are you who work to provide essentials of every kind, for you are lifelines. Especially we give thanks for the many teens and young adults who staff our grocery stores and Chic-Fil-A.
Blessed are the introverts, for you show us the joys of solitude. May God teach you to rely on community.
Blessed are you extroverts, for you remind us all of a bigger life. May God teach you to listen to the still, small voice of God.
Blessed are you who work in newsrooms, for you keep us connected in the search for honest answers. God grant you spaces of rest in the midst of that fast pace.
Blessed are you good neighbors, for your smiles go a long way. Lord, help all of us be better neighbors, now and when this pandemic is over.
Blessed are you parents and caregivers, blessed are the tired, blessed are the prayerful, blessed are us all when we turn to the Lord. Let us turn to the Lord now and always.
Amen.
By Rev. Barbara Nixon, arr. Pastor Sarah
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