Incarnation

Tuesday Refocus: April 18

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“Like the manna of old that fell in the wilderness, He has come where you are. You do not need to go on a weary search to find Him.” - Lilias Trotter

God with us. God among us. God for us. God who indwells us. This is Emmanuel. The one who did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself and took on the form of a servant (Phil 2:6-7). He has moved close to those who were dwelling in the land of deep darkness (Is 9:2). He came to seek and to save the lost - because there is no one that searches for God, no, not one (Luke 19:10, Rom 3:11).

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” - John 6:35-40

Lord, may we taste and see that you are good. Amen.

Amen,

AB

15 January: Liturgy + Set List

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  • THE GREATNESS OF OUR GOD

    Call to Worship: Psalm 40:5

  • HOW GREAT THOU ART

  • ABIDE

    That song is taken largely from John 15 - where Jesus says ‘I am the vine and you are the branches, abide in me, and I in you, because apart from me you can do nothing…’ 

    You and I are incapable of saving ourselves, and even beyond that, you and I are incapable of living the life God has called us to live apart from the ongoing work of Christ in us and through us. You and I cannot love God and love our enemies apart from Christ working in us and through us.

    Tomorrow is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. A day set aside to remember and celebrate the life and ongoing work of Dr. King. And remembering is right and good. But I think as followers of Jesus it is also right to be challenged by Dr. King’s faith in action. And as we remember, and are challenged by the ongoing work or racial justice in our country and around the world, and as we remember and are challenged by the counter-cultural life that God calls us to live as His followers, and as we are increasingly aware of our need for Christ to work in us and through us, we are going to pray. I will read this corporate prayer first so you can see and hear the words, and then we will pray this together.

    Corporate Prayer:

Almighty God, you created us in your own image: Grant us grace to contend fearlessly against evil and to make no peace with oppression; help us to use our freedom rightly in the establishment of justice in our communities and among the nations to the glory of your holy name; though Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. [Book of Common Prayer]

Sermon: Mark 1:14-28

Repent and believe the Gospel - that is the invitation of Christ in this passage, but it is also the invitation of Christ for every person here, whether you are a follower of Jesus or not. Let’s use these next songs as prayers of repentance and belief. Would you stand if you’re able, we’ll sing together…

  • THERE IS A REDEEMER

  • SON OF SUFFERING

    Benediction: Matthew 28:18-20

December 23: Liturgy + Set List

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  • COME AND STAND AMAZED

    Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7

    Reading: John 1:9-14

  • HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

  • ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH

    Reading: Luke 1:26-38

  • O COME, O COME EMMANUEL

    Message: Hebrews 1:1-4

  • COME THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS/JESUS WHAT A FRIEND FOR SINNERS

    Reading: Luke 2:1-14

  • SILENT NIGHT (SON OF GOD, SON OF MAN)

Silent night, holy night

Ages past, heavenly height

Before the fall salvation was planned Son of God is Son of Man

Christ our Rescue is here, Christ our Rescue is here

Silent night, holy night

God is near, not by might

God with us the Word made flesh

On His shoulders, all kingdoms will rest

Jesus, King of kings, Jesus, King of kings

Silent night, holy night

God from God, Light from Light

For our pardon, He lived and died

God and man now reconciled Christ,

Himself is our peace Christ, Himself is our peace

Silent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin, mother, and child

Holy Infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace

Reading: Luke 2:15-21

  • THE KING IS COMING PRELUDE

December 24: Tuesday Refocus

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‘Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world.’ Hebrews 1:1-2

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He is the God who speaks, who has always been speaking.  With His Word He spoke the world into being, and by its power the universe is upheld (Gen 1:3, Heb 1:3).  Jesus is the Word made flesh (Jn 1:14).

He tore the veil of time.  

He tore the temple veil.

He does not dwell behind temple veils, 

or in houses made by human hands, 

because His dwelling place is with man.  

He is Emmanuel, God with us.

(Matt 27:51, Acts 17:24-25, Rev 21:3, Is 7:14)

God with us is the Word who took on flesh and blood, and His blood speaks a better word (Heb 12:24).  This Word is good news to the poor, binding to the brokenhearted, and liberty to the captives (Is 61:1).

Lord, You are the Word made flesh, given to us in love, absolutely true. You have come, You are coming again, and we wait for You. In Jesus name, amen.

 Merry Christmas, 

AB