Gold Avenue Church At Home Worship Liturgy 5.3.20

A Note before you begin:

Welcome to Gold Avenue Church’s At home Worship Liturgy; we’re so grateful to join together in Spirit as we worship! We want to give special thanks to our worship leaders: Kayleen Jasperse, Derek Sterenberg, and Marissa Walters who have been prayerfully discerning our Orders of Worship and Kayleen in particular who prepared this week’s order. While we would love to be together in person and it may be somewhat difficult or even a little bit uncomfortable to worship from home, we’re reminded of the many believers around the world and throughout time that have worshiped from their homes in the wake of political opposition. Our prayer is that despite the circumstances you’re able to be fully present to the Lord and that he meets with each of you richly. We will also be celebrating Communion during this At Home Liturgy, so please make sure you’ve got some wine/juice and bread/crackers on hand so that we can join in together.

Call to Worship:

The Call to Worship serves to focus our attention on the living God who is present with us; it calls us to position ourselves as those who are ready to worship and ready to receive from Him.

Read the following out loud as you fix your eyes on Jesus:

From Psalm 33:18-22

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

to deliver them from death

and keep them alive in famine.

We wait in hope for the Lord;

he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,

even as we put our hope in you.

Pray for the Lord to fill you, your household, and your home with his presence and his peace. Invite his presence afresh and take time to express your gratitude and thankfulness to the Lord as you feel led.

Worshiping in Song:

You can access the video of each song by clicking on the video. We invite you to turn up the volume and to participate freely and fully: sing along, dance, kneel, listen and soak, read the included lyrics–however you feel led. You may find it fruitful to listen to a song more than once, to respond between songs with prayer, thanksgiving, meditation, or even discussion about how the Lord is at work in and through the song.

Come Thou Fount Come Thou King

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy, never ceasing call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount, I’m fixed up, on it

Mount of Thy re- deeming love

I was lost in utter darkness ’til You came and rescued me

I was bound by all my sin when Your love came and set me free

Now my soul can sing a new song, now my heart has found a home

Now Your grace is always with me

And I’ll never be a- lone

Come, Thou Fount, come, Thou King; Come, Thou precious Prince of Peace

Hear Your bride, to You we sing, come, Thou Fount of our bless- ing

Come, Thou Fount, come, Thou King; Come, Thou precious Prince of Peace

Hear Your bride, to You we sing, come, Thou Fount of our bless- ing

O, to grace, how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love

Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts a- bove

Come, Thou Fount, come, Thou King; Come, Thou precious Prince of Peace

Hear Your bride, to You we sing, come, Thou Fount of our bless- ing

Come, Thou Fount, come, Thou King; Come, Thou precious Prince of Peace

Hear Your bride, to You we sing, come, Thou Fount of our bless- ing

The Lord’s Greeting:

The Lord’s Greeting serves to remind us that we are in the presence of the living God. It makes space for him to greet us as our loving heavenly father who rules and reigns as the King over all and who is present with us as our loving heavenly father!

Fix your eyes on him as you read the following out loud:

From 2 John 1:3:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with me/us in truth and love.

Greeting One Another:

It might feel a little odd doing this at home, but take time to say these words to greet each other, as you shake hands, hug or elbow bump:

“The Lord be with you!” and in response: “and also with you!”

If worshiping as one: “Lord, thank you that you are with me!”

On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand

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

On Christ the solid rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

Whoa-oh, The Solid Rock

On Christ the solid rock I stand

Whoa-oh, The Solid Rock

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

On Christ the solid rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

Whoa-oh, The Solid Rock

On Christ the solid rock I stand

Whoa-oh, The Solid Rock

All other ground is sinking sand

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness

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

On Christ the solid rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

Whoa-oh, The Solid Rock

On Christ the solid rock I stand

Whoa-oh, The Solid Rock

All other ground is sinking sand

Mighty to Save

Well, everyone needs compassion

A love that’s never failing

But let mercy fall on me

Well everyone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Savior

The hope of nations

My Savior

He can move the mountains

My God is Mighty to save

He is Mighty to save

Forever

Author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me

All my fears and failures

And fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in

And now I surrender

(I surrender)

Savior

He can move the mountains

My God is Mighty to save

He is Mighty to save

Forever

Author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

Savior

He can move the mountains

My God is Mighty to save

He is Mighty to save

Forever

Author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We’re singing for the glory of the risen King

Jesus

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We’re singing for the glory of the risen King

Savior

He can move the mountains

My God is Mighty to save

He is Mighty to save

Forever

Author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

Savior

He can move the mountains

My God is Mighty to save

He is Mighty to save

Forever

Author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We’re singing for the glory of the risen King

Jesus

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We’re singing for the glory of the risen King

Jesus

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We’re singing for the glory of the risen King

Jesus

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We’re singing for the glory of the risen King

Jesus

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We’re singing for the glory of the risen King

Jesus

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We’re singing for the glory of the risen King

Our God is mighty to save. He is our risen King who deserves all our praise and all the glory, and he is also with us all the time and in all things. The next song may be a new one, so feel free to listen and soak in the rich lyrics or sing along as you feel led.

Christ is Mine Forevermore

Mine are days that God has numbered

I was made to walk with Him

Yet I look for worldly treasure

And forsake the King of kings

But mine is hope in my Redeemer

Though I fall, his love is sure

For Christ has paid for every failing

I am His forevermore

Mine are tears in times of sorrow

Darkness not yet understood

Through the valley I must travel

Where I see no earthly good

But mine is peace that flows from heaven

And the strength in times of need

I know my pain will not be wasted

Christ completes his work in me

Mine are days here as a stranger

Pilgrim on a narrow way

One with Christ I will encounter

Harm and hatred for his name

But mine is armour for this battle

Strong enough to last the war

And he has said he will deliver

Safely to the golden shore

And mine are keys to Zion city

Where beside the King I walk

For there my heart has found its treasure

Christ is mine forevermore

Come rejoice now, O my soul

For his love is my reward

Fear is gone and hope is sure

Christ is mine forevermore!

Come rejoice now, O my soul

For his love is my reward

Fear is gone and hope is sure

Christ is mine forevermore!

Come rejoice now, O my soul

For his love is my reward

Fear is gone and hope is sure

Christ is mine forevermore!

And mine are keys to Zion city

Where beside the King I walk

For there my heart has found its treasure

Christ is mine forevermore

Testimony/Family Prayer Time:

As you transition, take a moment to reflect on how the Lord was ministering to you through song: what lyrics stood out to you? What emotions were you experiencing? What did God reveal to you about who he is? What did God reveal to you about what he says about you? How else were you ministered to?

Share a story with those around you or to the Lord about how he was at work in worship as well as in your week. Give him glory for his goodness. If alone, you could write down your testimony.

For Family Prayer Time: Take some time to pray–giving thanks, repenting, raising petition, and praying as the Lord leads for our church family, our neighborhood, and the world.

Offering:

This time serves to give us an opportunity to worship through giving we are are invited to give back as the Lord has so richly given to us.

You are invited to continue support ministry at Gold Avenue Church by giving to the general fund (Click the picture for more giving options):

Text: send amount (number only, no extra symbols) to (616) 319-2259 and follow prompts to give securely
Give online at https://goldavenuechurch.breezechms.com/give/online or https://www.paypal.com/donate/…
Mail a check payable to Gold Avenue Church at 49 Gold Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper:

Gather your wine/juice and bread/crackers and join in with the video below. Again, communion from home may feel a little bit awkward, but we’re reminded of so many of our brothers and sisters who throughout the world and throughout history have celebrated communion with great joy from their own homes and in difficult circumstances. May the Lord bless you richly through this meal.

All baptized followers of Jesus Christ are invited to participate in Communion. Parents, we welcome you to discern when your children are ready to participate, as we welcome them to join in this family meal where God seals his covenant love for each of us.

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

The Preaching of the Word:

Click on the play button below the picture to listen, or click here to go to the stand-alone sermons page.

Response:

If this sermon has brought some difficult things for you and if you’d like to talk or pray with someone, please do contact Pastor Jaleesa at pastorjaleesa.gold@gmail.com so that she can speak with you or refer you to a Care Elder. We’d love to pray with you!

The Song of Response serves to make space for us to respond to the message the Lord has given. Feel free to take a moment to ask the Lord how he might be inviting you to respond and follow accordingly. You’re welcome to sing along, to listen and reflect, to pray or journal, etc.

Before the Throne of God Above

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea

A great High Priest whose name is love

Who ever lives and pleads for me

My name is graven on His hands

My name is written on His heart

I know that while in heav’n He stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair

And tells me of the guilt within

Upward I look and see Him there

Who made an end of all my sin

Because the sinless Savior died

My sinful soul is counted free

For God the Just is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb

My perfect, spotless Righteousness

The great unchangeable I AM

The King of glory and of grace

One with Himself, I cannot die

My soul is purchased by His blood

My life is hid with Christ on high

With Christ my Savior and my God

One with Himself, I cannot die

My soul is purchased by His blood

My life is hid with Christ on high

With Christ my Savior and my God

The Lord’s Blessing:

The Lord’s Blessing serves to make space for us to receive the Lord’s blessing to equip and empower us to receive his word, to be obedient to it, and to walk it out in his grace and favor.

Fix your eyes on him as you read the following out loud:

From Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill me/us with all joy and peace as I/we trust in him, so that I/we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Closing Song:

It is Well With my Soul

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

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 has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh, the bliss 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

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

Children’s Worship Lesson:

This week we’ll be learning about how Jesus calmed the storm, which is very applicable for the times we’re in now: LINK HERE. Enjoy going through the lesson with your family, and even if you don’t have kids you might find yourself blessed by the teachings in this lesson!!! While you’re at it, please take some pictures of your family participating in Children’s Worship and share them with us! You can post them to the Gold Avenue Church Facebook page or send by email to goldavechurch@gmail.com