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 Marissa 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 and religious opposition.
Our prayer is that despite the circumstances, you’re able to be fully present to the Lord, to be caught up into the journey that we’re on as God’s people, that you find ways to cultivate beautiful worship in your homes and in your families, and that he meets with each of you richly.
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 148:7-14
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
young men and women,
old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
And he has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the Lord.
Pray for the Lord to fill you, your household, and your home with his presence and his peace. Invite him to stir up worship 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.
He is Exalted
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 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!”
And if you’re alone: “The Lord is with me!”
Come Thou Fount Come Thou King
Behold Our God
Great Are You Lord
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.
Take a few minutes to pray for your church family, neighborhood, and the world as the Lord leads.
Regular offering:
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
Mail a check payable to Gold Avenue Church at 49 Gold Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Song of Preparation:
The Song of Preparation serves to prepare our hearts to receive the Word of the Lord. Continue to fix your eyes on Jesus and surrender your attention and heart to him as we transition and prepare to enter into His Word.
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.
Take My Life
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 Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace
Closing Song:
We Will Glorify
Children’s Worship Lesson:
We welcome all to join us in participating in these lessons, whether with family or not! Throughout these weeks at home, members of our church family have been helping to create this content, so please, check out the lessons, go back and watch the videos, many of which have been produced by our own family! Click on the picture or check them out in the “Children / Youth” category on the blog.
00Gold Avenue Churchhttp://goldavenuechurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GAC-Logo-V5-nbmod-300x300-1.pngGold Avenue Church2020-06-27 16:50:352020-06-27 16:50:35Gold Avenue Church At Home Worship Liturgy 06.28.20
Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home! Today we learn that as the disciples now had God’s Spirit in their lives, they wanted to share Jesus’ love with everyone they met. The good news of Jesus spread quickly! This time we’re going to hear about the healing of the lame man.
Note: Please let us know about how your family is enjoying Children’s Worship! Take some pictures of your family participating in Children’s Worship or share a story. You can post to the Gold Avenue Church Facebook page or send by email at goldavechurch@gmail.com
OVERVIEW:
Activity One: Do the introduction with your child(ren). Watch the video
Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts
Worship: Singing
Activity Three: Respond to the story by doing the activity.
Activity Four: Bless your children
EQUIP:
(It’s not an activity, but just a little background on the story for you, the parent, to read.)
There are times in Scripture when God chooses to display His mighty power. He intentionally makes Himself known and draws people to Him. We see this clearly in the early days of the church when at Pentecost, the followers of Christ received the Holy Spirit. As they experienced God’s power within them, they did miracles in the name of Jesus. This new power is demonstrated in the miracle of Acts 3.
As Peter and John were walking into the temple, their eyes were diverted toward a crippled man begging for money. This man wouldn’t have been unfamiliar to them. As the Bible puts it, he was there “every day to beg from those going into the temple courts” (verse 2). The disciples must have walked past this man hundreds of times. However, this day was different: The Holy Spirit was prompting them. When Peter healed him in the name of Jesus, the man began leaping and praising God. The word “leaping” used in verse 8 is the Greek word hallomai . This word is rarely used in the Septuagint, or Greek Old Testament. Its use in Acts alludes to a messianic passage in Isaiah 35:
Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear; your God will come,
he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. (verses 3–6)
The use of rare words is significant in Jewish texts, bringing to mind the passage in Scripture where the word is first found. The author of Acts was intentional with the language and words he chose. By employing hallomai , he was cuing the audience to something major: God’s kingdom was at hand. The messianic age they had longed for was being previewed for them—right before their eyes. The prophet Isaiah was speaking of the coming messianic age: a promise established in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus that will find fulfillment in His second coming.
Today, as we wait expectantly for Christ’s second coming, we’re also watching God’s kingdom unfold. By the guiding of the Holy Spirit, we play a part in the story. We can watch the Spirit’s power change everything.
Activity 1: STORY
Parents: here is an introduction to the video you can read to your children then do the activity. You will need bean bags or a substitute like cans of vegetables.
After Jesus died on the cross and came back to life, He spent more time with His disciples and then returned to heaven. But Jesus didn’t leave His disciples alone. He sent the Spirit of God—the Holy Spirit—to live in anyone who believed in Him. The disciples now had God’s Spirit in their lives, and they wanted to share about Jesus’ love with everyone they met. The good news of Jesus spread quickly! Today we’re going to hear more about God’s Spirit. But first, let’s take a moment to pray and ask God to teach us. Lead children in a Prayer of Release to pause, be still, and ask the Holy Spirit to quiet their hearts and minds.
God’s Spirit is also in us, His followers today, and helps us do things we think are impossible. Bring out the bean bags or cans of vegetables. Invite a child to come hold both hands cupped together, with arms straight ahead. Begin to pile bean bags or cans into her hands. Eventually, they will be too heavy to keep her arms raised at the same level. It might seem difficult to continue holding these for a long time, right? When she struggles, help her lift them. It was hard to lift this yourself for too long, but with my help, it was a lot easier. Just like my help changed your ability to hold the bean bags longer, God’s power changes everything!
On that day, God’s Spirit wanted Peter to help the paralyzed man and to show him God’s love. Peter couldn’t have healed the man on his own, but because the Holy Spirit of God was living inside Peter, he was able to do amazing things.
God’s Spirit is very powerful, and His power changes everything. There’s nothing God can’t do. When we choose to follow Jesus, His Spirit lives in each of us. That means God wants to use each one of us to share His love with the world in big, amazing ways. We can pray and ask God for His strength in every situation, and trust that He has the power to change things.
In The Big God Story today, Peter met a man who couldn’t walk. Because Peter trusted in God, God used Peter to heal the man’s legs. God’s Spirit is powerful!
I wonder. . . how do you think Peter felt when he saw the crippled man?
I wonder. . . how did the crippled man feel when God’s power healed his legs?
I wonder. . . how have you seen God’s power?
These questions can easily extend into the rest of the week. Look for opportunities to bring conversations about how God Saves into your everyday life as a family.
Worship Songs:
Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY
Option #1
Supplies
Activity page printed out
Coloring utensils
Scissors
1 brad per page
Scotch tape
Directions:
Print one healed man template for each child and color as desired. Cut them out. (Just cut generally around the figure – no need to cut on the lines.) Cut the man into two pieces at the bottom of the belt. Place the top of the belt over the bottom piece enough to be able to stick a brad through. You may want to reinforce where the brad will be placed with a small piece of tape (the tape in the picture is colored green.). Once together you can show how the man could stand up and walk and leap and praise God!
Option #2
This would be a fun story to act out as a family. A few props might be nice: head coverings or headbands, robes, a blanket for lame man, etc. Choose your characters: Peter, John, lame man, crowd. Read directly from the Bible in Acts 3 and act out the story as read.
Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING
Encourage children to pause for a moment and ask God whom they might know who needs His Spirit’s power. Maybe it’s a family member, a neighbor, a friend, or even themselves. Give them a moment to sit and listen for God’s voice. Encourage them to use this week to show that person special attention and love, and even pray for her.
Then, give an individual blessing to each child. Ask him whom he wants to pray for this week. Then pray:
Child’s name , may you know God’s love, and that His Spirit lives within you. May you trust His Spirit as you care for (friend’s name) this week.
After each child has been blessed, gather everyone together for a final blessing. Encourage children to actively participate by following the motions as you lead.
May God’s strength amaze you this week. (Flex arms and pose like bodybuilder.)
May you find yourself jumping (jump),
celebrating (wave hands in air and cheer),
and praising God for the ways His love is working in your life. (Clasp hands together as if praying.)
Lastly please read this special note about July:
Children’s Worship July Break
We have been delighted to continue having Children’s Worship for our families these last months, despite the limitations of not actually being able to physically gather! What a joy it has been to be able to continue to grow in the Lord and in love for each other through fun lessons and videos!
Over the last several years, Children’s Worship has taken the month of July off to allow for both leaders and children to rest and “reset”. We will be doing that again this year, so for the month of July, there won’t be any new Children’s Worship lessons on the blog. Following are some resources that you are invited to use as you continue to learn and grow with your families. Please do check them out and make sure to familiarize yourself with them so you are prepared to share with your family.
Special thanks to all those who have been working hard behind the scenes to make these lessons each week! Many have helped with getting the lessons from our curriculum to the blog, creating videos, adding activities, and more. We are so grateful for their service and for the blessing that these lessons have been to our families during this time. We are looking forward to serving you again soon, have a wonderful summer!
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 Marissa 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 and religious opposition.
Our prayer is that despite the circumstances, you’re able to be fully present to the Lord, to be caught up into the journey that we’re on as God’s people, that you find ways to cultivate beautiful worship in your homes and in your families, and that the Lord meets with each of you richly.
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.
Declare the following out loud as you fix your eyes on Jesus:
From Psalm 96
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his[a] holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Pray for the Lord to fill you, your household, and your home with his presence and his peace. Invite him to stir up worship 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.
Praise is Rising
Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You
We turn to You
Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You
We long for You
When we see You
We find strength to face the day
In Your presence all our fears
Are washed away, washed away
Hosanna, Hosanna
You are the God who saves us
Worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, Hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus
Hear the sound of hearts returning to You
We turn to You
In Your kingdom broken lives are made new
You make all things new
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 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!”
And if you’re alone: “The Lord is with me!”
He Shall Reign Forevermore
In the bleak mid-winter
All creation groans,
For a world in darkness
Frozen like a stone
Light is breaking, in a stable for a throne
And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
Unto us a Child is born
The King of kings and Lord of lords
And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
If I were a wise man
I would travel far
If I were a shepherd,
I Would do my part, but poor as
I am I will give to Him my heart
And He shall reign Forevermore, forevermore
And He shall reign Forevermore, forevermore
Unto us a Child is born
The King of kings and Lord of lords
And He shall reign Forevermore, forevermore
Here within a manger lies
The One who made the
Starry skies
This baby born for sacrifice
Christ, the Messiah!
Into our hopes, into our fears
The Savior of the world appears
The promise of eternal years
Christ, the Mesiah!
And He shall reign Forevermore, forevermore
And He shall reign Forevermore, forevermore
And He shall reign Forevermore, forevermore
And He shall reign Forevermore, forevermore
Unto us a Child is born
The King of kings and Lord of lords
And He shall reign Forevermore, forevermore
He shall reign
He shall reign
He shall reign
To Our God
Up from the ashes Your love has brought us
Out of the darkness into the light
Lifting our sorrows
Bearing our burdens healing our hearts
To our God we lift up one voice
To our God we lift up one song
To our God we lift up one voice
Singing Hallelujah
Chains have been broken eyes have been opened
An army of dry bones is starting to rise
Death is defeated
We are victorious for You are alive
Hallelujah Hallelujah (repeat)
We’ll make His praise glorious glorious, glorious
For His name is glorious, glorious, glorious
Make His praise glorious, glorious, glorious
Shout His name Glorious, Glorious, Glorious
God of Miracles
This song may be a newer one; feel free to listen, meditate on the rich lyrics, and join in as you feel led.
Let faith arise
In spite of what I see
Lord, I believe,
But help my unbelief
I choose to trust You
No matter what I feel
Let faith arise…
Let faith arise
For my Champion’s not dead
He is alive
Oh, and He already knows
My every need
Surely He will come and rescue me
God of miracles come
We need Your supernatural love
To break through
Nothing’s impossible
You’re the God of miracles
Let faith arise
And see the Kingdom come
I lift my eyes
Oh for the battle has been won
My God is faithful
Oh and every single word He said is true
God of Miracles come
We need Your supernatural love
To break through
Nothing’s impossible
You’re the God of Miracles
This world is shaking
But You cannot be shaken
My heart is breaking
But I’m not broken yet
Your love is fearless
Help me to be courageous too
Oh there is nothing impossible…
This world is shaking
But You cannot be shaken
My heart is breaking
But I’m not broken yet
Your love is fearless
Help me to be courageous too
Oh, there is nothing impossible
For the God of miracles
We need Your supernatural love
To break through
Nothing’s impossible
You’re the God of miracles
Yes You are oh
God of Miracles come
We need Your
Supernatural love
To break through
Nothing’s impossible
You’re the God of Miracles
God of Miracles come
We need Your
Supernatural love
To break through
Nothing’s impossible
You’re the God of Miracles
You’re the God of miracles
You’re the God of miracles
You’re the God of miracles
God of miracles
God of miracles
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.
Take a few minutes to pray for your church family, neighborhood, and the world as the Lord leads.
Regular offering:
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
Mail a check payable to Gold Avenue Church at 49 Gold Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Special Offering: Van Fund
Once a month we take a special offering to support special causes that the Deacons have prayerfully discerned. This month’s special offering is the Gold Avenue Church Van Fund. To date, we have received $6,664 towards the van fund. We are grateful for these gifts! The Deacons are expecting a need of $18,000 to replace the vans.
Text: send amount space van (ex: 50 van) to (616) 319-2259 and follow prompts to give securely
Give online: select special from dropdown menu or type “van” in memo line, using links above
Check: write “special: VAN” in memo line
Song of Preparation:
The Song of Preparation serves to prepare our hearts to receive the Word of the Lord. Continue to fix your eyes on Jesus and surrender your attention and heart to him as we transition and prepare to enter into His Word.
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.
God of this City
You’re the God of this city
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation
You are
You’re the light in this darkness
You’re the hope to the hopeless
You’re the peace to the restless
You are
There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this city
You’re the God of this city
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation
You are
You’re the light in this darkness
You’re the hope to the hopeless
You’re the peace to the restless
You are
There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here
There is no one like our God
There is no one like you, God
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done
We believe, we believe in you, God
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here
Greater things, still to be done here
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 Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace
Closing Song:
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above ye heavenly hosts
Praise father, son, and holy ghost
Children’s Worship Lesson:
We welcome all to join us in participating in these lessons, whether with family or not! Throughout these weeks at home, members of our church family have been helping to create this content, so please, check out the lessons, go back and watch the videos, many of which have been produced by our own family! Click on the picture or check them out in the “Children / Youth” category on the blog.
00Gold Avenue Churchhttp://goldavenuechurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GAC-Logo-V5-nbmod-300x300-1.pngGold Avenue Church2020-06-20 16:50:482020-06-20 16:50:48Gold Avenue Church At Home Worship Liturgy 6.21.20
Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home! Today we are reminded that as Gods’ children we’re a part of a bigger family: God’s family! God wants everyone to be part of His family. When we choose to trust and obey Jesus, we become part of God’s family. The video today shows an overview of the entire gospel message. This is a great opportunity to discern and pray about sharing an invitation for your child to believe in Jesus.
Please let us know about how your family is enjoying Children’s Worship! Take some pictures of your family participating in Children’s Worship or share a story. You can post to the Gold Avenue Church Facebook page or send by email at goldavechurch@gmail.com
OVERVIEW:
Activity One: Watch the video
Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts
Worship: Sing
Activity Three: Respond to the story by doing the activity(s). Pray together.
Activity Four: Bless your children
EQUIP:
Offers perspective and context to the lesson’s Bible passage
Throughout The Big God Story, God entered into covenants with mankind in order to establish relationships with people and to reveal His plans for dealing with humanity’s sin by sending a Redeemer. The four main (redemptive) covenants are the Abrahamic (Genesis 12; 13; 15; 17; 18; 22), Mosaic (Leviticus 26), Davidic (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17), and New Covenants (Luke 22:18–20; Revelation 21:1–7).
In the Abrahamic Covenant, God promised blessing to the world (the promise of a Redeemer) and chose Israel to be the channel of that blessing. God then gave the terms by which His people, Israel, would be able to experience that blessing: through obedience to the Mosaic Covenant. Later, God clarified this initial promise made to Abraham by giving the Davidic Covenant. The Davidic Covenant gave people a better, fuller understanding of what the coming king (Messiah) would be like.
Through the prophets, God promised a New Covenant that would once and for all take care of the problem of sin. Through the New Covenant, God would enable His people to obey His Law through the inner promptings of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, this marked the climax of The Big God Story. The cross is the embodiment of the blessing God promised to Israel—to bless them and to bless the world through them. Jesus is the promise. He is the promise God gave to Adam and Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:15). He is the promise God gave to Abraham and the prophets through the covenants. When we proclaim, “Jesus is alive,” we are seeing the fulfillment of thousands of years of promise.
Activity 1: STORY
Activity 2: DISCUSSION
Today we heard how Jesus died for us and rose from the grave! He is alive! Because of Jesus, we get to be with God forever and ever. He wants us to be a part of The Big God Story.
I wonder … What are some of the parts of God’s Story that we heard today? Can you remember any of them in order?
I wonder … What would it have been like to be waiting and waiting for Jesus to come?
I wonder … How does it feel to know that God made this whole plan so I can know Him and be with Him?
Worship Songs:
Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY
Supplies
Scrap paper (various colors and textures)
Basket or bin
Optional: drop cloth (or bed sheet), masking tape
We’re going to celebrate something today. Can anyone guess what it is? Allow children to share ideas. Good thoughts! We’ll have to wait and see why we’re celebrating. But right now, let’s start by making some confetti. It’s made of small pieces of paper. We’ll use the confetti a bit later as we celebrate together!
Explain that children can tear the paper any way they like, but they should be fairly small pieces. The confetti should be placed in your basket or bin. While children work, take this opportunity to connect with them through conversation.
Today in The Big God Story we heard that Jesus died for us, but He came back to life! Because of Jesus, we can be with God forever and ever. He wants us to be part of The Big God Story.How do you feel when you hear that Jesus is alive? How do you feel when you hear that He made the way for you to be with God forever and ever? Interact with kids and their responses.
As part of celebrating that Jesus is alive, kids will have the chance to dance, sing, and make a mess. Today we heard how Jesus died, rose from the grave, and came back to life. Jesus is alive! That sure makes me happy! How about you? Now that we’re done making our confetti, let’s use it to celebrate! Now is our chance to celebrate that Jesus is alive! Turn on some fun praise music, throw confetti, jump and dance to the music, and praise God that he is alive and wants them to be a part of his Story!
Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING
(Child’s name),may you always remember that you’re deeply loved by the God who was, and is, and is to come. He will live forever!
Then close your time by speaking the following blessing over the children as a group.
Children, Jesus lives! He will be alive forever and He gives us life!
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 and religious opposition. Our prayer is that despite the circumstances, you’re able to be fully present to the Lord, that you’re caught up into the journey that we’re on as God’s people, and that he meets with each of you richly!
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 Ephesians 3:14-21:
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Pray for the Lord to fill you, your household, and your home with his presence and his peace. Invite him to stir up worship 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.
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 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 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!”
And if you’re alone: “The Lord is with me!”
Living Hope
How great the chasm that lay between us
How high the mountain I could not climb
In desperation, I turned to heaven
And spoke Your name into the night
Then through the darkness, Your loving-kindness
Tore through the shadows of my soul
The work is finished, the end is written
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Who could imagine so great a mercy?
What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken, I am forgiven
The King of kings calls me His own
Beautiful Savior, I’m Yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Then came the morning that sealed the promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me
Then came the morning that sealed the promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me
Jesus, Yours is the victory, whoa!
Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Oh God, You are my living hope
Goodness of God
I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
And in darkest night You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a Father
I’ve known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah
And all my life You have been faithful, ohh
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God, yeah
‘Cause Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
‘Cause Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me, oh-ohh
‘Cause Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
‘Cause Your goodness is running after, it keeps running after me
And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God
I’m gonna sing, I’m gonna sing
‘Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God
Oh, I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God
Christ Be All Around Me
As I rise, strength of God
Go before, lift me up
As I wake, eyes of God
Look upon, be my sight
As I wait, heart of God
Satisfy and sustain
As I hear, voice of God
Lead me on, be my guide
Be my guide
Above and below me
Before and behind me
In every eye that sees me
Christ be all around me
[x2]
As I go, Hand of God
My defense, by my side
And as I rest, breath of God
Fall upon, bring me peace
Bring me peace
Above and below me
Before and behind me
In every eye that sees me
Christ be all around me
[x2]
Oh oh, oh oh
Christ be all around me
Oh oh, oh oh
Christ be all around me
Your life, Your death
Your blood was shed
For every moment
Every moment
[x4]
Above and below me
Before and behind me
In every eye that sees me
Christ be all around me
[x2]
Oh oh, oh oh
Christ be all around me
Oh oh, oh oh
Christ be all around me
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.
Take a few minutes to pray for your church family, neighborhood, and the world as the Lord leads.
Regular offering:
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
Mail a check payable to Gold Avenue Church at 49 Gold Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Song of Preparation:
The Song of Preparation serves to prepare our hearts to receive the Word of the Lord. Continue to fix your eyes on Jesus and surrender your attention and heart to him as we transition and prepare to enter into His Word.
Here’s My Heart Lord
Here’s my heart, Lord
Here’s my heart, Lord
Here’s my heart, Lord
Speak what is true
Here’s my heart, Lord
Here’s my heart, Lord
Here’s my heart, Lord
Speak what is true
I am found, I am Yours
I am loved, I’m made pure
I have life, I can breathe
I am healed, I am free
Here’s my heart, Lord
Here’s my heart, Lord
Here’s my heart, Lord
Speak what is true
‘Cause I am found, I am Yours
I am loved, I’m made pure
I have life, I can breathe
I am healed, I am free
You are strong, You are sure
You are life, You endure
You are good, always true
You are light breaking through
Oh, here’s my heart, Lord
Here’s my heart, Lord
Here’s my heart, Lord
Speak what is true
Here’s my life, Lord
Here’s my life, Lord
Here’s my life, Lord
Speak what is true
Speak what is true
Speak what is true
I am found, I am Yours
I am loved, I’m made pure
I have life, I can breathe
I am healed, I am free
‘Cause You are strong, You are sure
You are life, You endure
You are good, always true
You are light breaking through
You are more than enough
You are here, You are love
You are hope, You are grace
You’re all I have, You’re everything
Here’s my heart, Lord
Here’s my heart, Lord
Here’s my heart, Lord
Speak what is true
Here’s my life, Lord
Here’s my life, Lord
Here’s my life, Lord
Speak what is true
The Preaching of the Word:
Access the audio of the sermon here Sermon Audio Recording, or click below to stay on this page:
Song of Response:
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.
Great is Thy Faithfulness
“Great is Thy faithfulness, ” O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
“Great is Thy faithfulness, ” Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
“Great is Thy faithfulness, ” Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
“Great is Thy faithfulness, ” Lord, unto me!
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 Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace
Closing Song:
Raise a Hallelujah
I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me
I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!
I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
Sing a little louder (In the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (Louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (My weapon is a melody)
Sing a little louder (Heaven comes to fight for me)
Sing a little louder (In the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (Louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (My weapon is a melody)
Sing a little louder (Heaven comes to fight for me)
Sing a little louder!
I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
Children’s Worship Lesson:
We welcome all to join us in participating in these lessons, whether with family or not! Throughout these weeks at home, members of our church family have been helping to create this content, so please, check out the lessons, go back and watch the videos, many of which have been produced by our own family! Click on the picture or check them out in the “Children / Youth” category on the blog.
00Gold Avenue Churchhttp://goldavenuechurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GAC-Logo-V5-nbmod-300x300-1.pngGold Avenue Church2020-06-13 16:50:322020-06-13 16:50:32Gold Avenue Church At Home Worship Liturgy 6.14.20
Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home! Today we are reminded that as Gods’ children we’re a part of a bigger family: God’s family! God wants everyone to be part of His family. When we choose to trust and obey Jesus, we become part of God’s family. Today, we’ll hear the story (from the Sissons!) of how Jesus called Zacchaeus to be a part of his family!
Please let us know about how your family is enjoying Children’s Worship! Take some pictures of your family participating in Children’s Worship or share a story. You can post to the Gold Avenue Church Facebook page or send by email at goldavechurch@gmail.com
OVERVIEW:
Activity One: Watch the video(s)
Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts
Worship: Sing
Activity Three: Respond to the story by doing the activity(s). Pray together.
Activity Four: Bless your children
EQUIP:
Offers perspective and context to the lesson’s Bible passage
In Luke 19, a tax collector and notorious sinner named Zacchaeus fought the crowds to see Jesus. He found something so compelling about Christ that he sprinted ahead of the crowd, climbed a tree, and watched as Jesus passed. Some scholars have surmised that first-century men found it improper to run. Such an activity was considered highly inappropriate and even scandalous, since it was viewed as childlike. One might conclude that climbing trees would also be socially unacceptable. Zacchaeus broke these social parameters to see Jesus. There was no guarantee Zacchaeus would have any interaction with Jesus or that he’d witness something miraculous. Yet he was willing to potentially humiliate himself to get a brief glimpse of Jesus. That sort of faith caught Jesus’ eye.
Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). In Christianity, to be “saved” is usually used in reference to our salvation—a life where we are freed from the penalty of sin and given a new life with Christ now, as well as after death. However, it’s interesting to note the depth behind this passage. The word “save” in verse 10 is the Greek word sõzõ . This word can mean to rescue someone from danger, destruction, or even illness. Jesus came to find those who were broken inside and make them well.
Zacchaeus was on a path toward destruction, and the crowd was displeased that Jesus chose to stay with someone with such a miserable reputation. Tax collectors were known as notoriously greedy, corrupt thieves. They often collected fines above what the government required, pocketing the profits for themselves. Others viewed him as a traitor to his nation, which kept him from being in community with them. Therefore, Zacchaeus’s love for material things probably consumed his life. Yet, when Jesus showed Zacchaeus God’s true, unconditional love, his whole life was changed. The power of God’s love healed his very soul.
Activity 1: STORY
Watch the video about Zacchaeus:
Activity 2: DISCUSSION
Today we heard in The Big God Story about Zacchaeus and how much he wanted to see Jesus. Jesus saw into his heart and provided the way for him to be part of God’s family.
I wonder … What would it be like to have Jesus come to my house?
I wonder … Was it easy for Zacchaeus to give his things away?
I wonder … Who can be part of God’s family?
Worship Songs:
Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY
God wants everyone to be part of His family. God loves us so much, and He wants us to be with Him forever. Isn’t that exciting? We can be part of God’s family! Let’s take a minute to praise God for wanting us to be part of His family.
What would you like to tell God as we praise Him? You can say whatever you feel like. God just wants to hear what’s on your heart, because you’re His child. I’ll start. “Dear God, I praise You for (insert personal response).” Encourage children to respond with their own words. You can also work on this “Zacchaeus in a Tree” project while you talk.
(Optional) Reverse Musical Chairs
This game will serve as a fun illustration that God wants everyone to be part of His family—not just a select few.
SUPPLIES
Upbeat worship music
SET UP
Place two chairs in the center of the room. Have others ready to add.
RELATE
Encourage children to form a circle around the two chairs. Let’s play a game that’s like Musical Chairs, but with a twist! Instead of taking chairs away, we’re going to add chairs, because there’s always room for someone else in God’s big family.
Cue the music to play and have children walk in a circle around the two chairs. When the music stops, two people will sit in the chairs. Each round, add another chair until all children have a seat—with a chair to spare. When everyone has a seat (plus one), talk with children about the experience. Wow! At first there weren’t enough chairs for everyone. If you didn’t get a chair at first, how did you feel? As we added chairs and you got a seat, how did that feel? Now that we all have a chair, whom do you think the extra chair is for?
Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING
Jesus loves you so much, and just like Zacchaeus, Jesus wants to spend time with you. Do you remember what He said to Zacchaeus? Jesus told Zacchaeus to get down from the tree, because He wanted to go to Zacchaeus’s house. Now, we aren’t actually up in trees, but Jesus’s invitation is still the same: Come spend time with Him … come join the family of God.
(Child’s name), Jesus loves you, He wants to spend time with you, and He wants you to be part of His family.
As you leave here, may you know how truly wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and may you share that love with others.
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 Marissa 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 and religious 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 the Lord’s Supper together following the sermon. Please gather your elements and join us!
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 9:7-10:
The Lord reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
He rules the world in righteousness
and judges the peoples with equity.
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Pray for the Lord to fill you, your household, and your home with his presence and his peace. Invite him to stir up worship 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.
Build Your Kingdom Here
Build Your kingdom here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and land
Set Your church on fire
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom here
We pray
Come set Your rule and reign
In our hearts again
Increase in us we pray
Unveil why we’re made
Come set our hearts ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our very souls
Holy Spirit come invade us now
We are Your Church
And we need Your power
In us
We seek Your kingdom first
We hunger and we thirst
Refuse to waste our lives
For You’re our joy and prize
To see the captive hearts released
The hurt, the sick, the poor at peace
We lay down our lives for Heaven’s cause
We are Your church
And we pray revive
This earth
Build Your kingdom here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and land
Set Your church on fire
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom here
We pray
Unleash Your kingdom’s power
Reaching the near and far
No force of hell can stop
Your beauty changing hearts
You made us for much more than this
Awake the kingdom seed in us
Fill us with the strength and love of Christ
We are Your church
Oh, and we are the hope
On earth
Build Your kingdom here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and land
Set Your church on fire
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom here
We pray
Build Your kingdom here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and land
Set Your church on fire
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom here
We pray
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 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!”
And if you’re alone: “The Lord is with me!”
Great Are You Lord
You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken
Great are You, Lord
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only
you give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken
Great are You, Lord
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only
And all the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing
Great are You, Lord
And all the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing
Great are You, Lord
And all the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing
Great are You, Lord
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
To You only
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
To You only
Even So Come
Lord of all the earth
And all of heaven
I come and seek Your face
Worship You with all I have within me
Humbled by Your grace
Every heart every nation
Every tribe all creation
Will bow before Your presence and sing
You are high and lifted up
You are high and lifted up
And my soul sings hallelujah
To the Lamb
The Lamb of God
Lord of righteousness
You come in glory
Bright and morning star
All my days I’ll worship and adore You
Healer of my heart
Every prayer every cry
You alone satisfy
We will lift Your praise
Again and again
Majesty
Majesty
Jesus Lamb of God
Majesty
Majesty
Holy are You Lord
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.
Take a few minutes to pray for your church family, neighborhood, and the world as the Lord leads.
Regular offering:
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
Mail a check payable to Gold Avenue Church at 49 Gold Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Song of Preparation:
The Song of Preparation serves to prepare our hearts to receive the Word of the Lord. Continue to fix your eyes on Jesus and quiet your heart as we prepare to hear from the Word of the Lord.
The Song of Response serves to make space for us to respond to the message the Lord has given. This week we invite you to sit and soak in the words of the Blessing.
The Blessing
The Lord bless you
And keep you
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His
Face toward you
And give you peace
The Lord bless you
And keep you
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His
Face toward you
And give you peace
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
The Lord bless you
And keep you
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His
Face toward you
And give you peace
As we receive, we agree, amen
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen (amen, amen)
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
Your family and your children
And their children, and their children
May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children
May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children
May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children
May His presence go before you
And behind you, and beside you
All around you, and within you
He is with you, He is with you
In the morning, in the evening
In your coming, and your going
In your weeping, and rejoicing
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen (may His favor)
May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children
May His presence go before you
And behind you, and beside you
All around you, and within you
He is with you, He is with you
In the morning, in the evening
In your coming, and your going
In your weeping, and rejoicing
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you
Oh He is for you
Oh (amen, amen)
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
Their children, and their children (may his presence)
May His presence go before you
And behind you, and beside you
All around you, and within you
He is with you, He is with you (in the morning)
In the morning (in the evening), in the evening
In your coming, and your going
In your weeping, and rejoicing
He is for you (He is for you), He is for you (He is for you)
He is for you (He is for you), He is for you (He is for you)
He is for you (He is for you), He is for you (He is for you)
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
Communion
If you are a baptized member of a church that declares Jesus is Lord, and if you are walking in the light and in pursuit of righteousness, we welcome and encourage you to join with us as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper! If you are not yet baptized or are not yet walking in the light, we encourage you to take some time to pray and reflect with the Lord or to confess and repent of your sins as His Word promises that when we confess, he is faithful to forgive! We welcome baptized children of believers to the table as parents discern they are ready, and also invite you to pray blessing over your children who are not yet ready to partake.
We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more
We will not be burned by the fire
He is the LORD our God
We are not consumed, by the flood
Upheld, protected, gathered up
We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more
In the dark of night, before the dawn
My soul, be not afraid
For the promised morning, oh how long?
Oh God of Jacob, be my strength
We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more
Every vow we’ve broken and betrayed
You are the Faithful one
And from the garden to the grave
Bind us together, bring shalom
We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more
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 Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace
Closing Song:
Our Father
Our Father in Heaven
Hallowed be Your name
Your Kingdom come quickly
Your will be done the same
On Earth as it is in Heaven
Let Heaven come to earth
As it is in Heaven
Let Heaven come
Our Father in Heaven
Hallowed be Your name
Your Kingdom come quickly
Your will be done the same
On earth as it is in Heaven
Let Heaven come to earth
As it is in Heaven
Let Heaven come x11
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever, amen
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever amen
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever, amen
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever amen
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever, amen
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever amen
Children’s Worship Lesson:
We welcome all to join us in participating in these lessons, whether with family or not! Throughout these weeks at home, members of our church family have been helping to create this content, so please, check out the lessons, go back and watch the videos, many of which have been produced by our own family! Click on the picture or check them out in the “Children / Youth” category on the blog.
00Gold Avenue Churchhttp://goldavenuechurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GAC-Logo-V5-nbmod-300x300-1.pngGold Avenue Church2020-06-06 16:50:492020-06-06 16:50:49Gold Avenue Church At Home Worship Liturgy 6.7.20
Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home! Today we are reminded that as Gods’ children we’re a part of a bigger family: God’s family! God wants everyone to be part of His family. When we choose to trust and obey Jesus, we become part of God’s family.
Please let us know about how your family is enjoying Children’s Worship! Take some pictures of your family participating in Children’s Worship or share a story. You can post to the Gold Avenue Church Facebook page or send by email at goldavechurch@gmail.com
OVERVIEW:
Activity One: Watch the video(s)
Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts
Worship: Sing
Activity Three: Respond to the story by doing the activity(s). Pray together.
Activity Four: Bless your children
EQUIP:
Offers perspective and context to the lesson’s Bible passage
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them'” (Luke 15:1–2). To really understand the significance of Jesus’ message in the parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son, it’s helpful to take a look at the social and religious climate of the time. The Jewish leaders looked disapprovingly on tax collectors, Gentiles, and “sinners” as morally and religiously impure. They didn’t pursue relationship with these marginalized people, nor did they attempt to introduce them to God. They were considered lost. The fact that Jesus welcomed such people into His circle and shared meals with them was unheard of and quite uncomfortable to the Pharisees and teachers.
God chose the descendants of Abraham to take the message of who He is to the entire world. It was to be through the example of their relationship with God that other nations would be able to know the one true God. They were blessed to be a blessing to all people. Instead, over time this message was hoarded and kept within the Jewish community—excluding all who fell outside the law.
Jesus rebuked the judgmental mutterings of the Pharisees and teachers by telling three different parables with one central point: God rejoices when the lost are found (and so the Pharisees should too). Every person who isn’t in relationship with God is lost. Every person who is lost matters to God, and He invites the restoration of relationship with Him. God wants everyone to be part of His family.
Activity 1: STORY
The Three Lost Things.
Intro Video:
Lost Sheep and Lost Son:
Activity 2: DISCUSSION
From The Big God Story today, we heard three stories that Jesus told. They each were about things of great value that were lost but then found. There was a big celebration when the lost things were found. God loves each person He made and wants everyone to be part of His family.
I wonder . . What were the three lost things?
I wonder … How do I feel when I lose something?
I wonder … How does God feel when one of His children is lost?
I wonder … What does God do or say when He celebrates that one of His children is found?
Worship Songs:
Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY
Option 1: Playdough Lost items
Supplies: Playdough
Give each child a lump of play dough. Have the kids make items related to the Bible story: a sheep, a coin, or a son. As kids work, allow them to retell the parable for the object they chose to shape. Remind kids that Jesus told these parables to teach about Himself. He gave up His own life to save people from sin. Say, “What does it mean to be lost? Being lost means not knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior
Option 2: Make a sheep mask
Supplies:
Paper Plates
Cotton Balls
Glue or glue sticks
Scissors
Directions: Cut the middle out of a paper plate, glue cotton balls around the outside. Use the middle part to make ears and glue them on. Use the mask when you sing this song to the tune of Jesus Loves Me. You may want to reinforce the paper plate with a piece of cardboard or another cut out paper plate if it gets heavy with cotton balls.
I am Jesus’ little lamb,
Happy all day long I am
I am His and He is mine,
For I am His little lamb.
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
The Bible tells me so.
Option 3: Pin the Tail on the Sheep
Supplies:
Large paper with a drawing of a sheep on it. Mark where the tail is supposed to go with an X. Tape the drawing to a wall within reach of children.
Cotton balls (1 per child)
Glue dots 1 per child)
Optional: blindfold
Directions:
Give each child a chance to try to place the sheep’s tail on the sheep. Whoever places the tail the closest to the X is the winner. Have the child close his/her eyes and try to place the tail, using a blindfold as necessary. For an additional challenge, consider gently spinning each child in a circle three times to confuse his sense of direction. Encourage the group to help cheer on each child, giving him hints if he’s getting colder (farther away) or warmer (closer). Continue this game until everyone has had a turn.
Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING
Begin by reading this verse from 1 John 3:1a over them: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
(“Child’s name”), “may you know you’re God’s child. May you know you’re loved by Him, and there is nowhere that His love can’t reach you.”
As a community we just experienced a series on lament as an expression of faith. It was mostly “personal” in focus, but the Lord also calls us to corporately lament evil, injustice—anything short of his kingdom and his glory. And now, in light of ongoing and recent events, we invite you to do that via the prayer below.
This prayer is long and rich and it may take extended time for you to be fully immersed in it; to that end, feel free to come back to it, use it for your personal devotional time, or work through it however you feel led as together we pray in the fullness of God’s Kingdom.
A Prayer of Lament and Repentance for Racism
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth, and in our nation, as it is in heaven.
Lord, as we reflect on your kingdom, these thoughts come to mind:
Light-We give thanks and praise to you Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
Righteousness, Peace and Joy-Lord, your Word teaches us that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
Justice-Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
Lord, we bring our heartache and pain to you, as we have witnessed and heard about acts of violence and hatred against our brothers and sisters of color in the past several weeks, months and many years in this nation’s history.
We lament the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis this past week. We cry tears of grief with his family and cry out on behalf of all people of color, who once again experience acts of aggression, oppression and murder. How long oh Lord, how long?
How long will prejudice and racial bias result in misinterpreting situations and result in wrongful actions and reactions? Christ, have mercy!
We lament the violence and chaos that has erupted as demonstrations have become violent. Lord, have mercy!
We repent of ways we have participated, knowingly or unknowingly, in the sin of racism (thinking lower of a person or group of people or harboring hatred toward them, based on the color of their skin.) We acknowledge that racism is “not a skin problem, it is a sin problem”, and so we ask you Lord to search our hearts and reveal if any of these things are present:
Have I fully loved God and fully loved my neighbor as myself?
Have I caused pain to others by my actions or my words that offended my brother or my sister?
Have I done enough to inform myself about the sin of racism, its roots, and its historical and contemporary manifestations? Have I opened my heart to see how unequal access to economic opportunity, jobs, housing, and education on the basis of skin color, race, or ethnicity, has denied and continues to deny the equal dignity of others?
Is there a root of racism within me that blurs my vision of who my neighbor is?
Have I ever witnessed an occasion when someone “fell victim” to personal, institutional, systematic or social racism and I did or said nothing, leaving the victim to address their pain alone?
Allow Time for Personal Reflection and Repentance Aloud, as encouraged in James 5:16: Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
Father, we thank you for your forgiveness and we receive it. We pray that you would cause your church across this nation to enter into intentional and sustained repentance and prayer, for the healing of our land, trusting in your promise “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land”.
We pray that your church would reflect the characteristics of your kingdom: light, love, righteousness, peace, joy and justice.
We praise you for the promise that you,God, will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
Today Jesus, we remember your words that “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.” We welcome you Holy Spirit. We welcome you to bring truth in our country. We ask you to bring a mighty testimony to Jesus, through your church at this time.
Father, you have always intended for your children to act as lights in dark places, to bring love that drives out fear and to love each other deeply for love covers over a multitude of sins. Lord, help us to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Empower us to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with you day be day.
We pray for your kingdom to come more fully here on earth. Rule and reign in our lives.
We welcome the Holy Spirit to fill us afresh today, working in and through us, bringing peace and racial reconciliation in our neighborhood, in our nation, and the world, for your glory, forever and ever, In Jesus’ name, Amen!
00Gold Avenue Churchhttp://goldavenuechurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GAC-Logo-V5-nbmod-300x300-1.pngGold Avenue Church2020-06-03 20:00:592020-06-03 20:00:59Prayer of Lament and Repentance for Racism
