Good Friday Special At Home Liturgy

Special thanks to Gold Avenue Church Worship Leaders Kayleen Jasperse and Marissa Walters for their prayerful work on this Liturgy.

 

Welcome!

 

Good Friday is a day where we remember and reflect on a pivotal point in Christian history: the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ that atoned for the sins of the world. 

 

As you walk through the different sections of this liturgy, you’ll be invited at different times to read, sing, worship, reflect, and pray. Please note that a variety of scripture translations have been utilized throughout this liturgy; feel free to look up your preferred translation as you feel led. It may be helpful to read scripture slowly and to linger in or repeat certain passages as you feel led. 

 

As a visual, we also invite you to light a candle before you begin that you can then extinguish when directed at the end of the liturgy to represent the death of Jesus.

 

May the Lord bless you richly as you spend time with him reflecting on his tremendous sacrifice.

 

Open by  reading this question and answer from the Heidelberg Catechism out loud about the significance of Jesus’ suffering and death:

 

Q&A 40:         

Q.

Why was it necessary for Christ

to humble himself even unto death?

A.

Because of the justice and truth of God 

satisfaction for our sins

could be made in no other way

than by the death of the Son of God. 

 

Gen 2:17.

Rom 8:3; Phil 2:8; Heb 2:9, 14, 15.

 

Take a moment to silence your thoughts and your heart and prepare for worship.

 

Opening Prayer: 

 

Read this prayer aloud as you invite the Holy Spirit to move in your heart as we reflect on the suffering and death of our savior, Jesus Christ

 

God of all hope,

we gather today deeply aware

of the world’s grief and pain –and our own. Send your Holy Spirit here among us and comfort us with the sure knowledge

that our Lenten journey will end in Easter joy. Amen.

–adapted from ​The Worship Sourcebook, J.1.4.9; u​sed with permission

 

Opening song: 

Feel free to join in song, to listen to, and or meditate on the words of this song where we remember the love of Christ displayed for us on the cross.

 

 

Preparation: the Traitor

 

Read out loud from Matthew 26:17-30 :

On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare your Passover meal?”

He said, “Enter the city. Go up to a certain man and say, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I and my disciples plan to celebrate the Passover meal at your house.”‘” The disciples followed Jesus’ instructions to the letter, and prepared the Passover meal.

After sunset, he and the Twelve were sitting around the table. During the meal, he said, “I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators.”

They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, “It isn’t me, is it, Master?”

Jesus answered, “The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!”

Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”

Jesus said, “Don’t play games with me, Judas.”

During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples:

Take, eat.

This is my body.

Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them:

Drink this, all of you.

This is my blood,

God’s new covenant poured out for many people

    for the forgiveness of sins.

“I’ll not be drinking wine from this cup again until that new day when I’ll drink with you in the kingdom of my Father.”

They sang a hymn and went directly to Mount Olives.

 

 

 

Confession: Peter’s Betrayal

 

Read out loud from John 18:15-18 and 18:25-27

 

Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

 

Spend a few minutes alone or as a family inviting the Holy Spirit to bring to mind any times in the past week when you have denied Jesus. When in this past week/few weeks have I denied the opportunity to share the good news about Jesus? How else have I denied, turned away from, ignored Jesus…? Take time to confess to the Lord anything that comes to mind.

 

 

 

Remembering:

 

Read aloud from Matthew 27:1-56

Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

 

(Jesus Before Pilate)

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”  All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

 

(The Soldiers Mock Jesus)

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

 

The Crucifixion of Jesus

As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).  There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the jews.

Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.  “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.  He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”  In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

 

The Death of Jesus

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[c] lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

 

Questions and Reflection: 

 

Reflect on our Father’s forgiveness toward us because of Christ’s sacrifice. Take time to  journal or talk about your feelings/heart/ emotions as you read about Jesus’ crucifixion and death using the following prompts:

 

What does it mean for Jesus to be your personal Lord and Savior? 

 

Think about where you would be without this sacrifice; remember who you were and what you were like before Jesus rescued you.  

 

Reflect on the freedom and forgiveness you have because of Christ’s sacrifice. 


Lament:

 

Jesus cried out in lament to His Father from the cross (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). His spirit was troubled. He was in a place of feeling forsaken. He was expressing His pain through lament.  Lament is born out of moments where things are not as we would hope or desire them to be, or when things do not seem to reflect God’s Kingdom; to lament is to bring our pain to the Lord honestly and vulnerably while still acknowledging His goodness and his sovereignty even when we do not understand. Good Friday gives us an opportunity to participate with God in His ministry of lament, as we remember the suffering and sorrow of Jesus in His death.

 

Read aloud from Psalm 22

 

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

    Why are you so far from saving me,

    so far from my cries of anguish?

My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,

    by night, but I find no rest.

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;

    you are the one Israel praises.

In you our ancestors put their trust;

    they trusted and you delivered them.

To you they cried out and were saved;

    in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

But I am a worm and not a man,

    scorned by everyone, despised by the people.

All who see me mock me;

    they hurl insults, shaking their heads.

“He trusts in the Lord,” they say,

    “let the Lord rescue him.

Let him deliver him,

    since he delights in him.”

Yet you brought me out of the womb;

    you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.

From birth I was cast on you;

    from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Do not be far from me,

    for trouble is near

    and there is no one to help.

Many bulls surround me;

    strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

Roaring lions that tear their prey

    open their mouths wide against me.

I am poured out like water,

    and all my bones are out of joint.

My heart has turned to wax;

    it has melted within me.

My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,

    and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;

    you lay me in the dust of death.

Dogs surround me,

    a pack of villains encircles me;

    they pierce my hands and my feet.

All my bones are on display;

    people stare and gloat over me.

They divide my clothes among them

    and cast lots for my garment.

But you, Lord, do not be far from me.

    You are my strength; come quickly to help me.

Deliver me from the sword,

    my precious life from the power of the dogs.

Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;

    save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

 

Reflection for lament:

Do any of the feelings that are expressed in this Psalm resonate with you right now? Read the following questions, and choose 2-3 of them to journal about or share with those around you:

 

Is there something the Lord may be inviting you to lament over with Him? 

 

In light of the suffering and death of Jesus, what grieves you? 

 

In light of what is going on in the world right now, what is your heart broken over? 

 

Where do you long for Jesus to manifest his Kingdom in your life or in the lives of those around you?  

 

The beauty of lament is that when we take our pain and struggles to our God, He promises to bear our burdens and make things right in His own perfect timing. Because of His sovereign goodness and because of His victory on the cross, we can exchange our pain for His healing, our burdens for His strength, our worries for His peace and provision.

 

The psalmist wrote of this glorious exchange when he completed the Psalm that you’ve just read.

 

Read aloud the rest of Psalm 22:

 

I will declare your name to my people;

    in the assembly I will praise you.

You who fear the Lord, praise him!

    All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!

    Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

For he has not despised or scorned

    the suffering of the afflicted one;

he has not hidden his face from him

    but has listened to his cry for help.

 

From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;

    before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.

The poor will eat and be satisfied;

    those who seek the Lord will praise him—

    may your hearts live forever!

 

All the ends of the earth

    will remember and turn to the Lord,

and all the families of the nations

    will bow down before him,

for dominion belongs to the Lord

    and he rules over the nations.

 

All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;

    all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—

    those who cannot keep themselves alive.

Posterity will serve him;

    future generations will be told about the Lord.

They will proclaim his righteousness,

    declaring to a people yet unborn:

    He has done it!

 

 

 

Throughout this service we have walked through the final days of Jesus’ life and His suffering and death. We participated in His suffering as we too grieved the brokenness of our world and our lives as we long for His Kingdom to come. We conclude this Good Friday Service in a place of lament and yet a place of faith  as we meditate on the burial of Jesus and anticipate His glorious resurrection.

 

Burial of Christ:

 

Read aloud from Matthew 27:57-61 

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.  Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.


Responding:

 

 

As the liturgy concludes, feel free to sing along with or just linger in the song below; if you chose to light a candle at the beginning of the liturgy, you may extinguish it at the conclusion of the song.

 

Make sure you join in on Easter morning for the rest of the story. 

 

 

Were You There?

 

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. 

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 

 

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? 

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? 

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. 

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? 

 

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? 

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? 

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. 

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? 

 

Were you there when God raised him from the tomb? 

Were you there when God raised him from the tomb? 

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. 

Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?

 

/by

Gold Avenue Church At Home Worship Liturgy 03.28.21

A Note Before you Begin:

 

This service was prayerfully planned and coordinated with worship planner Kayleen Jasperse  in conjunction with the pastors.

 

Our prayer is that this liturgy helps us to create cultures of worship in our homes or wherever we utilize them. May the Lord bless you as you enter into his presence and give him praise. May we each be met, blessed,  challenged, and encouraged to grow as disciples and disciple makers of Jesus Christ.

 

*If you happen to encounter any technical difficulties or notice any technical issues with this liturgy, please send a text message to Mark Essenburg whose phone number can be accessed through the Church Directory linked in your weekly email update. 

 

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 our Lord.

 

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

From Psalm 1 Peter 1:1-8:

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

 

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

 

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

 

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Worshiping in Song:

 

All I Have is Christ

 

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.

 

Consider sending a greeting text message to a church family member.

 

“The Lord be with you!”

and in response: 

“and also with you!”

 

And if you’re alone:

“The Lord is with me!”

 

O Come to the Altar

King of Kings

 

There is a Name

 

Testimony/Family Prayer Time:

 

How has the Lord been at work in around you this week? Consider sharing your story with those around you or writing it down. Give glory to the Lord for the good work that He has done!

 

Take a few minutes to pray for our church family, our neighborhood, and the world as the Lord leads.

 

Consider asking a church family member how you can be in prayer for them or inviting a church family member to pray for you.

 

 

Regular Offering:

Support ministry at Gold Avenue Church by giving to the general fund (Click the picture for more giving options):

  1. Text:  send amount (number only, no extra symbols) to (616) 319-2259 and follow prompts to give securely
  2. Give online at https://goldavenuechurch.breezechms.com/give/online or give through PayPal here.
  3. Mail a check payable to Gold Avenue Church at 49 Gold Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI 4950

 

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. 

 

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

 

The Preaching of the Word:

Our current sermon series is written in connection to and alongside a helpful tool that we have developed called the Gospel Tool. Disciple Groups at Gold Avenue Church are working through lessons that are based upon the Gospel Tool, and we want to make this resource available to every listener. Click here to check out the Gospel Tool, the Visual Gospel overview, statements, & scriptures.

 

Access the audio of the sermon here: Sermon Audio Recording

Song of Response:

The song of response gives opportunity to consider, apply, and respond what we’ve just heard from the Word. If you need to and are able, take a few minutes to process what you’ve just heard and experienced and how the Lord may be inviting you to respond.

 

Refiner’s Fire

 

The Lord’s Blessing:

The Lord’s Blessing serves to make space for us the Lord to bless us to continue to walk in faithful obedience and to grow up into maturity.

 

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

 

From Colossians 1:9-14:

May God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,  being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,  and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 

Closing Song: 

Doxology

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen, amen, amen, amen
/by

Children’s Worship 03.28.21

Dear Parents,

Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home!  

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

Today is Palm Sunday and marks the beginning of Holy Week. If you would like to delve into this week in a more in depth way with your children the CRC Curriculum,
DWELL, has a great resource to use. It is attached here:

 

https://network.crcna.org/faith-nurture/how-help-families-celebrate-holy-week-home

 

RESURRECTION BUNS

Here is a fun project to do for Easter. It’s also posted in the Easter Lesson but if you’d like to start early on Easter morning it’s here, too. Also, you may need to pick up some ingredients if you don’t already have them.

Ingredients

1 package refrigerated crescent dough

1 bag of large marshmallows

½ cup of butter, melted

¾ cup of white sugar

2 Tablespoons cinnamon

 

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a muffin tin pan and set aside.

Melt butter in a small bowl. Mix together the cinnamon and sugar in a separate small bowl. 

Unroll the crescent dough and separate into the triangles (along the dough perforations). Explain that the dough represents the tomb that they put Jesus into after his crucifixion.

Next, hold up a white marshmallow and explain that it represents Jesus. Roll the marshmallow in butter and then in the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Explain that it represents the oils and spices that were rubbed on Jesus after his death before they placed him in the tomb.

Place the marshmallow onto a dough triangle near the larger end. Wrap each side of the dough up and over the marshmallow and explain that the dough represents the tomb where they buried Jesus. Roll the dough in your hands until all of the marshmallow is covered and sealed.

Dip the rolled dough in butter and then dip in the cinnamon/sugar mixture and place in the greased muffin tin.

Repeat until all of the dough has been used.

Bake for 15 minutes.

Allow to cool then cut the “tomb” (rolls) down the middle. Before cutting, ask if the kids remember what happened on the third day (or why we celebrate Easter). Remind them that when they went to the tomb where Jesus was buried, the tomb was empty because Jesus rose. Cut through the roll and show the kids how the “tomb” is now empty.

Make sure you get the classic crescent dough that can be separated into triangles.

You may want to place the muffin tin on a cookie sheet before baking in case there is any spillover.

 

May you and your children have a blessed and meaningful Easter!  He is Risen!

The Loudest Parade

Based on: Matthew 21:1-16

 

EQUIP:  

(It’s not an activity, but just a little background on the story for you, the parent, to read.) 

 

As we start to think about how the people in Jerusalem responded to Jesus on the first Palm Sunday, let’s take some time to think about our own responses to Jesus. For me, I know that I asked Him to be my Lord and Savior a long time ago. But what about my everyday responses? And what about yours?

 

It can be easy to ignore Jesus, especially when things are going well in my life. Other times, I expect Him to answer my prayers according to MY idea of what should happen! But when Jesus rode into Jerusalem, He wasn’t coming to meet the crowd’s expectations, He was coming to do His Father’s will. He was concerned with God’s best, not His own desires. When I put aside my ideas of what should happen in my life and recognize Jesus as my King, my Savior and my God, I respond to Him with praise for His goodness, His love, His wisdom—because He is the great I AM.

 

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the Sunday before Passover, He was clearly communicating who He is and why He had come. Riding a donkey showed that He was the King, bringing peace, not war. And He was fulfilling Isaiah’s and Zechariah’s prophecies about the coming of the Messiah, the One God had promised to send to save His people (see Isaiah 62:11; Zechariah 9:9). Jesus has not changed. Jesus is still the King who brings peace and the Savior who forgives our sin.

 

Debbie Barber

Senior Editor

 

Activity One:  Read the intro. Watch the video.

Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts. Prayer.

Worship: Singing 

Activity Three:  Respond to the story by doing the activity. 

Activity Four:  Bless your children 

 

Activity 1:  STORY

Introduction:To read the children:

 

As Jesus and His friends walked down the road toward Jerusalem for the Passover celebration, Jesus told two of His friends to go ahead of them to the next small town and bring back a donkey with her colt, or baby. So they went and found the donkey and the colt to bring back.

 

Listen as I read Matthew 21:4-5 to find out why this was so important!   4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

 

These words were written by the prophet Zechariah about 500 years before Jesus was ever born! This donkey was fulfilling something God had said long, long ago. Anyone who knew Zechariah’s words and saw Jesus riding down the road would have immediately thought, Look! It’s the promised KING!

 

So Jesus’ friends brought the donkey to Jesus. Pulling off their coats, they spread them across the donkey’s back to make a place for Jesus to sit. Jesus got on and began to ride down the dusty road to Jerusalem.  Let’s see what happens!

 

Watch the video:

 

Activity 2:  DISCUSSION

  • Why were the people on the road to Jerusalem so excited? (Jesus, the King, was coming to Jerusalem.) 
  • What special words of praise did they say to Jesus?  (Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.)
  • What did Jesus say when the men told him to tell the people to stop praising Him?  (The rocks would start praising Jesus.)
    • Why was Jesus so sad he began to cry? (The people he came to rescue were missing it. They didn’t want Jesus to save them.)
  • Who welcomed Jesus and praised Him? (The ones who were healed and saw the miracles of Jesus.)
  • Who was unhappy with Jesus? (The ones who would reject him.)

Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem to show that He is the King and Savior God had promised to send. He did exactly what prophets in the Old Testament said the promised Savior would do (see Isaiah 62:11; Zechariah 9:9). Jesus hasn’t changed. He is still the Savior who forgives our sin, and He wants us to follow Him as our King.

 

Some people in our story today were angry with Jesus. They didn’t recognize Jesus as  the true King. And they missed out on knowing and loving Him. But the children and others in Jerusalem who praised Jesus that day recognized that Jesus was the King they had been waiting for. They praised Him and thanked God for sending Him.

 

Read Psalm 47:1-2 aloud.  1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. 2 For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.

 

 We can all praise and celebrate Jesus because He is the great King over all the earth! When we stop and think about who Jesus really is and how He came to make it possible for us to become part of God’s family, the best response is to follow Him and praise Him.

 

Let’s take some time to praise and thank Jesus for who He really is and how He made it possible for us to become part of God’s family.

 

Encourage children to pray for these things with their own words. Then, transition into a time of prayer for personal requests.

 

Worship Songs:

 

The people who waved palm branches and shouted at Jesus used the word hosanna. What does that word mean? It is a word used to express adoration, praise, or joy. They were happy and excited to see Jesus coming as a King. ““Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.“”

 

 

 

Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY #1  Make a paper bag donkey

 

https://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mbagdonkey.htm

     

RESPONSE ACTIVITY #2   Print and Color and or Dot to Dot

Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING

Remember that Jesus is our King! We can honor Him in the things we do and say every day. That’s a great way to follow Him! 

 

(______________),  May you always honor King Jesus by making Jesus the King of your life everyday.

 

/by

Regathering Update 03.24.21

A Year in Review – How God Has Led in a Difficult Time

 

It was February 2020, and the Lord had given some very interesting direction for preaching a short sermon series. He directed us to the book of Haggai, which isn’t your run of the mill book for a sermon series. The sense was that there was a shaking coming and we needed to be prepared. Another theme that came through these sermons was that we needed to be carefully considering what and how we build. 

 

Immediately on the heels of that short sermon series our whole world was turned upside down as Covid-19 swept across the globe! There were many unknowns and few answers. As people around us began to contract the disease, get sick, and in some unfortunate cases, die from its effects, we faced a very difficult decision of what to do as everything around us closed down. Through much prayer and careful thought, we decided that the Lord was calling us to choose to protect life and to honor the government’s request to slow the spread by not meeting in large groups. The decision to shut down our Sunday morning worship services for a time was not an easy one nor was it taken lightly. The driving force behind the decision was love, not fear, as we know that God does not give us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7, NLT)

 

At the time no one knew how long it would take for us to be able to return to corporate worship, and most of us thought that it would be a short time. As time went by, we began to realize that there would be no quick fix and that we might be in this season longer than we’d originally thought. The distancing and disrupted rhythms quickly led to grief over what we’d lost, and for many, feelings of loneliness and isolation. We all missed gathering together on Sunday mornings and longed for when we would be able to resume meeting and worshiping the Lord together again.

 

During this time, however, even though we weren’t able to meet in person, our church remained alive and well, and busier than ever. The staff remained busy serving the church in a variety of old and new ways by: starting a new blog for communication, creating the At Home Worship Liturgies each Sunday, working on updating the church website, sending weekly church emails, facilitating prayer appointments via Zoom, continuing to lead our weekly Wednesday noon prayer meetings via Zoom, and much more. The Care Elder team, Deacons, and Admin Elder teams stayed busy serving the congregation, even as the congregation continued to love, care for, and serve each other.

 

Through the difficult shutdown we continued to ask the Lord for direction and felt that he was calling us to a more intentional focus on disciple making, in accordance with Matthew 28. He helped us to see, even more clearly, that our Sunday morning worship services couldn’t bear the full weight of making disciples who themselves go and make disciples?” While we love gathering and worshiping together, disciple making requires more intentional focus and relationship. So we asked what the Lord would call us to do about this. We sensed that the Lord’s response was to teach gospel fluency in a small group setting which would allow for deeper growth even in a time when large group meetings were still prohibited due to being top contributors to the spread of Covid.

 

So, even as we continued to ask the Lord when it was the right time to begin regathering for Sunday morning worship, we sensed that He was calling us to focus on launching Discipleship groups and creating a curriculum called the Gospel tool which we would study in the groups. It was all hands on deck for the staff to launch groups in the fall; the effort required to do this well was tremendous, and more than expected. They had to find hosts and facilitators, discern, write, and train about group culture, how groups would be run, communicate, plan who would be in which groups, and more, while at the same time planning and writing the Gospel Tool curriculum that all the groups would use (we’ve also had a number of other churches and individuals request to use The Gospel Tool, which is very encouraging). We praise the Lord that the majority of our church family has been able to participate in the groups, and we’ve even seen some growth with some new people joining GAC for the groups. 

 

As we now consider regathering for worship on Sunday mornings, we’re asking for the Lord’s wisdom and guidance, and discerning steps of faith to take. We will be working with ministry team leaders to coordinate the many details needed to regather safely. We anticipate this process taking many weeks and will communicate frequently with you as details become firm (i.e. timelines, expectations for safety guidelines, etc.). We do not have a target date yet, but you can expect to hear a joyful announcement from us when we do. Whatever happens, we are excited to worship together as the loving, caring, spirit-filled body that is Gold Avenue Church.

 

As we continue to plan, you can stay up to date by continuing to read weekly emails, checking out GAC’s website www.goldavenuechurch.org (recently refreshed!), or our blog about regathering: http://goldavenuechurch.org/category/regathering-updates/. If you have any questions you can email gold.regathering@gmail.com and we’ll try to answer as best as we can. Thank you for your patience and prayers as we’ve never been on this journey together. Please pray for special wisdom, discernment, and strength for us as we lead this regathering effort. Please pray also for the staff, who have labored so hard on our behalf over this past year. 

 

The Regathering Team

(Annah Blake, Tim Mulder, Nancy VanNoord, Mark Essenburg)

 

/by

Gold Avenue Church At Home Worship Liturgy 03.21.21

A Note Before you Begin:

 

This service was prayerfully planned and coordinated with worship planner Derek Sterenberg  in conjunction with the pastors.

 

Our prayer is that this liturgy helps us to create cultures of worship in our homes or wherever we utilize them. May the Lord bless you as you enter into his presence and give him praise. May we each be met, blessed,  challenged, and encouraged to grow as disciples and disciple makers of Jesus Christ.

 

*If you happen to encounter any technical difficulties or notice any technical issues with this liturgy, please send a text message to Mark Essenburg whose phone number can be accessed through the Church Directory linked in your weekly email update. 

 

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 our Lord.

 

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

From Psalm 97:1-6:

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.

Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side.

His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.

The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all peoples see his glory.

 

Worshiping in Song:

 

10,000 Reasons | Bless the Lord

 

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 Matthew 11:28-29:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

 

And From John 15:6:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

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.

 

Consider sending a greeting text message to a church family member.

 

“The Lord be with you!”

and in response: 

“and also with you!”

 

And if you’re alone:

“The Lord is with me!”

 

Our God

 

King of Kings

 

Testimony/Family Prayer Time:

 

How has the Lord been at work in around you this week? Consider sharing your story with those around you or writing it down. Give glory to the Lord for the good work that He has done!

 

Take a few minutes to pray for our church family, our neighborhood, and the world as the Lord leads.

 

Consider asking a church family member how you can be in prayer for them or inviting a church family member to pray for you.

 

Special Offering: Matthew’s House

 

This month’s Special Offering is for Matthew’s House, a local, West Side ministry. Check out the note below from Pastor George:

Thank you for your continuing financial support of the work God has called us to do on the West Side of Grand Rapids. During the pandemic it has been challenging to do ministry work but God has protected us. One thing we rarely think of is, where does a homeless person shelter? We have found ways to be creative and have helped those who are struggling during these times of quarantine and closures. We have stayed open during this time with limited capacity. We also received a grant to help with transportation for individuals who could not find ways to get to work, doctors appointments, and other vital assignments. This was a blessing to us and the community as we worked together.

Last July, we opened our new Lydia’s House at: 808 7th St. N.W., and transformed the home that had been Lydia’s House into a home we call the “Oasis House” which has now become our family housing. We run into so many families that are living in vehicles just trying to make ends meet. We have certain criteria that they need to meet in order to be in our housing program and we get calls daily to see if we have an opening. Housing is a big concern and rent has become unattainable for many families. We are looking for areas where God can use us as we work together with Gold Avenue church. We have been blessed to be a blessing to others.

Pastor George Werkema

Matthew’s House Ministry

766  7th St. NW  Grand Rapids 49504

(616) 233-3006

cell: (616) 304-7984

 

You can give to the Special Offering by:

  • Text: send amount space “special” (ex: 50 special) to (616) 319-2259 and follow prompts to give securely
  • Give online: at https://goldavenuechurch.breezechms.com/give/online select special from dropdown menu or type “special” in memo line
  • Check: write “special” in memo line

 

Regular Offering:

Support ministry at Gold Avenue Church by giving to the general fund (Click the picture for more giving options):

  1. Text:  send amount (number only, no extra symbols) to (616) 319-2259 and follow prompts to give securely
  2. Give online at https://goldavenuechurch.breezechms.com/give/online or give through PayPal here.
  3. Mail a check payable to Gold Avenue Church at 49 Gold Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI 4950

 

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. 

 

Heart of Worship

 

The Preaching of the Word:

Our current sermon series is written in connection to and alongside a helpful tool that we have developed called the Gospel Tool. Disciple Groups at Gold Avenue Church are working through lessons that are based upon the Gospel Tool, and we want to make this resource available to every listener. Click here to check out the Gospel Tool, the Visual Gospel overview, statements, & scriptures.

 

Access the audio of the sermon here: Sermon Audio Recording

 

Song of Response:

The song of response gives opportunity to consider, apply, and respond what we’ve just heard from the Word. If you need to and are able, take a few minutes to process what you’ve just heard and experienced and how the Lord may be inviting you to respond.

 

Jesus at the Center

 

The Lord’s Blessing:

The Lord’s Blessing serves to make space for us the Lord to bless us to continue to walk in faithful obedience and to grow up into maturity.

 

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

 

From Colossians 1:9-14:

May God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,  being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,  and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 

Closing Song: 

My All in All

/by

Children’s Worship 03.21.21

Dear Parents,

Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home!  

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

Listen Up!

Based on: Matthew 21:33-45

 

EQUIP:  

(It’s not an activity, but just a little background on the story for you, the parent, to read.) 

When I think about Jesus’ parables, I like to remember the story of the prodigal son or the good Samaritan. I don’t think I would ever have selected the parable of the tenants—the Bible story for this lesson—as a favorite! After all, this story includes beatings, stonings and killings! To be honest, in most of my readings of the story, I’ve skipped over its true significance.

 

But I’ve discovered new meaning to this parable that includes the description of Jesus  as the capstone! I recently observed several kids trying to position large blocks into a beautiful arch held in place by a perfectly positioned block (the capstone). The arch fell to the ground time after time, until the block that was the capstone was put in just the right spot. Now when I read this parable, I see with fresh eyes how Jesus was put into our world at just the right time to fulfill God’s plan to make salvation possible for me and for you.

 

Jesus told the parable of the tenants to vividly summarize God’s patience in dealing with His rebellious people. Prophet after prophet was sent by God to deliver the message of hope and redemption. The ultimate messenger was Jesus,  God’s own Son—sent to both Jews and Gentiles. Jesus is the capstone of our faith. The whole Bible tells that salvation depends on Him.

 

Sheryl Haystead   Senior Managing Editor

 

Activity One:  Read the intro. Watch the video.

Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts. Prayer.

Worship: Singing 

Activity Three:  Respond to the story by doing the activity. 

Activity Four:  Bless your children 

 

Activity 1:  STORY

 

Introduction:To read the children:

 

It was the final week of Jesus’ life on Earth, and He was in Jerusalem, teaching and healing people. Many of the people LOVED Jesus; but the Pharisees, the religious leaders, HATED Him! Why do you think the leaders didn’t like Jesus? Jesus’ popularity was making these leaders VERY nervous! 

 

While the religious leaders grumbled about Jesus among themselves, Jesus said, “Listen to this parable.” This is the story He told.

 

Watch the video:

 

 

Activity 2:  DISCUSSION

 

What do you think the leaders did after hearing Jesus’ story? They were not sad. They didn’t say Jesus was right. No, they wanted to arrest Jesus right then! Jesus had told them the truth—but it only made them MORE angry!

  • What did you learn about Jesus from this story? (He is God’s Son. God sent Him.)
  • Why do you think the religious leaders didn’t accept Jesus? (They wanted people to follow them and not Jesus.)
  • Why do you think Jesus told this story? (So that people would know that God sent Jesus and would not reject Him.)
  • How do people today show that they reject Jesus? (They don’t pray to Him. They don’t learn about Him.)

Parents: On a piece of paper, draw a line to make a timeline. Draw a circle to represent the creation of the world at the left end of the timeline, and draw a cross in the middle of the timeline to represent the time when Jesus lived on Earth. 

 

Who told God’s messages before Jesus? Write names of prophets (Elijah, Daniel, Jeremiah, etc.) on the timeline between the circle and the cross. Draw a stick figure near the right end of the timeline to represent people alive today. 

 

Today we can choose whether or not we will accept Jesus and believe that He is the only way to be saved.

  • Who has helped you learn what is true about Jesus? (Parents, Teachers, Pastor.)
  • What are some things you do to show that you believe Jesus is the only way to be saved? (Try to learn more about Him. Pray to Him. Ask His help to obey.)
  • When you think of God’s plan for salvation through Jesus, what can you thank Him for?

Encourage children to pray for these things with their own words. Then, transition into a time of prayer for personal requests.

 

Worship Songs:

 

Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY #1 

 

Our art projects can help us and others think about Jesus. We can remember that believing in Him is the only way to be saved.

 

Supplies

  • Pencils
  • 12×18-inch (30.5×45.5-cm) construction paper
  • 12-inch (30.5-cm) lengths of crepe-paper streamers in a variety of colors or even ribbon or cording might work
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Markers

Students use a pencil to lightly print “JESUS” on their papers, making large letters. Then  students choose crepe-paper streamers, twist the streamers and glue twisted streamers to cover the letters. (Some letters may need more than one streamer.) Children may draw decorations on their papers with markers.

Response Activity #2  Print and Color

Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING

 

This week, let’s see if we can remember to thank God every day for sending Jesus!

 

(______________),  May you always remember that God sent His Son, Jesus, to save us from our sins. Jesus is the only way to get to heaven.

 

/by

Gold Avenue Church At Home Worship Liturgy 03.14.21

A Note before you begin:  

 

This service was prayerfully planned and coordinated with worship planner Marissa Walters  in conjunction with the pastors.

 

Our prayer is that this liturgy helps us to create cultures of worship in our homes or wherever we utilize them. May the Lord bless you as you enter into his presence and give him praise. May we each be met, blessed,  challenged, and encouraged to grow as disciples and disciple makers of Jesus Christ.

 

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 our Lord.

 

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

 

 

 

From Psalm 36:5-9:
Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

 

 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

 

 

Pray for the Lord to fill you, your household, and your home with His presence and His peace.  Fix your eyes and the focus of your heart on Him.

 

Worshiping in Song:

 

How Great Thou Art

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 Jesus as you read these words from Him:

 

From John 10:9-10:

 

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

 

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.

 

Consider sending a greeting text message to a church family member.

 

“The Lord be with you!”

 

and in response: 

 

“and also with you!”

 

And if you’re alone:

 

“The Lord is with me!”

 

 

 

King of Kings

 

Forever

 

Testimony/Family Prayer Time:

 

How has the Lord been at work this week? Consider sharing your story with those around you or writing it down. Give glory to the Lord for the good work that He has done!

 

 

Take a few minutes to pray for our church family, neighborhood, and the world as the Lord leads.

 

Consider asking a church family member how you can be in prayer for them or inviting a church family member to pray for you.

 

 

Regular Offering:

Support ministry at Gold Avenue Church by giving to the general fund (Click the picture for more giving options):

  1. Text:  send amount (number only, no extra symbols) to (616) 319-2259 and follow prompts to give securely
  2. Give online at https://goldavenuechurch.breezechms.com/give/online or give through PayPal here.
  3. Mail a check payable to Gold Avenue Church at 49 Gold Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI 4950

 

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. 

 

Speak, O Lord

The Preaching of the Word:

Our current sermon series is written in connection to and alongside a helpful tool that we have developed called the Gospel Tool. Disciple Groups at Gold Avenue Church are working through lessons that are based upon the Gospel Tool, and we want to make this resource available to every listener. Click here to check out the Gospel Tool, the Visual Gospel overview, statements, & scriptures.

 

This week we are blessed to receive the Word of the Lord from Rev. Elaine May who is a recently new member of our church family. Check out the video below to hear a little bit more about Elaine:

 

Access the audio of the sermon here: Sermon Audio Recording

Song of Response:

The song of response gives opportunity to consider, apply, and respond what we’ve just heard from the Word. If you need to and are able, take a few minutes to process what you’ve just heard and experienced and how the Lord may be inviting you to respond. Sing in response as you feel led.

 

Yes and Amen

 

The Lord’s Blessing:

The Lord’s Blessing serves to make space for us the Lord to bless us to continue to walk in faithful obedience and to grow up into maturity.

 

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: 

 

Go My Children With My Blessing

/by

Children’s Worship 03.14.21

Dear Parents,

Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home!  

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

 

God Is Worthy Of Worship

Based on: John 9:1-41

 

EQUIP:  

(It’s not an activity, but just a little background on the story for you, the parent, to read.) 

 

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.   Psalm 100:1-2

Activity One:  Read the intro. Watch the video.

Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts. Prayer.

Worship: Singing 

Activity Three:  Respond to the story by doing the activity. 

Activity Four:  Bless your children 

 

Activity 1:  STORY

 

Introduction:To read the children:

 

The book of John tells us about when Jesus was on earth and shows us that Jesus is God’s Son.   There was a man who was blind when he was born. For all his life he was blind and couldn’t see a thing. But something happened that made him “see” that God is worthy of worship. Let’s find out what a man in the Bible did when Jesus helped him to see.

 

Watch the video:

 

Activity 2:  DISCUSSION

  • How did Jesus heal the man who was blind? (Jesus spat on the ground and made mud, which He put on the man’s eyes. Then Jesus had the man go wash in the Pool of Siloam.)
  • What did the Pharisees think about Jesus healing the man? (They were mad because He healed on the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest.)
  • When the man found Jesus and heard who He was, what did he do? (He worshiped Jesus.)

God is worthy of worship! He is good and deserving of respect, praise, and attention.   Have your child/children complete these statements to have them think of reasons they should worship God.  Write their answers on a whiteboard or piece of paper.

“God can _____.” 

“God is _____.”

“God always _____.” 

“God gives ______.” 

Or they can finish the statement, “God is good and deserving of respect, praise, and attention because…”

Use this prayer time to worship God using the statements they created.

Then, transition into a time of prayer for personal requests.

 

Worship Songs:

 

 

Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY #1 Worship Mobile

 

God is worthy of worship. Worship means we give honor to God. We thank and praise God for who He is and what He does for us. There are lots of ways to worship God. Let’s make worship mobiles that you can use to remember to  worship God in different ways throughout the week.

     

Supplies

Printed page   Bonus Lesson 14 Worship Mobile – Elementary Spring 2020

Markers

Scissors

Tape

18 inch length of  yarn for each child

 

Distribute supplies. Let the children color the shapes. They can write in the blank shape a way they like to worship God. Then show them how to tape the shapes along a length of yarn to create a mobile.

    

RESPONSE ACTIVITY #2   Print and Color

Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING

 

Lead in a guided prayer: 

 

God, we worship You because You are _________. Going around the circle, let the children finish the sentence. Thank You, God for sending Your Son, Jesus, to help us see Your power. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

/by

Gold Avenue Church At Home Worship Liturgy 03.07.21

,

A Note before you begin:  

 

This service was prayerfully planned and coordinated with worship planner Kayleen Jasperse  in conjunction with the pastors.

 

Our prayer is that this liturgy helps us to create cultures of worship in our homes or wherever we utilize them. May the Lord bless you as you enter into his presence and give him praise. May we each be met, blessed,  challenged, and encouraged to grow as disciples and disciple makers of Jesus Christ.

 

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 our Lord.

 

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

 

 

 

From Psalm 103:1-13
Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 

 

Pray for the Lord to fill you, your household, and your home with His presence and His peace.  Fix your eyes and the focus of your heart on Him.

 

Worshiping in Song:

 

O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

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.

 

Consider sending a greeting text message to a church family member.

 

“The Lord be with you!”

 

and in response: 

 

“and also with you!”

 

And if you’re alone:

 

“The Lord is with me!”

 

 

 

Grace Unmeasured

 

Thank You Jesus

 

Testimony/Family Prayer Time:

 

How has the Lord been at work this week? Consider sharing your story with those around you or writing it down. Give glory to the Lord for the good work that He has done!

 

 

Take a few minutes to pray for our church family, neighborhood, and the world as the Lord leads.

 

Consider asking a church family member how you can be in prayer for them or inviting a church family member to pray for you.

 

 

Regular Offering:

Support ministry at Gold Avenue Church by giving to the general fund (Click the picture for more giving options):

  1. Text:  send amount (number only, no extra symbols) to (616) 319-2259 and follow prompts to give securely
  2. Give online at https://goldavenuechurch.breezechms.com/give/online or give through PayPal here.
  3. Mail a check payable to Gold Avenue Church at 49 Gold Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI 4950

 

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. 

 

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

The Preaching of the Word:

Our current sermon series is written in connection to and alongside a helpful tool that we have developed called the Gospel Tool. Disciple Groups at Gold Avenue Church are working through lessons that are based upon the Gospel Tool, and we want to make this resource available to every listener. Click here to check out the Gospel Tool, the Visual Gospel overview, statements, & scriptures.

 

Access the audio of the sermon here: Sermon Audio Recording

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 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.  God’s 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. 

Song of Response:

The song of response gives opportunity to consider, apply, and respond what we’ve just heard from the Word and the Communion that we’ve just received. If you need to and are able, take a few minutes to process what you’ve just heard and experienced and how the Lord may be inviting you to respond. Sing in response as you feel led.

 

 

The Lord’s Blessing:

The Lord’s Blessing serves to make space for us the Lord to bless us to continue to walk in faithful obedience and to grow up into maturity.

 

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

 

From Colossians 1:9b-14
May the Lord fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,  and giving joyful thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light.  For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves,  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 

Closing Song: 

 

Doxology

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Children’s Worship 03.07.21

Dear Parents,

Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home!  

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

 

Talent Uncovered

Based on: Matthew 25:14-29, Colossians 3:23

EQUIP:  

(It’s not an activity, but just a little background on the story for you, the parent, to read.) 

 

I remember hearing today’s story as a kid. The teacher wanted us to think about how we could use our own talents to serve God. But I knew I didn’t have any talent worth showing to anyone— nothing for a talent show, no sports skills, nothing that would cause anyone to say, “You are so talented!” I was simply ordinary. It took a while before I could figure out that serving God doesn’t require special abilities. What He really wants is for His children to use to the best of their ability what He has given to them.

 

Not needing to be “talented” is comforting! Colossians 3:23 asks us to focus on the process of living for God, not the end result, or the product. Whatever we do, let’s work at it with all our hearts, all our energy and all our love, because we are working for the God who loves us more than we can imagine.

 

Jesus told the parable of the talents to teach the value of service. Jesus told all who follow Him to be prepared for His return by serving Him. Throughout the book of Matthew, we see Jesus as the King who we can serve. Living for Jesus demands our very best. It’s the kind of service we give to the King who came to Earth to love us and make our salvation possible: King Jesus!

 

Debbie Barber

Senior Editor

 

Activity One:  Read the intro. Watch the video.

Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts. Prayer.

Worship: Singing 

Activity Three:  Respond to the story by doing the activity. 

Activity Four:  Bless your children 

 

Activity 1:  STORY

Introduction:To read the children:

 

Jesus had told His friends that He was going away someday. He wanted them to know what to do while He was gone. This is a story Jesus told to help His friends know what He wanted them to do.

 

Watch the video:

 

Activity 2:  DISCUSSION

  • What did the first two servants do with the money they were given?
  • Why was the master angry with the servant he’d given one talent? (The servant did nothing to earn more money for the master.)
  • What do you think Jesus wanted people to learn from this story? (To use the talents and abilities God gives us. To be trustworthy and dependable. To always do our best.)

Each one of us is unique. There is no one else on Earth exactly like you. And no one else has the combination of talents and abilities God has given you. No one else can sing quite like you. No one else can play soccer exactly the way you do. You might already know the talents God has given you, or you might be just starting to discover them. But you can know for certain that God has made you in a wonderful way!

 

Read aloud Colossians 3:23. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

 

How does this verse tell you to work or use your abilities? (Work at it with all my heart. Do my work for the Lord.)  Whatever you do, you can do it for God. Construction workers can do their best work for God. Teachers and bus drivers can, too! Kids and grown-ups can serve God in everything they do! The next time you are sitting in class at school or doing your chores at home or playing basketball, remember that God has made you to do everything to the best of your abilities.

 

When we are working for the Lord, we try to do our best to love Him by serving others. God has given each of us some unique abilities. We can use the talents that God has given us to help others. Helping others is a way to show God that we love Him. Be ready to find ways that you can help serve someone this week.

 

When have you used a talent or ability to serve God?  Let’s pray and ask God to help us find a way to serve someone this week.

 

Encourage children to pray for these things with their own words. Then, transition into a time of prayer for personal requests.

 

Worship Songs:

 

 

Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY #1 Chromatography Science Experiment

 

This looks like a fun science experiment to help children see that God has given each of us many hidden “talents” to share with others. This website does not emphasize that aspect of our lesson so you will have to relate it to the story and the theme of this lesson with an introduction.

 

You will need washable markers

Coffee filters

Shallow glasses of water

Paper plates or paper towels

Popsicle sticks or plastic straws (optional)

Tape

Coffee Filter Science | Easy Science Experiment for Toddlers

Introduction: 
God made each of us special and different with unique talents and abilities. God wants us to use these talents and abilities to serve Him while He is away from us in heaven.  Let’s try a little experiment to see what happens when we use our talents and abilities to serve God. Sometimes we don’t see anything happen right away but after a while we may notice how beautiful those things can become.      

     

RESPONSE ACTIVITY #2   Print and Color

Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING

 

Let’s all show God that we love Him with all our heart by doing our best in everything we do this week and finding some way to use an ability or talent to serve God. 

 

(______________),  May you always remember how special you are to God and serve Him with your whole heart!

 

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