LEFC Guide to Worship at Home
May 17, 2020
$ Introduction
$ Home Worship Guide
$ More Links to Helpful Resources
Introduction
Dear Church Family,
I am thankful for Sundays. Even
though during these strange times the days seems to run together the rest of
the week, the rhythm of setting aside one day for worship (even if it has to be
at home) and fellowship (even if it has to be online) and rest (even if it
followed weirder work than usual) is comforting and strengthening to me. I’m
glad that Sunday comes each week, and we can sanctify the day.
To help us all sanctify this
Sunday, we have prepared another ten-step Guide to Worship at Home. With Paul in Philippians, we continue to
emphasize the theme of rejoicing. This week in our readings and songs, we
rejoice because of the blessings we enjoy through our union with Christ and
fellowship with the Spirit.
This Sunday at 11am, Lord-willing,
many of the families of our church will “meet” together on Zoom for a Family
Fellowship time (I’ll be there by 10:45 to greet folks and help people get set
up). Our special guests will be Jeff & Faith Aldridge, the new directors of
the Clearfield NxtGen Center. We have been partnering with the NxtGen Center
for more than 20 years (It used to be called “The Crossroad Youth Center)!
Please consider joining us to get to know the Aldridges better and find out
more about what the Lord is doing through that youth ministry.
Please also continue to
ask the Lord for wisdom for our leaders to determine when and how to re-start in-person gatherings on our church campus. We are
all eager to return, and we want to do it in the Lord’s way and the Lord’s
time.
Speaking of time, when
are you going to gather your household this weekend to worship the Lord Jesus
Christ?
In His Grip,
- Pastor Matt
P.S. I hope you are singing.
This week I discovered a hymn by John Newton (1779) I had never heard of
before. I’m glad that believers through the ages have found ways to capture and
articulate their experience of the faithful provision of our Lord. You might
want to sing your way through this song this week:
"Though troubles assail us
and dangers affright,
though friends should all fail
us and foes all unite,
yet one thing secures us,
whatever betide,
the promise assures us, 'The
Lord will provide.'
The birds, without garner or
storehouse, are fed;
from them let us learn to trust
God for our bread.
His saints what is fitting shall
ne'er be denied
so long as 'tis written, 'The
Lord will provide.'
When Satan assails us to stop up
our path,
and courage all fails us, we
triumph by faith.
He cannot take from us, though
oft he has tried,
this heart-cheering promise,
'The Lord will provide.'
No strength of our own and no
goodness we claim;
yet, since we have known of the
Savior's great name,
in this our strong tower for
safety we hide:
the Lord is our power, 'The Lord
will provide.'"
Home Worship Guide
1. Call to Worship
Read Psalm 67 with joyful
anticipation as your family gathers to worship.
**Option: Families with young
children may want have the kids shout, “May the peoples praise You!” after each
of the psalmist’s requests (v.2, v.3, v.4, v.5, and v.7).
Have someone pray and ask God to
bless your time of worship at home.
2. Worship in Singing
As a household sing “Leaning on
the Everlasting Arms” by Elisha Hoffman (1894).
**Option. Families with younger
children might want to repeat the song that has our Hide the Word verse in it:
“Rejoice in the Lord Always.”
Parents might plan to do this short song for several weeks because repetition
helps us to learn something well. Don’t forget that it is also a canon your
family can sing “in the round.”
3. Worship in Unity
Recite together Article 6 of the EFCA Statement of Faith.
“We believe that the Holy
Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the
world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into
union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells,
illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and
service.”
4. Worship in Lament and Thanksgiving
As they prepared to face the challenge
of entering the Promised Land, Moses told the people of Israel, “The eternal
God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy
33:27a).
We are “safe and secure from all
alarms,” but those alarms are still very real. The Lord invites us to bring our
trials before Him. Take time to pour your families’ troubles to the Lord while
expressing your faith in the refuge of His everlasting arms. Have each family
member share.
5. Worship in Bible Memorization
Recite Philippians 4:4 once
more, and this time add in verse 5:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I
will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is
near.”
**Option: Eventually we are
going to memorize all of Philippians 4:4-9. Don’t wait until the verses get
long and difficult to memorize. Have each family member close their eyes and
say what they can remember out loud.
6. Worship in Prayer
Take prayer requests and pray
for each other.
Read the prayer guide together
and pray for the rest of the church family and the requests listed.
7. Worship in the Word
Watch or read Pastor Matt’s
message: “Make My Joy Complete.”
[The
message will be available online by Sunday morning.]
Some
families may want to watch/read the message on their own and then have a Bible
study and discussion together during this time.
Application Questions for Personal Reflection
and Family Discussion:
1. Do
I enjoy the blessings of union with Christ? If not, will I repent and put my
faith in Him?
2. Am
I doing my part to walk and work in unity with the other Christians in my life?
If not, what do I need to change?
3. In
what ways am I humbling myself and serving other people? In what new ways do I
need to begin?
8. Worship in Singing
Sing “They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” by Peter Scholtes (1966).
**Option:
Some families may want to again sing “Jesus, Strong and Kind” by CityAlight (2019) to cement it in
their memories and reinforce its profound message.
9. Worship All Week
Have
someone pray a prayer of commissioning for your family as you end this time of
gathered worship and face a week of new opportunities and new challenges to
serve the Lord, the church, and the world in His Name.
10. Participate in LEFC Family Fellowship
Meeting on Zoom.
- See
one another’s faces and hear each other’s voices.
-
Listen to announcements of church family news.
- Interact
with the new directors of the Clearfield NxtGen Center, Jeff and Faith
Aldridge.
- Pray
for one another live and online.
More Links to Helpful Resources
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