ONLINE SERVICE FOR ZION EVANGELICAL CHURCH4th SUNDAY OF EASTER, MAY 3, 2020

You are encouraged to go through these as a family, although they can certainly be done individually. While this service is much like our church service, some parts have been eliminated or moved to help it flow better. If you do not care for the renditions of the hymns, there are several other arrangements on YouTube for all the songs. Find one that speaks to your heart.

We hope this service will feed your soul during our forced isolation. Keep those affected by the virus in your prayers—those affected physically, emotionally and economically. Our other prayer concerns:

The son of a good friend of Zion who has been diagnosed with tumors Janet Theobald, recovering from a heart attack and doing well at homePastor Randy Wilken, recovering from a stroke and doing better at homeFran, a friend of Brad’s whose house was destroyed by a tornadoAce, from the Tuesday night alcohol rehab group, going through a difficult time

Call to Worship

Alleluia, the Lord is Risen! The Lord is risen, indeed. Alleluia! We call out to You O God and You answer us. You sustain us and bring deliverance through Your Son Jesus. Hear our prayers and praise again this day as we come to You in worship to give thanks to Your mighty hand. May Your blessing be on Your people, Amen.

Opening Hymn: “Great is Thy Faithfulness”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErwiBz1QA4o

Lyrics

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my FatherThere is no shadow of turning with TheeThou changest not, Thy compassions they fail notAs Thou hast been, Thou forever will beGreat is Thy faithfulnessGreat is Thy faithfulnessMorning by morning new mercies I seeAll I have needed Thy hand hath providedGreat is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

Pardon for sin, and a peace that endurethThine own dear presence to cheer and to guideStrength for today and bright hope for tomorrowBlessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

Great is Thy faithfulnessGreat is Thy faithfulnessLord every morning new mercies I seeAll I have needed Thy hands hath providedGreat is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

God’s Word

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

1 Peter 2:19-25

19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Sermon: “The Unnatural Response” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQyvYfnHXHc

Time for Our Children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9o563sfyvg

Parents: The idea of suffering for what we “do not deserve” is best expressed in the Old Testament story of Job. It’s important to remind children that because we are all sinners we don’t deserve anything from God, yet in His grace and mercy He gives us forgiveness and new life in Jesus. You can find a good kids story on Job at—https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-T2PUIGXXw

Gathering Prayer

We hear Your words, O Jesus, as You addressed the crowd in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.” And we are blessed when people insult us, persecute us and falsely say all kinds of evil against us because of You. We rejoice and are glad, because great is our reward in heaven! Help us Lord Jesus, to return love for hate and good for evil in Your name, Amen.

Apostles’ Creed: Our Statement of Faith

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the one holy universal Christian church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting, Amen.

Sermon Hymn: “Crown Him With Many Crowns”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuMh_ept-Js

Lyrics:

Crown Him with many crowns,The lamb upon His throne:Hark! How the heav'nly anthem drownsAll music but its own!Awake, my soul, and singOf Him who died for thee,And hail him as thy matchless KingThrough all eternity.

Crown Him the Lord of lifeWho triumphed o’er the graveAnd rose victorious in the strifeFor those He came to saveHis glories now we singWho died and rose on highWho died eternal life to bringAnd lives that death may die

Crown Him the Lord of loveBehold His hands and sideThose wounds yet visible aboveIn beauty glorifiedNo angel in the sky

Can fully bear that sightBut downward bends His burning eyeAt mysteries so bright

Crown Him the Lord of yearsThe potentate of timeCreator of the rolling spheresIneffably sublimeAll hail Redeemer, hailFor thou has died for meThy praise never, never failThrough all eternity

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

Offering

Our faithful people are reminded that even during this time of isolation and confinement, the work and needs of the church continue. Please consider mailing your tithes and offerings to the church so that we do not fall behind financially. Our address is 7025 E 100 North, Shelbyville, IN 46176.

Our Prayer of Thanks

Heavenly Father, the promise of Easter is the promise of new life in Christ. We give you thanks for the promise we find in Him. As our worship now ends, let us live that new life to the glory of Your name and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Closing Hymn: “The Lord’s My Shepherd; I Shall Not Want”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4TKvnYafes

Lyrics

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not wantHe makes me down to lieIn pastures green, He leadeth meThe quiet waters by

My soul He doth restore again,And me to walk doth makeWithin the paths of righteousness

E’en for His own name’s sake

Yea, though I walk through death’s dark vale,Yet will I fear no illFor thou art with me, and Thy rodAnd staff me comfort still

My table Thou has furnishedIn presence of my foesMy head Thou does with oil anointAnd my cup overflows

Goodness and mercy all my lifeShall surely follow meAnd in God’s house for evermoreMy dwelling place shall be

Benediction (from John 11:25-26)

Alleluia, the Lord has risen! He has risen indeed, Alleluia! Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. Do you believe this?” We believe, Lord Jesus, and we now go forth to live in this new life, Amen.

IF ZION CAN BE A BLESSING TO YOU DURING THIS TIME, PLEASE LET US KNOW. YOU CAN REACH PASTOR BRAD AT 662-236-2846 OR

BSCHULTZ27@GMAIL.COM