WORSHIPING TOGETHER – Sunday May 17, 2020
We pray that you were encouraged by the Vimeo Worship and Rev. Dr. Keith Daly’s message from John 15:1-11 titled, Remain in Christ.
As you continue to worship together in your online and household groups, we offer the following as a guide:
Opening Prayer: (Read by a Single Voice)
Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day and the opportunity to worship you right where we are. Be with us now as we give you our glory and our joy. We pray for those today who are struggling to feel joy – the bereaved, the lonely, the stressed, the hurting. For those, we ask for your comfort and your peace; may they feel your presence in a powerful way. You are so many things to us; today we thank you for being the gardener of our spirit. We invite you to continue your pruning work so that all that we do is for your good and to glorify and build your Kingdom. We welcome you here and we pray today through the power of your Spirit and in the matchless name of your Son. Amen.
Reading Scripture: (Take Turns Reading)
7 The vineyard of the Lord Almighty
is the nation of Israel,
and the people of Judah
are the vines he delighted in.
And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;
for righteousness, but heard cries of distress. (Isaiah 5:7 NIV)
1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (John 15:1-4 NIV)
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 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, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV)
Checking In:
- In what ways are you remaining rooted in Christ in these circumstances?
- How are you sharing the joy of God with others in your current circumstances?
Close in prayer for one another and then with these words: (Read by a Single Voice)
20 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, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV)