Welcome to Willowdale Christian Reformed Church April 21, 2019 10:00 a.m. Easter Resurrection Sunday In worship, God speaks to us through his Word, and we respond with praise and prayer. About the service: * Please rise in body or in spirit. The nursery is available during the service. The preacher is Pastor Herm Van Niejenhuis. The elder is Hetty Verhage. The worship musicians are: Leanne Chuba vocal John Meiboom vocal Aryan Sharifian vocal Atrian Sharifian vocal Parisa Shendi vocal Sung Ho Jun bass guitar Hye-jin Im piano and organ Experiencing Jesus every Sunday; embodying Jesus every day.
We prepare for worship Reflection: You, O God, have kept count of my laments; You collect all my tears in your wineskin bottle. Are they not in your record? Psalms 56:8 Grief melts away Like snow in May, As if there were no such cold thing. George Herbert Prelude Jesus walks alongside us into worship Welcome and introduction Hetty Verhage *Call to worship adapted from Matthew 28 Hetty Verhage Go, see the place where Christ Jesus lay. He is not there; the grave is empty. Jesus is risen. We seek and want to see Jesus who was crucified. Come; here where his disciples are gathered, you will see him. Jesus is risen. This is the good news--- once we were no people; now we are God s people. Jesus is our peace, the indestructible peace we now share with each other. Hallelujah! Jesus is risen indeed. Come, see the risen Lord. He is here to meet with us. Let us worship. *Opening song LUYH 181 See, What a Morning 1. See, what a morning, gloriously bright, with the dawning of hope in Jerusalem; folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light, as the angels announce, Christ is risen! See God s salvation plan, wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice, fulfilled in Christ the Man, for he lives: Christ is risen from the dead. 2
2. See Mary weeping, Where is he laid? as in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb. Hears a voice speaking, calling her name; it s the Master, the Lord, raised to life again! The voice that spans the years, speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us, will sound til he appears for he lives: Christ is risen from the dead. 3. One with the Father, Ancient of Days, through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty. Honour and blessing, glory and praise to the King crowned with power and authority. And we are raised with him; death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered. And we shall reign with him, for he lives: Christ is risen from the dead. Words: Keith Getty, Stuart Townend 2003 Thankyou Music (PRS), admin. worldwide at EMICMGPublishing.com excluding Europe admin. by Kingswaysongs *Prayer of adoration Hetty Verhage *God s greeting & congregational greeting Hetty Verhage *Song of praise LUYH 186 (PsH 396) Low in the Grave Christ Lay ---lyrics in English and Farsi The sacrament of holy baptism Sam Mousavi, son of Babak and Parna Scripture readings for baptism Matthew 28:18-20 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Acts 2:38,39 (in unison) Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off for all whom the Lord our God will call. Baptism is the sign and seal of God s promises to this covenant people. 3
In baptism God promises by grace alone: to forgive our sins; to adopt us into the Body of Christ, the Church; to send the Holy Spirit daily to renew and cleanse us; and to resurrect us to eternal life. This promise is made visible in the water of baptism. Water cleanses; purifies; refreshes; sustains: Jesus Christ is living water. Through baptism Christ calls us to new obedience: to love and trust God completely; to forsake the evil of the world; and to live a new and holy life. Yet, when we fall into sin, we must not despair of God s mercy, nor continue in sin, for baptism is the sign and seal of God s eternal covenant of grace with us. Profession of Faith Minister: Babak and Parna, beloved of God, you stand before us having brought your son to receive the sacrament of baptism. I ask you, therefore, before God and Christ s church to reject evil, to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, and to confess the faith of the church. Do you renounce sin and the power of evil in your life and in the world? Parents: We renounce them. Minister: Who is your Lord and Saviour? Parents: Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour. Minister: Do you promise to instruct Sam in the truth of God s word, in the way of salvation through Jesus Christ; to pray for him, to teach him to pray, and to train him in Christ s way by your example, through worship, and in the nurture of the church? Parents: We do and we ask God to help us. The Baptism Minister: Do you, people of the Lord, promise to receive these sisters into fellowship as members of the body of Christ? Do you promise to love, encourage, and support these 4
People: sisters by teaching the gospel of God s love, by being an example of Christian faith and character, and by giving the strong support of God s family in fellowship, prayer, and service? We do, God helping us. *Song of dedication I Surrender -- lyrics in English and Farsi 1. Here I am, down on my knees again. Surrendering all. Surrendering all. 2. Find me here. Lord, as You draw me near. Desperate for You. Desperate for You. I surrender. 3. Drench my soul, as mercy and grace unfold. I hunger and thirst. I hunger and thirst. 4. With arms stretched wide, I know You hear my cry. Speak to me now. Speak to me now. Chorus I surrender. I surrender. I want to know You more. I want to know You more. Like a rushing wind, Jesus breathe within. Lord have Your way. Lord have Your way in me. Like a mighty storm, stir within my soul. Lord have Your way. Lord have Your way in me. Matt Crocker 2011 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Prayers of God s people Hetty Verhage Jesus opens the Scriptures Children s message Betty Carter Children ages 3 10 are invited to gather in the front before continuing their worship in Sunday school. Visitors children are welcome! Prayer for illumination Scripture readings John 20:1-18 (p 1000 in pew Bibles) Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don t know where they have put him! 5
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. 11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, Woman, why are you crying? They have taken my Lord away, she said, and I don t know where they have put him. 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? Thinking he was the gardener, she said, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him. 16 Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, Rabboni! (which means Teacher ). 17 Jesus said, Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: I have seen the Lord! And she told them that he had said these things to her. This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Sermon Someone s crying, Lord but WHY?? Pastor Herm Van Niejenhuis Jesus breaks bread and gives us himself *Song of response Morning Sun Music and word by James Ward 1. On the first day of the week Mary came, the grave to seek. Jesus met her by the way, On that first Resurrection Day! Chorus Rising like the morning sun, Bringing hope to everyone who sees Him, Praise the Lord! His work was done, Jesus is my morning sun! 2. Hiding in that secret room, is disciples, full of gloom and sorrow, Suddenly, the Lord appeared, 6
Death is conquered! Dry your tears! Chorus 3. Then, at last, on the mountaintop, Angels told them, you should stop your crying, Jesus Christ will come again, What a glad reunion then! Chorus James Ward Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 *Creedal response The Apostle s Creed (Pg. 813 in PsH) Pastor Herm Van Niejenhuis I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Offering of our tithes and gifts for ministry 1 st offering Church ministries 2 nd offering World Renew (General Fund) Offering of song LUYH 187 Thine Is the Glory -- lyrics in English and Farsi Please stand for the last stanza *Prayer over the offering Deacon Celebration of the Lord s Supper Pastor Herm Van Niejenhuis and Kaitlyn Wiersma Welcoming Kaitlyn Wiersma to the Table Minister: Do you believe that you are a member of God s covenant family and that your baptism is a sign of your membership? 7
Do you believe that Jesus Christ died for you and is your Saviour, and do you understand that the bread and cup are symbols of his body and blood? Do you promise to live your life for Jesus Christ as best you can and continue to learn more about him here and in reading the Bible and in personal devotions? Kaitlyn: I do, God helping me. Invitation: Psalm 23 Kaitlyn Wiersma Thanksgiving Child: Why do we give thanks and praise before this table? We give thanks for God s work of creation, liberation, and salvation. The Institution and Memorial Child: Minister: Child: Why do we eat bread at this table? On the night before he died, Jesus took bread. After giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Why do we drink from the cup at this table? Minister: The same night Jesus took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me. Child: What do we remember at this table? We remember God s gracious love for us, Christ s death and resurrection for us, and the Spirit s tender care for us. We proclaim the mystery of our faith: Christ has died; Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Dying, he destroyed our death. Rising, he restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory. The Communion We invite you to come forward to receive the elements. For those receiving the elements in the pews, an Elder will bring them to you. Please partake of the elements in the way that best helps you experience communion with our Lord. 8
Communion song LUYH 559 Ten Thousand Reasons Refrain Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul; worship his holy name. Sing like never before, O my soul; I ll worship your holy name. 1. The sun comes up, it s a new day dawning; it s time to sing your song again. Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes. Refrain 2. You re rich in love, and you re slow to anger. Your name is great, and your heart is kind. For all your goodness, I will keep on singing ten thousand reasons for my heart to find. Refrain 3. And on that day when my strength is failing, the end draws near, and my time has come; still, my soul will sing your praise unending ten thousand years and then forevermore! Refrain x2 Words: Jonas Myrin and Matt Redman 2011 Shout! Publishing, God blesses us as we go to serve *Benediction Pastor Herm Van Niejenhuis *Closing song LUYH 967 We Receive Your Blessing We receive your blessing; we receive your grace, as we walk in the light shining from your face. May the peace that you give change the way that we live. We receive your blessing as we leave this place. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise him, all creatures here below. Praise him above, you heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and praise the Holy Ghost. We receive your blessing as we leave this place. Words: Grace and Natasha Moes 2003 Unity Music Ministries 9