ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR
THE FAITH REFORMED CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
Abbreviated Liturgy for Online Worship
Sunday, April 12; Easter Sunday
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Christ is risen!
People: He is risen indeed!
Leader: Come and see the tomb where he was laid;
People: The tomb is empty, for He is risen!
Leader: Come and hear the story of our risen Lord,
People: And spread the word to all people;
Leader: That Christ is risen!
All: He is risen indeed!
INVOCATION
All: O God, you are the creator of the world, the liberator of your people, and the wisdom of the earth. By the resurrection of your Son, free us from our fears, restore us in your image, and ignite us with your light, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
******************
* HYMN OF PRAISE “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” - Organist Ben Benfer
******************
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: Holy Lord, God of grace, hear our prayer. We are given new life in you, yet we would rather remain rooted where we are. You offer us resurrection, yet we fixate on despair. You offer us your own presence, yet in our faithlessness we are convinced we are alone. God of mercy, forgive us. Make us aware of the depth of your grace and help us to respond by living new lives in dedication to you. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who forgives and redeems us all. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE (1 Peter 1:3-4)
All: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.”
*Gloria Patri: Glory be to The Father Hymn #805
SUMMARY OF THE LAW (Colossians 3:12-14)
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
******************
*SERMON HYMN “In the Garden” - Organist Ben Benfer
******************
SCRIPTURE READINGS - Jeremiah 31:1-6
John 20:1-18
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “Empty Church, Empty Tomb“
******************
*RESURRECTION HYMN “He Arose” - Organist Ben Benfer
******************
APOSTLES CREED
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, dead, and buried.
The third day he rose from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
From thence he shall come to judge the quick 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.
CLOSING PRAYER, LORD’s PRAYER, & BENEDICTION
Almighty God,
Hear us in our time of distress.
We pray for the sick and the dying, that your healing and your comfort may be with them.
We pray for the caregivers, that you may shield and strengthen them against all harm.
We pray for the lonely, that they may know your love and the love of their neighbors.
We pray for ourselves, that you may preserve us by your providence,
and make us blessings to our neighbors, and beacons of your radiant light in the darkest night.
Make your love burn brightly in all your people, as we look forward to the day when we may once again gather together in joy under your holy name.
We pray these things in the name of our Holy Shepherd, Jesus Christ,
Who taught us to pray with the words,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be 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 sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
Amen.
All are invited to attend a virtual coffee hour via Zoom at 10:30am. Please e-mail [email protected] if you need the invitation or
THE FAITH REFORMED CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
Abbreviated Liturgy for Online Worship
Sunday, April 12; Easter Sunday
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Christ is risen!
People: He is risen indeed!
Leader: Come and see the tomb where he was laid;
People: The tomb is empty, for He is risen!
Leader: Come and hear the story of our risen Lord,
People: And spread the word to all people;
Leader: That Christ is risen!
All: He is risen indeed!
INVOCATION
All: O God, you are the creator of the world, the liberator of your people, and the wisdom of the earth. By the resurrection of your Son, free us from our fears, restore us in your image, and ignite us with your light, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
******************
* HYMN OF PRAISE “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” - Organist Ben Benfer
******************
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: Holy Lord, God of grace, hear our prayer. We are given new life in you, yet we would rather remain rooted where we are. You offer us resurrection, yet we fixate on despair. You offer us your own presence, yet in our faithlessness we are convinced we are alone. God of mercy, forgive us. Make us aware of the depth of your grace and help us to respond by living new lives in dedication to you. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who forgives and redeems us all. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE (1 Peter 1:3-4)
All: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.”
*Gloria Patri: Glory be to The Father Hymn #805
SUMMARY OF THE LAW (Colossians 3:12-14)
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
******************
*SERMON HYMN “In the Garden” - Organist Ben Benfer
******************
SCRIPTURE READINGS - Jeremiah 31:1-6
John 20:1-18
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “Empty Church, Empty Tomb“
******************
*RESURRECTION HYMN “He Arose” - Organist Ben Benfer
******************
APOSTLES CREED
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, dead, and buried.
The third day he rose from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
From thence he shall come to judge the quick 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.
CLOSING PRAYER, LORD’s PRAYER, & BENEDICTION
Almighty God,
Hear us in our time of distress.
We pray for the sick and the dying, that your healing and your comfort may be with them.
We pray for the caregivers, that you may shield and strengthen them against all harm.
We pray for the lonely, that they may know your love and the love of their neighbors.
We pray for ourselves, that you may preserve us by your providence,
and make us blessings to our neighbors, and beacons of your radiant light in the darkest night.
Make your love burn brightly in all your people, as we look forward to the day when we may once again gather together in joy under your holy name.
We pray these things in the name of our Holy Shepherd, Jesus Christ,
Who taught us to pray with the words,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be 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 sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
Amen.
All are invited to attend a virtual coffee hour via Zoom at 10:30am. Please e-mail [email protected] if you need the invitation or