Virtual Worship Service – March 22, 2020
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Preliminary explanations
• Accessing this service
The virtual worship service is available via:
• Donway Baptist Church’s youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKBiEVOXnXWwjKdUdaBI7En08oJvQsCN0
1) Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our inaugural virtual worship service. Even though we are separated by distance and worshipping in our own homes, we can still join our hearts and voices together as we offer our prayers and praises to God. Follow the outline of the service and click on the youtube videos as you progress through the service.
“This is the day which the Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24)
2) Opening Prayer
• Someone in your group can open with this prayer or another of their choice
Gracious and loving God,
we come before you in praise for you are the Source of all that sustains us.
You are compassion, hearing all who call out for mercy.
You are healing, offering wholeness to those who cry out in pain.
You are truth, showing the way to those who seek to know you.
You are hope, bringing the promise of a new day to all people.
Holy One, you have blessed us with abundance and joy
and the grace to share these blessings in Christ’s name.
So we praise you in this time of worship
and seek to renew our trust in you as our Creator, Redeemer and Guide.
Amen.
3) Responsive Call to Worship
• Read this together. Choose a person to do the “one” part and everyone can do the “many” part.
One: The Lord is our Shepherd.
Many: God leads us beside still waters.
One: Christ restores our souls.
Many: The Spirit leads us in right paths.
One: Even though we walk through the darkest valleys,
Many: We fear no evil for God is with us.
One: Come, let us worship God, ever Three and ever One.
4) Praise Songs
• Sing these praise songs. Click on the links below for the youtube videos, which have the words and the music.
• “Be Exalted, O God”
• “Great is Thy Faithfulness”
5) Song of Confession: O Lord, Have Mercy on Us
• Sing this song as a prayer of confession. Click on the link below for the youtube video, which has the words and the music. You may wish to have a time of silence after the song to reflect and pray.
6) Words of Assurance
• Someone in your group can read the words of the assurance of forgiveness
Sisters and brothers, while it is true that we have all sinned, it is a greater truth that we are forgiven through God’s love in Jesus Christ. To all who humbly seek the mercy of God I say, in Jesus Christ our sin is forgiven. Be at peace with God, with yourself and with one another.
7) Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 23
• Someone in your group can read this Psalm or you may wish to read it together
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.
8) Prayers of the People
• Spend some time praying for the world, your neighbourhood, your friends, your family, your church, and yourselves. Pray that the Good Shepherd would place his arms around those you are praying for.
• If you want to spend some extra time in prayer, you could go through the church directory and pray for every person and family listed there.
• If you wish, you can finish your time by praying the 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 trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, [and] the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen
9) Reflective Song: Open Our Eyes, Lord
• Sing this reflective song before we listen to the Gospel lesson. Click the link below for the youtube video, which has the words and music.
10) Gospel Lesson: John 9:1-42
The Healing of the Man Born Blind
• Click the link below for the youtube video, which has a dramatized reading of the Gospel lesson.
11) Meditation: Seeing the Light (John 9:1-41)
• The full text of the message is an attachment below.
12) Sending Out Song: We are Marching in the Light of God
• Sing this song as a celebration that the Light of the world has come and a commissioning to take Christ’s light into the world. Click on the link below for the youtube video, which has the words and the music.
13) Final Blessing
May the peace of God, which is beyond our utmost understanding, keep guard over your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7)