Fifth 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=PLKBiEVOXnXWwLRNlvLLPK5g42fwQ_DJ8G
1) Welcome
Good morning, Donway family. Once again we are worshipping from our homes, separated from one another, but joined together by the Spirit of God. The service has been set up in the same way as last Sunday with different sections for you to participate in and youtube videos for the music, Gospel lesson, and the parts where I speak.
God bless you as you worship this morning.
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
2) Opening Prayer
• Someone in your group can open with this prayer or another of their choice
God of the past, present and future,
God in whom all things are renewed, we praise you.
In the face of all that wearies us and worries us,
your words echo through the centuries with love and hope.
As we follow the footsteps of Jesus in this Lenten season,
His Cross stands before us.
And so we trust you are never far from our sorrows.
In him you walk with us; you share our tears.
You stand beside us when we don’t know which way to turn.
In this hour of worship, renew our trust in your resurrection promises
and draw near to us when we need you the most.
In Jesus’ name, 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: More than those who watch for the morning,
All: we wait faithfully for God.
One: With our questions and our cries, in our hopes and expectations
One: Come, let us worship the Lord our God together,
All: and offer our prayers and praise in faithfulness.
4) Praise Songs
• Sing these praise songs. Click on the links below for the youtube videos, which have the words and the music.
• “Father in heaven, how we love you”
• “Father, I adore you”
5) Song of Confession: O Soften my heart
• Sing this song as a prayer of confession. Watch the youtube video below, 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
• Hear the assurance of forgiveness by clicking the link belows
Friends, remember the promise that Paul declares: “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Hardship? Distress? Peril or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through the God who loves us. Neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.” So let us rejoice that no matter what is happening around us, no matter what we have done, God’s deep love will never let us go.
7) Old Testament Lesson: Ezekiel 37:1-14
• Someone in your group can read this Psalm or you may wish to read it together
The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. 2 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. 3 Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”
“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”
4 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
7 So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. 8 Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”
10 So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.
11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel.13 When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”
8) Prayers of the People
• Spend some time praying for the world, your neighbourhood, your friends, your family, your church, and yourselves.
• Pray for those who are most vulnerable at this time
• Pray for those who are isolated, lonely, anxious or depressed
• Pray for the health care workers in our congregation (Marla Slawter, Jill Watson, Heather Patttenden)
• Pray for those who are struggling financially at this time
• 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 Hymn: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
• 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 11:1-45
Watch this dramatized reading of the Gospel lesson
11) Sermon: “The Resurrection and the Life”
Click on the link to hear the sermon. A copy of the sermon is also attached to this email
God of all consolation and compassion,
your Son comforted the grieving sisters, Martha and Mary;
your breath alone brings life
to dry bones and weary souls.
Pour out your Spirit upon us,
that we may face despair and death
with the hope of resurrection
and faith in the One
who called Lazarus forth from the grave. Amen.
12) Sending Out Song: Lord, I lift your Name on high
• Sing this song together. Click on the link below for the youtube video, which has the words and the music.
13) Blessing
Click the link below to hear the words of blessing
Lord, unbind us from our fears and doubts. As we go from this time of worship, be with us in our witness to the power and love of Jesus Christ. Amen.