Invocation Prayer

Call to Worship – Responsive Reading from Rev. 1:4-8

Pick someone in your midst to do the leader’s part. If you are solo do your best pastor impersonation for the leader and be yourself for the congregation…!

[CONGREGATION:] Grace and peace to you:
[LEADER:] from God who was, and is, and is to come.

Grace and peace to you:
from the Holy Spirit, who is before God’s throne and at work in his church.

Grace and peace to you:
from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead, 
and the ruler of the kings of the earth. 

To him who loves us, 
and freed us from our sins by his blood,
and made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father, 
to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

Look!
He comes with the clouds of heaven,
and every eye will see him –
even those who pierced him.
And all the nations of the world will lament before him.

Lord our God,
you are the Alpha and the Omega,
who was, and is, and is to come,
the Almighty one. Amen.

Song of Worship

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity

Holy, holy, holy, all the saints adore thee
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea
Cherubim and Seraphim falling down before thee
Who wert, and art, and evermore shall be

Holy, holy, holy, though the darkness hide thee
Though the eye of sinful flesh thy glory may not see
Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee
Perfect in power, in love, and purity

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty
All thy works shall praise thy name on earth, and sky, and sea
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity
God in three persons, blessed Trinity

Sermon

Song and Prayer

Lion and the Lamb

Our God is a lion, the lion of Judah
He’s roaring in power and fighting our battles
And every knee will bow before him
Our God is the lamb, the lamb that was slain
For the sins of the world
His blood breaks the chains
And every knee will bow before the lion and the lamb
Every knee will bow before him

He’s coming on the clouds, kings and kingdoms will bow down
And every chain will break as broken hearts declare your praise
Who can stop the Lord Almighty?

Our God is a lion, the lion of Judah
He’s roaring in power and fighting our battles
And every knee will bow before him
Our God is the lamb, the lamb that was slain
For the sins of the world
His blood breaks the chains
And every knee will bow before the lion and the lamb
Every knee will bow before him

So open up the gates, make way before the King of kings
The God who comes to save is here to set the captives free
Who can stop the Lord Almighty?

Our God is a lion, the lion of Judah
He’s roaring in power and fighting our battles
And every knee will bow before him
Our God is the lamb, the lamb that was slain
For the sins of the world
His blood breaks the chains
And every knee will bow before the lion and the lamb
Every knee will bow before him

Who can stop the Lord Almighty?
(Repeat)

Our God is a lion, the lion of Judah
He’s roaring in power and fighting our battles
And every knee will bow before him
Our God is the lamb, the lamb that was slain
For the sins of the world
His blood breaks the chains
And every knee will bow before the lion and the lamb
Every knee will bow before him

Invitation to Pray for the ECCC

Jesus addresses seven churches, but in a sense they stand in place of any and all churches. Take a few minutes to watch this update from the ECCC president, Glenn Peterson, who shares some ways you can pray for our corner of the Church body, and then come to God with whatever prayers the Spirit lays on your heart.

Benediction – Revelation 22:17, 20-21

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Missional Challenge

The message John relays from Jesus to the church at Ephesus contains these words:  “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!  Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first.” (Revelation 2:4-5)

Other translations use the words “remember your first love.” Jesus commends the Ephesians for many wonderful works, but he wants them to remember to love him as they did at first. Not only him but also one another. Think of the ways you once sought out Jesus, but no longer seek him. Think of the ways you used to show love to one another, but no longer practice. Identify one way you can “remember your first love.” How can you do the work of loving Jesus as you once did? Identify one way you can do the work of loving one another that perhaps you have let slide in these days of social distancing. Reach out to Jesus. Reach out to one another.