“underline” 

We start a new series this week called, “underline”  Our hope is we can encourage one another through encouragement from the Scriptures. If you have a verse of encouragement and a story about how it came to you we would love you to share it with us. God’s Word is indeed a lamp to our feet and a light to the path!

Psalm 107:1-2a; 43

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story…

Let the one who is wise heed these things
    and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

We invite you to take a few moments as we begin to remember God’s goodness and love. Take a few moments to remember God’s care and presence in your life. You can play this instrumental as you comb your memories of God.

2 Kings 6:16 and Gavin

Psalm 32:8 and Julia

Jeremiah 29:11 and Erik

Matthew 6:33 and Cody

Response Song – Tis So Sweet

Sending

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story… Amen (So let it be)!

Today we come to the last of the four activities recorded in Acts 2:42 to which the early church devoted itself. They devoted themselves… to prayer. What a perfect way to end this series. We invite you to spend a little extra time today in prayer. Our churches and families and world need it!

Song of Praise – Goodness of God

Scripture – Acts 12:5-12 (niv)

⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

⁶ The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. ⁷ Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

⁸ Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. ⁹ Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

¹¹ Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

¹² When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

Message – “Devoted themselves… to prayer”

Song of Response – Hear Our Prayer

Benediction

For Yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen!

Today we come to the “breaking of bread” in the four activities recorded in Acts 2:42 to which the early church devoted itself. This likely included the experience of the Lord’s Supper but there is also a sacramental aspect to all bread being broken “in Jesus’ name” amongst friends. In this season where we long to break bread together may we be encouraged to tap into the spirit of this preeminent activity of the church where and how we are able!

Psalm 98

¹O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.

²The Lord has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.

³He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

⁴Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

⁵Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.

⁶With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.

⁷Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it.

⁸Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy

⁹at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

Song of Worship – All Creatures of our God and King

Prayer

God,

Open our eyes that we might see you.

Open our ears that we might hear your word.

Open our mouths that we might be fed and sing your praise.

Open our hearts to You and to neighbour.

Amen.

Message – “Breaking of Bread”

Response Song

Sending – John 15:9-17

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.