Gathering and Praise

Have everyone focus their minds and their hearts on worshiping God.


Have someone read this prayer:

Psalm 86:12, 13, 15 (NIV)

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;

I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your love toward me;

you have delivered me from the depths,

from the realm of the dead.

…you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.


Have everyone say these words of praise together:

Psalm 116:1-5 (NIV)

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me,

I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me,

the anguish of the grave came over me;

I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the LORD:

“LORD, save me!”

The LORD is gracious and righteous;

our God is full of compassion.


Tell each other some ways you have experienced God’s love.

Confession

Have someone read these words:

Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV)

One of them, an expert in the law,

tested him with this question:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God

with all your heart and with all your soul

and with all your mind.’

This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it:

‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

All the Law and the Prophets

hang on these two commandments.”


Have someone pray:

Merciful God,

you made us in your image,

with a mind to know you,

a heart to love you,

and a will to serve you.

But our knowledge is imperfect,

our love inconstant,

our obedience incomplete.

Day by day, we fail to grow into your likeness.

In your tender love, forgive us

through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.


Have someone read these words:

1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)

This is how we know what love is:

Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.

And we ought to lay down our lives

for our brothers and sisters.

If anyone has material possessions

and sees a brother or sister in need

but has no pity on them,

how can the love of God be in that person?

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech

but with actions and in truth.


Have everyone name someone they can show love to this week. 

If you are healthy and not in an at risk group consider volunteering for the

Food Distribution this Friday, April 24. PLEASE CONTACT NANCY REBEL

TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE PLANNING TO VOLUNTEER


You can contribute to the ministry of the church online Give Now or by mailing a check to PO Box 9339, Fresno, CA, 93791. Our special offering for April is World Renew (formerly CRWRC) the CRC’s

disaster response and community development agency.

Teaching

Sending

Here are some prayer requests we shared this week during our

devotions Monday and Wednesday evenings:

• Those who have medical needs:

     o Bob D’s cousin Jane with cancer.

     o Kelly M’s grandfather Rod, who is dying of a recently discovered cancer in Northern Michigan.

     o All those who are suffering from covid or are in danger of contracting it.

• Those who are mourning a death:

     o Pastor Bruce P in Ripon, whose wife Joyce died.

     o Janet D’s sister-in-law’s family.

     o The family of our drummer Juan D, whose grandmother recently died.

     o All those who have lost loved ones to covid.

• Those who are struggling with work:

     o Those who have lost jobs or income.

     o Those who are struggling with increased work and demands.

     o Parents and children who are struggling with school closures.


Share other prayer requests and have someone write them down. 


Have someone pray for the things you have written down. 


Have someone read these words:

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

(found in 1 Cor. 16:23, 1 Thes. 5:28, and 2 Thes. 3:18)


Some prayers and portions of prayers reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition, ©

2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources.