Gathering

Think about the glory of God, and read these words as God leads you into a time of worship:

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;

for he founded it on the seas

and established it on the waters.


Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?

Who may stand in his holy place?

The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.


They will receive blessing from the LORD

and vindication from God their Savior.

Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek your face, God of Jacob.


Lift up your heads, you gates;

be lifted up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

(Psalm 24:1-7, NIV)


If you live with many people, have one person read the first line, and have everyone loudly say the answer:

Who is he, this King of glory?  

The LORD Almighty—he is the King of glory.

(Psalm 24:8, NIV)


Confession

Read this Prayer, which is based on the song “Lord, I Want to be a Christian,” and is especially appropriate for a child to read:

Dear Jesus, 

I want to be a Christian in my heart;

please forgive my disobedience.

I want to be a Christian in my actions;

please forgive my bad choices.

I want to be a Christian in my words;

please forgive the mean things I say.

I want to be a Christian in my whole life;

help me to be more loving to you

and to others. Amen.


If you live with other people, mention to each other some ways you want to be a more faithful Christian, to live more as a child of God. Then, read these words: 

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God

through faith,

for all of you who were baptized into Christ

have clothed yourselves with Christ.

(Galatians 3:26-27, NIV)


Join together with the whole church, professing faith using the words of the Apostles’ Creed: 

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit

and born of the virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead.

He ascended to heaven

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic* church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.


*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places


You can contribute to the ministry of the church. Give Now  or mail a check to PO Box 9339, Fresno, CA, 93791. Our special offering for May is for our partner Christian schools (Fresno Christian Schools and Hanford Christian School). The offering will be divided equally between the two schools.


Teaching on 1 Kings 14:21-31

Sending

Christ Our Hope in Life and Death
What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone.   
What is our only confidence?   
That our souls to Him belong. 

Who holds our days within His hand?   
What comes, apart from His command?   
And what will keep us to the end?   
The love of Christ, in which we stand. 

O sing hallelujah!   
Our hope springs eternal;   
O sing hallelujah!   
Now and ever we confess   
Christ our hope in life and death. 

What truth can calm the troubled soul?   
God is good, God is good.   
Where is His grace and goodness known?   
In our great Redeemer’s blood. 

Who holds our faith when fears arise?   
Who stands above the stormy trial?   
Who sends the waves that bring us nigh   
Unto the shore, the rock of Christ?  

Unto the grave, what shall we sing?   
“Christ, He lives; Christ, He lives!”   
And what reward will heaven bring?   
Everlasting life with Him. 

There we will rise to meet the Lord,   
Then sin and death will be destroyed,   
And we will feast in endless joy,   
When Christ is ours forevermore.  
(Used by permission. CCLI #139626)

Here are some prayer requests: 
• People in nursing homes, assisted living, prisons, and other places where they are largely confined to their rooms, including Carl D’s father who is living in a home with active covid cases.
• Pray for comfort for the family of Kelly M as they mourn the death of her grandfather in Northern Michigan and are thankful for his hope in Jesus.
• Pray for Evelyn Faye V, as she struggles with breathing difficulties in these first weeks of her life.
• Pray for people who will lose their jobs in the coming weeks and months.
• Pray for the Lee family (misisonaries in Mexico) who must make a decision about their scheduled trip to Fresno this summer.
• Pray for churches everywhere and specifically our church as we make plans for how to resume gathering for worship.

Pray about these and other things.

Read these words:
May God himself, the God of peace,
sanctify you through and through.
May your whole spirit, soul and body
be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
(1 Thessalonians 5:23, NIV)

Some prayers and portions of prayers reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition, © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources.