GUIDED WORSHIP :: April 5 2020
by South End Church
ORDER OF WORSHIP
CALL TO WORSHIP
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
ISAIAH 65.1-7
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PASSING THE PLATE / OFFERING
MATTHEW 21.12-17
MESSAGE :: “Make Me Your Home”
BENEDICTION
CALLED TO WORSHIP
Why do we sing in church? As God's people gather for worship, we focus our attention on God when we sing, alone at home or together. We respond with thanksgiving to God, because we have hope. And we sing because it is the best and most complete response that we can utter.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Thank you for Palm Sunday, Lord. We give you the glory. Thank you Lord that we’re having church even though we are not together. We still get to see your glory. Be with our world, our country. Thank you, Father, that we can be together like this and that this would bring our church closer together.
In your precious name, amen.”
— Mr. Alan Hill
We read and listen to scripture together in worship because the Bible is the primary means by which God speaks to and edifies his people. In the early church, services of worship were organized for the public reading of scripture — a practice vital to building up the community of faith.
I S A I A H 5 6 .1 - 7
1. This is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice and do what is right,
for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
2 Blessed is the one who does this— the person who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”
3 Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.”
And let no eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.”
4 For this is what the Lord says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant—
5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.
6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mr. Rod Hoffman, Elder Chair & Ministry Director
OLD & NEW OPTIONS TO GATHER ONLINE :: Our Sunday Bible Study group before service will begin with Pastor Neal Armandt via Zoom (video or phone) on Easter Sunday, April 12th. We will be going through the letter 1st Peter together first. Tea & Talk meets via Zoom as well on Monday evenings at 5PM, and that has already begun. Tuesday Bible Study and Thursday Community Group will begin soon online as well as we seek to create space to call or click, and feel the SENCE community. For regular online gathering and events, visit our church calendar.
HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONAL :: There will be a daily devotional gatherings during Holy Week. You should have received an email invitation last Wednesday titled "A Holy Week Journey Through the Lord's Prayer" from noon to 1:00 beginning on Monday, April 7. The series uses materials from N.T. Wright and will be by via Zoom conference. You can join us along this journey one day or all week by registering here. Further information and materials will be sent to all who register. (sidenote- we’ll conclude together on Easter Sunday w/“Yours is the kingdom, power, and glory forever, amen!)
CHURCH OPERATIONS EXTENDED ONE QUARTER :: This would normally be the time of year we would make nominations for church officers. But if the Boston Marathon can be postponed and the income tax filing date can be extended, we decided that the terms of all current elders and other offices should be extended for three months - through September, 2020. Any questions, comments, or additional announcements can take place by reaching Pastor Brice and myself :: office@southendchurch.org
PASSING THE PLATE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING
Checks can be mailed to:
South End Church :: PO Box 180740 Boston MA 02118
Matthew 21
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
“ ‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
Pastor Brice here, just love me some Will Dafoe…and as Jesus flipping tables? It’s what we all need right now.
Reflection on Matthew 21.12-17
“MAKE ME YOUR HOME”
Rev. Brice Williams, Lead Pastor
Jesus intentionally “enters into” every situation he finds himself. He does not avoid the grief that lays before him. Jesus sees the pain and suffering of the world, and for that very reason he enters in, riding lowly, raising heaven along the way. We too must go through life, not around.
Jesus has a habit of turning tables (and social structures) upside down. The temple was the place in which God was suppose to be accessible, and Jesus became angry at all the racial and economic injustice preventing people from something they were created for. Worship. Jesus brings healing.
Jesus speaks with such authority and heals with such generosity, yet displays a surprising dependence on the world as one of us. Get me a donkey I can borrow. Hey, can I spend the night at your place? Jesus leans on his friends, and we too should lean on those who love us most.
Got a Reflection?
We’d love to hear it!
BENEDICTION
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen :: Hebrews 13.20-21
In the Benediction, Christ sends his people with a blessing that equips you for service in your day-to-day life.
Our mouths they were filled, filled with laughter Our tongues they were loosed, loosed with joy Restore us, O Lord Restore us, O Lord Although we are weeping Lord, help us keep sowing The seeds of Your Kingdom For the day You will reap them Your sheaves we will carry Lord, please do not tarry All those who sow weeping Will go out with songs of joy The nations will say, “He has done great things!” The nations will sing songs of joy Restore us, O Lord Restore us, O Lord
LIVE WITH THE PASTOR - 11AM ON FACEBOOK
A SONNET FOR THIS
PALM SUNDAY
Now to the gate of my Jerusalem,
The seething holy city of my heart,
The saviour comes. But will I welcome him?
Oh crowds of easy feelings make a start;
They raise their hands, get caught up in the singing,
And think the battle won. Too soon they’ll find
The challenge, the reversal he is bringing
Changes their tune. I know what lies behind
The surface flourish that so quickly fades;
Self-interest, and fearful guardedness,
The hardness of the heart, its barricades,
And at the core, the dreadful emptiness
Of a perverted temple. Jesus come
Break my resistance and make me your home.
A POEM BY MALCOLM GUITE