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| The Calling of St. Matthew + Caravaggio, 1600 A.D. |
Chesterton gives a beautiful insight into the conversion of St. Francis by describing him as the “tumbler for God” who stands on his head for the pleasure of God. By seeing the world upside down “with all the trees and towers hanging head downwards,” Francis discovers its dependent nature. ... By seeing his world, his city, upside down, Francis saw the same world and the same city but in a different way “ ... thankful to God Almighty that it had not been dropped.” + Henri Nouwen, The Genesee Diary
Sermon Audio | Jesus' Sending Power to Free Us to Be "Tumblers for God"
Sermon Scriptures | Matthew 9:37-10:16
Sermon Film Reference | Remember the Titans: "We Want Some More! We Want Some More! We Want Some More!"
Sermon Closing Prayer
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone. + Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude
Call to Worship | Micah 6:8
He has shown you what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly
with your God.
Let Justice Roll
Sojourn Worship, 2015 A.D.
Forgive us Lord, for passing by
When children cry for bread.
Forbid it Lord, that justice lies
In tatters, cold and dead.
Outside these walls run desperate streets
Where greed is law and life is cheap.
We bar the doors, refuse to see,
Or hear the words You said:
Let justice roll like a river, like a river, let it roll!
Let justice roll like a river, like a river, let it roll!
Convict us Lord, we dance and laugh
Ignoring those who weep.
Correct us Lord, our golden calf
Has lulled our hearts to sleep.
The gap between the rich and poor
Grows ever wider, shore to shore.
There’s racial hate, religious war
And wolves among the sheep. (Chorus)
Indwell us Lord, and purify
Our hands to work for You.
Enlist us Lord, to serve nearby
And ʻcross the waters, too.
Your image-bearers on the earth
Will never know how much theyʼre worth
Unless we love and help them first
And show the way to You! (Chorus)
Establish the Work of Our Hands
The Porter's Gate Worship Project, 2017 A.D.
If You don't build it, we labor in vain.
Without Your Spirit, we stand with no strength.
I know my life is passing away,
But the works of Your hands will remain.
Let the favor of the LORD rest upon us.
Oh LORD, establish the work of our hands!
Oh LORD, establish the work of our hands!
Teach us to number the length of our days.
Pour out Your power, we'll pour out Your praise.
Teach us to run, to finish the race,
For only what's done in love will remain. (Chorus)
Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia!
Your Spirit
Tasha Cobbs Leonard, 2017 A.D.
Not by might, not by power,
By Your Spirit, God,
Send Your Spirit, God. (Repeat)
You are the fire, we are the temple.
Your are the voice, we are Your song.
You are our God, we are Your people.
You are the light, we stand in awe ...
We stand in awe of You,
We stand in awe of You! (Chorus)
You called us out, out of the darkness
Into Your love, into Your light.
Grace upon grace, beauty for ashes,
You come to us, we come alive.
We stand in awe of You,
We stand in awe of You! (Chorus 2x)
Breathe, come and breathe on us!
Spirit breathe, come and breathe on us!
What a Beautiful Name
Hillsong United, 2016 A.D.
You were the Word at the beginning,
One With God the Lord Most High.
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ.
What a beautiful (wonderful) name it is,
What a beautiful (wonderful) name it is,
The Name of Jesus Christ, my King.
What a beautiful (wonderful) Name it is,
Nothing compares to this.
What a beautiful (wonderful) Name it is,
The Name of Jesus.
You didn't want heaven without us,
So Jesus, You brought heaven down.
My sin was great, Your love was greater,
What could separate us now.
("Wonderful" Chorus)
Death could not hold You,
The veil tore before You,
You silenced the boast of sin and grave!
The heavens are roaring
The praise of Your glory,
For You are raised to life again!
You have no rival, You have no equal!
Now and forever, our God reigns!
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory,
Yours is the name above all names!
What a powerful name it is,
What a powerful name it is,
The Name of Jesus Christ, my King.
What a powerful Name it is,
Nothing can stand against.
What a powerful Name it is,
The Name of Jesus.
Build Your Kingdom Here
Rend Collective, 2012 A.D.
Come, set Your rule and reign
In our hearts again.
Increase in us, we pray.
Unveil why we’re made.
Come set our hearts ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our very souls.
Holy Spirit, come invade us now!
We are Your Church.
We need Your power in us.
We seek Your Kingdom first.
We hunger and we thirst.
Refuse to waste our lives
For You’re our joy and prize.
To see the captive hearts released,
The hurt, the sick, the poor at peace,
We lay down our lives for Heaven’s cause.
We are Your Church.
We pray, “Revive this earth!”
Build Your Kingdom here!
Let the darkness fear!
Show Your mighty hand!
Heal our streets and land!
Set Your Church on fire!
Win the nations back!
Change the atmosphere!
Build Your Kingdom here! We pray!
Unleash Your Kingdom’s power
Reaching the near and far!
No force of Hell can stop
Your beauty changing hearts!
You made us for much more than this!
Awake the Kingdom seed in us!
Fill us with the strength and love of Christ!
We are Your Church. We are hope on earth.
(Chorus)
Prayers of Confession and Assurance
One: Jesus, we have lost our awe too often.
Send Your Spirit, God. Reveal Your glory again.
All: Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Silent Prayers
One: By Your Spirit, transform us today to labor, proclaim, and heal in Jesus' name.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Pass the Peace | In the Story of God, Jesus declared, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you" (John 14:26) during humanity's darkest, most tragic weekend of His death. And then after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, defeating evil and death, He said, "Peace be with you ... Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:21-22). Somehow, with Jesus, peace is possible even in our darkest moments. During this time, we desire to share with each other peace that passes understanding, empowered by the Spirit of Christ.
The peace of the Lord by always with you.
And also with you.
Prayers of Preparation for Eucharist
Benediction Based on "The Kingdom Is Yours"
by Common Hymnal (Matthew 5:3-12)
Blessed are the wounded ones in mourning, brave enough
to show the Lord their scars. Blessed are the hurts that
are not hidden, open to the healing touch of God.
Blessed are the ones who fight for justice, longing for the
coming day of peace. Blessed is the soul that thirsts for
righteousness, welcoming the last, the lost, the least.
Blessed are the ones who suffer violence and still have
strength to love their enemies. Blessed is the faith of those
who persevere; though they fall, they'll never know defeat.
The Kingdom is yours, hold on a little more, this is not the end.
Hope is in the Lord; keep Your eyes on Him. You are loved.
Now go with the Prince of Peace to declare and demonstrate
Jesus' Good News of the Kingdom of heaven that is near.
Next sermon audio + liturgy notes post: Matthew 9:18-10:16: Jesus Freely Gave So We Could Receive & Give
Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Prayer Asking for Jesus' Help
Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
I want to see. Please reveal to me who You are.
Give me ears to hear You, and understanding for
the Good News You are saying to me today. Amen.
Prayer for Communion with Jesus and Each Other
Jesus, by Your Spirit, fill us with Yourself,
the true Bread and Vine. We turn to You now to
unite us, strengthen us, and empower us
to be Your Kingdom family of servants and witnesses
together until You return and make all things new. Amen.
Eucharist | Thanking God for Communion with Christ and His Church
Our World Belongs to God Q&A 41
2008 A.D.
Q. How is the Church sent in Jesus' wonderful name?
A. Joining the mission of God,
the Church is sent with the Gospel of the Kingdom
to call everyone to know and follow Christ
and to proclaim to all the assurance that in the name of Jesus
there is forgiveness of sin and new life for all who repent and believe.
The Spirit calls all members to embrace God’s mission
in their neighborhoods and in the world:
to feed the hungry, bring water to the thirsty,
welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick,
and free the prisoner.
We repent of leaving this work to a few,
for this mission is central to our being.
Prayer Asking for Jesus' Help
Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
I want to see. Please reveal to me who You are.
Give me ears to hear You, and understanding for
the Good News You are saying to me today. Amen.
Prayer for Communion with Jesus and Each Other
Jesus, by Your Spirit, fill us with Yourself,
the true Bread and Vine. We turn to You now to
unite us, strengthen us, and empower us
to be Your Kingdom family of servants and witnesses
together until You return and make all things new. Amen.
Eucharist | Thanking God for Communion with Christ and His Church
Our World Belongs to God Q&A 41
2008 A.D.
Q. How is the Church sent in Jesus' wonderful name?
A. Joining the mission of God,
the Church is sent with the Gospel of the Kingdom
to call everyone to know and follow Christ
and to proclaim to all the assurance that in the name of Jesus
there is forgiveness of sin and new life for all who repent and believe.
The Spirit calls all members to embrace God’s mission
in their neighborhoods and in the world:
to feed the hungry, bring water to the thirsty,
welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick,
and free the prisoner.
We repent of leaving this work to a few,
for this mission is central to our being.
Benediction Based on "The Kingdom Is Yours"
by Common Hymnal (Matthew 5:3-12)
Blessed are the wounded ones in mourning, brave enough
to show the Lord their scars. Blessed are the hurts that
are not hidden, open to the healing touch of God.
Blessed are the ones who fight for justice, longing for the
coming day of peace. Blessed is the soul that thirsts for
righteousness, welcoming the last, the lost, the least.
Blessed are the ones who suffer violence and still have
strength to love their enemies. Blessed is the faith of those
who persevere; though they fall, they'll never know defeat.
The Kingdom is yours, hold on a little more, this is not the end.
Hope is in the Lord; keep Your eyes on Him. You are loved.
Now go with the Prince of Peace to declare and demonstrate
Jesus' Good News of the Kingdom of heaven that is near.
Next sermon audio + liturgy notes post: Matthew 9:18-10:16: Jesus Freely Gave So We Could Receive & Give
Emmaus City Church is a local church made up of City Groups.
A City Group (CG) is a group of 10-30 people – children, women, and men included – who are befriending, serving, and loving a community together in Jesus' name in Worcester. CGs are small enough that people can know you and value you, but large enough to make an impact in communities throughout Worcester. Each CG gets together throughout a month (i.e. dinners, times of prayer or learning from the Story of God in the Bible, acts of service, parties, etc.) to see Worcester become a city of neighbors and friends that showcase Jesus' love and compassion to all. Those who are cautious or curious to hear and see what it means to follow Jesus are just as welcome as those who believe Jesus is Lord and God and seek to follow Him in every area of life.
Current City Groups: Lincoln Street City Group | W.R.A.P. City Group
To connect with one of the City Groups above, please contact info@emmauscitychurch.com
Christ is all,
A City Group (CG) is a group of 10-30 people – children, women, and men included – who are befriending, serving, and loving a community together in Jesus' name in Worcester. CGs are small enough that people can know you and value you, but large enough to make an impact in communities throughout Worcester. Each CG gets together throughout a month (i.e. dinners, times of prayer or learning from the Story of God in the Bible, acts of service, parties, etc.) to see Worcester become a city of neighbors and friends that showcase Jesus' love and compassion to all. Those who are cautious or curious to hear and see what it means to follow Jesus are just as welcome as those who believe Jesus is Lord and God and seek to follow Him in every area of life.
Current City Groups: Lincoln Street City Group | W.R.A.P. City Group
To connect with one of the City Groups above, please contact info@emmauscitychurch.com
Christ is all,
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