Sunday, April 19, 2020

Practicing Christ's Compassion During Eastertide in the Midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic in Worcester, Mass. April 12-18


A Liturgy (i.e. Work of the People) for Eastertide During the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic Week of April 12-18 in Worcester, Massachusetts 


Below is a "liturgy or work of the people for the first week of Eastertide 2020" (here are links to weeks March 8-14, March 15-21, March 22-28, March 29-April 4, and Holy Week April 5-11) including encouragement, connection points, prayer focuses, discipleship practices, articles, songs, quotes, a special series, and more. 

We can't overcome this desert of disease on our own. We can't overcome the distress on our own. But we can die with Christ to our fears, and by His Spirit, surrender to the Deliverer who overcomes and resurrects.

+ ECC Facebook Live 1st Eastertide Weekend Message + Liturgy: It's Settled So You Can Be All Set (Special Spring Snow Edition)

Mass featured call to worship from Psalm 46:10, Facebook Live message, "It's Settled So You Can Be All Set," based on Isaiah 1:18, Eucharist, Benediction, and songs recommended including Christ is Risen, Chain Breaker, White As Snow, and In Christ Alone

+ Story of God Themes + Applications During Coronavirus Pandemic

If we don't remember the story we get to live in with Christ during the coronavirus, we'll settle for a lesser one to shape our hearts and minds. I encourage you to check out these wicked short-and-sweet 2-minute videos from Missio Dei Mesa, one of the church plants we pray for and financially support, that feature the 6-act Story of God. These videos with Rev. Kevin Platt have been helpful for me to remember again the true story of the whole world found in Genesis-Revelation. So good that we get to live out this gift of J-curve, resurrection story while we're socially responsible, yet communally connected, still seeking first the Kingdom coming as Jesus' family of servants and witnesses during this pandemic.

+ Act 1: Creation 
+ Act 2: Crisis (Rebellion) + Act 3: Covenant (The Promise) 
+ Act 4: Christ (Redemption) + Act 5: Church 
+ Act 6: (New) Creation (Restoration)  
For a written version of this true story with a bit more details and verses included, check out ECC: Story of God | Creation, Crisis, Covenant, Christ, Church, (New) Creation

+ 1st Eastertide Wednesday Facebook Live Devotional Video | Who Appears Like the Dawn? Jesus for You.

+ "A Conference Call in Real Life" Parody Video

Have you experienced communication that's a bit awkward, frustrating, and/or slightly funny on a virtual call with a group of people recently? If not, don't worry. Most likely, you will at some point, and we can all continue to laugh about. :)

+ A Conference Call in Real Life (3+ minutes)

+ "Rachel Wilson: The Goodness of God in the Land of the Living" Mini-Doc Video

Greatly appreciate this family (some will recognize Rachel's husband, Andrew, as the author of Spirit and Sacrament: An Invitation of Eucharismatic Worship, Unbreakable: What the Son of God Said About the Word of God, etc.) and their faith journey voiced through Rachel's honest reflections. Some of the potency of their family's story is glimpsed in this video.

+ Rachel Wilson: The Goodness of God in the Land of the Living (5+ minutes)

+ 2 Stories of God's Providence During Pandemic from 2 ECC Church Planting Partners

+ God is our Provider: John's Story Video (53 seconds) from Missio Dei Mesa community in Mesa, Arizona 
+ Called into Other's Stories: Jesus Sees All of Us from Cassie Langford, Matthew's Table Church in Cleveland, Tenessee

+ Eastertide Prayer for ECC + Jesus' Church in Worcester

Holy, good, beautiful, and true King Jesus, this is Eastertide, 50 days of joy in light of the resurrection! Hallelujah! You are risen; You have won the victory! Death could not hold You down, and the coronavirus cannot hold You back. Lord Jesus, we believe. Help our unbelief. Fill us with Your Spirit as we embrace and participate in this season between Easter to Pentecost with You and Your Church. Release us now for joyful witness in the midst of the good questions and healthy tears. Be the Christ over the coronavirus in our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls. We want to see Your reign among our families, friends, neighbors, and enemies. Thank You that You continue to move in Your redemptive rule and reign even when we have less than a mustard seed of faith. But, oh God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in Your name, let us plant some mustard seeds to see mountains move. You are with us to the end, Jesus, and we want to run this race with You. You are our resurrecting Savior, our Master over the mundane, our Leader in the fields ready to be labored for harvest. In whatever ways Emmaus City Church and our micro City Groups throughout Worcester need to repent, believe, and resurrect during Eastertide, please, Father, give from Your abundant overflow and fill us now with Your Holy Spirit. When You come in wind and fire, may we not hesitate to move, because Mighty God, we need a move! Move in us and on behalf of all of Your Church in Worcester. Jesus, You are our High Priest, our Immanuel, God with us. Your intercession sets us free again from fear, and sets us loose with Your Spirit's power, love, and vision. You are our Death-conquering Deliverer in this desert space. Be the Rock again that ever flows with living water. We don't have to go thirsty. We can drink! And You're ever-flowing so we don't have to hoard. We've got plenty of You to share. May we overflow from Your overflow. We pray all these things in humble and hopeful confidence because we are praying in Your mighty name. Amen.

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