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| Holy Spirit Sky by Theresa Dedmon |
You're refreshing. You're beautiful. Jesus promised that the Spirit is filling and fueling you for abundant life (John 7:38-39). "The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17).
Sermon Audio | Membership Celebration: Free to Flow & Grow as the Temple of the Holy Spirit
Sermon Scriptures | Ezekiel 36:25-26; 37:14, 23-28; 47:1-8, 12; 1 Corinthians 3:9-16
Call to Worship | Psalm 107:28-32
New Members Welcome & Vows
Thank you for joining us for this special new members mass today. Today we get to wonder again at how God is wondrously creating a new humanity in Christ Jesus with children, women, and men from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Public membership in Jesus' Church sets apart a dynamic community of people of all ages that challenges and critiques the social hierarchies of this world. We celebrate that Jesus is forming His family of Kingdom servants and witnesses where the age, ethnic, and class distinctions of ancient Rome, or historic India or China, or the modern U.S. no less no longer matter. Today, we get to personally and communally declare that we all are eternally valued, and remember again that God is pursuing us and has the power to welcome us home into His growing family.
Do you affirm that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, that the Bible is God’s Word revealing His redemption for you and restoration for the world, and that the teachings of ECC reflect this? We do, God helping us.
Do you promise to join with ECC, sharing your gifts and service in our gatherings, City Groups, and DNAs, declaring and demonstrating the Gospel mission He has given us in Worcester and the world? We do, God helping us.
Do you promise to support our calling as a church of City Groups (i.e. missional communities) who share Jesus’ Gospel with our city as a family of servants and witnesses to the best of your ability?
We do, God helping us.
Do you submit yourself to the government and discipline of the Church, and promise to work toward its purity and peace as a faithful member to Emmaus City, as well as a faithful member for the church-at-large in Worcester and beyond? We do, God helping us.
Prayers for New Members
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
for Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory
now and forever. Amen.
Father Let Your Kingdom Come
Porters Gate Worship Project, 2017 A.D.
Hallelu! Hallelujah!
Father, let Your Kingdom come!
May the works of my hands
Bring You joy. (x4 + Chorus)
May the words from my mouth
Speak Your peace. (x4 + Chorus)
You make all things new, You make all things new,
In places we don't choose, You make all things new!
(Chorus)
Resurrecting
Elevation Worship, 2016 A.D.
The head that once was crowned with thorns
Is crowned with glory now.
The Savior knelt to wash our feet
Now at His feet we bow.
The One who wore our sin and shame
Now robed in majesty.
The radiance of perfect love
Now shines for all to see.
Your name, Your name is victory!
All praise will rise to Christ our King! (Repeat)
The fear that held us now gives way
To Him who is our peace.
His final breath upon the cross
Is now alive in me. (Chorus)
By Your spirit I will rise from the ashes of defeat,
The resurrected King is resurrecting me!
In Your name I come alive to declare your victory,
The resurrected King is resurrecting me! (3x)
The tomb where soldiers watched in vain
Was borrowed for three days.
His body there would not remain,
Our God has robbed the grave.
Our God has robbed the grave! (Chorus + Bridge)
For Your Gift of God the Spirit
Edith Margaret Clarkson, 1960 A.D.
For Your gift of God the Spirit,
Power to make our lives anew,
Pledge of life and hope of glory,
Savior, we would worship You.
Crowning gift of resurrection
Sent from Your ascended throne,
Fullness of the very Godhead,
Come to make Your life our own.
He, Himself, the living Author,
Wakes to life the sacred Word,
Reads with us its holy pages
And reveals our risen Lord.
He it is who works within us,
Teaching rebel hearts to pray,
He whose holy intercessions
Rise for us both night and day.
He, the mighty God, indwells us;
His to strengthen, help, empower;
His to overcome the tempter
Ours to call in danger's hour.
In His strength we dare to battle
All the raging hosts of sin,
And by Him alone we conquer
Foes without and foes within.
Father, grant Your Holy Spirit
In our hearts may rule today,
Grieved not, quenched not, but unhindered,
Work in us His sovereign way.
Fill us with Your holy fullness,
God the Father, Spirit, Son;
In us, through us, then, forever,
Shall Your perfect will be done.
This We Believe (The Creed)
Hillsong (from Apostles' Creed), 390 A.D.
Our Father everlasting, the all creating One,
God Almighty.
Through Your Holy Spirit conceiving Christ the Son,
Jesus our Savior.
I believe in God our Father, I believe in Christ the Son,
I believe in the Holy Spirit, our God is three-in-one!
I believe in the resurrection, that we will rise again,
For I believe in the name of Jesus!
Our Judge and our Defender, suffered and crucified,
Forgiveness is in You.
Descended into darkness, You rose in glorious life,
Forever seated high!
We believe in God our Father, we believe in Christ the Son,
We believe in the Holy Spirit, our God is three in one!
We believe in the resurrection, that we will rise again,
For we believe in the name of Jesus!
We believe in You! We believe You rose again!
We believe that Jesus Christ is Lord! (Communal Chorus)
We believe in life eternal, we believe in the virgin birth,
We believe in the saint's communion
And in Your holy Church!
We believe in the resurrection when Jesus comes again
For we believe in the name of Jesus! (Communal Chorus)
Land of the Rising Sun
Ike Ndolo, 2012 A.D.
The dark is groaning, the tomb is reaching out.
Oh, but they can't have me!
Oh, but they can't have me!
The crows are circling, the jackal waits in the dark.
Oh, but they can't have me!
Oh, but they can't have me!
I belong to the land of the rising Son
Where the grave is no more,
The war has been won!
I belong to the land of the rising Son,
I belong to You, I belong!
The world is in my bones, it makes me wrestle with You.
Oh, but You have claimed me!
Oh, but You have claimed me!
No matter how far I've gone, even to the devil's table.
Oh, my God, You've claimed me!
Oh, my God, You've claimed me! (Chorus)
Through my wandering, and my failing,
And my doubting, I belong!
Through the fire, and the darkness,
Through the sadness, I belong!
I'm just a rebel who's tired of fighting,
So I'm laying down these arms.
The sun is rising, the sun is rising,
The sun is rising! (Chorus)
Nicene Creed | 385, 451 A.D.
We believe in one God, the Father almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
begotten from the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father.
Through Him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven;
He became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered and was buried. The third day He rose again,
according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead.
His Kingdom will never end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life.
He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
He spoke through the prophets.
We believe in one holy *catholic and apostolic Church.
We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
and to life in the world to come. Amen.
*Catholic stands for Jesus' Church "according to the whole,"
across time, cultures, and nations that He established
and continues to build by His grace, truth, and resurrection power.
We believe in one God, the Father almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
begotten from the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father.
Through Him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven;
He became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered and was buried. The third day He rose again,
according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead.
His Kingdom will never end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life.
He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
He spoke through the prophets.
We believe in one holy *catholic and apostolic Church.
We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
and to life in the world to come. Amen.
*Catholic stands for Jesus' Church "according to the whole,"
across time, cultures, and nations that He established
and continues to build by His grace, truth, and resurrection power.
Prayers of Preparation for Eucharist
Celebrant: He is risen! People: He is risen indeed!
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
Benediction | Matthew 28:18-20Prayer 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
Celebrant: He is risen! People: He is risen indeed!
Celebrant: All power in heaven and on earth is given to Jesus.
Now go in the peace and power of His Holy Spirit to make
disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit, teaching them how to listen to and obey
every good, true, and beautiful thing Jesus said. And remember, He is with you always. You are sent out in Jesus' grace and peace!
Now go in the peace and power of His Holy Spirit to make
disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit, teaching them how to listen to and obey
every good, true, and beautiful thing Jesus said. And remember, He is with you always. You are sent out in Jesus' grace and peace!
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,
