Welcome to our virtual service!
We’re really glad you can join us for this service. Everything you need for the service is on this webpage. Simply press the play button on each of the videos as you come to them. You might like to print out the service sheet below and if you have children under the age of 14 with you – there are activities for them which you can also download below.
Today’s service sheet can be downloaded here
Today’s resources for E Kids can be found here
The thinking behind the song choices is explained in italics
WELCOME
Watch the video Rich as welcomes us.
SONG
No one is like our God; we begin our service by praising him!
BITESIZE
Rich catches up with Brian and Dianne Disney.
READING
In our first reading, we are invited to think about how amazing God is.
Isaiah 40:21-31
21 Do you not know? Do you not hear?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
23 who brings princes to nothing,
and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.
24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows on them, and they wither,
and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
25 To whom then will you compare me,
that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high and see:
who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name,
by the greatness of his might,
and because he is strong in power
not one is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
SONG
Because God is everlasting and all-powerful, he can give strength to those who put their hope in him.
Strength will rise
as we wait upon the Lord,
we will wait upon the Lord,
we will wait upon the Lord. (repeat)
Our God, you reign forever.
Our hope, our strong deliverer.
You are the everlasting God,
the everlasting God.
You do not faint, you won’t grow weary.
You’re the defender of the weak,
you comfort those in need,
you lift us up on wings like eagles.
PRAYERS
led by Colin & Vic Crooks
SONG
Our God is worth trusting no matter what life throws at us, as we declare in our next song.
I’m going to trust in God
I’m going to trust in Jesus
without shame and without fear.
I’m going to fix my eyes on the hope of glory
for his day is drawing near.
How great is the love of God,
how steady is his hand
to guide me through this world.
And though I’m weak in him I stand
and you will hear me say today in faith,
“I’m going to trust in God.”
Now when the cares of life
seem overwhelming
and my heart is sinking down
I’m going to lift my hands
to the One who’ll help me,
to the One who holds my crown.
How great is the love of God…
BIBLE TALK with Ekids Introduction & Bible Reading
In the next video Helen introduces the children’s material for today, Brian reads the bible passage which Richard then speaks on.
When you’re threatened – pray!
a) pray to God who’s in control
b) pray to God for boldness
c) pray for God to work
Acts 4:23-31
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’—
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
SONGS
In our closing 2 songs, we commit ourselves to be people who pray and who speak boldly about Jesus.
CLOSING PRAYER by Rich Adam
Some material in this service is © Used by permission CCL Licence # 1102690. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.