Sunday March 15 2020 Guide for Worship

Sunday March 15 2020

Guide for Worship

Good Morning Faith Family,

Even though we will not be gathered together within the walls of our church this morning, I would like to encourage us all to take time with the Lord today to speak to him and hear from him during this time of uncertainty. We hope in a God who calms all of our fears. We trust in a God above and beyond all earthly constraints. And in times like these, we turn to a God who is working out all things for our ultimate good and his infinite glory.

You will find the bulletin prepared prior to canceling the service attached to this email. I hope that this provides for you a way to turn your heart to God in worship as a family, as a couple, or as an individual knowing that your faith family is doing the same all around you in Longview. Let the service order guide you in your time with God—in prayer, in song, in reflection. Below you will see links to each of the songs in the service. You will also find a short reflection on the passage attached to this email.

There will be a worship guide provided for next Sunday morning, as well. Look for that coming to you this week.

May the love of the Father fill you with wonder, may the grace of the Son fill you with hope, and may the fellowship of the Spirit fill you with life. (2 Corinthians 13:14)

With love,

Doug Ashley Pastor - Longview EPC www.longviewepc.org

Worship Music Links: O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w3DXMkyj7Q Who You Say I Am: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKw6uqtGFfo Here’s My Heart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTDoDA-1lsE Be Thou My Vision: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihJAJA4ibEs Word of God Speak: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPOzEdO9OB0 Stand in Your Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFizRY8w0-I How Firm a Foundation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTqRiP2w0_8

Devotional Reflection on John 15:1-9

Dead or Alive? A devotional reflection on John 15:1-9 by Esteban Shedd https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/the-i-am-statements-of-jesus/#dead-or-alive

John 15:1-9 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

I confess I am a city dweller inside and out. Concrete is in my veins. It’s easy for me to forget the process that takes place to produce what I love and eat so quickly – fruit. We all know that fruit isn’t produced from out of thin air, but we love it without question. Take away elements like soil, water, sun, and a gardener’s touch, and we don’t experience the beautiful results. In John 15, Jesus’ breaks down how people and God are like these agricultural elements in the Garden of life.

From the get-go in verse 1, Jesus makes a strong claim about his identity. Jesus is the sprawling grapevine producing fruit and God in Heaven is the Gardener overseeing the Garden of Humanity. The Gardener gives care and direction, cutting off bad parts (called pruning) from the Vine and nurturing the good parts to bring out the best quality fruit from its branches. “To prune” means to cut off parts of a plant that suck away the nutrition that plants need to produce fruit or vegetables. Once the bad parts are cut off, more nutrition can flow in to help the good branches be more fruitful.

Jesus says his Gospel message gives life, prunes and purifies us so we don’t live like dead branches. Jesus stresses the word “abide or remain” to His disciples and us. But what does that mean? Think of it this way; God sent Jesus to the world as his instrument to connect dead branches to the life-giving Gardener. The opposite is true as well. If a branch – you or me – is not connected to Jesus by a trust in Him, we are dead with no life in us. We may look like a branch on the outside and breathe like a living human, but in our spirit, we are dead.

Jesus is the Vine offering new life to dead branches. What comes from being in Jesus is a fruitful life here on earth too. Most people don’t want to waste their life. We want it to count for this life and beyond. In the same way, every Gardener wants to have a garden that produces good fruit. Jesus connects the two concepts here for us. If you want your life to be fruitful and please God, it can only happen through connecting yourself in faith to the life of Jesus the True Vine.

Are you connected to the True Vine? Is your life bearing fruit?

Receive God’s love today, allow Him to prune what is not bearing fruit in your life.

Longview Evangelical Presbyterian Church Coming together to know Christ and to make him known.

March 15, 2020 Welcome! To all who are spiritu- GATHERING MUSIC ally weary and seek rest; to all “Beautiful Words” who mourn and long for comfort;

Music: Philip Paul Bliss. Arranged by David Luna to all who struggle and desire Music: Public Domain. This arrangement © 2017 DNL Music Publishers victory; to all who sin and need a Savior; to all who are strangers CALL TO WORSHIP Doug Ashley and want fellowship; to all who Pastor: I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; hunger and thirst after righteous- I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. ness; and to all who will come, this People: I will be filled with joy because of you. church opens wide her doors and I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. offers welcome in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. *Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Azmon)

O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise, Hearing devices are available in the foyer. The glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace! Please sign the friendship pads My gracious Master, and my God, assist me to proclaim; located at the end of each pew. to spread thru all the earth abroad the honors of Thy name. Practicing Lent. Repentance is Jesus! the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease; one of the Christian practices often ‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears, ’tis life, and health, and peace. highlighted during Lent. Though that can seem bleak and self- Glory to God, and praise, and love be ever ever giv'n defeating, repentance need not be by saints belowb and saints above; the Church in earth and heav'n. so. In fact, repentance is often the Music and Lyrics: Carl Gotthelf Glaser, Charles Wesley way we make progress in the © Public Domain Christian life as it helps us remem- *Who You Say I Am ber the active grace provided to us

Who am I that the highest King would welcome me? through Jesus. As Rev. Tim Keller I was lost but He brought me in; writes, “…pervasive, all-of-life- repentance is the best sign that we Oh, His love for me. Oh, His love for me! are growing deeply and rapidly Who the Son sets free, oh, is free indeed! into the character of Jesus. Con- I'm a child of God, yes, I am! sider how the gospel affects and

Free at last! He has ransomed me. transforms the act of repentance. In ‘religion,’ the purpose of repent- His grace runs deep. While I was a slave to sin, ance is basically to keep God Jesus died for me. Yes, He died for me! happy so he will continue to bless Who the Son sets free, oh, is free indeed! you and answer your prayers. This I'm a child of God, Yes, I am! means that religious repentance is In my Father's house, there's a place for me. selfish, self-righteous, and bitter all I'm a child of God. Yes, I am! the way to the bottom. In the gospel, however, the purpose of I am chosen, not forsaken. I am who You say I am. repentance is to repeatedly tap You are for me, not against me. I am who You say I am. into the joy of our union with Christ I am chosen, not forsaken. I am who You say I am. to weaken our impulse to do You are for me, not against me. I am who You say I am. anything contrary to God’s heart.” Which type of repentance I am who You say I am. do you tend to practice? Who the Son sets free, oh, is free indeed! I'm a child of God, yes, I am! In my Father's house, there's a place for me. I'm a child of God. Yes, I am!

“Be Thou My Vision” is one of PRAYER OF CONFESSION the most beloved ancient hymns in Lord God, I will make this confession, although it hurts to do so: I am a very modern times. Not much is known skilled self-swindler. about the origins of this 8th century Irish song’s text and melody. What I am very good at playing monkey games with my morality. All too often, I argue for we can discern is that our ancient righteousness that simply is not there. It’s too easy for me to convince myself that Irish brothers and sisters had a the wrong that I have done is not so wrong after all. very holistic spirituality. God is And as I work to minimize the gravity of my condition I, in turn, devalue the grace personified as our “vision”; the idea that is my only hope of rescue, transformation, deliverance. being that He is at the forefront of Lord, please crush my heart with the guilt of my sin so that you may fill it once all of our thoughts and actions. With this song we express our again with the glory of your redeeming grace. desire for God to be in and around Hear now my silent prayers. everything that we do, and Here’s my heart, Lord. Here’s my heart, Lord. everywhere we go. Make it so, Here’s my heart, Lord. Speak what is true. Lord Jesus, make it so! ‘Cause I am found. I am Yours; I am loved, I’m made pure. I have life, I can breathe; I am healed. I am free.

Here’s my heart, Lord. Here’s my heart, Lord. Here’s my heart, Lord. Speak what is true.

Here’s My Heart, Music and Lyrics: Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram et al. © Open Hands Music

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. (From Psalm 103)

Pastor: Friends, believe the gospel. People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart. Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word! I ever with Thee, and Thou with me, Lord. Thou my great Father and I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

High King of heaven, when vict’ry is won, May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav’n's Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my vision, O Ruler of all. Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Music and Lyrics: Traditional Words: Public Domain , Music: Public Domain

CHILDREN’S LESSON Carrie Northcutt

SONG OF ILLUMINATION What does it mean to be a

*Word of God, Speak Christian? One way of thinking about what it means to be a Word of God speak! Would You pour down like rain, Christian is that you have moved Washing my eyes to see Your majesty? from knowing about God to To be still and know that You're in this place? knowing God. You have received Please let me stay and rest in Your holiness. the love of God in such a way that your status is changed - your sins Word of God, speak. are wiped out and you know he Music and Lyrics: Bart Millard, Pete Kipley accepts you as perfectly righteous © 2002 Wordspring Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) in his sight, which also renews you SERMON LESSON John 15:1-8 Shelley Kral on the inside. Knowing God occurs when the truth overflows SERMON “I Am the Vine” your mind into all the rest of you.

It’s when the truth about God, or MINISTRY OF MUSIC “Stand in Your Love” the truth about who you are as a Music and Lyrics: Ethan Hulse, Josh Baldwin, et al. Christian, or the truth about Christ © 2018 Be Essential Songs all of a sudden makes your * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed rationality go crazy so that your I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ rationality can’t handle it anymore his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin and it just bubbles up and flows out… it goes ballistic in your life so Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended you can’t keep it contained just to into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and your mind anymore. It flows out sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to into your feelings. It flows out into judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; your will. It flows out into every the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; part of you. (Adapted from and the life everlasting. Amen. “Beholding the Love of God” sermon by Tim Keller, 1995) THE LORD AT WORK THROUGH LONGVIEW EPC

*How Firm a Foundation

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word. What more can He say than to you He hath said, To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Fear not! I am with thee. O, be not dismayed. For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen thee, help thee, And cause thee to stand; Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to its foes. That soul though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake.

*BENEDICTION

*POSTLUDE *Please stand as able

Lyrics used by permission. CCLI License # 11081661