MyTips on Worship Preparation - Easter Sunday

Here I am preaching at the Salvation Army in Gainsborough. I am publishing the service plan and sermon in the next few days. My daughter, home on holiday from Leicester University, took this and other photographs. This year we draped a white cloth on the cross symbolizing the resurrection of Jesus. By the foot of the cross people placed lots of yellow daffodils to contrast with the subdued atmosphere of Holy Week.

We woke up to lots of snow, but still many people were able to arrive for an 8.30 am breakfast. The children played in the snow before and after the service which began at 10 am. People were able to take daffodils away afterwards to those who couldn't come or to encourage someone.

During the testimony time a lady made us laugh a lot because she talked about this Christmas time instead of Eastertime!!! Honestly, a few flakes and the English cannot think straight! Everything comes to a halt!

Testimony time in a Salvation Army service (or meeting as we called them) is an opportunity given for anyone to, among other things, express their feelings about the ups and downs of their spiritual journey - hopefully to encourage those listening.

What will you leave at the Cross? - Lent - Lucado

Sunday Afternoon Worship at Gainsborough Corps
Palm Sunday 2008

Welcome, Notices, Offering

Chorus 109/To thy cross I come, Lord
We are singing this chorus to introduce the afternoon. At the end of our session we will sing it again to see if our understanding of these words has altered in any way.

Prayer

Ice-breaker-talk as a group about the absurdities and ironies of life
Bible Reading - Mark 15:22-41
What absurdities or ironies surround the scene of Jesus' death?

Songs of Fellowship 1015/Thank you for saving me

PowerPoint: Grass burrs (thorn, sticker, splinter)
To take into account: Do you usually try to sort yourself out first?
Why are we reluctant to seek help when hurt or injured?

Bible verse - 1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.
Max Lucado asks: What confession do you need to leave at Calvary?

Video Transcript 12 on page 233 where he talks about God's forgiveness and removal of our sins. He describes it as leaving them at the foot of the cross. Max Lucado asks:Why don't you spend a minute or two thinking about what you would like to leave at the cross today?

What are the implications concerning our admission of wrongdoing to God/others?

Listen to music...CD He Chose the Nails Max Lucado track 17 These Hands Jeff Deyo

Bible verse - 1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you. Max Lucado asks: What do you need to leave at the cross in order to benefit from the promise of this verse?

I ask: Maybe for you it is something else-whatever it is-how easy is it going to be to leave it there? Quote from Mere Christianity by CS Lewis about the Christian way being hard and easy at the same time

Video Transcript 13 on page 233 where Max Lucado talks about his own father's last words
Jesus' last dying words...Father, into your hands I commend My spirit - Luke 23:46
What does Jesus, according to this verse, leave at the cross? What does he leave there for us?

• He finished his work triumphantly an entrusted his spirit to God his Father
• His scarred hands offered forgiveness
• Through torn skin he offered acceptance

Video Transcript 14 where Max Lucado concludes the series where he encourages us not only to leave something at the cross but to also move on from there with a deeper commitment to trust and obey the Lord.

Chorus 109/To thy cross I come, Lord

Songs of Fellowship 742 Great is the darkness (Come, Lord Jesus)

Benediction

God Bless You Richly this Holy Week

Palm Sunday- Worship programme

Morning Worship Meeting at Gainsborough

Pre-Meeting Music: Band

Welcome and Announcements

King from Portrait of Christ 53 by Henry Gariepy
Zechariah 9:9 This prophecy is inseparably linked with the Triumphal Entry. Hundreds of years before this event had been prophesied and the gospel writer confirms this in Matthew 21:4-5 when he says that it was a direct fulfillment of it. This short verse tells us a lot of things. Rejoice greatly... Jesus would usher in a kingdom of joy. Didn't Jesus say in John 10:10 I am come that they may have life, and have it to the full. The verse continues to talk about the justice, deliverance and peace he would bring. In this our first song we shall sing praises to the King of Kings.

Song 160 (TB 42/Rimington)
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun

Palm Sunday Prayer-Prayer Collection page 330
Reading: They Missed Him! from A Bucket of Surprises page 93

Songs of Fellowship 357
Lord Jesus Christ

Theme: Palm Sunday 2008
Palm Sunday is the last Sunday in Lent and the beginning of Holy Week! The last days of Jesus' life which we remember during Holy Week, and which end with the resurrection of Jesus at Easter, are events that begin with the arrival of Jesus at Jerusalem. Although, with hindsight, the day is tinged with sadness because Jesus died on a cross less than a week after he had entered Jerusalem. Today we nevertheless celebrate his triumphal entry into the town as he came to celebrate with everyone else the Jewish feast of Passover. The Bible describes the excitement on that particular day as great crowds of people lined the streets waving palm branches to welcome him hence the name Palm Sunday. It tells us that people not only spread branches on the road but even their clothing as they shouted Hosanna which means Save us now.

Band

Songs of Fellowship 728
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Testimonies: Who is this King of Kings, anyway?

Offering to be taken after this song

Bible Reading: John 12:12-19 NIV

Songs of Fellowship 400
My song is love unknown

Songsters

Bible Message: Jesus Riding into Jerusalem (John)

Prayer

Songs of Fellowship 478
Reign in me, sovereign Lord

Song 81 (TB 92/Hallelujah to the Lamb)
Hark the glad sound (with chorus of Song 57)

Benediction: Songsters