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DAILY DEVOTIONAL - LILLY
Hear from Lilly Van Sickle, our worship intern, as she shares about how to follow the Great Commission and share the good news of Jesus' resurrection, even amid this season.
UNITED PRAYER: Those who are going through medical treatments.
United Prayer - Let's pray for those who are going through medical treatment amidst the coronavirus. Many people who are battling cancer, awaiting surgeries and have health care needs not related to the corona virus are facing added difficulty receiving the help and care they need.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
Family Resources: Reflecting on God's Faithfulness
The faithfulness of God is foundational to our faith. In this current time it’s important to reflect on how we have seen His faithfulness throughout our lives. God does not forget His promises and He keeps His word.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Practicing remembrance of God’s faithfulness as a family unit can help us to have peace, stability, and confidence in our day to day lives. Here are some activities that you can do together today!
1) Pick a family memory verse to practice together this week
As a family, pick a passage or verse from scripture that reminds you of God’s faithfulness. Spend some time together memorizing the verse and reciting it aloud. Talk with your family about how memorizing scripture on faithfulness can help us to have peace in this time.
2) Go outside for some exercise during a sunrise or sunset
Everyone needs some time outside right now! Time your daily exercise to be while the sun is rising or setting. This is a great time to talk with your family about how the sun rises and sets every day. God has faithfully set this in motion! Ask your kids what other things they have seen that God has faithfully done in their lives.
3) Look through a photo album or old pictures as a family
This is a great way to practice remembering God’s faithfulness together. Thank God for everyone that He has put in your life, your family, friends, and others. Talk about your favorite memories as a family and remember together times where God showed us His faithfulness. Here are some questions you can ask as well:
• How has God been faithful to you?
• Who have you told about His faithfulness?
• How might your faithfulness to a friend show that person God’s faithfulness?
How To: Communion at Home
Right now millions of believers across the world are experiencing Holy Week in a different way than ever before. Instead of gathering together in church buildings, we are at home taking part in church services online, fellowshipping over FaceTime, and finding a new rhythm in our day to day lives.
This coming weekend for Good Friday & Easter we’ll be taking communion together as a church body during our online services. This may feel different for many of us, however in the early church, believers regularly practiced taking communion in their homes, breaking bread in remembrance of their Savior. While we may be socially distanced from one another right now, we are still able to come together as believers in Christ by taking communion as a Hope Chapel family.
“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
Luke 22:19-20
Our Guide to Communion at Home:
1) Put aside distractions
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To best prepare our hearts to take communion as a church body, set aside anything that may be a distraction during the service: Phones, pets, meals, etc.
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2) Have your Communion elements ready
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This can be as simple as just using what you have available! Remember, our heart posture is the most important thing about taking communion.
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Some things that may already be in your pantry:
-Bread or crackers/wafers (to represent Christ’s body)
-Any type of juice or tea (to represent Christ’s blood)
If you don’t have these items at home to use and find yourself on a trip to the grocery store this week, you can pick up a loaf of bread or oyster crackers and some grape juice. Reach out to us if you may not have these things available and our pastors can help guide you with some more suggestions on what to use!
3) Participate & Pray
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Join us for our online services this weekend! Good Friday, 7pm & Easter Sunday, 8:30am & 10:30am. This may be the first time many of you are experiencing an Easter service online, it’s important for us to remember that the church is an extension of God’s family not just a building, we are a group of people who love and trust in Jesus! Gather your family or grab a few friends virtually, tune into the service, and let’s worship & pray together!
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