Our Resurrection Weekend services begin with our Good Friday Evening Gathering, March 29 at 7:00 pm, and conclude with our regular Sunday activities on Resurrection Sunday Morning, March 31!

Elder's Prayer

Please find below the notes from the Elder's Prayer this past Sunday.

Assurance (affirmation of God's provision of grace),

Listen to the words of the psalmist, David in Psalm 103 as he describes a believer's relationship with God and the assurance that is found in him.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. [...] 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. (Psalm 103:8, 10-14)

Do you hear what the psalmist is saying? For those that fear the Lord, those that reverence him, we are given the assurance of his mercy and grace; his patience and his love. And though we sin, he forgives us and does not repay us with what we deserve.

Through Jesus Christ, he removes our transgressions from us and instead shows us his compassion -- the compassion of a father for his children. This is the truth that God wants all those who have bowed their knee to him to know today and forever

As we just finished singing -- (And) on that day, when He comes back to claim us we will continue to bow down, and Praise him always -- eternally secure in his loving provision for us and his loving possession of us.

Let's pray.

Father, as your word teaches those who have bowed their knee to you, we have no reason to fear or be anxious about anything now or ever. You tell us to bring our prayer and supplication to you, with thanksgiving so that you may provide for us. And when we come to you, your promised peace guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Lord teach us, therefore, to be content, no matter what circumstances we encounter, knowing that you are sovereign and ordain all things under heaven -- both our abundance and our need.

Teach us to abide in you -- always meditating on your truth and recognizing your goodness and provision in all things.

Teach us to practice, at all times, what we have learned and received from you.

Guard our hearts in Christ Jesus and teach us to rely on your strength, not our own.

Help us to fully grasp the fact that, by your grace and your will, we can do all things through him who strengthens us.