Blog
COVID-19 Update: 3 of 5
This update focuses on our current financial status, sustenance God has provided, and some important decisions we need to make together in the weeks ahead.
COVID-19 Update 2 of 5:
This episode offers an update on the specific ministry of each of our wonderful staff member.
Sunday, April 19 | Second Sunday of Easter
we’re glad you can join us for worship!
This worship guide is meant to be a companion to the Livestream service. You can join us live at 11am on Sunday morning, or watch the recorded service later, following along with the words to hymns, etc. in a separate window or on your phone, or print this guide out if you like!
PRELUDE: “In the Garden,” Judy Fiske
This hymn is a favorite from 1912, about the time our 1st building was built on this corner of Grove Avenue and Meadow Street. The hymn is often criticized because he does not mention the name of Jesus in the text, but rather relies on the capital H in he and him to let us know that Jesus is the central person in this song. This song does paint a beautiful picture of encountering Jesus in the garden.
“In the Garden”
V. 1 I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses; and the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.
Chorus: And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own, and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.
V. 2 He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing; and the melody that He gave to me within my heart is ringing.
V. 3 I’d stay in the garden with Him, though the night around me be falling; but He bids me go; through the voice of woe, His voice to me is calling.
CALL TO WORSHIP: “I’ve Just Seen Jesus” (Gaither/Daniels)
This song was presented by Susan Braden on April 1, 2018. This was one of the few times, if not the only time, that she stood at the pulpit at Tabernacle to sing with Ryan Corbitt accompanying her. She usually sang from the piano accompanying herself. This is a powerful reminder of what Mary Magdalene was feeling as she left the empty tomb and encountered the risen Jesus Christ. Susan was deep into her cancer treatment when she sang this song for worship. She lost that battle this year, 2020, on March 27. We are blessed to have these recordings of her powerful testimony.
POEM: The Magdalene’s Blessing for Easter Day
You hardly imagined standing here, everything you ever loved suddenly returned to you, looking you in the eye and calling your name.
And now you do not know how to abide this hole in the center of your chest, where a door slams shut and swings open at the same time, turning on the hinge of your aching and hopeful heart.
I tell you, this is not a banishment from the garden. This is an invitation, a choice, a threshold, a gate. This is your life calling to you from a place you could never have dreamed, but now that you have glimpsed its edge, you can not imagine choosing any other way.
So let the tears come as anointing, as consecration and then let them go. Let this blessing gather itself around you. Let it give you what you will need for this journey. You will not remember the words—-they do not matter. All you need to remember is how it sounded when you stood in the place of death and heard the living call your name.
HYMN #223: “Crown Him with Many Crowns”
V. 1 Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne; Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own: awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee, and hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.
V. 2 Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed o’er the grave, and rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save; His glories now we sing who died, and rose on high, who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
V. 3 Crown Him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways from pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise: His reign shall know no end, and round His pierced feet fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.
V. 4 Crown Him the Lord of love! Behold His hands and side, those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified: all hail, Redeemer, hail! for Thou hast died for me! Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy Name.Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Gospel Reading: John 20:11-17
HYMN #196: “Alleluia No. 1”
Chorus: Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to His name.
V.1: Jesus is Lord of all the earth. He is the King of creation.
Chorus: Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to His name.
V. 2: Spread the good news o’er all the earth; Jesus has died and has risen.
Chorus: Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to His name.
DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
praise Him all creatures here below,
praise Him above ye heavenly hosts,
praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
We know many of you are longing for deeper connections and spiritual sustenance during this season of isolation. In order to help you find the right places to connect, we have created an online interest form. Whether you regularly attend TBC, or have found us online more recently, we would love for you to join us for some of these opportunities!
Our Community Ministry is currently open for no-contact emergency food pickup each Saturday morning. Volunteers are packing bags on Fridays, and there are also opportunities to help from home! Sign up if you’d like to help, and email April Kennedy with any questions.
COVID-19 Update: 2 of 5
This episode speaks to the unique role that each staff member is playing at this critical moment in the life of the church. We encourage you to listen to it….pray for each staff member in the days ahead….and offer assistance if you feel called to do so.
COVID-19 Update: 1 of 5
A little over a month ago, our Pastor shared a significant update about the church’s initial response to the pandemic. This week, Sterling will release a daily podcast offering updates on where we’ve been, what God has done, and where we think God might be taking us next. We encourage you to spend a few minutes each day listening to the updates, sharing the news with others, and praying specifically.
Sunday, April 12 | Easter Sunday
we’re glad you can join us for worship!
This worship guide is meant to be a companion to the Livestream service. You can join us live at 11am on Sunday morning, or watch the recorded service later, following along with the words to Hymns, etc. in a separate window or on your phone, or print this guide out if you like!
PRELUDE: “Noel Nouvelet” (Pethel), Judy Fiske
This organ piece is based on the French Noel “Noel Nouvelet.” The tune is used at both Christmas and Easter. The Easter text is “Now the Green Blade Riseth.”
V. 1 Now the green blade riseth, from the buried grain, Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain; Love lives again, that with the dead has been: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.
V. 2 In the grave they laid Him, Love who had been slain, Thinking that He never would awake again, Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.
V. 3 Forth He came at Easter, like the risen grain, Jesus who for three days in the grave had lain, Quick from the dead the risen One is seen: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.
V. 4 When our hearts are wintry, greiving, or in pain,Jesus touch can call us back to life again, Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.
CALL TO WORSHIP: “Easter” (Cherwien)
From the way things appear on earth when a person dies it seems the end.
But Christ has shown us otherwise.
Spring follows winter.
Trees which dropped their leaves and slept through the dark time now bud and leaf again.
Crocus blossoms burst from snow.
Christ bursts from the grave.
Spring follows winter.
The sun follows the night.
Easter follows Good Friday.
Do not be afraid, said the angel at the empty tomb.
Do not be afraid, he is risen from the dead.
The dark of night is past.
The sun arises for the new day.
All shall be well. All shall be well.
All: CHRIST IS RISEN, CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED! (3 times)
HYMN #194: “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” (EASTER HYMN)
V. 1:
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven join to say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, Ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
V. 2:
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened Paradise, Alleluia!
V. 3:
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O Death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once he all doth save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
V. 4:
Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy Name.Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Solo: “They Could Not” (Cloninger/Harris), Terry Witt
Gospel Reading: John 20:1-10
HYMN #196: “Alleluia No. 1”
Chorus: Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to His name.
V.1: Jesus is Lord of all the earth. He is the King of creation.
Chorus: Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to His name.
V. 2: Spread the good news o’er all the earth; Jesus has died and has risen.
Chorus: Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to His name.
OFFERTORY: “Rise Again” (Holm), Ron Simmons
DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
praise Him all creatures here below,
praise Him above ye heavenly hosts,
praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Continue to Connect
We know many of you are longing for deeper connections and spiritual sustenance during this season of isolation. We are working hard to create new opportunities for community and support for those connected to Tabernacle both locally and globally. In order to help you find the right places to connect, we have created an online interest form. Whether you regularly attend TBC, or have just found us online this Holy Week, we would love for you to join us for some of these opportunities!
Finding Community during COVID
We know many of you are longing for deeper connections and spiritual sustenance during this season of isolation. We are working hard to create new opportunities for community and support for those connected to Tabernacle both locally and globally. We have a number on ongoing groups that are open for new participants to join. We will also be creating new 8-week groups that will begin mid-April and continue through mid-June. If you are interested in getting plugged into one of these, or hearing about other upcoming opportunities for connection during COVID, please fill out the following information and one of our pastoral staff will be in touch with you to help you discern the right next steps for you and your family.
Maundy Thursday: Gathering for Holy Conversation
In John 13, Jesus gathers his disciples together around a table. After he washes their feet, he commands us to love one another as he has has loved us. (By the way, the meaning of the Latin word Maundy is commandment.)
To celebrate Maundy Thursday this year, we invite you to share a meal and holy conversation with others virtually. Invite one or two other families or individuals to participate with you by gathering at their table, with their meal, at the same time. Use it as an opportunity to reflect on who you feel God is nudging you to connect with or reach out to during this season.
Details for the Meal
Virtual Format – You can use any form of virtual connection that works for you. There are many free video conference services, including FaceTime (Apple), Google Hangouts, and Skype, and audio only options, such as FreeConferenceCalling.Com. Tabernacle Community, If you need help setting one of these up, please contact Meg@tbcrichmond.org and she will assist. Members of sister churches are encouraged to reach out their pastoral staff members for assistance.
Who – One of the gifts of our traditional Maundy Thursday meal is its inter-generational nature. We encourage you to use this meal as a time to connect with someone outside of your typical circle or age group, or even someone that lives in another part of the world but who is connected to Tabernacle through Livestream ministry or other avenues.
Time – There is not a single time for this event, as we expect folks to gather at various times depending on what works best for their schedule. Be sure to consider time zone differences should you want to dine with someone that doesn’t live in your neck of the woods.
Holy Conversation: Group Reflection Questions
Spend the first part of the meal catching up with one another, sharing the gifts and challenges of this season together. When you feel ready, we invite you to transition into a time of Holy conversation using the following questions that bring us into connection with the Passover meal Jesus shared with his disciples.
- Why is this night different from all other nights? Why do we call this particular Thursday “holy”?
- Share one word about how you are feeling in the midst of this Holy Week, as we navigate the rituals and rhythms in a totally different way (virtually).
- Lent began nearly 40 days ago, when our whole world was totally different. Lent is meant to be a time of prayer, preparation and fasting. We are probably all praying, preparing, and fasting, but maybe for different reasons that we originally planned:
- What is your prayer during this season?
- How do you sense God is using this time to prepare you?
- What are you fasting from–whether by choice, or maybe because your life has changed in a way that has forced you to give up or let go of something you love?
- Why these symbols– why do you think Jesus gathered the disciples for a meal?
- Why the bread? Why the cup? Why do you think Jesus chose these elements to remind the disciples of his love?
You may choose to celebrate communion together, with whatever bread and cup you have available. You may choose to end with a blessing, or with sharing of prayer concerns.
Blessing the Bread, the Cup
A Blessing for Holy Thursday by Jan Richardson
Let us bless the bread
that gives itself to us
with its terrible weight,
its infinite grace.
Let us bless the cup
poured out for us
with a love
that makes us anew.
Let us gather
around these gifts
simply given
and deeply blessed.
And then let us go
bearing the bread,
carrying the cup,
laying the table
within a hungering world.
Palm Parade Montage (2020)
We had a wonderful Palm Sunday Celebration yesterday. We’ve added some extra photos and videos to this montage. Thanks to all our participants, past and present alike!
You can watch the entire service by clicking on this link.