In consideration of others and as guests of West High School . . .
- Please silence your phone and watch.
- Name tags are a great start to a meaningful connection. Thanks for wearing one.
- Our Nursery has been temporarily relocated due to the school’s production materials backstage. Parents, please look for the sign across the small parking lot in the area where the Children’s Ministry meets. Thank you for your understanding.
- If you’d like to give an offering, there are two baskets in the back or you can use the “Giving” tab at the bottom-right corner of the mobile app.
Communion Elements: Please take and hold these – located near the entrance. Later in the service, we will partake together. Please ask for special gluten-free elements if you prefer. Otherwise, the elements today are not gluten-free due to sourcing delays.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.
Proverbs 17:12
I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs;
I will tear open their breast,
and there I will devour them like a lion,
as a wild beast would rip them open.
Hosea 13:8
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Galatians 6:7
“He who is only just is cruel. Who on earth could live were all judged justly?”
– Byron
“It is curious that people who are filled with horrified indignation whenever a cat kills a sparrow can hear that story of the killing of God told Sunday after Sunday and not experience any shock at all.”
– Dorothy Sayers
– Barbara Brown Taylor
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 91:1-2
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
SONG
This is Amazing Grace
[Verse 1]
Who breaks the power of sin and darkness
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger
The King of Glory, the King above all Kings
Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder
and leaves us breathless in awe and wonder
The King of Glory, the King above all kings
[Chorus]
This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That you would take my place
That You would bear my cross
You laid down Your life
That I would be set free
Jesus I sing for
All that You’ve done for me
[Verse 2]
Who brings our chaos back into order
Who makes the orphan a son and daughter
The King of Glory, the King of Glory
Who rules the nations with truth and justice
shines like the sun in all of its brilliance
The King of Glory
The King above all Kings
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
[Chorus]
© 2012 Phil Wickham Music, Seems Like Music, Sing My Songs, WB Music Corp. CCLI Lic # 20307629
SONG
Holy Spirit
[Verse]
There’s nothing worth more that could ever come close
No thing can compare, You’re our living hope
Your presence, Lord
I’ve tasted and seen of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free and my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord
[Chorus]
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
[Verse]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
[Chorus]
© 2011 Capitol CMG Genesis. CCLI Lic # 20307629
SONG
The Old Rugged Cross
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross the emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain
[Chorus]
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross ‘Til my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
and exchange it some day for a crown
[Verse 2]
In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine a wondrous beauty I see
for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, it’s shame and reproach gladly bear
‘Til He calls me one day to my home far away where his glory forever I’ll share
[Chorus]
ANNOUNCEMENTS
New Community Group Forming – A group for families with young children (but not exclusively) will begin meeting on Sunday, April 16th. To start, they will use a book called Hope in Times of Fear by Tim Keller. You can register here and get more details about meeting frequency and childcare.
Meet King’s Cross Church! Sunday, April 23, 2023 after church. For newer people to get to know our church and some leaders. In-person at Joe Brown’s house. Lunch will be included! REGISTER here.
CELEBRATING FOUR YEARS
SERMON
Series – Elijah & Elisha: Fire and Mercy
Message: “A Tale of Two Cities”
2 Kings 2:19-25 (ESV)
19 Now the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful.” 20 He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” 22 So the water has been healed to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.
23 He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” 24 And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys. 25 From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
COMMUNION
Communion Elements: If you did not receive communion elements on your way in, raise your hand and someone will bring them to you. Please ask for special gluten-free elements if you prefer. Otherwise, the elements today are not gluten-free due to sourcing delays.
SONG
Here Again
[Verse 1]
Can’t go back to the beginning
Can’t control what tomorrow will bring
But I know here in the middle
Is the place where You promise to be
[Chorus]
I’m not enough unless You come
Will You meet me here again
‘Cause all I want is all You are
Will You meet me here again
[Verse 2]
As I walk now through the valley
Let Your love rise above every fear
Like the sun shaping the shadow
In my weakness Your glory appears
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Not for a minute
Was I forsaken
The Lord is in this place
The Lord is in this place
Come Holy Spirit
Dry bones awaken
The Lord is in this place
The Lord is in this place
[Chorus]
© Elevation Worship Publishing CCLI Lic # 20307629
BENEDICTION
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
Psalm 23:1-4a