Gathering Preview | November 8th, 2020
Call to Worship
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices, the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. (From Isaiah 6)
SONG | The Lion and the Lamb
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (From Isaiah 6)
SONG | Come Ye Sinners
PRAYER OF ASSURANCE
Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it, he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (From Isaiah 6)
SONG | In Christ Alone
SCRIPTURE READING | John 20:1-18
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!” At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying. But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?”Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” —which means “Teacher.” “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.
THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD. Thanks be to God.
SERMON NOTES
The ultimate source of goodness, truth, beauty, and love came in flesh into our world.
Introduction: The Drama
“We are thrown into existence” (Martin Heidegger)
“All our desires—both good and bad—signify our fundamental need to be in a living, loving relationship with the greatest Good there is, in dependence, worship, communion, and gratitude, and to desire him above all else.” (Eric Johnson)
Point One: Pausing at the Window
Mary took the first step, and as we can see—that is (enough to meet Christ).
Matthew 11.28; John 1.5; Mark 8.31-32a; John 20.31
Point Two: Opening the Window
He can’t come to Christ (except on his knees), he can’t simply come standing.
Their seeing only goes so far. They need Christ to (reveal himself greater).
Point Three: Weeping at the Window
Christ left the linen in order to move into a (new form of existence).
The Lord removes the (veil draped over the hearts) of unbelievers so that they might (see the glory of God in the face of Christ).
2 Corinthians 3.18
Christ always elevates those on the outside, on the fringe of society to experience him (face-to-face).
“When there is a genuine encounter with Jesus — there is a genuine undoing.”
Conclusion: Sunlight at the Window
“She turned around…” In the one or two seconds this turn took, I imagine the world shifting ever so slightly on its axis, and at about this turn’s one-second midpoint trajectory, history too moved almost imperceptibly from B.C. to A.D. A second before this turn there is a woman in the deepest human despair in the agonizing presence of incurable death; a second after the beginning of this turn there is a woman in the deepest possible human elation—in the presence of the death-conquering Central Figure of history…She is the first person, ever, to experience the personal presence of the Risen Lord.” (Dale Bruner)
When we hear the voice of our Lord and bring those thoughts and feelings to him, we can understand and accept our place in this drama.
COMMUNION
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11.23-26) Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
(For the bread) “This is the body of Christ, broken for you.”
(For the juice) “This is the blood of Christ, shed for you.”
The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
SONG | So Will I (100 Billion X)
ANNOUNCEMENTS & GIVING
Thank you for joining us today! Newcomers Coffee invite.
New Circle’s Youth Ministry will be launching tonight at 6:00 pm with a Virtual Youth Gathering. We want to invite all students in grades 6-12 to be a part. If you have questions or want to be involved talk with Matthew. The link is in the Weekly and on our website.
Our next 24 Hours of Prayer opportunity is coming up this Saturday, November 14. Sign up on the Weekly email, Sunday Gathering email, or website. **Please take a prayer guide in the back by the communion table for the day!**
Framework is coming up on November 15 and 22. This is a time for Builders to focus on spiritual awareness and discover giftedness. If you are interested you can sign up on our website or by emailing Christopher.
We will be decorating the Sanctuary and Midway Building for Christmas after the Gathering on November 22. Please make plans to hang out a little while with us. If you have questions, email Whitney.
NCC Women's Christmas Gathering will take place Sunday, December 6th from 2-4 pm. This year, we will be making a craft as part of our time together. If you plan to attend, we ask that you pitch in $12 to help cover the cost of the craft materials. Please turn in your portion by Sunday, November 22nd (make checks payable to New Circle Church). We can't wait to see you there!
SONG | Living Hope
BENEDICTION
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
PEACE BE WITH YOU. And Also with you