Preparing for Worship at NRN on April 6, 2014

As we gather for worship tomorrow at NRN we will celebrate communion together as the family of God.  I sense in my heart that there will be a moving of the Holy Spirit in our midst.,  Let us gather on Sunday with an expectation of the Presence of God.  Let our heart anticipate an outpouring of His Spirit.  Come prepared to worship and position your heart to draw near to God.  This would be a good time to pause and pray to ask God who are you to call, text or email and invite them to join you at church tomorrow.  It could be a life changing experience for them.  Here are the songs and plans in our worship set:

We begin with a warm welcome and call to worship in prayer.  Then we rise to our feet and proclaim our praise for our Great God!

Now we remain standing an recite in unison - a creed of the Early Church.

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended into hell.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of the saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Now we prepare for prayer and communion:

We provide an opportunity for people to bring their prayer request to the altar.  Each request will be remembered during our upcoming 24 hour Prayer Vigil on Friday and Saturday April 11 -12.  People can spend time in prayer and preparation to receive the elements of communion - or - they can be served and then move to the altars for a time of personal reflection and prayer.

This is a scared and beautiful time to draw near to the Lord.  We bring our time of communion to a close with a beautiful song to the Lord.

Series: ENCOUNTERS BY THE SEA

Part 4:  Experiencing Provision

Mark 6:30-44      

Matthew 14:13-21; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14

Over the past 3 weeks we have been looking at incredible encounters by the Sea of Galilee.  Last week was truly amazing as we saw the miracle working power of Jesus as he healed an unclean woman and raised a 12 year old girl from the dead!  After this Jesus and the Disciples went around teaching from town to town. Then Jesus sent out the 12 to preach and minister.  It was an emotional and physically draining time (as ministry often is).  They received the news that the cousin of Jesus – John the Baptist was beheaded.  

In today’s passage Jesus provides an example of position and provision; expecting God to show up and do great things, and thinking big! God wants us to have the expectation that He will show up and provide. 

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassion's never fail, They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I will say to myself,"The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."