HOPE WORSHIP SERVICE TEMPLATE
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THE PURPOSE OF THIS PAGE IS TO GIVE YOU A FORMAT OF WHAT WORKS WELL IN THESE FACILITIES. THE PRAYERS, DEVOTIONAL, DEMONTSTRATION OF COMMUNION ARE ONLY USEABLE SAMPLES. (MEANING THEY ARE HERE, FREE FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO USE TO DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS AND COMFORT IN YOUR PRESENTATION.) THE NUMBER OF SONGS IN EACH SERVICE AND SET UP OF THE SERVICE FILL THE TIME ALOTTED FOR A SERVICE AT THESE FACILITIES.
TEMPLATE/TEXT IDEAS FOR SERVICE
Beginning with prayer: Lord lay your shield of protection around us and this service protecting us and allowing all ears and hearts be open to hear your voice and feel you presence.
In Jesus name, AMEN.
4 WORSHIP SONGS
DEVOTIONAL SAMPLE
YOUR NOT FORGOTTEN
During the Second World War the US Army was forced to retreat from the Philippines. Some of their soldiers were left behind, and became prisoners of the Japanese. The men called themselves “ghosts”, souls unseen by their nation, and on the infamous Bataan Death March were forced to walk over 70 miles, knowing that those who were slow or weak would be bayoneted by their captors or die from dysentery and lack of water. Those who made it through the march spent the next three years in a hellish prisoner-of-war camp. By early 1945, 513 men were still alive at the Cabanatuan prison camp, but they were giving up hope. The US Army was on its way back, but the POW’s had heard the frightening news that prisoners were being executed as the Japanese retreated from the advancing U.S. Army.
Their wavering hope was however met by one of the most magnificent rescues of wartime history. In an astonishing feat 120 US Army soldiers and 200 Filipino guerrillas outflanked 8000 Japanese soldiers to rescue the POW’s.
Alvie Robbins was one of the rescuers. He describes how he found a prisoner muttering in a darkened corner of his barracks, tears coursing down his face.
“I thought we’d been forgotten,” the prisoner said.
“No, you’re not forgotten,” Robbins said softly. “You’re heroes. We’ve come for you.”
Often in life we can start to give up hope, to feel that God has forgotten us, abandoned us to dark and hurtful experiences, but the cross of Christ reminds us, “No, you’re not forgotten” and the resurrection gives us the assurance that some day we too will see our rescuer face to face and be liberated from the distresses of this life. When he returns we too will hear him say, “I’ve come for you.”
God's promise is with us always. Isaiah 46:4 tells us, "And even to your old age I am He, and even to your graying years I will carry you; I have done it, and I will deliver you.
(Source: The story of the Death March and Alvie Robbins is found in Hampton Sides, Ghost Soldiers: The Forgotten Epic Story of World War II’s Most Dramatic Mission https://storiesforpreaching.com.au/category/sermonillustrations/hope/)
2 WORSHIP SONGS
COMMUNION
PREPARING FOR COMMUNION: (Share a verse on communion. Some popular verses are shared on the COMMUNION page.)
As we take the bread, we pray for a deeper understanding of what it means that Jesus’ body was broken for us.
As we drink the cup, we thank Him for the blood He shed to cleanse us from sin and give us eternal life.
SAMPLE PRAYER
Lord,
We take the time to remember your great sacrifice for our sins. We remember your broken body and shed blood, not for anything you did wrong, but because you were paying the penalty for our sins. Before we take this bread and drink this cup, we repent of any sins we have committed before you. We also don’t take this moment lightly, but recognize how precious and holy this moment is. We want to take a moment to thank you for your sacrifice and to thank you for the result of your sacrifice. We not only remember it, but we rejoice over it. Thank you that because of what you did for us. FORGIVENESS is not earned, but given as a gift. You have forgiven my sins as soon as I asked for your forgiveness. You gave us access to eternal life when we turned our eyes to you. Thank you for loving us enough to pay this great price for our redemption.
In Jesus name, Amen.
SAMPLE FINAL PRAYER:
Almighty God, we thank you for the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ given as a sacrifice, a gift of forgiveness that none deserve. Send us your Holy Spirit to live and work within us. Let us share the love of Christ with others, as a beacon demonstrating the love he has given all mankind. Be with us in the days ahead. Bring others beside us to walk out our faith with us.
Thank you for being a light in the world; bringing us HOPE in a world of darkness.
In Jesus name, Amen.
DEVOTIONAL FILE OPTIONS (These devotionals are great options, but feel free to use your own.)
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