Fullness of Joy

Primary Sounds, Signs and Symbols: Processional of banners, dancers, children, bright floral arrangements, brass, butterflies, increased participation of congregation

Primary Themes: Return of the spirit of Hallelujahs and Hosannas! Joyful song. The tomb is empty! Children’s voices leading in worship; testimonies.

Colors: White/Gold/Bright Colors

Invocation

A SERVANT’S PRAYER

Rev. Dr. Cynthia A Wilson © 2010 Free Indeed Productions

God of All Creation,
You have shown us the real meaning of life here on earth.
It is through the immeasurable compassion, lavish generosity, and unselfish spirit
of our Brother Savior, and Redeemer, the Jesus of History, that we have been awakened to
our duty to be living demonstrations, yes, even exact replicas of his life on earth.

In our actions, we pray that others will see your unconditional love.
In our loving, we pray for hearts that will guide our hands and feet toward those in need.
In our going out and coming in, we pray for 20-20 vision in the Spirit,
eyes to see those who have been left behind, battered, bruised, and broken.
In our searches for success, we pray for true humility, obedient and contrite spirits,
Conquering selfishness,
Doing nothing through conceit,
Counting others as more important than ourselves,
Serving as conduits of radical hope for the lonely, the last, the least, and the lost.

God of All Creation, this is the prayer of your servants,
In the Name of the Servant of servants,
The Jesus of Earth and Heaven . . .
Amen and Ashe’

The following Liturgical elements for worship are reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition, © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources. For all other uses, please contact the copyright holder.

Invitation to Worship (p. 60)

God calls us to worship, AND WE COME!
Some with laughter and songs of joy.
God calls us to worship, AND WE COME!
Some from a sense of obligation or habit.
God calls us to worship, AND WE COME!
Some with hearts heavy with grief.
God calls us to worship, AND WE COME!
Some with distraction or exhaustion.
God calls us to worship, AND WE COME!
Some with eagerness or enthusiasm.
God calls us to worship, AND WE COME!
Some with stress, loneliness or depression.
As God’s dearly loved children,
We bring all our joy and pain, hurt and hope
Into this place of Spirit-given grace, love, and hope.

Greeting

Welcome in the name of Jesus Christ! (p. 60) May each one of us find great joy and spiritual nourishment as we worship together today.

Opening Response (p. 54)

Let us respond to God’s Invitation with words of praise:

Let us join our voices to praise the spotless Lamb, Jesus Christ,
who has redeemed us from sin and death.
We, whom he has redeemed, will sing praises and shout for joy this hour;
because in Christ the Lamb we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of our sins in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.
Let us praise Jesus by saying:
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!
To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb we give worship this hour
and forever and ever. Amen

Resources for Revival

Rev. Dr. Cynthia A Wilson

“Wilt Thou not revive us again; that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation” (Psalm 85:6-7, KJV).

To be revived AGAIN suggests that revival has happened before. For some, revival is a season of personal spiritual repentance and renewal accompanied by a heartfelt manifestation of emotionalism. For faith communities, it is an intentional movement toward “at-one-ment” with our Triune God and with one another.

A post-Resurrection revival can be the perfect time for congregations to review and bring back to life Christ’s messages to the seven churches in the Revelation during the fifty-day journey to Pentecost.

• Ephesus had left its first love (Revelation 2:4).
• Smyrna – Some tolerated apostate believers among them who were really instruments of Satan (Revelation 2:9).
• Pergamos – Some held to the doctrine of Balaam, who hired himself out to do religious work for personal gain and held the false doctrine of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:14-15).
• Thyatira – Some had listened to and tolerated false preaching, committing spiritual and even physical adultery (Revelation 2:20-21).
• Sardis – Devoid of spiritual life and power. “Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain” (Revelation 3:1).
• Philadelphia – Commended for their love, but warned to beware and hold fast that no man take their crown (Revelation 3:11). This strongly implies there would be those who would attempt to overthrow their faith by whatever means.
• Laodicea – Called to repent for their lukewarm, neutral, compromising, or accommodating attitudes. They thought they “had need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17).

Keep in mind that a revival begins with each of us moving closer to God; then within the home, being reconciled with family members; within church, communities rehearsing the Great Commission; outside of the church, making disciples for the transformation of the world.

Order of Worship

"Wilt Thou Not Revive Us Again . . . ?”

TIME OF PRAYER or TESTIMONY
One or more people (preferably laity) should be selected to offer a one- to two-minute prayer or testimony. A familiar congregational chorus may be sung throughout this time. For example:

Chorus: Hallelujah! Thine the glory,
Hallelujah! Amen!
Hallelujah! Thine the glory,
Revive us again.

Congregational Singing
Two or three songs that are easily accessible for the congregation and that flow in the form of a medley. This requires a well-trained congregational song leader with support from either the choir, special ensemble, or praise team.

WELCOME/COMMUNITY GREETING/CALL TO RENEWAL
The members of the congregation should be encouraged to invite neighbors, friends, colleagues, family members, other unchurched people to these services. This is a time for members to extend welcome to visitors, first-timers, even members who attend earlier or later worship services whose names or faces are unfamiliar.

Leader #1: Those who have been redeemed, those who have a mind to serve God with a pure heart, those who love the name of the Risen Christ, come and worship!

People: We have come to be renewed! We have come to be refreshed!
We have come to be revived!

Leader #2: Those who have come to testify about the marvelous deeds, signs, and wonders we have witnessed in our lives, in the church, in the community, in the world . . .

People: We have come to tell the story of Jesus and his love!
We have been freed from sin and death!
We have come rejoicing with glorious joy!
We have a right to sing, shout, dance, pray, and praise the
Living CHRIST until WE are changed and
the will of God is done.

ALL: LET US CELEBRATE THE LOVED AND THE FAMILIAR.
LET US LOVE THE STRANGER IN OUR MIDST.
LET YOUR WILL BE DONE IN OUR LIVES.
LORD, SEND US A REVIVAL!

SONG OF RENEWAL
Revive Us Again (Lyrics should be projected or printed on a song sheet).

SCRIPTURE LESSON(S)
Be intentional about including languages other than English represented in your community. Invite someone who is fluent in the second language followed by the reading in English.

Sermon
Revival can be an excellent time to invite a guest preacher along with their congregation, choir, dance ministry, etc.

RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Revival should create space for an altar call, invitation to discipleship/rededication. People might also be invited to move to prayer stations for individual/group/family prayer. Contemplative instrumental or sung music should continue throughout this time.

BLESSING AND SENDING
Appropriate words are spoken by the lead pastor or guest. Beverages and light snacks may be served before or after worship.

Biblical Texts for Revival Preparation/Planning

All texts taken from the NRSV

Psalm 80:14-19

Turn again, O God of hosts;
look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
¹⁵ the stock that your right hand planted.
¹⁶ They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down;
may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
¹⁷ But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
the one whom you made strong for yourself.
¹⁸ Then we will never turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call on your name.
¹⁹ Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Psalm 85: 1-7

Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
² You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you pardoned all their sin. Selah
³ You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
⁴ Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us.
⁵ Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
⁶ Will you not revive us again,
so that your people may rejoice in you?
⁷ Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.

Isaiah 57: 14-15

It shall be said,
“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”
¹⁵ For thus says the high and lofty one
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Habukkuk 3:2

O Lord, I have heard of your renown,
and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work.
In our own time revive it;
in our own time make it known;
in wrath may you remember mercy