Our streaming services are really about home worship. Sign in alone or gather with your family and friends and join in! These services are interactive, involving sharing together, praying together, discussing God’s Word together, and – if you desire – singing together. The live stream is here to guide and support your worship in your home. Live stream worship will involve a live text chat. This is an important part of connecting with each other and sharing our input, feedback and prayer needs.
Citizens of Heaven Living on Earth
ALLEGIANCE: Citizens of Heaven
April 21, 2024
9:30 AM
Please CLICK HERE to download the service notes.
As We Gather
How do we live as citizens of heaven while also citizens of our earthly nation? How do we keep Christ at the center when our country is going through a contentious election season? How do we treat others, especially those with whom we disagree? How do we keep our ultimate allegiance to Christ when our nation is divided on so many issues? How do I respond to news that worries me, disgusts me, or alarms me? Where do I find hope in difficult times?
This is what we will be looking at in this three-week worship series. We are directly addressing the current political season and what it means to be salt and light in our lives at this time. We are focusing on teachings that are always true, but that are especially applicable and relevant during this time.
Today we focus on ALLEGIANCE. Where do I place my highest allegiance? Is it to a political party? Or a political ideology? Or is it to the nation? Christians are called to offer our highest allegiance to Christ, that our values and actions flow from His Word and what He has done. What does that mean in a divided nation, where there is intense disagreement on many issues? How do I live each day is a way that reflects that my allegiance above all is to Christ?
Live-stream and in-person worship begin at 9:30 AM. Please CLICK HERE to download the link to the live-stream itself.
We will be streaming on our Facebook Page as well: CLICK HERE
CELEBRATING THE LORD’S SUPPER
For those who are streaming, we will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper in the same way that we have been during the days of quarantine. Please to go this page on our website for information regarding Holy Communion at St. John’s during COVID-19, as well as how to prepare. CLICK HERE Also, take a look at this video with an explanation by Pastor Mike: CLICK HERE
Please click here to download an easy unleavened bread recipe
Preparing for Live Stream Worship
Normally when we prepare for worship, we need to shower, get dressed, get in our cars and drive to the sanctuary. You don’t need to do any of that for the home-based streaming worship at St. John’s. But there is still some preparation (which won’t take as long as the items mentioned above!)
- Download the worship notes for the service. The worship notes contain the reading and other items for worship. The notes also include the reflection and discussion questions, as well as suggestions for singing. If you will be participating on your phone or pad, you should print the handout because you will not be able to switch windows and keep the YouTube live going.
- Sign up for a Google or Gmail account if you do not already have one. In order to take part in the Live Chat with YouTube, you need to have a Google or Gmail account. It doesn’t take long to set it up. For a guide to signing up, please go here: https://support.google.com/mail/answer/56256?hl=en If you don’t want to see the chat feed, or you want to turn it off for part of the service, just click the “hide chat” button at the bottom of the feed. When you want to see the feed again, click the “show chat” button at the top.
- Prepare a comfortable place to worship. Plan to be totally engaged. Remove other things that may distract you. You may want to light a candle or use some other means of recognizing that this is a time for worship.
- Pray that the Lord prepare your heart. Perhaps the most important step. This is an very different way to worship, so we should pray for the Holy Spirit’s present and guidance.
If you need help with any of these steps, please contact Pastor Mike. He or someone else will assist you.