“Peace Be With You”

April 19, 2020

Christ Presbyterian Church
Virtual Worship Service
Facebook Live: @christpc
Audio Live Stream: www.largocpcp.org
Call and Listen: 351-888-7756
Cell Phone Text: CALL ME
 Welcome to Sunday Worship
1st Sunday after Easter, April 19, 2020 10:00 am
Welcome and Announcements
GATHERING AROUND THE WORD
Opening Prayer
Generous God, we thank you for your presence with us in all our lives.
As we gather where we are this morning to worship you through this
virtual service, we are reminded of the many times we have doubted
and feared. Today banish our fears with the memory of the
resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. Remind us again that through
all our troubles, doubts, and fears, your power, mercy and love are with
us. Amen.
Call to Worship
One: The joy of the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ is
with us.
All: We rejoice in the blessing God has poured into our
lives.
One: Even though we hear words of doubt, we are called to
believe.
All: Even though the world would draw us back again into
darkness, we focus on the Light.
One: Thanks be to Christ who gives us the victory
All: Alleluia! Amen.
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Hymn
For the Beauty of the Earth
For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love from which our birth
Over and around us lies, (Refrain)

Refrain
Lord of all the, Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friend on earth, and friend above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild, (Refrain)

Prayer of Confession unison

Lord, Like Thomas who walked the Judean countryside with
you, we still have trouble believing in your resurrection. We
easily slip back into the darkness of doubts. In a year where we
experienced a different kind of Easter, we are quick to move it
to the past and continue a downward path to confusion. Shine
your bright light of joy upon us. Lighten our dark path. Help us
to believe, even though we have not seen you, touched your
hands and side. Help us to proclaim Jesus as our Lord and
Savior. Amen.
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Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
One: Do not fear, dear friends. Jesus is among us, offering us new
life and hope. Nothing can prevent God's love for us. Rejoice,
for you have been made new in Christ.
All: Thanks be to God!
PROCLAIMING THE WORD

Prayer of Illumination
Reading from the New Testament
Acts 2:14a, 22-32

14a But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and
addressed them,
22 “You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of
Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders,
and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves
know— 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan
and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of
those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having freed him from
death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 25 For
David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he
is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; 26 therefore my
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heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in
hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy
One experience corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways
of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 “Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor
David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this
day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an
oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne.
31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah,
saying, ‘He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience
corruption.’ 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are
witnesses.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Ac 2:14a, 22-32). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!
Special Music Fishel
Alleluia, Alleluia Give Thanks
Reading from the Gospel
John 20:19-31
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the
doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of
the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be
with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his
side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus
said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so
I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said
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to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they
are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not
with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We
have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of
the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and
my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples
were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the
doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace
be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and
see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt
but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples,
which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you
may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and
that through believing you may have life in his name.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Jn 20:19-31). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
One: This is the Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God!
Sermon Rev. John Scott
“Peace Be with You”

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 Sermon Outline:
1) The story of Jesus’ first appearance to the disciples in John
a) Appearance of the Risen Christ (19-20)
i) Doors and windows barred
ii) In fear of the religious leadership
iii) ‘Jesus came and stood among them’
iv) “Peace be with you”
v) Revealed hands and side
vi) Then they rejoiced when they saw the Lord
b) Commissioning of the disciples (21-23)
i) “peace be with you”
ii) As the Father has sent me, So I send you”
(1) Breathed the Holy Spirit upon them
(2) Forgive sins and they will be forgiven
(3) Retain sins and they will be retained
c) Thomas
i) Absent from gathering - Hears what happened (24)
ii) Disciples declaration – We have seen the Lord (25)
iii) Thomas’ Declaration – Conditional – Descriptive (25)
(1) Must see marks
(2) Put own finger into the mark of the holes
(3) Hand in his side
(4) Only then would I believe
iv) A Week Later – Disciples gather once again and Thomas is
with them (26)
(1) Doors shut – Jesus came and stood with them
(2) “Peace be with you”
(3) Jesus addresses Thomas directly(27)
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 (a) Put your finger here – see my hands – put your hand
in my side – Do not doubt but believe
(4) Thomas – “My Lord and my God!” (28)
(5) Jesus questions: (29)
(a) Have you believed because you have seen me?
(b) Blessed are those who have not seen and yet come to
believe.
d) The evangelists message (30-31)
(a) Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the
disciples – not written in this book.
(b) These are written so that you may come to believe
Jesus is the Messiah, Son of God.
(c) By believing you may have life in his name.
e) Peter’s Proclamation: Acts 2
i) Christ’s word and deeds fulfilled Gods purpose (22)
ii) Prophetic fulfillment - Cause for the Crucifixion (23)
iii) Resurrection – David’s words – Holy one will not experience
corruption (24-27)
iv) David’s Foresight – Prophetic message foretold the
resurrection of the Messiah.
v) Peter names Jesus as the one raised by God – Of which
the 11 are all witnesses.
2) In the midst of Chaos, it is hard to hold onto the words “Peace Be
with You”
a) Jesus provided a blueprint for his followers as he taught his
disciples even after the resurrection.
b) Doubts and fears can bind us up like Thomas
c) We tend to operate from a conditional perspective just as
Thomas did.
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 i) I will only do what makes sense to me
ii) I don’t care if others see things differently
d) Current events find us in places where it is hard NOT to be in
fear.
i) Safer at home
ii) Fear of contact with infection
iii) Miss my freedom to do what I want when I want
e) Current events also have us moving to opposites of what
others think and feel.
i) Dread, fear and hate is causing a distraction from hearing
what Christ has to say.
f) Jesus met Thomas where he was
i) He offered up to Thomas to act literally and concisely on his
own defined requisites for belief.
ii) Jesus also offered up an alternative: “Blessed are those
who have believed and not seen.”
g) Thomas responds “My Lord and My God”
i) Thomas sets aside his prescriptive view and acknowledges
without conditions.
3) “Peace be with you”
a) This week is a great time to practice listening and responding
to Jesus’ words.
b) Share “peace” and not words that cause harm to others
c) Social media – Share words of hope – Delete hate and spite
d) Be the peacemakers – and acknowledge the One who gave an
open invitation in times of doubt and fear.
RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Affirmation of Faith
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 1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! We believe
that by his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an
inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, protected by
the power of God through faith. In this we rejoice, even if now for a
little we suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of our
faith—though tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory
and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although we have not seen
him, we love him; we believe in him and we rejoice with an
indescribable and glorious joy. Amen.

Hymn
Spirit of the Living God
Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me;
Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.
Melt me, Mold me, Fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer

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 GOING OUT INTO THE WORLD
Hymn
Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us
Savior, live a shepherd lead us, Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pasture feed us, For our use Thy folds prepare;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Thou hast bought us, Thine we are!
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are!
Benediction
Postlude
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Virtual Worship Service, Sunday at 10 AM Sunday Worship is
currently only available virtually due to Covid-19 restriction guidelines
to help keep us healthy and safe.
Ways to connect:
→ Facebook Live @christpc
→ Audio Stream on our website at www.largocpc.org
→ Call and Listen: 351-888-7756 Cell Phones Text: CALL ME
→ Recordings are available through church Facebook page and at
www.largocpc.org

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 Wednesday Dinners
The church is providing boxed dinners for those who could benefit from
a free hot meal every Wednesday evening. If you are interested in
receiving a meal, please contact June Sanchez at 727-409-4199. We
have volunteers ready to help deliver them to you, so you do not need
to leave your home.
Pastor’s Virtual Weekly Bible Study, Wednesday at 4 PM
The pastor is hosting a weekly bible study through Facebook live every
Wednesday at 4 pm @christpc. The study will be recorded so you can
listen to it later
Cloth Face Masks Now Available
Volunteers have been busy making cloth type face masks at church. If
you would like to receive a cloth face mask, please call the church
office at 727-584-8695 and leave us a message. We will attempt to get
one to you as they become available.

CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Phone: 727-584-8695 • Fax: 727-585-1079 • 3115 Dryer Ave, Largo FL 33770
www.LargoCPC.org • email: CPCOffice@tampabay.rr.com
Office Hours: Monday - Wednesday 9 am–12 pm; Closed on Thursday & Friday

Pastor & Teaching Elder Rev. John A. Scott, Jr. email: Sr-Pastor@tampabay.rr.com
Director of Music Steven Radeck email: StevenRadeck@gmail.com
Custodian June Sanchez email: JuBug616@aol.com
Youth Coordinator Sean Myers email: Seanmyers24@gmail.com
All songs used by permission CCLI #863215 and streaming CPSL 139714, Expiration date 7/31/2020

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