Welcome:

We're glad you're here for ToGather! (What is ToGather?) Below, you will find a guide for home worship for one person or a group of people with Scriptures, songs, a Communion reflection, and an inspirational message from Galatians 4:19. We encourage you to have an open heart as we worship God and to have bread and wine or grape juice for the time of Communion.

May God bless you, those you love, and those you want to reach with the grace of Jesus!

The ToGather.church Team

Invitation to Worship:

O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers —
the moon and the stars you set in place —
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
(Psalm 8:1-4 NLT)

No matter where we are physically, we are together spiritually to worship and praise God. We are connecting to honor and praise him and to be reshaped by his Spirit so we can do the work of Jesus in the world. Matt Redman's song, "Here for You!" is a great way for us to lean into worship and offer ourselves to God as we dedicate ourselves to do the work of Jesus:

Sharing the Supper:

The Lord's Supper is not just about remembering what Jesus did on the cross. The Supper invites us into the mystery of being changed into more than just a random collection of individuals; we are Jesus' body, his presence in our world. We don't have this redemptive role because we have earned the right, but because Jesus is forming us into a person, and into a people, to do his work in the world. Let's sing about this transformation with the Zoe Group as they lead us in D.J. Butler's song, "I Will Change Your Name":

Now let's prepare our hearts to share in the Lord's Supper together by meditating on this reflection:

Christ Is Worthy of Our Lives:

Worship is more than Scriptures, prayers, and songs: It is a lifestyle. We worship as an offering. We come to present ourselves to God so the Holy Spirit can shape us into the presence of Jesus to those around us and in our own lives. Before we continue, please read the following passage and think about what it means for you.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship.
(Romans 12:1)

Jesus is worthy of our lives. Let's sing this truth as we let the words and music of Andrew Peterson's song, "Is He Worthy?" draw us close to Jesus, who is truly worthy not only of our praise but also of our lives!

Forgetting the real-life grit of Jesus' story can lead us to forget that the Christ (Matthew 1:1-6), the one who spoke creation into existence (John 1:1-5), had a flesh and blood mother and a very earthly story of his own (Matthew 1:18-25). She carried him in her womb. She gave birth to him in very difficult surroundings with all the realities of childbirth in her time. The image of Jesus' physical body being formed and growing in Mary's womb, along with the labor that was required to deliver Israel's Messiah to earth, is the powerful image Paul used in Galatians 4:19. He wanted to jar all believers awake. He wanted each of us to know what is crucially important in our discipleship: Jesus coming to life in us!

You will want to have your Bible open to Galatians 4:19, as Phil Ware expands on our Verse of the Day:

Download the "Pursue Jesus" Gospel Reading Plan

No matter where we are physically, spiritually we are together as we worship and praise God.
Paul promised us that when the Spirit is at work in us, we have the freedom and the ability to become like Christ (2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:19-26). Let's ask God to empower Christ to come alive in us as we sing, "Make Me More Free," with the Zoe Group:

Closing Blessing:

As we leave our virtual worship gathering, we leave in the power of the Spirit, knowing that God is at work in our lives. As you close this time, let the words of Pat Barrett's song, "Canvas and Clay," remind you that God is at work in you (Philippians 2:13). Our Father promises to bring that work to completion before the second coming of Christ (Philippians 1:6):

Living My MUSD — Faith Working Through Love:

Come join us for "Living My MUSD" (said, "Living My MUST") — Living My Mission Under Social Distancing.

This week, we focus on shared prayer and using this gift from God to intercede and ask for God's help for those in need!

Special thanks for the use this week of images from The Lumo Project and Free Bible Images related to Jesus' ministry.