You have found a place to encounter God and people who care about you – just as you are, right where you are, anytime. Our welcoming, energizing, community worship begins at 10:30 AM every Sunday in the Red Brick Church. Get news and event information in your inbox every week by subscribing to our weekly Connections email newsletter. Sign up here!
Get Your Worship Guide. Click here.
Here’s this week’s worship preview!
Message Preview
As we discovered last week, Jesus invites us to follow the Way. While following is not easy, going first is challenging! Going first is risky. Jesus showed people the Way, spoke the truth, and gave life. But there comes a time when disciples must go out on their own. On this Independence Day, we remember when our nation’s founders determined that change was necessary and went first. They took a step. They could achieve their God-given potential and take responsibility for their future only if they went first.
In our Gospel reading from Luke 10, Jesus sent a team of 72 ordinary people to proclaim freedom and show love and kindness to strangers if they would receive it. They had the authority to heal troubling spirits and bring peace to chaos. Jesus sent them to produce a harvest that would be gathered, shared and used to feed the world physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We may think: wouldn’t it have been better for Jesus to go first? Wouldn’t Jesus go first to offer a more remarkable display of power to get people’s attention? No, Jesus sent us. We are the freedom train sent into communities and neighborhoods. Are you ready to go first? Jesus is. One Way to “go first” this week that we celebrate Independence Day is to invite someone with you to worship this week. Hear Jesus say, “You go first!”
Music Preview
We begin worship with a special 4th of July countdown and Freedom mini-movie. Beverly Mate will be singing For Freedom, Christ Has Set Us Free. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette wrote the lyrics while attending the PC(USA) Synod School in a class taught by Dr. Charles Myers on Galatians. It resonates with some of the beautiful themes of that New Testament letter. Galatians reminds us that all the work we do to justify ourselves in the sight of God comes to nothing, but then God reaches out and says, “My child! You belong to me!”
Our video hymn is God of This City, written by the Belfast band Bluetree in 2004. While the band was traveling on a mission trip to Pattaya, Thailand, the poor conditions of the city became the inspiration for their song.
The video hymn Blessed Jesus, Living Bread will nurture our spirits as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Before the Benediction, we will sing God of Our Father’s Whose Almighty Hand. The hymn’s origins can be traced back to 1876 when the United States was celebrating the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Daniel C. Roberts wrote the text for the hymn to be used during a small patriotic celebration in Vermont.
“…That you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:18).
Whatever your religious affiliation, or none at all, we all hear Jesus say, “Come to me all who are overburdened, and find rest for your soul!” Everyone is welcomed at Cold Spring Church. Yes, everyone!
Enjoy sitting with others from greater Cape May as we worship together. We simplified our service and made it even easier to participate, with our Worship Guide and lyric videos displayed on a large screen.
Worship anytime on YouTube Live!
(click here)
Physical distancing and masks are NOT required!
You have found a place to encounter God and people who care about you – just as you are, right where you are, anytime. Subscribe to our weekly Connections email newsletter. Sign up here!
Energize your life and discover the amazing love of Jesus! This week is the perfect time to join us in person for worship. Enjoy live music and solo, lyric videos, and a message of hope from God’s word.
We are excited to welcome to worship in our historic Red Brick Church on Sundays at 10:30 AM.