Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM—April 21, 2013

 The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Welcome—Barbara Shafer, Christ Church Highland Park

Worship in Song with Nathan Clayton, Christ Church Lake Forest

Hymn 72–   My Jesus I Love Thee
Hymn 240–Grace greater than all our sin
Spirit of the Living God

Scripture Reading (Old Testament):

Zephaniah 2:1-3 (ESV)

2:1 Gather together, yes, gather,
O shameless nation,
² before the decree takes effect^[a]
—before the day passes away like chaff—
before there comes upon you
the burning anger of the Lord,
before there comes upon you
the day of the anger of the Lord.
³ Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land,
who do his just commands;^[b]
seek righteousness; seek humility;
perhaps you may be hidden
on the day of the anger of the Lord.

Prayer

Scripture Reading (New Testament):

Colossians 3:12-17 (ESV)

3:¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Message: “Humility in Zephaniah 2:1-3: How to pursue it?” by Nathan Clayton

Hymn 312–Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus

Benediction

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM—April 14, 2013

The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Welcome—Bill Slater, Bill Slater Ministries,

http://billslaterministries.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/wwjd-or-wdjd/

Scripture Reading (Old Testament):

Psalm 34:1 A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed. I Will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear it and rejoice. 3 O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces shall never be ashamed. 6 This poor man cried and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. 8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! 9 O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him, there is no want. 10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing. (NASB)

Prayer

Scripture Reading (Phillips New Testament Paraphrase): 2 ^1-4 Now if your experience of Christ’s encouragement and love means anything to you, if you have known something of the fellowship of his Spirit, and all that it means in kindness and deep sympathy, do make my best hope for you come true! Live together in harmony, live together in love, as though you had only one mind and one spirit between you. Never act from motives of rivalry or personal vanity, but in humility think more of each other than you do of yourselves. None of you should think only of his own affairs, but should learn to see things from other people’s point of view.

^5-11 Let Christ himself be your example as to what your attitude should be. For he, who had always been God by nature, did not cling to his prerogatives as God’s equal, but stripped himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as mortal man. And, having become man, he humbled himself by living a life of utter obedience, even to the extent of dying, and the death he died was the death of a common criminal. That is why God has now lifted him so high, and has given him the name beyond all names, so that at the name of Jesus “every knee shall bow”, whether in Heaven or earth or under the earth. And that is why, in the end, “every tongue shall confess” that Jesus Christ” is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Message by Bill Slater,  Bill Slater Ministries,

http://billslaterministries.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/wwjd-or-wdjd/

Benediction

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM—April 7, 2013

 The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Prelude

Welcome—Barbara Shafer, Christ Church Highland Park

Worship in Song

Scripture Reading (Old Testament):

Psalm 51:1 For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. 14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Prayer

Scripture Reading (New Testament):

Luke 18:9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men– robbers, evildoers, adulterers– or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Message: “The Uncommon Attribute of Humility” by Barbara Shafer

Humility whispers in our: 

1. Posture 
2. Prayers 
3. Presuppositions

Song of Response

Benediction

Dear friends of the ministry at Advocate Condell Medical Center,

During the month of June, we will minister Peace for Our Souls.  Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and in Him, we have peace with God.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. (Romans 5:1-2)

Preachers, please select a date and a text that shares how the Gospel ministers Peace for Our Souls.   Thank you for the way you are continually blessing the patients and staff at Advocate Condell.

In His service, Barbara <><

Dear friends of the ministry at Advocate Condell Medical Center,

During the month of May, our preaching will focus on The God of Love. 

Ancient Greeks had Eros as their god of love.  Ancient Romans had Cupid as their counterpart.  Ancient Egyptians had Hathor as a goddess of love.

None of these can even compare to The God of Love worshiped by the Judeo-Christian world. 

The LORD tells us there is no one besides Him.  He created the universe.  In love, He made humanity in His image so we might reflect His love.  To show love, He chose to redeem us even when we fell from grace.  He gave His one and only Son Jesus as the ultimate expression of His love.

From before time began, He stands alone as The God of Love.

* * *

Preachers, please select a date and a text that sets our God apart as The God of Love.   Thank you for the way you are continually blessing the patients and staff at Advocate Condell. 

In His service, Barbara <><

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM—March 31, 2013

The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Prelude—LeAnn Malecha (worship artist First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville)

Welcome—Barbara Shafer, Christ Church Highland Park

Easter Sunday Service by Lakeview Presbyterian Church

Call to Worship, Psalm 9:1-2

Prayer of Invocation

Hymn #155, Man of Sorrows, What a Name

Scripture Reading – I Corinthians 15: 1-8; 12-19

Hymn #165, Low in the Grave He Lay

Sermon: “The Meaning of the Story” by Pastor Rick Sutton (Lakeview Presbyterian Church)

Matthew 28

Hymn #163, Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Benediction –Pastor Rick Sutton

A King Who Understands the Valley

by Barbara Shafer, Seminary Gal

Palm Sunday represents a unique challenge to a Sunday morning hospital ministry.  Tempting as it may be to stay cheerful and go from the mountaintop of Palm Sunday’s Triumphal Entry to the mountaintop of Easter Sunday’s Resurrection, doing so by-passes the valley.  Sunday-to-Sunday bypasses the Cross.  It bypasses the tomb of Jesus before He was resurrected. And it strips the Gospel of its power to minister to us in our deepest needs.

I submit to you that we cannot have just a king of the mountaintops who says he feels our pain.  We need a King who lived it.

We need a King who understands the valley.

Any king that has only experienced mountaintops cannot minister to us in the valleys of life.  Chances are good that unless you’re happily in the maternity ward, you’re probably feeling like you’re in a valley right now.

Today’s encouragement is that Jesus is a King who understands the valley.

In our sermon series on the Gospel according to Matthew, we’ve reached Holy Week, also called Passion Week—the week beginning with Palm Sunday and concluding with Easter Sunday.  So today we will see our King descend from the Mount of Olives into the valley of suffering—into the valley of the shadow of death.

The people didn’t know.  They celebrated because they thought he was heading to a coronation as their long-awaited King at the Temple Mount.  From the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem and Mount Zion, but Jesus wasn’t going from mountaintop to mountaintop without knowing the valley.

If you’ve ever been to Jerusalem you know that there is huge Jewish cemetery on the western slope of the Mount of Olives, facing Jerusalem.  That cemetery is the traditional burial place of many notable Jews dating back to King David’s son Absalom and the prophet Zechariah.  Today there are more than 150,000 Jews buried there anticipating the Messiah and the grand resurrection to come.

Jesus went from the mountaintop of the Mount of Olives, past the tombs and crossed the Kidron Valley before entering Jerusalem.  What were the Jews of His day expecting?  Why the celebration?  They thought they were seeing Scripture finally fulfilled in the Messiah:

• Joel 2:32 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls.
• Obadiah 1:17 But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy, and the house of Jacob will possess its inheritance.
• Zechariah 14:4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.
• Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. 11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. 12 Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you. 13 I will bend Judah as I bend my bow and fill it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and make you like a warrior’s sword. 14 Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south, 15 and the LORD Almighty will shield them. They will destroy and overcome with slingstones. They will drink and roar as with wine; they will be full like a bowl used for sprinkling the corners of the altar. 16 The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.

The mountaintop of the Lord’s coming is a day of rejoicing, preceded by battle in a great valley the Lord knows.  Their victory awaits.  It is why they shout Hosanna!  It’s praise and salvation all wrapped up in one!  But Jesus doesn’t go to the Temple for a coronation.

Instead His Passion week unfolds with crossing the valley of human suffering:

• He heads to the temple but not for the reason they thought.  He was cleansing the temple to point out that the valley must be a place of purification.
• He cursed the fig tree and it withered, pointing out that the valley must be a place of authenticity, truth and faith.
• His authority is questioned, but Jesus points out that the valley must be a place where God’s authority is shown and accepted.
• The valley is a place of holiness—and as holy, it requires repentance and atonement for sin
• The valley is a place to encounter God (for us through His Son and Suffering Servant, Jesus Christ)
• The valley is a place to respond to the greatest commandment to love the Lord and to love those who bear His image—the Cross being the supreme example of this!

The Jews of Jesus’ day did not understand that Jesus is not a political king who goes from mountaintop to mountaintop, ruling over a nation without dealing with the spiritual valley as the Suffering Servant.

* * *

But Jesus is a King who understands the valley.

In dealing with the valley as a place of battle, a place of purification, a place of truth and faith, a place of God’s authority over the events of this world, a place of atonement for sin and a place to show God’s greatest love…dealing with the valley meant this King…

The King who understands the valley of humanity’s condition…endures the Cross.

Followers of Jesus, too, must deal with the valley…but not through a crucifixion we have to endure.  Rather,

• We deal with the valley by coming to the King who endured the Cross for us.
• We deal with the valley in the battles of life and in Jesus, finding purification and truth and love.
• We deal with the valley by saying “No” to the things of sin and saying “Yes and Amen” to Christ our King!
• We deal with the valley by worshiping the One who gave His only Son, Jesus Christ so that we do not have to bear the consequences of our sins or dwell in the valley of the shadow of death forever.

What happened during Passion Week?  Why did the crowds turn on Him?  Jesus was not conforming to the image of a mountaintop king the crowds expected.  He first had to deal with our valley of sin and death.  The Jews of His day didn’t understand that.  Jerusalem didn’t recognize their king when He came the first time and Jesus wept over Jerusalem because of it (Luke 19:41-44).

You see, someday, our King will return…not to deal with the valley again, but looking exactly like the Messiah the Jews of His day expected.  A King to reign over the mountaintop as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Jesus did not need to prove He was King.  He knew who He was.  He understood the valley, and endured the valley, but He would not remain in it.

Jesus said, “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:64).

Just prior to His crucifixion, when Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “Yes, it is as you say.”  He knew He was King.

But this King of Kings would not go from mountaintop to mountaintop without knowing the valley.  He is both Priest and King and as such He is able to save.  The Letter to the Hebrews states it this way.  Hebrews 7:23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest meets our need– one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Jesus did this when He died on the Cross.  We have a King who understands the valley!

No matter where today finds you: broken, convicted in your heart of sin, lonely, depressed, or hurting.  No matter what today’s valley brings: sadness, grief, pain, fear of death, needing an encouraging word, or a hand of friendship and love.  Jesus is the King who understands the valley you’re in.  Come to Him.  Find forgiveness in Him.  Find love and friendship in Him.  Find rest for your soul in Him.  Find peace with God in Him.  He dealt with the ultimate valley so you don’t have to do it alone.  Come to Him.  Though we are in the valley, through Him we can have hope of the mountaintop in the future.  Philippians 2 states this about Jesus’ knowing our valley and His ultimate mountaintop coronation: Jesus,

Philippians 2:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Amen!

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM—March 24, 2013

The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Prelude—Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

Welcome—Barbara Shafer, Christ Church Highland Park

Worship in Song:

Hymn 131–All Glory, Laud and Honor

Hymn 248–And Can It Be That I Should Gain (v 1,3)

Hymn 232–I Hear the Savior Say (v 1,3,4)

Scripture Reading (Old Testament):

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. 11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. 12 Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you. 13 I will bend Judah as I bend my bow and fill it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and make you like a warrior’s sword. 14 Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south, 15 and the LORD Almighty will shield them. They will destroy and overcome with slingstones. They will drink and roar as with wine; they will be full like a bowl used for sprinkling the corners of the altar. 16 The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.

Prayer

Scripture Reading (New Testament):

Hebrews 7:23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always  lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest meets our need– one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27  Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Message:   “A King Who Understands the Valley” by Barbara Shafer

Song of Response: Oh How He Loves You and Me

Benediction

Dear friends of the ministry at Advocate Condell Medical Center,

During the month of April, our preaching will focus on the Uncommon Attribute of Humility. 

Modeled by Christ

to be displayed by mankind,

humility is uncommon

both in its prevalence

and also in its beauty. 

* * *

Preachers, please select a date and a text that exemplifies this amazing attribute of Christ.   Thank you for the way you are continually blessing the patients and staff at Advocate Condell. 

In His service, Barbara <><

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM—March 17, 2013

 The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Prelude

Welcome—Barbara Shafer, Christ Church Highland Park

Worship in Song:

Scripture Reading (Old Testament):  http://www.biblegateway.com

Worship in song: 

Prayer

Scripture Reading (New Testament): 

Message by Bill Slater, Bill Slater Ministries

Song of Response: 

Benediction—Bill Slater