*Entire service available on video HERE
Call To Worship
(Scripture to set a tone for worshipping the Lord):
He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
-1 Peter 2:22-25
Worship In Song
This Is Amazing Grace
Who breaks the power of sin and darkness?
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?
The King of glory, the King above all kings
Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder?
And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder?
The King of glory, the King above all kings
(CHORUS)
This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my place
That You would bear my cross
You laid down Your life
That I would be set free
Oh, Jesus, I sing for
All that You’ve done for me
Who brings our chaos back into order?
Who makes the orphans a son and daughter?
The King of glory, the King above all Kings
Who rules the nations with truth and justice
Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance
The King of glory, the King above all kings
(BRIDGE)
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy, worthy, worthy
Rock Of Ages
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in thee
Let the water and the blood
from thy wounded side which flowed
Be of sin the double cure
Save from wrath and make me pure
Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill the law’s commands
Should my passion never fade
And my efforts all be weighed
All for sin could not atone
You must save and you alone
(CHORUS)
Rock of Ages
No one takes your life
Yet you died that I might live
Costly grace you freely give
Rock of Ages
You have paid the price
You were cleft to cover me
Let my hide myself in thee
Nothing in my hand I bring
Simply to the cross I cling
Naked come to thee for dress
Helpless look to thee for grace
Wretched to the fount I fly
Wash me, Savior, or I die
(BRIDGE)
And while I draw my final breath
I’ll rest upon your grace
And when I close my eyes in death
I’ll wake to see your face
Gloria
I sought for the king, and he heard me
And delivered me, from my lonely fears
They looked unto him, and they would attend
And all their faces, were made unashamed
Gloria (x4)
(CHORUS)
O taste and see, that the Lord is good
All you people, all you saints
All you children of the King (Repeat)
I sought for the king, and he heard me
And delivered me, from my lonely fears
They looked unto him, and they would attend
And all their faces, were made unashamed
Gloria (x4)
(CHORUS)
Gloria (x4)
(CHORUS)
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Updates & Announcements
- BAPTISM: are you committed to following Jesus? Have you been baptized since you’ve made that decision? Baptism is simply your public entrance into the Christian faith. If you’re ready to make this
- REGISTER to join us NEXT SUNDAY, 3/14, after the service for our Volunteer Interest Meeting (lunch provided)
- SERVE: As we gear up for warmer months and outside services we’ll need more hands on deck. Email engagealbany@gmail.com if you’re interested
Needs:129 Childcare Volunteers (will train)86 Early AM Setup (will train)
Musicians (singers especially)
- REGISTER for our next “Engaging with Engage” meeting on 3/28 to hear more about who we are and what makes us tick (lunch provided)
The Reading Of God’s Word
Esther 7:1-8:8 (Jessica Stott)
The king and Haman came to feast with Esther the queen. 2 Once again, on the second day while drinking wine, the king asked Esther, “Queen Esther, whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you seek, even to half the kingdom, will be done.”
3 Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if the king is pleased, spare my life; this is my request. And spare my people; this is my desire. 4 For my people and I have been sold to destruction, death, and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept silent. Indeed, the trouble wouldn’t be worth burdening the king.”
5 King Ahasuerus spoke up and asked Queen Esther, “Who is this, and where is the one who would devise such a scheme?”
6 Esther answered, “The adversary and enemy is this evil Haman.”
Haman stood terrified before the king and queen. 7 The king arose in anger and went from where they were drinking wine to the palace garden. Haman remained to beg Queen Esther for his life because he realized the king was planning something terrible for him. 8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually violate the queen while I am in the house?” As soon as the statement left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
9 Harbona, one of the king’s eunuchs, said, “There is a gallows seventy-five feet[e] tall at Haman’s house that he made for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved[f] the king.”
The king said, “Hang him on it.”
10 They hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger subsided.
8:1 That same day King Ahasuerus awarded Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. Mordecai entered the king’s presence because Esther had revealed her relationship to Mordecai. 2 The king removed his signet ring he had recovered from Haman and gave it to Mordecai, and Esther put him in charge of Haman’s estate.
3 Then Esther addressed the king again. She fell at his feet, wept, and begged him to revoke the evil of Haman the Agagite and his plot he had devised against the Jews. 4 The king extended the gold scepter toward Esther, so she got up and stood before the king.
5 She said, “If it pleases the king and I have found favor with him, if the matter seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let a royal edict be written. Let it revoke the documents the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how could I bear to see the disaster that would come on my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my relatives?”
7 King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, “Look, I have given Haman’s estate to Esther, and he was hanged on the gallows because he attacked the Jews. 8 Write in the king’s name whatever pleases you concerning the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. A document written in the king’s name and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”
The Proclamation Of God’s Word
Deliver Us From The Evil One (Sean Nolan)
Songs Of Response
Beautiful Scandalous Night
Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified
Follow Christ to the Holy mountain
Sinner, sorry and wrecked by the fall
Cleanse your heart and your soul
In the fountain that flows
For you and for me and for all
(CHORUS)
At the wonderful tragic mysterious tree
On that beautiful scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful scandalous night
On the hillside you will be delivered
At the foot of the cross, justified
And your spirit restored
By the river that pours
From our blessed Savior’s side
(BRIDGE)
Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified
Come Thou Fount
Come Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it
Mount of God’s redeeming love
Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by Thy help I’ve come
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood
Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be
Let Thy grace, Lord, like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Worship Through Giving:
Those who call Engage home are encouraged to worship through giving. In order to ensure minimal contact, those giving by cash or check are encouraged to drop in the bucket on the back table (not the garbage bucket) discreetly as they depart. To read more about what we believe about giving or to submit an offering online click HERE.
(also available on Venmo: @EngageAlbany)
Benediction
(Closing words from Scripture)
Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring. Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
-Hebrews 2:14-18