Everyone goes through transitions in life. The first day of preschool is difficult for both child and parent. Graduating from high school or college and beginning a new career can be exciting or unnerving. Divorce, empty-nesting, retirement, and issues of aging are real-life transitions that come with anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. Some transitions are natural; others are chosen. Some transitions are predictable; others are very unpredictable. Some are welcomed; others are unwelcome.
Transitions close one chapter of our lives and open a new one. Transition means change, and with change always comes some element of fear. Our natural reaction is to resist change to our normal routines. Transitions, especially large ones, challenge us by moving us away from the familiarity of life to a place or people that are unknown.
How do we cope with the transitions in our lives? How do we deal with inevitable changes in our normal routine? What does the Bible say about transitional points in peoples’ lives?
Throughout history, Christians have encountered change. How we respond to life transitions—both large and small—speaks volumes about our faith, hope, and love. The next transition in life may only be a meeting, phone call, or text away. Are you ready to take the next step with God and with others?
Initially this series came out of discussions on change. It is a normal part of our lives, yet how does one prepare for change, whether planned or unexpected? Our pastor, Kent Rottman, had not yet announced a retirement date when this series began (September 2019), but the transition from a long-time pastorate to a pulpit vacancy would be coming. A Vision Transition Team had just completed recommendations for an interim process. The fall ministry year was beginning. Three staff positions were vacant and in varying stages of the hiring process. Council had recently welcomed several first-time officebearers. The church was mourning the sudden death of a beloved elder. Various members were experiencing really hard things (job loss, cancer, deaths of loved ones, financial challenges) and really good things (new jobs, new babies, new opportunities). Change was everywhere. One season of life ended while the next season began. In retrospect, God had been preparing Lee Street Church for change months before COVID began and months before Pastor Kent would eventually retire in August 2020. How we prepare for change is not nearly as important as the One on whom we depend when changes come our way. Pastor Kent led this worship series and provided the introductory note and sermon outlines. The Lee Street Christian Reformed Church worship team helped plan the services. The last service in the series is a bilingual (Spanish and English) service.
Lee Street is a bilingual congregation with two services each week, one in English and one in Spanish. Several times a year we gather for one culto unido (combined service). Currently that includes fifth Sundays (highlighted here), Good Friday, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and special outdoor services each summer. We use these times to teach each other new songs in our heart languages. Translations are projected so everyone can understand what is being sung or spoken. For songs we know together, we encourage people to sing in their heart language or simply rest in the beauty of the Revelation-style chorus of voices. Translation equipment for simultaneous interpretation to Spanish is available for cultos unidos.
Genesis 8
Seasons of Transitions in Our Lives
Gathering and Praise
Prelude
Welcome and Prayer
Call to Worship
Worship leader begins with the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3).
“Is it true that you do not serve my gods?” (v. 14). “What god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” (v. 15). Their lives were about to change. “We do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. . . . The God we serve is able to deliver us, . . . and he will deliver us. . . . But even if he does not, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (vs. 16–18).
God was with them and is with us. No matter how our lives go, he is still our God. That’s why we serve him.
Songs
“That’s Why We Praise Him” Walker, LUYH 868
“Amazing Grace (So Fill It Up)” Newton, Borger
God’s Greeting and Mutual Greeting
Confession and Renewal
Confession and Assurance
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 36
Tell a story or give an example that fits the theme, or read the Q&A and summarize it, or read the Q&A responsively with the congregation. Conclude with Scripture reading and a prayer.
Song
“Beneath the Cross” Getty, LUYH 825, SSS 138
Thankfulness
Prayers of the People
Offering
God’s Word
Children’s Message
Consider reading aloud a book like God’s Rainbow (Nolan Zobel) and then wonder with the children about what it would have been like to get on the ark when they didn’t know when or where it would land. Do they think Noah was afraid? Have they ever been afraid to do something that God or maybe an older person asked them to do?
Song
“Speak, O Lord” Getty and Townend, LUYH 755, SSS 561
Prayer of Illumination
Scripture Reading
Genesis 8
Message
“Seasons of Transitions in Our Lives”
Sermon Notes
Genesis 7:17–8:22; Hebrews 11:7
Just as the seasons change, everyone goes through transitions in life, and with every transition comes at least a little bit of fear. We fear the unknown. We fear change. We may fear the possibility of failure. Imagine how Noah felt about building an ark. In Hebrews 11:7 we hear how Noah handled this season of transition: “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.”
Response and Sending
Song
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” Chisholm, LUYH 348, GtG 39, SSS 48
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Blessing
Song
“Forever” Tomlin, LUYH 578
Postlude
Isaiah 43:1–20
Positioned for Transition
Gathering and Praise
Prelude
Welcome and Prayer
Call to Worship
Psalm 95:1–7
Songs
“We Bow Down” Paris, SNC 42
“Days of Elijah” Mark
God’s Greeting and Mutual Greeting
Confession and Renewal
Confession and Assurance
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 37
Tell a story or give an example that fits the theme, or read the Q&A and summarize it, or read the Q&A responsively with the congregation. Conclude with Scripture reading and a prayer.
“In a surge of anger
I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
I will have compassion on you,”
says the LORD your Redeemer.
“I, even I, am he who blots out
your transgressions, for my own sake,
and remembers your sins no more.”
“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.”
—Isaiah 54:8; 43:25; 44:22
Song
“Lord God Almighty” Fitts, SNC 113, WR 19
Thankfulness
Prayers of the People
Offering
God’s Word
Children’s Message
Consider reading aloud the book Brave Squish Rabbit (Katherine Battersby) or another book about being afraid. Talk about the story and how Squish Rabbit was able to overcome his fears. Ask the children if they have ever been afraid or felt all alone. The Bible tells us lots of times that we don’t need to be afraid because God is always with us.
Song
“Tell Your Children” Hawthorne, LUYH 314 (vs. 1 and 3)
Prayer of Illumination
Scripture Reading
Isaiah 43:1–20
Message
“Positioned for Transition”
Sermon Notes
Isaiah 43:1–19
God’s chosen people were rebellious. They defied the laws of God. They thought they knew what was best for them. They were wrong, and it cost them: they were taken into captivity. The words “But now” in Isaiah 43:1 flip the script. The people are being readied for a wonderful transition. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name.” Through Christ and in Christ we are positioned for any transition that comes our way.
Responding and Sending
Song
“He Knows My Name” Walker, LUYH 339
Blessing
Song
“My Friends, May You Grow in Grace” Meaney and Diamond, LUYH 938, SSS 704, SNC 288
Postlude
Deuteronomy 4:1–24
Managing Transition
Gathering and Praise
Prelude
Welcome and Prayer
Call to Worship
Psalm 104:1–3
Songs
“Across the Lands” Getty and Townend, LUYH 775, SSS 654
“All Creatures of Our God and King” Francis of Assisi, LUYH 551, GtG 15, SSS 16 (vs. 1, 4, and 6)
God’s Greeting and Mutual Greeting
Confession and Renewal
Confession and Assurance
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 38
Tell a story or give an example that fits the theme, or read the Q&A and summarize it, or read the Q&A responsively with the congregation. Conclude with Scripture reading and a prayer.
Song
“Wonderful, Merciful Savior” Rodgers and Wyse, Baptist Hymnal 2008 162, Rejoice Hymns 263
Thankfulness
Prayers of the People
Offering
God’s Word
Children’s Message
Share a picture from a first day of school, maybe one that depicts a child who is scared and an adult comforting her. Talk with those gathered about the different feelings we have when we are going somewhere new. Are we excited? Afraid? Both? Affirm that all of those feelings are OK. Wonder together what the adult in the picture might be saying to the child. Ask the children what the adults in their lives say to them on the first day of school or when they are dropping them off at a playdate with a friend. Most likely someone will say that they are encouraged to behave and to be polite. End by sharing how the Bible story that the pastor will be talking about is a story of how God used Moses to tell the people of Israel that, even though they were about to go to a new place and it was going to be scary, God wanted them to follow the same rules they already had about how to live.
Song
“Tell Your Children” Hawthorne, LUYH 314 (vs. 1 and 3)
Prayer of Illumination
Scripture Reading
Deuteronomy 4:1–24
Message
“Managing Transition”
Sermon Notes
Deuteronomy 4:1–24
Life transitions are challenging because they force us to let go of the familiar and face an unknown future with feelings of vulnerability or even helplessness. Moses is over his selfish pity party. He has had enough time to come to grips with his situation in life—that he will not enter the Promised Land. He takes this moment to remind the people how they are to manage the huge transition they are about to make as they cross the Jordan River.
Response and Sending
Song
“He Leadeth Me” Gilmore, LUYH 440, SSS 304, WR 499
Blessing
Song
“We Receive Your Blessing” Moes and Moes, LUYH 947
Postlude
Deuteronomy 31:1–13
A Healthy Transition
Alabanza/Praise
Bienvenido/Welcome
Llamada a la Adoración / Call to Worship
Salmo/Psalm 86:9–10
Canciones/Songs
“Tú Eres Dios / Lord Most High” Vidal (YouTube: tinyurl.com/TuEresDios)
“Bendecido Es / Blessed Be Your Name” Redman, LUYH 343, SSS 449
“Si tuvieras fe / If You Only Had Faith” Caribbean , GtG 176, SSS 132 (YouTube: tinyurl.com/SiTuvierasFe)
El saludo de Dios y el saludo mutuo / God’s Greeting and Mutual Greeting
Redención/Redemption
Confesión y seguridad / Confession and Assurance
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 38
Tell a story or give an example that fits the theme, or read the Q&A and summarize it, or read the Q&A responsively with the congregation. Conclude with Scripture reading and a prayer.
Canción/Song
“Renuévame / Come, Change My Heart” Witt, SSS 511 (YouTube: tinyurl.com/Renuevame)
Gratitud/Thankfulness
Oraciones de la Gente / Prayers of the People
Ofrendas/Offering
Canción/Song
“Oceanos (Onde Meus Pés Podem Falhar) / Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” Hillsong (YouTube: tinyurl.com/DondeMisPies)
Esperanza/Hope
Oración de iluminación / Prayer of Illumination
Lectura Bíblica / Scripture Reading
Deuteronomy 31:1–13
Mensaje/Message
“Una Transición Saludable / A Healthy Transition”
Sermon Notes
Deuteronomy 31:1–13
Many changes were ahead for the people of God. However, Moses reminds them of the one constant in their lives. We read about it in verse 3: “The LORD your God himself will cross over ahead of you.” The Promised Land is not a geographic place like Canaan or heaven or, for that matter, the U.S. or Mexico or Canada. The Promised Land is the place into which the Lord our God crosses over before us. It is anywhere and everywhere our God resides. It is not a nation. It is not a language. The Promised Land is the presence of God.
Canción/Song
“El Señor es mi pastor / You, O Lord, You Are My Shepherd” Witt, SSS 532 (YouTube: tinyurl.com/ElSenorEsMiPastor)
Bendición/Blessing
Canción/Song
“Señor Tu Nombre Exaltaré / Lord, I Lift Your Name On High” Founds, LUYH 610, SSS 205, WR 88
Postlude
The illustration on p. 5 “Landscape Vector” by artists at Prixel Creative can be purchased at Lightstock.com. and used for banners, bulletins, or projection.