After Pentecost | Wednesday 11 Nov 2026: Psalm 63; Joel 3:9-21; Matthew 24:29-35 ~ The chosen ones will be gathered from all over the world.

After Pentecost | Wednesday 11 Nov 2026

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

O God,
whose blessed Son came into the world
that he might destroy the works of the devil
and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life:
Grant that, having this hope,
we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that,
when he comes again with power and great glory,
we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom;
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“And they will see the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory.”
(Matthew 24:30)

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Psalms: Psalm 63  | Poor Bishop Hooper

god you are my god
you’re the only one i seek god
you are my god
i’m in the desert and i’m thirsty god
you are my god
i know you’re in your sanctuary god
you are my god
i’ve seen your power and you glory god

you’re better than life
my lips will give praise to you
my soul satisfied
with the richest foods therefore
my lips will sing praise

god i think of you
on my bed throughout the night god
i think of you
because you help and i am safe god
i think of you
as i sing under your wings god
i think of you
and feel your hand as you uphold me god

you’re better than life
my lips will give praise to you
my soul satisfied
with the richest foods therefore
my lips will sing praise

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OT Reading: Joel 3:9-21 (NLT)

3:9 Say to the nations far and wide:
“Get ready for war!
Call out your best warriors.
Let all your fighting men advance for the attack.
+ Hammer your plowshares into swords
and your pruning hooks into spears.
Train even your weaklings to be warriors.
+ Come quickly, all you nations everywhere.
Gather together in the valley.”

And now, O Lord, call out your warriors!

3:12 “Let the nations be called to arms.
Let them march to the valley of Jehoshaphat.
There I, the Lord, will sit
to pronounce judgment on them all.
+ Swing the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe.
Come, tread the grapes,
for the winepress is full.
The storage vats are overflowing
with the wickedness of these people.”

3:14 Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision.
There the day of the Lord will soon arrive.
+ The sun and moon will grow dark,
and the stars will no longer shine.
+ The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth will shake.
But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,
a strong fortress for the people of Israel.

Blessings for God’s People

3:17 “Then you will know that I, the Lord your God,
live in Zion, my holy mountain.
Jerusalem will be holy forever,
and foreign armies will never conquer her again.
+ In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine,
and the hills will flow with milk.
Water will fill the streambeds of Judah,
and a fountain will burst forth from the Lord’s Temple,
watering the arid valley of acacias.
+ But Egypt will become a wasteland
and Edom will become a wilderness,
because they attacked the people of Judah
and killed innocent people in their land.

3:20 “But Judah will be filled with people forever,
and Jerusalem will endure through all generations.
+ I will pardon my people’s crimes,
which I have not yet pardoned;
and I, the Lord, will make my home
in Jerusalem with my people.”

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Jerusalem of Gold – Live in Hebrew & English | Hila Ben David | ירושלים של זהב – Live | הילה בן דוד

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NT Reading: Matthew 24:29-35 (NLT)

24:29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days,

the sun will be darkened,
the moon will give no light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

24:30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

24:32 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

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Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending | St Michael’s Singers, Coventry Cathedral. / Chet Valley Hymns and Songs

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

Almighty God our Savior, you desire that none should perish, and you have taught us through your Son that there is great joy in heaven over every sinner who repents: Grant that our hearts may ache for a lost and broken world. May your Holy Spirit work through our words, deeds, and prayers, that the lost may be found and the dead made alive, and that all your redeemed may rejoice around your throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, our heavenly Father: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill Christ’s command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven,
bring us to reign with him in glory.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

After Pentecost | Tuesday 10 Nov 2026: Psalm 63; Joel 1:1-14; 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 ~ May God make you strong, blameless, and holy.

After Pentecost | Tuesday 10 Nov 2026

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

O God,
whose blessed Son came into the world
that he might destroy the works of the devil
and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life:
Grant that, having this hope,
we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that,
when he comes again with power and great glory,
we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom;
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“May the Lord make your love
for one another and for all people
grow and overflow….”
(1 Thessalonians 3:6-12)

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Psalms: Psalm 63  | Emmy Rose, Bethel Music

63:1 O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
+ I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
+ Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
+ I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
+ You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.

63:6 I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.
+ Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
+ I cling to you;
your strong right hand holds me securely.

63:9 But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.
They will go down into the depths of the earth.
+ They will die by the sword
and become the food of jackals.
+ But the king will rejoice in God.
All who swear to tell the truth will praise him,
while liars will be silenced.

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OT Reading: Joel 1:1-14 (NLT)

1:1 The Lord gave this message to Joel son of Pethuel.

Mourning over the Locust Plague
+ Hear this, you leaders of the people.
Listen, all who live in the land.
In all your history,
has anything like this happened before?
+ Tell your children about it in the years to come,
and let your children tell their children.
Pass the story down from generation to generation.
+ After the cutting locusts finished eating the crops,
the swarming locusts took what was left!
After them came the hopping locusts,
and then the stripping locusts, too!

1:5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep!
Wail, all you wine-drinkers!
All the grapes are ruined,
and all your sweet wine is gone.
+ A vast army of locusts has invaded my land,
a terrible army too numerous to count.
Its teeth are like lions’ teeth,
its fangs like those of a lioness.
+ It has destroyed my grapevines
and ruined my fig trees,
stripping their bark and destroying it,
leaving the branches white and bare.

1:8 Weep like a bride dressed in black,
mourning the death of her husband.
+ For there is no grain or wine
to offer at the Temple of the Lord.
So the priests are in mourning.
The ministers of the Lord are weeping.
+ The fields are ruined,
the land is stripped bare.
The grain is destroyed,
the grapes have shriveled,
and the olive oil is gone.

1:11 Despair, all you farmers!
Wail, all you vine growers!
Weep, because the wheat and barley—
all the crops of the field—are ruined.
+ The grapevines have dried up,
and the fig trees have withered.
The pomegranate trees, palm trees, and apple trees—
all the fruit trees—have dried up.
And the people’s joy has dried up with them.

1:13 Dress yourselves in burlap and weep, you priests!
Wail, you who serve before the altar!
Come, spend the night in burlap,
you ministers of my God.
For there is no grain or wine
to offer at the Temple of your God.
+ Announce a time of fasting;
call the people together for a solemn meeting.
Bring the leaders
and all the people of the land
into the Temple of the Lord your God,
and cry out to him there.

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If My People Who Bear My Name | New Horizon / ExaltHIMvdo

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NT Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 (NLT)

3:6 But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.

3:9 How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.

3:11 May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

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Almost Home (| Matt Papa & Matt Boswell

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God our Savior, you desire that none should perish, and you have taught us through your Son that there is great joy in heaven over every sinner who repents: Grant that our hearts may ache for a lost and broken world. May your Holy Spirit work through our words, deeds, and prayers, that the lost may be found and the dead made alive, and that all your redeemed may rejoice around your throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven,
bring us to reign with him in glory.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

After Pentecost | Monday 09 Nov 2026: Psalm 63; Amos 8:7-14; 1 Corinthians 14:20-25 ~ Prophecy convicts people of wickedness and sin.

After Pentecost | Monday 09 Nov 2026

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

O God,
whose blessed Son came into the world
that he might destroy the works of the devil
and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life:
Grant that, having this hope,
we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that,
when he comes again with power and great glory,
we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom;
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“God is truly here among you.”
(1 Corinthians 14:25)

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Psalms: Psalm 63  | Deanne – Hebraic Worship

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OT Reading: Amos 8:7-14 (NLT)

8:7 Now the Lord has sworn this oath
by his own name, the Pride of Israel:
“I will never forget
the wicked things you have done!
+ The earth will tremble for your deeds,
and everyone will mourn.
The ground will rise like the Nile River at floodtime;
it will heave up, then sink again.

8:9 “In that day,” says the Sovereign Lord,
“I will make the sun go down at noon
and darken the earth while it is still day.
+ I will turn your celebrations into times of mourning
and your singing into weeping.
You will wear funeral clothes
and shave your heads to show your sorrow—
as if your only son had died.
How very bitter that day will be!

8:11 “The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord,
“when I will send a famine on the land—
not a famine of bread or water
but of hearing the words of the Lord.
+ People will stagger from sea to sea
and wander from border to border
searching for the word of the Lord,
but they will not find it.
+ Beautiful girls and strong young men
will grow faint in that day,
thirsting for the Lord’s word.
+ And those who swear by the shameful idols of Samaria—
who take oaths in the name of the god of Dan
and make vows in the name of the god of Beersheba—
they will all fall down,
never to rise again.”

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On That Day | CityAlight / Mission of Grace Church

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NT Reading: 1 Corinthians 14:20-25 (NLT)

14:20 Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. It is written in the Scriptures:

“I will speak to my own people
through strange languages
and through the lips of foreigners.
But even then, they will not listen to me,”
says the Lord.

14:22 So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”

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In Your Presence | Jelly Roll –Faith and Yeshua

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, you have not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities; grant that we, who for our evil deeds deserve to be punished, by the might of your grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

O God, our heavenly Father: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill Christ’s command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven,
bring us to reign with him in glory.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

After Pentecost | Sunday 08 Nov 2026: Joshua 24:1-3a; 14-25; Psalm 78:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13 ~ Keep watch and be prepared for Christ’s return!

After Pentecost | Sunday 08 Nov 2026

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

O God,
whose blessed Son came into the world
that he might destroy the works of the devil
and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life:
Grant that, having this hope,
we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that,
when he comes again with power and great glory,
we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom;
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“So you, too, must keep watch!
For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”
(Matthew 25:13)

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How Great Thou Art | Sunday 7pm Choir | Catholic & Christian Choral Music

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OT Reading: Joshua 24:1-3a; 14-25 (NLT)

The Lord’s Covenant Renewed

24:1 Then Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, including their elders, leaders, judges, and officers. So they came and presented themselves to God.

+ Joshua said to the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Long ago your ancestors, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River, and they worshiped other gods. But I took your ancestor Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him into the land of Canaan. I gave him many descendants through his son Isaac….

24:14 “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

+ The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.”

24:19 Then Joshua warned the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. If you abandon the Lord and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you.”

+ But the people answered Joshua, “No, we will serve the Lord!”

+ “You are a witness to your own decision,” Joshua said. “You have chosen to serve the Lord.”

“Yes,” they replied, “we are witnesses to what we have said.”

+ “All right then,” Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

+ The people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone.”

+ So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day at Shechem, committing them to follow the decrees and regulations of the Lord.

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Psalms: Psalm 78:1-7 – Front Porch Passage

78:1 O my people, listen to my instructions.
Open your ears to what I am saying,
+ for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
+ stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
+ We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
+ For he issued his laws to Jacob;
he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to teach them to their children,
+ so the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
+ So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.

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NT Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NLT)

The Hope of the Resurrection

4:13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

4:15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.

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In Christ Alone (My Hope Is Found) – Adrienne Liesching / Hadleigh Baptist Church

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Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:1-13 (NLT)

Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

25:1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

+ “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’

+ “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’

+ “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

+ “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

+ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’

25:13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

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Waiting | Healing Place Worship

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, as we live among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear our prayers, and grant that in our local assemblies the pure Word of God may be preached and the Sacraments duly administered. Strengthen and confirm the faithful; protect and guide the children; visit and relieve the sick; turn and soften the wicked; arouse the careless; recover the fallen; restore the penitent; remove all hindrances to the advancement of your truth; and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church, to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and  find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven,
bring us to reign with him in glory.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

After Pentecost | Saturday 07 Nov 2026: Psalm 78:1-7; Joshua 20:1-9; Matthew 24:1-14 ~ All nations will hear the Good News of the Kingdom.

After Pentecost | Saturday 07 Nov 2026

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

Grant us, Lord,
not to be anxious about earthly things,
but to love things heavenly; and even now,
as we live among things that are passing away,
to hold fast to those that shall endure;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“What sign will signal your return
and the end of the world?”
(Matthew 24:14)

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Psalms: Psalm 78  | Poor Bishop Hooper

o people listen incline your ear
to the mysteries to the teaching here
things that we have heard, things that we have known
parables our fathers told oh no we won’t hide them
we’ll let the children hear

he divided the sea and let them pass through it
made the waters stand there as a heap
in the day he lead by cloud, but with fire in the night
he split the rock for water so they could drink
he opened up the skies the very doors of heaven
poured the bread of angels there to eat
by his very might on the wind he fulfilled every hungering

in spite of all of this they sinned they sinned
in spite of all of this they rebelled again
in spite of all of this they sinned they sinned

he had made the river blood sent the swarms to devour
he gave the crops to beasts the harvest of their labor
the hail destroyed the vine the flocks by lighted sky
amidst the thundercloud
he let loose his anger by a company of angels
and when the path was made from death he wouldn’t save
struck down the firstborn first fruits of egypt’s strength
then he lead his people out

in spite of all of this they sinned they sinned
in spite of all of this they rebelled again
in spite of all of this they sinned they sinned

so full of wrath God rose
against his own laid low
the young men and the strong they fell
he delivered up his glory
into fire all consuming
the women had no marriage song
the priests fell by the sword
the widows they made no lament
but then the lord

full of compassion
his anger was restrained
yet full of compassion
he remembered them again
yet full of compassion
with a pure heart and skillful hand
yet full of compassion
he remembered them again

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OT Reading: Joshua 20 (NLT)

The Cities of Refuge

20:1 The Lord said to Joshua, “Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses. Anyone who kills another person accidentally and unintentionally can run to one of these cities; they will be places of refuge from relatives seeking revenge for the person who was killed.

20:4 “Upon reaching one of these cities, the one who caused the death will appear before the elders at the city gate and present his case. They must allow him to enter the city and give him a place to live among them. If the relatives of the victim come to avenge the killing, the leaders must not release the slayer to them, for he killed the other person unintentionally and without previous hostility. But the slayer must stay in that city and be tried by the local assembly, which will render a judgment. And he must continue to live in that city until the death of the high priest who was in office at the time of the accident. After that, he is free to return to his own home in the town from which he fled.”

20:7 The following cities were designated as cities of refuge: Kedesh of Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali; Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim; and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), in the hill country of Judah. On the east side of the Jordan River, across from Jericho, the following cities were designated: Bezer, in the wilderness plain of the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead, in the territory of the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, in the land of the tribe of Manasseh. These cities were set apart for all the Israelites as well as the foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed another person could take refuge in one of these cities. In this way, they could escape being killed in revenge prior to standing trial before the local assembly.

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O Lord My Rock and My Redeemer | Bob Kauflin | 2025 Shepherd’s Conference at Grace Community Church

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NT Reading: Matthew 24:1-14 (NLT)

Jesus Speaks about the Future

24:1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”

+ Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”

24:4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

24:9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.

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Go Ye Into All the World | Eugene Butler | Virtual Choir

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

Almighty God our Savior, you desire that none should perish, and you have taught us through your Son that there is great joy in heaven over every sinner who repents: Grant that our hearts may ache for a lost and broken world. May your Holy Spirit work through our words, deeds, and prayers, that the lost may be found and the dead made alive, and that all your redeemed may rejoice around your throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, our heavenly Father: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill Christ’s command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven,
bring us to reign with him in glory.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.