Month: August 2018

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost – 26 Aug – John 6:60-69 ~ you alone have the words of eternal life

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

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

Opening Prayer

In every age, O God, you give your people freedom to walk in faith or to turn away. Grant us grace to remain faithful to your Holy One, whose words are spirit and life, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Be Thou My Vision” – Robin Mark


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Gospel Reading: John 6:60-69 (NLT)

Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”

Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”
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Prayers of Intercession:

Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy One of God: usher us into the presence of the Father, that we may present our needs and receive help in this our day of trouble. Lord, hear our prayers –

+ For church leaders – that we may repent of our sins, past and present, and receive forgiveness… Lord, have mercy.
+ For those who pray without ceasing – that you may hear their cries and respond to their needs… Lord, have mercy.
+ For those who are suffering great pain and affliction at the hands of wicked people – that they may be delivered and healed… Lord, have mercy.
+ For those who have turned away from you – that they may repent, return, and be restored by the communion of saints… Lord, have mercy.
+ For all who are searching for meaning – that they may hear your call and follow you… Lord, have mercy.
+ For those who are destitute and dislocated – that they may receive comfort and restoration… Lord, have mercy.
+ For all who have died in faith – that they may enjoy the wonders of life eternal in your presence… Lord, have mercy.

Lord our God, you heal the broken-hearted and give sight to the blind. Work your wonders among us that we might bring honor and glory to your name. Amen.
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“Taste and See” – Shane & Shane


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Blessing – Ephesians 3:20-21

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

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

Praying the Psalms: Sat, 25 Aug – Psalm 49 ~ you can’t take it with you

Praying the Psalms

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

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 49 (NLT)

Listen to this, all you people! Pay attention, everyone in the world! High and low, rich and poor—listen! For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight. I listen carefully to many proverbs and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.

Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me? They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough to live forever and never see the grave.

Those who are wise must finally die, just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind. The grave is their eternal home, where they will stay forever. They may name their estates after themselves, but their fame will not last. They will die, just like animals. This is the fate of fools, though they are remembered as being wise.

Like sheep, they are led to the grave, where death will be their shepherd. In the morning the godly will rule over them. Their bodies will rot in the grave far from their grand estates. But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave.

So don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich and their homes become ever more splendid. For when they die, they take nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave. In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success. But they will die like all before them and never again see the light of day. People who boast of their wealth don’t understand; they will die, just like animals.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: in you alone we have redemption through the all-sufficient sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross. Deliver us from the folly of trusting in earthly riches –

+ For riches can’t purchase a ransom from death; you don’t accept bribes…
+ For riches can’t be taken with us when we die; you don’t want them…
+ For riches can’t deliver us from the grave; you don’t value them…

O Lord our God: by your grace we are declared righteous through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. High and low, rich or poor, we are all measured by the same standard –

+ Fill us with your perfect love that we may be fearless and resolute in these evil times…
+ Fill us with confidence in your certain victory, that good will triumph over evil…
+ Fill us with the certainty of eternal life through the redemption of your Son, Jesus Christ…

O Lord our God: our past, our present, and our future are in your merciful hands. Thank you for your boundless loving-kindness shown us in your Son, Jesus Christ. It’s through faith and trust in him that we approach your throne of grace to receive the help we need to stay the course and make your Kingdom priorities our priorities as well. Amen.
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“Psalm 49” – The Psalms Sung


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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Praying the Psalms: Fri, 24 Aug – Psalm 48 ~ Jerusalem, the city of our God

Praying the Psalms

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

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 48 (NLT)

How great is the Lord, how deserving of praise, in the city of our God, which sits on his holy mountain! It is high and magnificent; the whole earth rejoices to see it! Mount Zion, the holy mountain, is the city of the great King! God himself is in Jerusalem’s towers, revealing himself as its defender.

The kings of the earth joined forces and advanced against the city. But when they saw it, they were stunned; they were terrified and ran away. They were gripped with terror and writhed in pain like a woman in labor. You destroyed them like the mighty ships of Tarshish shattered by a powerful east wind.

We had heard of the city’s glory, but now we have seen it ourselves — the city of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. It is the city of our God; he will make it safe forever.

O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple. As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is filled with victory. Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice. Let all the towns of Judah be glad because of your justice.

Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem. Walk around and count the many towers. Take note of the fortified walls, and tour all the citadels, that you may describe them to future generations. For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: In days of old, you chose the temple in Jerusalem as your dwelling place and claimed the city as your own. And now, O Lord, you have graciously chosen to dwell in our hearts by faith in your Son, Jesus Christ –

+ Thank you, Lord, for extending your glory to every tribe and nation through your Spirit who dwells within every believer…
+ Thank you, Lord, for establishing your eternal Kingdom; no enemy can prevail against it, your coming glory is assured…

O Lord our God: In days of old, you displayed your power by defending the city of Jerusalem and its kings, but they rebelled against you and did what was evil in your sight. And now, O Lord, you have installed your Son, Jesus Christ, over every believer as our great, eternal, King –

+ In the might of his power, sooner or later, every tribe and nation will declare him Lord, all to your glory…
+ In the goodness of his loving-kindness, his sacrifice on the cross secures our faith and guarantees our hopes…
+ In the righteousness of his judgments, evildoers fall while those declared righteous in his name stand firm and secure…

O Lord our God: No power can stand against against you whether on earth or in heaven. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we claim you as our God and proclaim him as the only Way, the only Truth, and the only source of Life – abundant and eternal. Amen.
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“City of Elohim” (Psalm 48) – James Block


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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Praying the Psalms: Thu, 23 Aug – Psalm 47 ~ the Lord Most High is awesome

Praying the Psalms

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

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 47 (NLT)

Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise! For the Lord Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth. He subdues the nations before us, putting our enemies beneath our feet. He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance, the proud possession of Jacob’s descendants, whom he loves.

God has ascended with a mighty shout. The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King over all the earth. Praise him with a psalm. God reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne. The rulers of the world have gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham. For all the kings of the earth belong to God. He is highly honored everywhere.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: you are the great King over all the earth; you constrain your enemies to fulfill your sovereign purpose –

+ You bring good out of evil that all may praise you…
+ You shield your people and fill us with truth and joy…

O Lord our God: you are the great King over heaven and earth; you have chosen and secured an inheritance for all your people –

+ You have given the holy land to your people Israel…
+ You have given heaven to all your people in Christ…
+ You have secured your promises for all who repent and turn to you…

O Lord our God: you are the great King over heaven and earth; kings and kingdoms, and all the rulers and peoples of the earth, will one day bow before you – then every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, all to your glory.
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“So Far” (Psalm 47) – The Voice of the Shofar, Sounding so far


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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Praying the Psalms: Wed, 22 Aug – Psalm 46 ~ God is our refuge and strength

Praying the Psalms

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

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 46 (NLT)

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it. The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts! The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.

Come, see the glorious works of the Lord: See how he brings destruction upon the world. He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: you are our fortress; your strength and power sustain us –

+ We rely on your help in times of trouble; with you at our side we are fearless…
+ We rely on your comfort in times of trouble; your spirit fill us with joy…
+ We rely on your deliverance in times of trouble; we trust you and wait patiently, knowing that victory is assured…

O Lord our God: marshal heaven’s armies in our defense, and move among us with great power and authority, that we may rest quietly in you, our fortress, to the honor and glory of your name. Amen.
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“Psalm 46 (Lord of Hosts)” – Shane and Shane

O come behold the works of God | The nations at His feet
He breaks the bow and bends the spear | And tells the wars to cease
O Mighty One of Israel | You are on our side
We walk by faith in God who burns the chariots with fire

Lord of Hosts, You’re with us | With us in the fire
With us as a shelter | With us in the storm
You will lead us |Through the fiercest battle
Oh where else would we go | But with the Lord of Hosts

O God of Jacob, fierce and great |You lift Your voice to speak
The earth it bows and all | The mountains move into the sea
O Lord You know the hearts of men | And still you let them live
O God, who makes the mountains melt | Come wrestle us and win
O God who makes the mountains melt | Come wrestle us and win

Lord of Hosts, You’re with us | With us in the fire
With us as a shelter | With us in the storm
You will lead us |Through the fiercest battle
Oh where else would we go | But with the Lord of Hosts

Though oceans roar, You are the Lord of all
The one who calms the wind and waves and makes my heart be still
Though the earth gives way, the mountains move into the sea
The nations rage, I know my God is in control
Though oceans roar, You are the Lord of all
The one who calms the wind and waves and makes my heart be still
Though the earth gives way, the mountains move into the sea
The nations rage, I know my God is in control

Lord of Hosts, You’re with us | With us in the fire
With us as a shelter |With us in the storm
You will lead us | Through the fiercest battle
Oh where else would we go | But with the Lord of Hosts
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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!