Praying the Psalms: Tue, 21 Aug – Psalm 45 ~ Beautiful words stir my heart.

Praying the Psalms

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

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 45 (NLT)

Beautiful words stir my heart. I will recite a lovely poem about the king, for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.

You are the most handsome of all. Gracious words stream from your lips. God himself has blessed you forever. Put on your sword, O mighty warrior! You are so glorious, so majestic! In your majesty, ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds! Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts. The nations fall beneath your feet.

Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else. Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes. In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you. Kings’ daughters are among your noble women. At your right side stands the queen, wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!

Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say. Forget your people and your family far away. For your royal husband delights in your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. The princess of Tyre will shower you with gifts. The wealthy will beg your favor. The bride, a princess, looks glorious in her golden gown. In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king, accompanied by her bridesmaids. What a joyful and enthusiastic procession as they enter the king’s palace!

Your sons will become kings like their father. You will make them rulers over many lands. I will bring honor to your name in every generation. Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: In the words of the psalmist, you foreshadowed the true King of glory – your Son, Jesus Christ, ruler of all nations –

+ Thank you for the excellence of his character – in him all that is true and beautiful and good shines forth in harmony and fullness…
+ Thank you for perfection personified – in him all your fullness was pleased to dwell, unchanging and unchangeable…
+ Thank you for his humility – in him we learn to set aside our prerogatives of position and status for the good of others…
+ Thank you for his loving-kindness – in him we receive mercy instead of judgement…
+ Thank you for his victory over sin and death – in him we are more than conquerors, by the sword of the Spirit and his Word of truth…
+ Thank you for his justice – in him the righteous will be vindicated and the wicked punished…
+ Thank you for his righteous rule and reign – in him we are blessed with joy and peace…
+ Thank you for his everlasting Kingdom – in him we receive an inheritance of a full life, now and for ever…

O Lord our God: you have given us your Son, Jesus Christ, to be King of all kings, the ruler of all. Accept our worship and praise as we glorify your name.
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“Psalm 45 (Fairest Of All)” – Shane and Shane

My heart burst at its banks | Spilling with beauty and goodness
I pour it out as a song to my King | Shaping the rivers into words

What grace pours from your lips | The sound calls the midnight to morning
The melody turns my winter into spring | I echo it now in my worship | I echo it now in my worship

Ten thousand strong | You’re the fairest of all
Fairest in heaven and earth | Of the children of men
You’re the fairest of them | Fairest in heaven and earth

Your heart burst at the seams | Flowing with blood and with water
A song of love pouring out from the tree singing | For the joy set before me | For the joy set before me

Ten thousand strong | You’re the fairest of all
Fairest in heaven and earth | Of the children of men
You’re the fairest of them | Fairest in heaven and earth

You ransomed Your bride | On the day that You died
Ascended to heaven in glory | She stands clothed in white
With her head lifted high singing | “Come and return in Your glory”

You ransomed Your bride | On the day that You died
Ascended to heaven in glory | We stand clothed in white
With our voice lifted high singing | “Come and return in Your glory”

Ten thousand strong | You’re the fairest of all
Fairest in heaven and earth | Of the children of men
You’re the fairest of them | Fairest in heaven and earth
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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: Mon, 20 Aug – Psalm 44 – You are my King and my 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 44 (NLT)

O God, we have heard it with our own ears — our ancestors have told us of all you did in their day, in days long ago: You drove out the pagan nations by your power and gave all the land to our ancestors. You crushed their enemies and set our ancestors free. They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them.

You are my King and my God. You command victories for Israel. Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us. O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name.

But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor. You no longer lead our armies to battle. You make us retreat from our enemies and allow those who hate us to plunder our land. You have butchered us like sheep and scattered us among the nations. You sold your precious people for a pittance, making nothing on the sale. You let our neighbors mock us. We are an object of scorn and derision to those around us. You have made us the butt of their jokes; they shake their heads at us in scorn. We can’t escape the constant humiliation; shame is written across our faces. All we hear are the taunts of our mockers. All we see are our vengeful enemies.

All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. We have not violated your covenant. Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path. Yet you have crushed us in the jackal’s desert home. You have covered us with darkness and death. If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods, God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart. But for your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.

Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever. Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression? We collapse in the dust, lying face down in the dirt. Rise up! Help us! Ransom us because of your unfailing love.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: your Hand has guided your people throughout history –

+ In every nation and age, you are present…
+ In the people of Israel, you revealed yourself…
+ In the people of Israel, you claimed them for yourself…
+ In the people of Israel, you transmitted your sacred heritage…
+ In the people of Israel, you displayed your governance over all…

O Lord our God: you have revealed yourself and your purpose as history unfolded –

+ You revealed yourself to Noah…
+ You revealed yourself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…
+ You revealed yourself to Moses…
+ You revealed yourself to David…
+ You revealed yourself to the prophets…
+ And, in these last days, you have revealed yourself through your Son, Jesus Christ…

O Lord our God: thank you for caring for your people throughout all of history –

+ Your loving-kindness sustains our faith…
+ Your loving-kindness sustains our hope of help and deliverance…
+ Your loving-kindness sustains us in times of mercy and judgement…
+ Your loving-kindness sustains us in discipline and chastisement…
+ Your loving-kindness sustains our trust in times of persecution…
+ Your loving-kindness sustains our strength and purifies our love…

O Lord our God: you are our everything – you never change – and we adore you through our Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Psalm 44” – Eva Bogomolny

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost – 19 Aug – John 6:53-59 ~ I will raise him up on the last day

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

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

Opening Prayer

Wise and gracious God, you spread a table before us and nourish your people with the word of life and the bread from heaven. In our sharing of these holy gifts, show us our unity in you and give us a taste of the life to come. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Praise the Lord Who Heals the Broken Hearted (Psalm 147)” – Bill Monaghan

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Gospel Reading: John 6:53-59 (NLT)

So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
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Prayers of Intercession:

O Lord our God, those who revere you lack nothing; hear our prayers as we approach your throne of grace –

+ For all believing pastors and priests serving your people this weekend, that they may offer the word of life and the bread of heaven…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all believers who come to your table this weekend, that we may be nourished in faith and assured of eternal life…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all believing families, that our commitment to you and one another may be deepened…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all believers who are brokenhearted and cast down, that our wounds may be healed and our spirits lifted…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all believers who are dislocated and dispossessed, that we may receive solace and the necessities of life…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all believers who have died, especially our loved ones, that they may live forever in your presence…. Lord, hear us.
+ For unbelievers in every tribe and nation, that your Spirit might lead them to Christ, the Bread of Life, and that our lives might bear witness to his presence in us…. Lord, hear us.

Lord our God, those who seek you lack no blessing: hear these prayers we offer in faith, and continue to help us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Come To The Table” – Sidewalk Prophets

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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, 18 Aug – Psalm 43 ~ you, O God, are our only safe place

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 43 (NLT)

Declare me innocent, O God! Defend me against these ungodly people. Rescue me from these unjust liars. For you are God, my only safe haven. Why have you tossed me aside? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies? Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: our hope is in you alone –

+ For you have revealed yourself to us in nature, through the law and prophets, and in these last days through your Son, Jesus Christ…
+ For you have reconciled us to yourself, through the forgiveness of our sin; for while we we yet sinners, Christ died for us…
+ For you have sustained us by the power of your Word and Spirit, and your light and truth have guided us and set us on the path of life…
+ For you have placed eternity in our hearts through faith in Jesus Christ, and given us a hope of glory that will not disappoint us…

O Lord our God: our hope is in you alone; you are our safe place. In you we trust. Amen.
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“Send out Your Light (Psalm 43)” – Sandra McCracken

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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

Praying the Psalms: Fri, 17 Aug – Psalm 42 ~ I long for you, O 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 42 (NLT)

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?”

My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you — even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

“O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: only you can satisfy the cravings of our souls –

+ For you alone are worthy of our worship and devotion…
+ For you alone are good and just in everything you do…
+ For you alone forgive our sins and restore our souls…
+ For you alone fill us with everlasting joy and contentment…
+ For you alone sustain us in times of affliction…

O Lord our God: help us to exercise the necessary spiritual discipline to satisfy our longings –

+ That we might diligently study your Word…
+ That we might ponder the meaning of your Word for our lives…
+ That we might pray your Word into our lives and glorify your name…
+ That we might fix our eyes on heaven and the certainty of eternal life…

O Lord our God: thank you for sending us your Son, Jesus Christ, the bread of life come down from heaven, that the hunger of our souls might be satisfied, and that we might be raised to eternal life on the last day. Amen.
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“Psalm 42” – Sojourner Music