Month: October 2018

Praying the Psalms: Thu, 11 Oct – Psalm 89 ~ I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love!

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 89 (NLT) (A psalm of Ethan the Ezrahite.)

I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with David, my chosen servant. I have sworn this oath to him: ‘I will establish your descendants as kings forever; they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.’” Interlude

All heaven will praise your great wonders, Lord; myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness. For who in all of heaven can compare with the Lord? What mightiest angel is anything like the Lord? The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne. O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord? You are entirely faithful.

  • You rule the oceans. You subdue their storm-tossed waves. You crushed the great sea monster.
  • You scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
  • The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours—you created it all.
  • You created north and south. Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon praise your name.
  • Powerful is your arm! Strong is your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.
  • Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.
  • Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

  • They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation.
  • They exult in your righteousness.
  • You are their glorious strength. It pleases you to make us strong.
  • Yes, our protection comes from the Lord, and he, the Holy One of Israel, has given us our king.

Long ago you spoke in a vision to your faithful people. You said,

  • “I have raised up a warrior. I have selected him from the common people to be king.
  • I have found my servant David. I have anointed him with my holy oil.
  • I will steady him with my hand; with my powerful arm I will make him strong.
  • His enemies will not defeat him, nor will the wicked overpower him.
  • I will beat down his adversaries before him and destroy those who hate him.
  • My faithfulness and unfailing love will be with him, and by my authority he will grow in power.
  • I will extend his rule over the sea, his dominion over the rivers.

And he will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’

  • I will make him my firstborn son, the mightiest king on earth.
  • I will love him and be kind to him forever; my covenant with him will never end.
  • I will preserve an heir for him; his throne will be as endless as the days of heaven.

But if his descendants forsake my instructions and fail to obey my regulations, if they do not obey my decrees and fail to keep my commands, then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their disobedience with beating. But I will never stop loving him nor fail to keep my promise to him. No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said. I have sworn an oath to David, and in my holiness I cannot lie: His dynasty will go on forever; his kingdom will endure as the sun. It will be as eternal as the moon, my faithful witness in the sky!” Interlude

But now you have rejected him and cast him off. You are angry with your anointed king.

  • You have renounced your covenant with him; you have thrown his crown in the dust.
  • You have broken down the walls protecting him and ruined every fort defending him.
  • Everyone who comes along has robbed him, and he has become a joke to his neighbors.
  • You have strengthened his enemies and made them all rejoice.
  • You have made his sword useless and refused to help him in battle.
  • You have ended his splendor and overturned his throne.
  • You have made him old before his time and publicly disgraced him. Interlude

O Lord, how long will this go on? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your anger burn like fire? Remember how short my life is, how empty and futile this human existence! No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave. Interlude

Lord, where is your unfailing love? You promised it to David with a faithful pledge. Consider, Lord, how your servants are disgraced! I carry in my heart the insults of so many people. Your enemies have mocked me, O Lord; they mock your anointed king wherever he goes.

Praise the Lord forever! Amen and amen!
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: Your faithfulness lasts forever –

+ for you are true to your word, keeping all your promises…
+ for you are merciful and gracious, forgiving all our sins…
+ for you are lauded in the heavens by the redeemed…
+ for you are incomparable in honoring your covenants…
+ for you are ever-present, dispelling our fears…

O Lord our God: Pour out your loving-kindness on your people, now as in the past, through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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“Psalm 89:1-2” (I Could Sing of Your Love Forever) – Martin Smith


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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, and 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, 10 Oct – Psalm 88 ~ A prayer of despair!

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 88 (NLT) (A psalm of the descendants of Korah. A psalm of Heman the Ezrahite.)

O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night. Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry.

For my life is full of troubles, and death draws near. I am as good as dead, like a strong man with no strength left. They have left me among the dead, and I lie like a corpse in a grave. I am forgotten, cut off from your care. You have thrown me into the lowest pit, into the darkest depths. Your anger weighs me down; with wave after wave you have engulfed me. Interlude

You have driven my friends away by making me repulsive to them. I am in a trap with no way of escape. My eyes are blinded by my tears. Each day I beg for your help, O Lord; I lift my hands to you for mercy. Are your wonderful deeds of any use to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? Interlude

Can those in the grave declare your unfailing love? Can they proclaim your faithfulness in the place of destruction? Can the darkness speak of your wonderful deeds? Can anyone in the land of forgetfulness talk about your righteousness?

O Lord, I cry out to you. I will keep on pleading day by day. O Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face from me? I have been sick and close to death since my youth. I stand helpless and desperate before your terrors. Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me. Your terrors have paralyzed me. They swirl around me like floodwaters all day long. They have engulfed me completely. You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: We cry out to you on behalf of all who are suffering to the point of despair –

+ for those who are powerless, near death…. Lord, have mercy.
+ for those who are crushed by the agonies of sin…. Lord, have mercy.
+ for those who are friendless, the objects of contempt…. Lord, have mercy.
+ for those who are imprisoned, grief-stricken…. Lord, have mercy.

O Lord our God: Meet us in our suffering and despair. Make us partners with Christ in his suffering, so that we will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. We ask this in his Name. Amen.
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“Psalm 88” (An Outpouring of Sorrow) – Psalm Choir, Protestant Reformed Churches in America


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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, and 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: Tue, 09 Oct – Psalm 87 ~ O city of God, what glorious things are said of 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 87 (NLT) (A psalm of the descendants of Korah)

On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the Lord. He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel. O city of God, what glorious things are said of you! Interlude

I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me—also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia. They have all become citizens of Jerusalem! Regarding Jerusalem it will be said, “Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there.” And the Most High will personally bless this city. When the Lord registers the nations, he will say, “They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.” Interlude

The people will play flutes and sing, “The source of my life springs from Jerusalem!”
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: You have set apart the city of Jerusalem to reflect your glory –

+ as a place of holiness and security…
+ as a place of worship and celebration…
+ as a place of promise and hope…
+ as a place of great joy…

O Lord our God: You have set apart the Church to reflect your glory –

+ with Christ Jesus as the chief Cornerstone…
+ with the cross of Christ high and lifted up…
+ with the blood of Christ our eternal ransom…
+ with the love of Christ our never-ending joy…

O Lord our God: You have set apart every believer to reflect your glory –

+ through our faith and trust in Jesus Christ…
+ through our forgiveness and freedom…
+ through our godliness and integrity…
+ through our perseverance in trials…

O Lord our God: You fill our hearts with joy as we reflect on your mercy and loving-kindness; may our lives ever reflect your glory through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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“Psalm 87” (Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken) – John Newton, 1779


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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, and 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, 08 Oct – Psalm 86 ~ Send me a sign of your favor.

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 86 (NLT) (A prayer of David)

Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help. Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God. Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly. Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you. O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.

No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do! All the nations you made will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your holy name. For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God.

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death.

O God, insolent people rise up against me; a violent gang is trying to kill me. You mean nothing to them. But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Look down and have mercy on me. Give your strength to your servant; save me, the son of your servant. Send me a sign of your favor. Then those who hate me will be put to shame, for you, O Lord, help and comfort me.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: We come to you as people who are poor and needy, regardless of our position or status in life –

+ for we need wisdom and understanding, pardon and purity, and power…
+ for we need mercy, the forgiveness of our sins, and hope of eternal life…
+ for we need faith in your essential goodness and loving-kindness…
+ for we need godliness and persistence in prayer…
+ for we need understanding of your will…
+ for we need readiness to obey…

O Lord our God: We come to you as people who are poor and needy, hear our prayers –

+ for you are incomparable – there is no one like you…
+ for you are mighty – no one who can do what you do…
+ for you are glorious – no one else is worthy of worship…
+ for you are great – no one is higher than you…

O Lord our God: We come to you as people who are poor and needy; thank you for sending us a sign of your kindness. Unite our hearts with yours, that we might live continually in your presence, seeking truth, righteousness, and justice – through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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“Psalm 86″(Hear, O LORD, and Answer Me) – Monte Vigh


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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, and 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.

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost – 07 Oct – Mark 10:2-16 – God’s plan: one man, one woman, one marriage, one lifetime.

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

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

Opening Prayer

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in continual godliness; that through your protection we may be free from all adversities, and devotedly serve you in good works, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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“In All The Earth” (Psalm 8) – John Alexander Wilson, The Free Church of Scotland


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Gospel Reading: Mark 10:2-16 (NLT)

Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife?”

Jesus answered them with a question: “What did Moses say in the law about divorce?”

“Well, he permitted it,” they replied. “He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away.”

But Jesus responded, “He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts. But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation. ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

Later, when he was alone with his disciples in the house, they brought up the subject again. He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.”

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.
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Prayers of Intercession:

Eternal God, creator and preserver of all life, author of salvation, and giver of all grace: Look with favor upon all men and and women whom you made one flesh in marriage, and enable us to fulfill the vows we have made –

+ Grant us wisdom and devotion in the ordering of our common life, that we may be to each other a partner in prayer, a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy…. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

+ Grant that our wills may be so knit together in your will, and our spirits in your Spirit, that we may grow in love and devotion to you and with one another all the days of our lives…. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

+ Give us courage, when we hurt each other, to recognize and acknowledge our faults, to seek your forgiveness, and to forgive and be reconciled to one another…. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

+ May our union in marriage be a sign of the love between Christ and his Church, and a joyful witness to the world…. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

+ Grant us, if it be your will, the gift and heritage of children, and the grace to bring them up to know you, to love you, and to serve you…. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

+ Grant that we may so love, honor, and cherish each other in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that our homes may be a haven of blessing and peace…. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Eternal God, bless all men and and women whom you made one flesh in marriage, and enable us to fulfill the vows we have made through faith and trust in Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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“The Wedding Song ( There Is Love )” – Noel Paul Stookey

He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on his part
The union of your spirits here has caused him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in his name
There is love
There is love

Well a man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home
They shall travel on to where the two shall be as one
As it was in the beginning, is now until the end
Woman draws her life from man and gives it back again
And there is love
There is love

Well then what’s to be reason for becoming man and wife
Is it love that brings you here, or love that brings you life
For if loving is the answer, then who’s the giving for?
Do you believe in something that you’ve never seen before?
Oh, there’s love
Oh there’s love

Oh the marriage of your spirits here has caused him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in his name
There is love
Ah there’s love
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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!