Month: November 2018

Christ the King Sunday – 25 Nov – John 18:33-37 ~ All hail King Jesus!

Christ the King Sunday

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

Opening Prayer

Almighty and eternal God, to Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead, you have granted everlasting dominion and a kingship that shall not pass away.

Remove from us every desire for privilege and power, that we may imitate the sacrificial love of Christ our King and, as a royal and priestly people, serve you humbly in our brothers and sisters.

Grant 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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“How great is our God” – Chris Tomlin

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Gospel Reading: John 18:33-37 (NLT)

Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.

Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”

“Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

Pilate said, “So you are a king?”

Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
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Prayers of Intercession:

Gracious God: Help us, according to your loving-kindness, we pray –

+ For all who follow Jesus Christ, that we may work together to advance his Kingdom….
+ For those who lead tribes and nations, that they may seek the truth, justice, and peace of Christ….
+ For all people everywhere, that we may work cooperatively in Christ for the common good….
+ For ourselves, that our lives may demonstrate the rule and reign of Christ…
+ For the sick and sorrowful, that they may experience the healing and comfort of Christ….
+ For those affected by natural disasters, that they may receive help from the followers of Christ….
+ For all those who have died in Christ, that they may share the glory of Christ forever….

Sovereign God, you rule your people with love and compassion: attend to our prayers and give us the help we need, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“All Hail King Jesus” – Jeremy Riddle | Bethel Music

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Blessing – Revelation 1:5b-6 (NLT)

“All glory to Jesus Christ who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”

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

Praying the Psalms: Sat, 24 Nov – Psalm 127 ~ Unless the Lord builds a house…

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 127 (NLT) – A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon.

Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: Thank you for claiming us as your own and placing us in tribes and nations that we may love and serve you –

+ empower us with your Spirit that we may advance your Kingdom…
+ empower us with your Spirit that we may bear good fruit…
+ empower us with your Spirit that we may bless those around us…
+ empower us with your Spirit that we may balance our work with rest…
+ empower us with your Spirit that we may trust you with our worries…

O Lord our God: Thank you for claiming us as your own and placing us in tribes and nations. Give us children whose lives are centered on you, whose help and hope comes from faith and trust in your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives with you in unity with the Holy Spirit, one God, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Amen.
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“Psalm 127” – The Corner Room

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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: Fri, 23 Nov – Psalm 126 ~ Restore us, O Lord!

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 126 (NLT) – A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said,

“What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”

Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!

Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: Fill our dreams with joyous longing for your restoration –

+ lift us out of our present darkness and struggle, that we might revel in the joy of our salvation…
+ transform our grief and sadness into irrepressible hope, that we might rejoice in our redemption…
+ embolden us in our declaration of the glorious future you have prepared for us, that we might be winsome, winning, witnesses to the world around us…

O Lord our God: Fill our dreams with joyous longing for your restoration; use us as your vanguard to lay the groundwork of faith for your imminent  return in glory, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
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“Psalm 126” – Sojourn Music

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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.

Thanksgiving Day, 22 Nov, 2018 – A Prayer to Ponder

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us.

+ We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love…

Q: Can you identify something beautiful, wonderful, or mysterious around you?

+ We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.

Q: Who in your family, or among your friends, is your biggest fan? Who loves you?

+ We thank you for setting us at tasks that demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments that satisfy and delight us.

Q: What do you enjoy doing, even though it’s difficult? What have you accomplished this past year that gives you satisfaction?

+ We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.

Q: What disappointment or failure has drawn you closer to God this past year?

+ Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he conquered death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.

Q: How would you describe your relationship with Jesus Christ? Have you grown closer, or more distant, over the past year? Why?

Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.
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If you would like to know more about how to have peace with God, click here.

If you would like to know more about how to grow closer to God, click here.
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Happy Thanksgiving!

Praying the Psalms: Thu, 22 Nov – Psalm 125 ~ the Lord protects his people

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 125 (NLT) – A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever. The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.

O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you. But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord . Take them away with those who do evil. May Israel have peace!
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: Protect all who trust in  you, that we may stand firm in the face of evil –

+ secure us with your mighty power…
+ secure us with your unerring wisdom…
+ secure us with your unchanging love…

O Lord our God: Protect all who trust in  you, that we may stand firm in the face of evil –

+ provide for our spiritual needs…
+ provide for our daily necessities…
+ provide for our ongoing relationships…
+ provide for our sorrows and grief…

O Lord our God: Protect all who trust in you, that we may stand firm in the face of evil, through the sure foundation of our faith in Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.
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“Psalm 125” (Those Who trust) – Enter the Worship Circle

Those who trust in the Lord
Are a strong mountain
They will not … not be moved

Those who trust in the Lord
Are as Mount Zion
They will not … not be moved

Though the world moves like mad
You alone are faithful
Jesus, you, you will not be changed

Christ the King, He sets my feet
On a firm foundation
They will not … not be moved
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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.