Month: October 2020

Morning Prayer: Monday 26 Oct 2020 – Psalms (95) and Proverbs (26) ~ worship the Lord your Maker

Morning Prayer, Monday, 26 Oct 2020

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

Opening:

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the prayers of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the LORD our Maker.
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
(Psalm 95:6-8)

Preparation:

 Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.

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Psalm 95 – Come let us Sing: Experience God Everyday

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The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original) 

“Psalm 95”

1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD; *
let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and show ourselves glad in him with psalms.
3 For the LORD is a great God *
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are all the depths of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands prepared the dry land.

6 O come, let us worship and fall down, *
and kneel before the LORD our Maker.
7 For he is our God, *
and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

8 Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts *
as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness,
9 When your fathers tested me, *
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my works.
10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation and said, *
“It is a people that err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways,”
11 Of whom I swore in my wrath *
that they should not enter into my rest.

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Consider:

O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the LORD our Maker.
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
(Psalm 95:6-8)

Worship the Lord our Maker

  • As suppliants must we come; joyful, but not presumptuous; familiar as children before a father, yet reverential as creatures before their maker.

__ Spurgeon

He is our God

  • As he belongs to us, so do we belong to him. We are his, even as sheep belong to the shepherd, and his hand is our rule, our guidance, our government, our support, our source of supply.

__ Spurgeon

Harden not your hearts

Here in this text the heart is put for the whole soul, even for mind, will, and affections. For blindness of mind, stubbornness of will, and stupidity of affections go together.

—William Gouge.

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New Living Translation (NLT)

Proverbs 26 (The proverbs of Solomon)

24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,
but they’re deceiving you.
25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.
Their hearts are full of many evils.
26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,
their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

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Prayer

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

+ Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy thought can drag down; an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose can tempt aside. Bestow upon me understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and faithfulness that finally may embrace you. Amen.

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Psalm 95: ‘Come let us’ – Half a Mile

Blessing

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.

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 25 Oct 2020: Exodus 22:21-27, Matthew 22:34-40 ~ prioritize your life

The 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 25 Oct Sep 2020

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

Opening:

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the prayers of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.”
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Matthew 22:37-39)

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 “Holy Is The Lord Almighty” – Northland Church

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A Reading from the Old Testament: Exodus 22:21-27 (NLT)

“You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.

“You must not exploit a widow or an orphan. If you exploit them in any way and they cry out to me, then I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will blaze against you, and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless.

“If you lend money to any of my people who are in need, do not charge interest as a money lender would. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as security for a loan, you must return it before sunset. This coat may be the only blanket your neighbor has. How can a person sleep without it? If you do not return it and your neighbor cries out to me for help, then I will hear, for I am merciful.

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Psalm 1 | How Blessed is the Man – Good Shepherd Band

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A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 22:34-40 (NLT)

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

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Prayer:

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

+ For Forgiveness: Most merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry and I humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Assurance: If we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. (1 John 1:9)

+ For the Human Family

O God, you made us in your own image, and you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ For Love of Neighbor

Increase, O God, the spirit of neighborliness among us, that in peril we may uphold one another, in suffering tend to one another, and in homelessness, loneliness, or exile befriend one another. Grant us brave and enduring hearts that we may strengthen one another, until the disciplines and testing of these days are ended, and you again give peace in our time; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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“Behold” – Mission House

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Closing – Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)

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.

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

Morning Prayer: Saturday 24 Oct 2020 – Psalms (92) and Proverbs (24) ~ give thanks and sing praises to God

Morning Prayer, Saturday, 24 Oct 2020

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

Opening:

Set us free, loving Father, from the bondage of our sins, and in your goodness and mercy give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD,
and to sing praises unto your Name, O Most High.

For you, LORD, have made me glad by your deeds,
and I will shout for joy because of your handiwork.
(Psalm 92:1,4)

Preparation:

 Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.

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The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original) 

“Psalm 92”

1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, *
and to sing praises unto your Name, O Most High,
2 To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning, *
and of your faithfulness in the night season,
3 Upon an instrument of ten strings and upon the lute, *
with the sound of melody upon the harp.

4 For you, LORD, have made me glad by your deeds, *
and I will shout for joy because of your handiwork.
5 O LORD, how glorious are your works; *
your thoughts are very deep.
6 The dull of heart does not consider this, *
and a fool does not understand it:
7 Though the ungodly are as green as the grass, and though all the workers of wickedness flourish, *
they shall be destroyed for ever; but you, LORD, are the Most High for evermore.

8 For lo, your enemies, O LORD, lo, your enemies shall perish, *
and all the workers of wickedness shall be destroyed.
9 But my horn shall be exalted like the horns of wild bulls; *
for I am anointed with fresh oil.
10 My eye also shall see its desire upon my enemies, *
and my ear shall hear with joy the end of the wicked who rise up against me.
11 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, *
and shall spread abroad like a cedar in Lebanon.
12 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD *
shall flourish in the courts of our God.
13 They also shall bring forth fruit in their old age, *
and shall be green and full of sap,
14 That they may show how upright the LORD is, *
my rock, in whom there is no unrighteousness.

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Psalm 92 (O Most High) –  Ammanford Evangelical Church

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New Living Translation (NLT)

Proverbs 24 (More Sayings of the Wise)

11 Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die;
save them as they stagger to their death.
12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.”
For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew.
He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

17 Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall;
don’t be happy when they stumble.
18 For the Lord will be displeased with you
and will turn his anger away from them.

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Consider:

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD,
and to sing praises unto your Name, O Most High.

For you, LORD, have made me glad by your deeds,
and I will shout for joy because of your handiwork.
(Psalm 92:1,4)

Sing and give thanks to the Lord

  • It is good ethically, for it is the Lord’s right
  • It is good emotionally, for it is pleasant to the heart
  • It is good practically, for it leads others to render the same homage

Our personal experience has confirmed us in the belief that it is good to sing unto the Lord; we have often felt like Luther when he said, “Come, let us sing a psalm, and drive away the devil.”

__ Spurgeon

Because of what he has done

  • God’s creation compels us to reflect on the wonders of the universe
  • God’s redemption compels us to reflect on the wonders of his loving-kindness
  • God’s providence compels us to reflect on the wonders of his hand in history

Psalm 92 is titled: A song to be sung on the Sabbath Day.

Q: What has God done for you?

Q: What is God doing for you now?

Q: What fills you with wonder and joy?

Prayer: a litany of thanksgiving

Give thanks to God our Father for all his gifts so freely
bestowed upon us:

+For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky
and sea,
We thank you, Lord.

+ For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our
friends,
We thank you, Lord.

+ For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve,
We thank you, Lord.

+ For health and strength to work, and time to rest and worship,
We thank you, Lord.

+ For all who are patient in suffering and faithful in adversity,
We thank you, Lord.

+ For all who earnestly seek after truth, and all who labor for justice,
We thank you, Lord.

+ For all that is good and gracious in the lives of men and women,
revealing the image of Christ,
We thank you, Lord.

+ For the communion of saints, in all times and places,
We thank you, Lord.

Above all, we give you thanks for the great mercies and promises
given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord;
To him be praise and glory, with you, O Father,
and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen

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Psalm 92 (LIVE Hebrew Worship) – Shilo Ben Hod

Blessing

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.

Morning Prayer: Friday 23 Oct 2020 – Psalms (91) and Proverbs (23) ~ “The LORD is my refuge!”

Morning Prayer, Friday, 23 Oct 2020

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

Opening:

Set us free, loving Father, from the bondage of our sins, and in your goodness and mercy give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

I will say unto the LORD, “You are my refuge and my stronghold,
my God in whom I will trust.”
(Psalm 91:2)

Preparation:

 Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.

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The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original) 

“Psalm 91”

1 Whoever dwells under the defense of the Most High *
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say unto the LORD, “You are my refuge and my stronghold, *
my God in whom I will trust.”
3 For he shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter *
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He shall defend you under his wings, and you shall be safe under his feathers; *
his faithfulness and truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, *
nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Of the pestilence that walks in darkness, *
nor of the sickness that destroys at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall beside you, and ten thousand at your right hand, *
but it shall not come near you.
8 Indeed, with your eyes you shall behold *
and see the reward of the ungodly.

9 Because you have said, “The LORD is my refuge,” *
and have made the Most High your stronghold,
10 There shall no evil happen to you, *
neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, *
to keep you in all your ways.
12 They shall bear you in their hands, *
that you hurt not your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; *
the young lion and the serpent you shall trample under your feet.

14 “Because he has set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him; *
I will lift him up, because he has known my Name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will hear him; *
indeed, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him and bring him honor.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, *
and show him my salvation.”

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Psalm 91 (2003 Classic) | New Creation Worship

[When the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak hit Singapore in 2003, the church was encouraged by the teaching on Psalm 91 by Senior Pastor Joseph Prince. By the grace of God, no regular attendee from our church suffered death from the disease as the supernatural protection of God covered the church.

This song, inspired by the truths found in Psalm 91, became a declarative song of God’s protection over our lives. In the season of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 outbreak, this classic song was presented at our English services on Sunday, 23 February 2020 to remind us of Jesus’ faithfulness.]

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New Living Translation (NLT)

Proverbs 23 (Sayings of the Wise)

9 Don’t waste your breath on fools,
for they will despise the wisest advice.

17 Don’t envy sinners,
but always continue to fear the Lord.
18 You will be rewarded for this;
your hope will not be disappointed.

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Consider:

I will say unto the LORD, “You are my refuge and my stronghold,
my God in whom I will trust.”
(Psalm 91:2)

To take up a general truth and make it our own by personal faith is the highest wisdom. It is but poor comfort to say ‘the Lord is a refuge,’ but to say he is my refuge, is the essence of consolation. Those who believe should also speak—”I will say,” for such bold avowals honor God and lead others to seek the same confidence.

Behold this day the Lord is to us instead of walls and bulwarks! Our ramparts defy the leagured hosts of hell. Foes in flesh, and foes in ghostly guise are alike balked of their prey when the Lord of Hosts stands between us and their fury, and all other evil forces are turned aside. Walls cannot keep out the pestilence, but the Lord can.

We have trusted in God, let us trust him still. He has never failed us, why then should we suspect him? To trust in man is natural to fallen nature, to trust in God should be as natural to regenerated nature. Where there is every reason and warrant for faith, we ought to place our confidence without hesitancy or wavering. Dear reader, pray for grace to say, “In Him will I trust.”

__ Spurgeon

Prayer:

Lord God,  you are my refuge and my stronghold:
my God in whom I will trust.

+ I trust you – to save me from hidden dangers…

+ I trust you – to save me from deadly diseases…

+ I trust you – to protect me from nightly fears…

+ I trust you – to protect me from daily assaults…

+ I trust you – to protect my family…

+ I trust you – to protect my home…

+ I trust you – to protect my church…

+ I trust you – to protect my country…

Lord God: you surround me with loving-kindness;
my life is in your hands. In you I trust.

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“Psalm 91” – Renew Collective

Blessing

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.

Morning Prayer: Thursday 22 Oct 2020 – Psalms (90) and Proverbs (22) ~ teach us to number our days

Morning Prayer, Thursday, 22 Oct 2020

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

Opening:

Set us free, loving Father, from the bondage of our sins, and in your goodness and mercy give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

“Teach us to number our days,
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.“
(Psalm 90:12)

Preparation:

 Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.

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The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original) 

“Psalm 90”

1 Lord, you have been our refuge *
from one generation to another.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or the earth and the world were made, *
you are God from everlasting, and world without end.

3 You turn man back to the dust; *
you say, “Return, O children of men.”
4 For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, *
even as a day that is past.
5 You scatter them as a night-watch that comes quickly to an end; *
they are even as a dream and fade away.
6 They are like the grass, which in the morning is green, *
but in the evening is dried up and withered.
7 For we consume away in your displeasure *
and are afraid at your wrathful indignation.
8 You have set our misdeeds before you, *
and our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
9 For when you are angry, all our days are gone; *
we bring our years to an end, as a tale that is told.

10 The days of our life are seventy years, and though some be so strong that they come to eighty years, *
yet is their span but labor and sorrow; so soon it passes away, and we are gone.
11 But who regards the power of your wrath, *
and who considers the fierceness of your anger?
12 So teach us to number our days, *
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

13 Turn again, O LORD, and tarry not; *
be gracious unto your servants.
14 O satisfy us with your mercy in the morning; *
so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
15 Comfort us again, according to the measure of the days that you have afflicted us, *
and for the years in which we have suffered adversity.
16 Show your servants your work *
and their children your glory.
17 And may the grace of the Lord our God be upon us; *
prosper the work of our hands; O prosper our handiwork.

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Psalm 90 (A Thousand Years) – James Block

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New Living Translation (NLT)

Proverbs 22 (The Wisdom of Solomon)

1. Choose a good reputation over great riches;
being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

2 The rich and poor have this in common:
The Lord made them both.

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Consider:

“Teach us to number our days,
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.“
(Psalm 90:12)

We are more anxious to count the stars than our days, and yet the latter is by far more practical.

Men are led by reflections upon the brevity of time to give their earnest attention to eternal things; they become humble as they look into the grave which is so soon to be their bed, their passions cool in the presence of mortality, and they yield themselves up to the dictates of unerring wisdom; but this is only the case when the Lord himself is the teacher; he alone can teach to real and lasting profit.

__ Spurgeon

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Improve Time in time, while the Time doth last.
For all Time is no time, when the Time is past.

—From Richard Pigot’s “Life of Man,” 1866.

Q: When you consider the brevity of life,

    • what comes to mind?
    • what is your greatest concern?
    • what are your priorities?

Q: How can you apply God’s wisdom to finish well?

Prayer:

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.
He will not rebuke you for asking.” (James 1:5)

+ Look with mercy, O God our Father, on all whose increasing years bring them weakness, distress, or isolation. Provide for them homes of dignity and peace; give them understanding helpers, and the willingness to accept help; and as their strength diminishes, increase their faith and their assurance of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Lord Jesus, be mindful of your promise. Think of me, your servant, and when I shall depart, speak to my spirit these loving words: “Today you shall be with me in joy.” O Lord Jesus Christ, remember me, your servant who trusts in you, when my tongue cannot speak, when the sight of my eyes fails, and when my ears are stopped. Let my spirit always rejoice in you and be joyful about my salvation, which you, through your death, have purchased for me. Amen.

+ Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we your servants, who now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

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Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 90) – Josephine Cheong, Singapore

Blessing

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.