Epiphany Prayer: 1st: Friday; 15 Jan 2021
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, into your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
“Whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers,
going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them.
They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.
So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel….”
(Judges 2:19-20a)
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Psalms: Psalm 139 – The Corner Room
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OT Reading: Judges 2:16-23 (ESV)
The Lord Raises Up Judges
16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so. 18 Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. 19 But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. 20 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he said, “Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice, 21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, 22 in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their fathers did, or not.” 23 So the Lord left those nations, not driving them out quickly, and he did not give them into the hand of Joshua.
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We Look to You • Prayers of the Saints Live
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N T Reading: Acts 13:16-25 (ESV)
16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said:
“Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19 And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23 Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
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Forgiven • Prayers of the Saints Live
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Prayer:
+ Almighty God, you alone gave me the breath of life, and you alone can keep alive in me the holy desires you impart. I pray, for your compassion’s sake, to sanctify all my thoughts and endeavors, that I may neither begin an action without a pure intention nor continue it without your blessing. And grant that, having the eyes of my mind enlightened to behold things invisible and unseen, I may in heart be inspired by your wisdom, in work be upheld by your strength, and in the end be accepted as your faithful servant; through Jesus Christ my Savior. Amen.
+ Christ as a light, illumine and guide me. Christ as a shield, overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
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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.
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