13th Sunday after Pentecost: 22 Aug 2021

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

Opening:

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your
Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your
help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“So Jesus said to the twelve,
“Do you want to go away as well?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life,”
(John 6:67-68)

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Psalm: Psalm 16  | The Corner Room

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OT Reading: Joshua 24:1-2,14-25 (ESV)

The Covenant Renewal at Shechem

24:1  Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.

Choose Whom You Will Serve

24:14  “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.  And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.” Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.” And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.” So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem.

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Choose This Day – Elihana Elia

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Gospel Reading: John 6:60-69 (ESV)

The Words of Eternal Life

6:60  When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

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No Turning Back – Brandon Heath

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Profession of Faith:

Q: Do you renounce the devil and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?
A: I renounce them.

Q: Do you renounce the empty promises and deadly deceits of this world that corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?
A: I renounce them.

Q: Do you renounce the sinful desires of the flesh that draw you from the love of God?
A: I renounce them.

Prayer:

+ Almighty God deliver us from the powers of darkness and evil, and lead us into the light and obedience of the kingdom of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Profession of Faith:

Q: Do you turn to Jesus Christ and confess him as your Lord and Savior?
A: I do.

Q: Do you joyfully receive the Christian Faith, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments?
A: I do.

Q: Will you obediently keep God’s holy will and commandments, and walk in them all the days of your life?
A: I will, the Lord being my helper.

Prayer:

+ Defend, O Lord, your servants. with your heavenly grace, that we may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more until we come into the fullness of your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

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Charge: Ephesians 5:15-21 (ESV)

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

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