Lent | Monday 21 March 2022
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Heavenly Father, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts
are restless until they rest in you: Look with compassion upon
the heartfelt desires of your servants, and purify our disordered
affections, that we may behold your eternal glory in the face of
Christ Jesus; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
There will be trouble and calamity
for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—
for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.
But there will be glory and honor and peace from God
for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.
For God does not show favoritism.
(Romans 2:9-10)
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Psalms: Psalm 39 – (Show Me My Life’s End) – The Psalms Project
OT Reading: Jeremiah 11:1-17 (NLT)
Judah’s Broken Covenant
11:1 The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Remind the people of Judah and Jerusalem about the terms of my covenant with them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Cursed is anyone who does not obey the terms of my covenant! For I said to your ancestors when I brought them out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt, “If you obey me and do whatever I command you, then you will be my people, and I will be your God.” I said this so I could keep my promise to your ancestors to give you a land flowing with milk and honey—the land you live in today.’”
Then I replied, “Amen, Lord! May it be so.”
Then the Lord said, “Broadcast this message in the streets of Jerusalem. Go from town to town throughout the land and say, ‘Remember the ancient covenant, and do everything it requires. For I solemnly warned your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, “Obey me!” I have repeated this warning over and over to this day, but your ancestors did not listen or even pay attention. Instead, they stubbornly followed their own evil desires. And because they refused to obey, I brought upon them all the curses described in this covenant.’”
Again the Lord spoke to me and said, “I have discovered a conspiracy against me among the people of Judah and Jerusalem. They have returned to the sins of their ancestors. They have refused to listen to me and are worshiping other gods. Israel and Judah have both broken the covenant I made with their ancestors. Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I am going to bring calamity upon them, and they will not escape. Though they beg for mercy, I will not listen to their cries. Then the people of Judah and Jerusalem will pray to their idols and burn incense before them. But the idols will not save them when disaster strikes! Look now, people of Judah; you have as many gods as you have towns. You have as many altars of shame—altars for burning incense to your god Baal—as there are streets in Jerusalem.
“Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, for I will not listen to them when they cry out to me in distress.
“What right do my beloved people have to come to my Temple,
when they have done so many immoral things?
Can their vows and sacrifices prevent their destruction?
They actually rejoice in doing evil!
I, the Lord, once called them a thriving olive tree,
beautiful to see and full of good fruit.
But now I have sent the fury of their enemies
to burn them with fire,
leaving them charred and broken.
“I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who planted this olive tree, have ordered it destroyed. For the people of Israel and Judah have done evil, arousing my anger by burning incense to Baal.”
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Ancient Words (Robin Mark)
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NT Reading: Romans 2:1-11 (NLT)
God’s Judgment of Sin
2:1 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? 
Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.
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Day of Judgement – Christ Church Mayfair
Day of Judgement! Day of wonders!
Hear the awe-full sound,
louder than a thousand thunders
shakes the vast creation round.
Jesus calls: the dead awake,
rise from earth and sea.
All the powers of nature shaken
by His look prepare to flee.
When all earth and Heaven melt away,
gracious Savior, own me in that day.
Every knee shall bow before Him;
every heart exposed.
All the stains of our rebellion
clear before His judgement throne.
When all earth and Heaven melt away,
gracious Savior, own me in that day.
Under earth and Heaven’s black-ened sky,
gracious Savior; You were lifted high,
bearing all the curse that my sin deserved
as You bled upon that cursed tree.
God the Judge hangs cursed for me.
Rise now, sinner, come to Jesus
pard-ning grace to know.
Meet Him now as gracious Savior
not just then as Judge alone.
When all earth and Heaven melt away,
gracious Savior, own me in that day.
When all earth and Heaven melt away,
gracious Savior, own me in that day.
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Prayer: faith and worship | John Birch
+ Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full
acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners. (1 timothy 1:15)
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Closing: faith and worship | John Birch
Bring to my sinfulness
the cleansing waters of your forgiveness,
that having washed,
I might know refreshment and release.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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