Advent | Wednesday – 14 Dec 2022
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
O Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your messengers the prophets to
preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant
that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise
make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient
toward the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to
judge the world, we may be found a people acceptable in your
sight; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
[Jesus] cast out the evil spirits
with a simple command,
and he healed all the sick.
This fulfilled the word of the Lord
through the prophet Isaiah, who said,
“He took our sicknesses
and removed our diseases.”
(Matthew 8:16b-17)
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Psalms: Psalm 42 – Poor Bishop Hooper
as the deer pants out for water
so my soul cries out oh god for you
my soul thirsts for god as water
when can i go out and meet with you
day and night i have only
fear for my food and tears for my drink
my heart it breaks remembering
your house oh god and the joy of the crowds thanksgiving
where is this god of yours i hear them saying
where is this god of yours i hear them saying
oh god my soul sits in despair
awaiting the lord the help of your presence
deep calls to deep at the breakers sound
waves over me the tide the tumult the sea
where is this god of yours i hear them saying
where is this god of yours i hear them saying
oh lord god my rock why have you forgot
why must I wander in my sorrow
enemies they taunt words with pain and rot
questions all day long where has your god gone
where is this god of yours i hear them saying
my hope is in you still
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OT Reading: Zechariah 8:1-17 (NLT)
Promised Blessings for Jerusalem
8:1 Then another message came to me from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Mount Zion is passionate and strong; I am consumed with passion for Jerusalem!
“And now the Lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be called the Holy Mountain.
“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play.
“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: You can be sure that I will rescue my people from the east and from the west. I will bring them home again to live safely in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God.
“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Be strong and finish the task! Ever since the laying of the foundation of the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you have heard what the prophets have been saying about completing the building. Before the work on the Temple began, there were no jobs and no money to hire people or animals. No traveler was safe from the enemy, for there were enemies on all sides. I had turned everyone against each other.
“But now I will not treat the remnant of my people as I treated them before, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. For I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you. The grapevines will be heavy with fruit. The earth will produce its crops, and the heavens will release the dew. Once more I will cause the remnant in Judah and Israel to inherit these blessings. Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation. But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!
“For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: I was determined to punish you when your ancestors angered me, and I did not change my mind, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. But now I am determined to bless Jerusalem and the people of Judah. So don’t be afraid. But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord.”
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ZION – Aaron Shust
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NT Reading: Matthew 8:14-17, 28-34 (NLT)
Jesus Heals Many People
8:14 When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.
That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said,
“He took our sicknesses
and removed our diseases.”
Jesus Heals Two Demon-Possessed Men
8:28 When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area.
They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?”
There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”
“All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.
The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone.
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Healer – Hillsong
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+ Heavenly Father, giver of life and health: Comfort and relieve your servants who are sick today, and give your power of healing to those who minister to their needs, that they may be strengthened in their weakness and have confidence in your loving care; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ O God of heavenly powers, by the might of your command you drive away from our bodies all sickness and infirmity: Be present in your goodness with your servants who are sick today, that our weakness may be banished and our strength restored; and that, our health being renewed, we may bless your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ May God the Father bless us,
God the Son heal us,
God the Holy Spirit give us strength.
May God the holy and undivided Trinity
guard our bodies, save our souls,
and bring us safely to his heavenly country;
where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen
Closing: Jude 24
“Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time!”
+ Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 