New Year’s Day | Sunday – 01 Jan 2023
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
God of new beginnings, you wipe away our tears
and call us to care for one another.
Give us eyes to see your gifts,
hearts to embrace all creation,
and hands to serve you every day of our lives.
We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
then he will sit upon his glorious throne.
All the nations will be gathered in his presence,
and he will separate the people
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”
(Matthew 25:31-32)
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Time – A Time for Everything | Raindown Musics
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OT Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 (NLT)
A Time for Everything
3:1 For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
3:9 What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
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From Psalms: Psalm 8 – Shane & Shane
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NT Reading: Revelation 21:1-6a (NLT)
The New Jerusalem
21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.
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New Jerusalem – Vertical Worship
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Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:31-46 (NLT)
The Final Judgment
25:31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
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One Day | Cochren & Co
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Intercessory Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019
At the beginning of this new year, we pray for God’s blessing upon our work; and pray for the needs of others in this new year of grace – 2023. In your mercy, Lord, hear our prayer:
+ For the peace of the whole world, and for the well-being and unity of the people of God….
+ For church leaders around the world and all the people in congregations under their care….
+ For all those who proclaim the Gospel at home and abroad; and for all who teach and disciple others….
+ For our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted for their faith; and for those who oppress them….
+ For our nation, for those in authority, and for all in public service; and for justice for all under their governance….
+ For all those who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity; and for the elderly and forgotten….
+ For all those who have lost loved ones this past year; and for believers’ certain hope of resurrection to eternal life….
Heavenly Father, grant these our prayers for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
May your past be a pleasant memory,
Your future filled with delight and mystery,
Your now a glorious moment,
That fills your life with deep contentment.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 