After Epiphany | Wednesday – 08 Feb 2023
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
O Lord, our heavenly Father,
keep your household the Church
continually in your true religion,
that we who trust in the hope of your heavenly grace
may always be defended by your mighty power;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.
Jesus… said, “I am the light of the world.
If you follow me,
you won’t have to walk in darkness,
because you will have
the light that leads to life.”
(John 8:12)
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From Psalms: Psalm 119 Nun – The Exodus Church
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OT Reading: Proverbs 6:6-23 (NLT)
6:6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
Learn from their ways and become wise!
+ Though they have no prince
or governor or ruler to make them work,
+ they labor hard all summer,
gathering food for the winter.
+ But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?
When will you wake up?
+ A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
+ then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
6:12 What are worthless and wicked people like?
They are constant liars,
+ signaling their deceit with a wink of the eye,
a nudge of the foot, or the wiggle of fingers.
+ Their perverted hearts plot evil,
and they constantly stir up trouble.
+ But they will be destroyed suddenly,
broken in an instant beyond all hope of healing.
6:16 There are six things the Lord hates—
no, seven things he detests:
+ haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill the innocent,
+ a heart that plots evil,
feet that race to do wrong,
+ a false witness who pours out lies,
a person who sows discord in a family.
6:20 My son, obey your father’s commands,
and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
+ Keep their words always in your heart.
Tie them around your neck.
+ When you walk, their counsel will lead you.
When you sleep, they will protect you.
When you wake up, they will advise you.
+ For their command is a lamp
and their instruction a light;
their corrective discipline
is the way to life.
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Walking in the Light of God – TheIslandSing
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NT Reading: John 8:12-30 (NLT)
Jesus, the Light of the World
8:12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.”
Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.”
“Where is your father?” they asked.
Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.
The Unbelieving People Warned
8:21 Later Jesus said to them again, “I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.”
The people asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?”
Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”
“Who are you?” they demanded.
Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be. I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.” But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father.
So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.
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Jesus light of the world – rhema4000
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+ Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ O God, without whose beauty and goodness our souls are unfed, without whose truth our reason withers: Consecrate our lives to your will, giving us such purity of heart, such depth of faith, and such steadfastness of purpose, that in time we may come to think your own thoughts after you; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
+ Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
Be the Life I live
Be the Love I give
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 