Tuesday Before Ash Wednesday – 21 Feb 2023
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
O God, who
before the passion of your only-begotten Son
revealed his glory upon the holy mountain:
Grant that we, beholding by faith
the light of his countenance,
may be strengthened to bear our cross,
and be changed into his likeness
from glory to glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
It is the same today,
for a few of the people of Israel
have remained faithful
because of God’s grace —
his undeserved kindness in choosing them.
(Romans 11:5)
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From Psalms: Psalm 78 – Poor Bishop Hooper
o people listen incline your ear
to the mysteries to the teaching here
things that we have heard, things that we have known
parables our fathers told oh no we won’t hide them
we’ll let the children hear
he divided the sea and let them pass through it
made the waters stand there as a heap
in the day he lead by cloud, but with fire in the night
he split the rock for water so they could drink
he opened up the skies the very doors of heaven
poured the bread of angels there to eat
by his very might on the wind he fulfilled every hungering
in spite of all of this they sinned they sinned
in spite of all of this they rebelled again
in spite of all of this they sinned they sinned
he had made the river blood sent the swarms to devour
he gave the crops to beasts the harvest of their labor
the hail destroyed the vine the flocks by lighted sky
amidst the thundercloud
he let loose his anger by a company of angels
and when the path was made from death he wouldn’t save
struck down the firstborn first fruits of egypt’s strength
then he lead his people out
in spite of all of this they sinned they sinned
in spite of all of this they rebelled again
in spite of all of this they sinned they sinned
so full of wrath God rose
against his own laid low
the young men and the strong they fell
he delivered up his glory
into fire all consuming
the women had no marriage song
the priests fell by the sword
the widows they made no lament
but then the lord
full of compassion
his anger was restrained
yet full of compassion
he remembered them again
yet full of compassion
with a pure heart and skillful hand
yet full of compassion
he remembered them again
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OT Reading: 1 Kings 19:9-18 (NLT)
19:9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.
The Lord Speaks to Elijah
But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”
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Still Small Voice – Trent (Vineyard Worship)
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NT Reading: Romans 11:1-6 (NLT)
God’s Mercy on Israel
11:1 I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”
It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
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We Are Remnant – A Messianic Praise & Worship Song
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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, grant that we may desire you, and desiring you seek you, and seeking you find you, and finding you be satisfied in you for ever. Amen.
+ O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us into your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 