The Season of Lent | Wednesday 22 Mar 2023
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Gracious Father,
whose blessed Son Jesus Christ
came down from heaven to be the true bread
which gives life to the world:
Evermore give us this bread,
that he may live in us, and we in him;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
[The two blind men] went right into the house
where he was staying, and Jesus asked them,
“Do you believe I can make you see?”
(Matthew 9:27-34)
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From Psalms: Psalm 146 – Praise the Lord, My Soul! – Francesca LaRosa
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OT Reading: Isaiah 60:17-22 (NLT)
60:17 I will exchange your bronze for gold,
your iron for silver,
your wood for bronze,
and your stones for iron.
I will make peace your leader
and righteousness your ruler.
Violence will disappear from your land;
the desolation and destruction of war will end.
Salvation will surround you like city walls,
and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there.
“No longer will you need the sun to shine by day,
nor the moon to give its light by night,
for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
Your sun will never set;
your moon will not go down.
For the Lord will be your everlasting light.
Your days of mourning will come to an end.
All your people will be righteous.
They will possess their land forever,
for I will plant them there with my own hands
in order to bring myself glory.
The smallest family will become a thousand people,
and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation.
At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”
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God Your Everlasting Light – Indelible Grace
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NT Reading: Matthew 9:27-34 (NLT)
Jesus Heals the Blind
9:27 After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”
They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?”
“Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.”
Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about this.” But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region.
When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus. So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed.
But the Pharisees said, “He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons.”
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I Believe in Jesus – Mick
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+ Almighty God, you have not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities; grant that we, who for our evil deeds deserve to be punished, by the might of your grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
+ Look with mercy, O God our Father, on those of us whose increasing years bring weakness, distress, or isolation. Provide for us homes of dignity and peace; give us understanding helpers, and the willingness to accept help; and as our strength diminishes, increase our faith and our assurance of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ Merciful God, forgive us our sins, release us from suffering, and restore us to wholeness and strength. Deliver us from all evil, preserve us in all goodness, and bring us to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
God’s love surround us, God’s Spirit guide us,
God’s whisper cheer us, God’s peace calm us,
God’s shield protect us, God’s wisdom arm us,
wherever God may lead us.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 