After Pentecost | Friday 23 Jun 2023

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

O Lord, from whom all good proceeds: Grant us the inspiration
of your Holy Spirit, that we may always think those things that
are good, and by your merciful guidance may accomplish the
same; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Angel of the Lord: “Go to the Temple
and give the people this message of life!”
(Acts 5:20)

__________

From Psalms: Psalm 69 Poor Bishop Hooper

save me god for the waters are up to my neck
sinking mud and i can’t rise above the flood
i am weary and my eyes grow dim
save me god in the waiting

i’m outnumbered more than hairs on my head
by the hate by the power by the lies my enemies said
what’d i ever steal still i must restore
save me god from the hidden things that i know you know

all this because
zeal for your house has consumed me
zeal for your house has consumed me

don’t let those who hope in you
be disgraced because of what i do
lord of hosts answer them in their plea
save me god lord would you answer me

all this because
zeal for your house has consumed me
zeal for your house has consumed me
all i’ve endured
shame on my face in my mourning
shame on my face in my mourning
still as for me Lord
i pray for a time of your favor
i pray would you rescue me

as for me i am poor and in pain
save me god by your salvation
still i’ll praise him with a song
that will please please save me god save me god

__________

OT Reading: Jeremiah 18:18-23 (NLT)

A Plot against Jeremiah

18:18 Then the people said, “Come on, let’s plot a way to stop Jeremiah. We have plenty of priests and wise men and prophets. We don’t need him to teach the word and give us advice and prophecies. Let’s spread rumors about him and ignore what he says.”

Lord, hear me and help me!
Listen to what my enemies are saying.
Should they repay evil for good?
They have dug a pit to kill me,
though I pleaded for them
and tried to protect them from your anger.
So let their children starve!
Let them die by the sword!
Let their wives become childless widows.
Let their old men die in a plague,
and let their young men be killed in battle!
Let screaming be heard from their homes
as warriors come suddenly upon them.
For they have dug a pit for me
and have hidden traps along my path.
Lord, you know all about their murderous plots against me.
Don’t forgive their crimes and blot out their sins.
Let them die before you.
Deal with them in your anger.

__________

Lord Have Mercy – Michael W. Smith ft. Amy Grant | Humber UBF

__________

NT Reading: Acts 5:17-26 (NLT)

The Apostles Meet Opposition

5:17 The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”

So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching.

When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council—the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought from the jail for trial. But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported, “The jail was securely locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!”

When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end. Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!”

The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them.

__________

Wonderful Words of Life – Joslin Grove Choral Society | Christian Gospel Hymnal