The Season of Advent | 2nd Monday 11 Dec 2023
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures
to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn,
and inwardly digest them,
that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word
we may embrace and ever hold fast
the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Peter answered them,
“All of you must turn to God
and change the way you think and act, and
each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
so that your sins will be forgiven.
(Acts 2:38)
__________
From Psalms: Psalm 27 – (Whom Shall I Fear?) [feat. Luke Lynass by The Psalms Project]
__________
OT Reading: Isaiah 26:7-15
26:7 The path of the righteous is level.
Upright One, you make the road of the righteous smooth.
Certainly, we wait with hope for you, O Lord,
⌞as we follow⌟ the path of your guiding principles.
We want to remember you and your name.
With my soul I long for you at night.
Yes, with my spirit I eagerly look for you.
When your guiding principles are on earth,
those who live in the world learn to do what is right.
Although the wicked are shown pity,
they do not learn to do what is right.
They do what is wrong in the upright land
and do not see the majesty of the Lord.
O Lord, your power is visible, but they do not see it.
They will see how devoted your people are,
and they will be put to shame.
Your burning anger will destroy your enemies.
26:12 O Lord, you will establish peace for us,
since you have done everything for us.
O Lord, our God, you are not the only master to rule us,
but we acknowledge only you.
The wicked are dead.
They are no longer alive.
The spirits of the dead won’t rise.
You have punished them, destroyed them,
and wiped out all memory of them.
You have expanded the nation, O Lord.
You have expanded the nation.
You are honored.
You have extended all the land’s boundaries.
__________
What a beautiful name/O Come all Ye Faithful ~ [Jews & Arabs celebrating Jesus as ONE in Jerusalem!]
__________
NT Reading: Acts 2:37-42 (GW)
2:37 When the people heard this, they were deeply upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
Peter answered them, “All of you must turn to God and change the way you think and act, and each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift. This promise belongs to you and to your children and to everyone who is far away. It belongs to everyone who worships the Lord our God.”
Peter said much more to warn them. He urged, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted what Peter said were baptized. That day about 3,000 people were added ⌞to the group⌟.
Life as a Christian
2:42 The disciples were devoted to the teachings of the apostles, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
__________
“Repent and be Baptized” by Paul Rocchi
__________
Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows
+ I renounce the devil and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God.
+ I renounce the empty promises and deadly deceits of this world that corrupt and destroy the creatures of God.
+ I renounce the sinful desires of the flesh that draw me from the love of God.
May Almighty God deliver me from the powers of darkness and evil, and lead me into the light and obedience of the kingdom of his Son Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
+ I turn to Jesus Christ and confess him as my Lord and Savior.
+ I receive the Christian Faith, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
+ I will obediently keep God’s holy will and commandments, and walk in them all the days of my life, the Lord being my helper.
Almighty and everliving God, strengthen me for witness and ministry through the power of your Holy Spirit. Daily increase in me your manifold virtues of grace: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and true godliness, and the spirit of holy fear, now and for ever. Amen.
Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Set free the hostages, and deliver from bondage every person captivated by the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And finally, grant heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, as well as those who will restore Israel politically and spiritually, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
May the Lord, when he comes,
find us watching and waiting.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 