After Epiphany | Friday 12 Jan 2024
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Eternal Father, at the baptism of Jesus
you revealed him to be your Son,
and your Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove:
Grant that we, who are born again
by water and the Spirit,
may be faithful as your adopted children;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
“God had the Savior, Jesus,
come to Israel from David’s descendants,
as he had promised.”
(Acts 13:23)
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From Psalms: Psalm 139 – Sons of Korah
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OT Reading: Judges 2:16-23 (GW)
2:16 Then the Lord would send judges to rescue them from those who robbed them. But the people wouldn’t listen to the judges. The Israelites chased after other gods as though they were prostitutes and worshiped them. They quickly turned from the ways of their ancestors who had obeyed the Lord’s commands. They refused to be like their ancestors. But when the Lord appointed judges for the Israelites, he was with each judge. The Lord rescued them from their enemies as long as that judge was alive. The Lord was moved by the groaning of those who were tormented and oppressed. But after each judge died, the people went back to their old ways and acted more corruptly than their parents. They followed, served, and worshiped other gods. They never gave up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
The Lord Allows the Nations to Stay in Order to Test His People
2:20 The Lord became angry with Israel. He said, “Because the people of this nation have rejected the promise I gave their ancestors and have not obeyed me, I will no longer force out the nations Joshua left behind when he died. I will test the people of Israel with these nations to see whether or not they will carefully follow the Lord’s ways as their ancestors did.” So the Lord let these nations stay. He had not handed them over to Joshua or forced them out quickly.
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Come To Save Us | All Sons & Daughters | Union Chapel Church of God
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NT Reading: Acts 13:16-25 (GW)
13:16 Then Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Men of Israel and converts to Judaism, listen to me. The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors and made them a strong nation while they lived as foreigners in Egypt. He used his powerful arm to bring them out of Egypt, and he put up with them for about forty years in the desert. Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as an inheritance. He did all this in about four hundred and fifty years.
“After that he gave his people judges until the time of the prophet Samuel.
“Then the people demanded a king, so God gave them Saul, son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin. After forty years God removed Saul and made David their king. God spoke favorably about David. He said, ‘I have found that David, son of Jesse, is a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’
“God had the Savior, Jesus, come to Israel from David’s descendants, as he had promised. Before Jesus began his ministry, John ⌞the Baptizer⌟ told everyone in Israel about the baptism of repentance. When John was finishing his work, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I’m not the person you’re looking for. He will come later. I’m not even good enough to untie his sandals.’
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Avinu Malkeinu at a time of war אבינו מלכנו לעת המלחמה | Richard Shavei-Tzion
Our Father, our King, pardon and forgive all our iniquities.
Our Father, our King, blot out and remove our transgressions from before Your eyes.
Our Father, our King, erase in Your abounding mercies all the records of our debts [sins].
Our Father, our King, bring us back to You in wholehearted repentance.
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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, our heavenly Father: Pour out your Spirit on your faithful people in the Middle East, that your Son’s life-giving Gospel may be preached to every tribe and nation. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Bring home 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, politically, diplomatically, and especially to those who will restore Israel spiritually, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
May Christ, who sends us to the nations,
give us the power of his Spirit.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 