The Lenten Season | Saturday 23 Mar 2024
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Almighty God,
you alone can bring into order
the unruly wills and affections of sinners:
Grant your people grace to love what you command
and desire what you promise; that,
among the swift and varied changes of this world,
our hearts may surely there be fixed
where true joys are to be found;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
“We’re going to Jerusalem.
There the Son of Man will be betrayed
to the chief priests
and the experts in Moses’ Teachings.”
(Mark 10:33)
__________
From Psalms: Psalm 118 – Salvation // Teshuva – Hallel
__________
OT Reading: Jeremiah 33:10-16 (GW)
33:10 “This is what the Lord says: You have said that this place is ruined and that no people or animals live in it. It’s true! The cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem are deserted. No people or animals live there. But once again you will hear the sounds of joy and happiness and the sounds of brides and grooms. You will hear those who bring thank offerings to the Lord’s temple say,
‘Give thanks to the Lord of Armies because the Lord is good,
because his mercy endures forever.’
I will restore the fortunes of the land to what they were before,” says the Lord.
“This is what the Lord of Armies says: In this deserted place, where no people or animals live, and in all its cities, there will once again be pastures where shepherds can rest their flocks. In the cities on the mountains, in the foothills, in the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the area around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shepherds will once again count their sheep,” says the Lord.
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will keep the promise that I made to Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time, I will cause a righteous branch to spring up for David. He will do what is fair and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live securely. Jerusalem will be called The Lord Our Righteousness.
__________
O Jerusalem // Porter’s Gate
__________
NT Reading: Mark 10:32-34, 46-52 (GW)
For the Third Time Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life
10:32 Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking ahead of them. His disciples were shocked ⌞that he was going to Jerusalem⌟. The others who followed were afraid. Once again he took the twelve apostles aside. He began to tell them what was going to happen to him. “We’re going to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to foreigners. They will make fun of him, spit on him, whip him, and kill him. But after three days he will come back to life.”
Jesus Gives Sight to Bartimaeus
10:46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus, his disciples, and many people were leaving Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. When he heard that Jesus from Nazareth ⌞was passing by⌟, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
The people told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him!” They called the blind man and told him, “Cheer up! Get up! He’s calling you.” The blind man threw off his coat, jumped up, and went to Jesus.
Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man said, “Teacher, I want to see again.”
Jesus told him, “Go, your faith has made you well.”
At once he could see again, and he followed Jesus on the road.
__________
Jerusalem // CityAlight
__________
+ O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices; that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path we may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift justice and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Deliver the hostages from captivity and restore their souls. Destroy every stronghold of the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And grant your heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, diplomatically – and especially to those who will restore Israel spiritually – through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ Our God, in whom we trust: Strengthen us not to regard overmuch who is for us or who is against us, but to see to it that we be with you in everything we do. Amen. (Thomas à Kempis)
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
May Christ, who bore our sins on the cross,
set us free to serve him with joy.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 