August 23, 2024 – The Peanut Gallery

After Pentecost | Friday 23 Aug 2024

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

Opening:

Keep your Church, O Lord,
by your perpetual mercy; and because without you
the frailty of our nature causes us to fall,
keep us from all things hurtful,
and lead us to all things profitable for our salvation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“We should live decently,
as people who live in the light of day.”
(Romans 13:13)

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From Psalms: Psalm 84 | “No Place Better” | Caroline Cobb

How lovely is Your dwelling place
How wonderful Your presence, Lord
How my soul longs to see Your face
To come with joy into Your courts

How blessed is the little sparrow
Who makes a nest inside Your house
‘Cause I can think of no place better
To make a home and sing out loud

I wanna be in Your presence, I wanna be near Your heart
I wanna know You’re close even when I’m feeling far
I don’t want what this world would offer, I want the living God
‘Cause there’s no place better than where You are

We will go from strength to strength
Even in the wilderness
You are turning tears to desert springs
Leaving gardens in our footsteps

How blessed is the longing pilgrim
Whose heart is set on Zion’s hill
The one who knows there’s no place better
To bring our sorrows and be filled

One day with You is better than a thousand elsewhere
One word from You is better than silver or gold
I’d rather be a servant in Your house, O God
Than a king with all the riches I could hold

Oh, there’s no place better than where You are

No place better

No place better, ooh

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OT Reading: 1 Kings 4:29-34 (GW)

Solomon’s Wisdom

4:29 God gave Solomon wisdom—keen insight and a mind as limitless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the eastern people and all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was wiser than anyone, than Ethan the Ezrahite, or Heman, Calcol, or Darda, Mahol’s sons. His fame spread to all the nations around him.

Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. He described and classified trees—from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall. He described and classified animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. People came from every nation to hear his wisdom; they came from all the kings of the earth who had heard about his wisdom.

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Christ Our Wisdom (Official Video) | Sovereign Grace Music

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NT Reading: Romans 13:11-14 (GW)

13:11 You know the times ⌞in which we are living⌟. It’s time for you to wake up. Our salvation is nearer now than when we first became believers. The night is almost over, and the day is near. So we should get rid of the things that belong to the dark and take up the weapons that belong to the light. We should live decently, as people who live in the light of day. Wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, rivalry, and jealousy cannot be part of our lives. Instead, live like the Lord Jesus Christ did, and forget about satisfying the desires of your corrupt nature.

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In the Light DC TALK Lyric Video | TrulyGraceMinistries

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear our prayers, and grant that in our local Congregations the pure Word of God may be preached and the Sacraments duly administered. Strengthen and confirm the faithful; protect and guide the children; visit and relieve the sick; turn and soften the wicked; arouse the careless; recover the fallen; restore the penitent; remove all hindrances to the advancement of your truth; and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church, to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Sovereign Lord: We pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

- Protect Israel from the fiery darts of the evil one coming from every direction, both within and without.
- Grant your heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, and diplomatically;
- Give them hearts to receive, and the courage to do, what’s right in your sight.
- Comfort those who grieve and mourn the loss of loved ones;
- Rebuke those who would use grief for evil purposes.
- Bring swift and certain justice to all those complicit in the October 7th atrocities;
- Deliver the hostages from captivity, and restore their souls.
- Destroy every stronghold of the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East.
- Strengthen the Messianic communities – Jew and Arab alike – bind them together in love, that they may be a source of help, and healing, and hope;
- Use them in the restoration of your people to their proper place in your Kingdom.
- We pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

+ O God, our heavenly Father, you manifested your love by sending your only-begotten Son into the world, that all might live through him: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill his command to preach the Gospel to all people. 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.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
and keep us in eternal life.

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