After Epiphany | Saturday 11 Jan 2025: Psalm 29; Ecclesiastes 3:1-15; 1 Corinthians 2:11-16 ~ We have the mind of Christ.

After Epiphany | Saturday 11 Jan 2025

+ In the name the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

O God, by the leading of a star
you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:
Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence,
where we may see your glory face to face;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

“The spiritual person judges all things,
but is himself to be judged by no one.”
(1 Corinthians 2:15)

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From the Psalms: Psalm 29 | “Holy (Psalm 29)” | First Dallas Choir & Orchestra | March 15, 2020

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OT Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 (ESV)

A Time for Everything

3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

+ a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
+ a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
+ a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
+ a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
+ a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
+ a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
+ a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

The God-Given Task

1:9 What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

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There Is None Like You | Steffany Gretzinger

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NT Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:11-16 (ESV)

2:11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

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Christ Be All Around Me – All Sons & Daughters / Breathe Back Ministries

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

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, without whose beauty and goodness our souls are unfed, without whose truth our reason withers: consecrate our lives to your will, giving us such purity of heart, such depth of faith, and such steadfastness of purpose, that in time we may come to think your own thoughts after you; through Jesus Christ our Savior. 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

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.

After Epiphany | Friday 10 Jan 2025: Psalm 29; Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 2:1-10 ~ We have wisdom from the Spirit.

After Epiphany | Friday 10 Jan 2025

+ In the name the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

“For the Spirit searches everything,
even the depths of God.”
(1 Corinthians 2:10)

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From the Psalms: Psalm 29 | Exodus Road Band

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OT Reading: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (ESV)

The Vanity of Self-Indulgence

2:1 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.

So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

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When its all been said and done | Robin Mark / pinetreescouter

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NT Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-10 (ESV)

Proclaiming Christ Crucified

2:1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Wisdom from the Spirit

2:6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

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Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit) | Catherine Pivalizza

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

Gracious and holy Father, please give me intellect to understand you, reason to discern you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, a spirit to know you, a heart to meditate upon you, ears to hear you, eyes to see you, a tongue to proclaim you, a way of life pleasing to you, patience to wait for you, and perseverance to look for you. Grant me a perfect end, your holy presence, a blessed resurrection, and life everlasting. Amen. | Benedict of Nursia

Almighty God our Savior, you desire that none should perish, and you have taught us through your Son that there is great joy in heaven over every sinner who repents: Grant that our hearts may ache for a lost and broken world. May your Holy Spirit work through our words, deeds, and prayers, that the lost may be found and the dead made alive, and that all your redeemed may rejoice around your throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, our heavenly Father, pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill your Son’s 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

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.

After Epiphany | Thursday 09 Jan 2025: Psalm 29; Ecclesiastes 1:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 ~ We preach Christ crucified.

After Epiphany | Thursday 09 Jan 2025

+ In the name the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

“We preach Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.”
(1 Corinthians 1:23)

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From the Psalms: Psalm 29 | (The Voice of the Lord)/strong> | The Psalms Project [feat. Nick Poppens]

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OT Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 (ESV)

All Is Vanity

1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

+ Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
+ What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
+ A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
+ The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens to the place where it rises.
+ The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
+ All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
+ All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
+ What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
+ Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been already
in the ages before us.
+ There is no remembrance of former things,
nor will there be any remembrance
of later things yet to be
among those who come after.

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All is Vanity | Caroline Cobb – Trinity Fellowship

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NT Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (ESV)

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

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Christ Our Wisdom – Sovereign Grace / Scott Bacher

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

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.

After Epiphany | Wednesday 08 Jan 2025: Psalm 72; Daniel 2:24-49; Ephesians 5:15-20 ~ Be careful to live wisely.

After Epiphany | Wednesday 08 Jan 2025

+ In the name the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

“Look carefully then how you walk,
not as unwise but as wise,
making the best use of the time,
because the days are evil.”
(Ephesians 5:15-16)

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From the Psalms: Psalm 72 | “Lord, Every Nation” | Church of the Vine

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OT Reading: Daniel 2:24-49 (ESV)

2:24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”

Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.” The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.

Daniel Interprets the Dream

2:31 “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

“This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

Daniel Is Promoted

2:46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.

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Handel’s ‘Hallelujah!’ Chorus live at the Sydney Opera House | ABC Classic

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NT Reading: Ephesians 5:15-20 (ESV)

5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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How Can I Keep From Singing – Buddy Greene / Gaither Music TV

My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth’s lamentation,
I hear the sweet, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation

No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that rock I’m clinging
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing
It sounds an echo in my soul
How can I keep from singing?

No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that rock I’m clinging
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

What though my joys and comforts die?
I know my Savior liveth
What though the darkness gathers round?
Songs in the night he giveth

I lift my eyes, the cloud grows thin
I see the blue above it
And day by day this pathway smooths,
Since first I learned to love it,

No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that rock I’m clinging
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart
A fountain ever springing
All things are mine since I am his
How can I keep from singing?

No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that rock I’m clinging
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

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.

After Epiphany | Tuesday 07 Jan 2025: Psalm 72; Daniel 2:1-19; Ephesians 4:17-5:1 ~ Put on the new self.

After Epiphany | Tuesday 07 Jan 2025

+ In the name the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

“Put on the new self,
created after the likeness of God
in true righteousness and holiness.”
(Ephesians 4:24)

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From the Psalms: Psalm 72 | “Lord, Every Nation on Earth Will Adore You” – Francesca LaRosa

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OT Reading: Daniel 2:1-19 (ESV)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

2:1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. He declared to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.

God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

2:17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

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Blessed Be Your Name | Matt Redman (Live)

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NT Reading: Ephesians 4:17-5:1 (ESV)

The New Life

4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

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More Like Jesus | Passion | Sounds of Hope Lyrics