After Epiphany | Tuesday 11 Feb 2025: Psalm 115; 1 Samuel 9:15-10:1b; 1 Timothy 3:1-9 ~ Church leaders must be above reproach.

After Epiphany | Tuesday 11 Feb 2025

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

Opening prayer:

O Lord, our heavenly Father,
keep your household the Church
continually in true faith and practice,
that we who trust in the hope of your heavenly grace
may always be defended by your mighty power;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.

“The saying is trustworthy:
If anyone aspires to the office of overseer,
he desires a noble task.”
(1 Timothy 3:1)

__________

From the Psalms: Psalm 115 | Not to Us (Psalm 115) (feat. Davy Flowers) | The Worship Initiative

1. Oh God You’re in Heaven and You do
Whatever You wanna do
However You choose to do it
Oh God there is nothing in Your place
The idols that we make
Will bend the knee before You

Remember us
In faithfulness
And steadfast love

Not to us but
To Your name be
All the glory
And all the praise
Not for us but
For Your sake be
All the glory
And all the fame

2. Oh God You’re our helper and our shield
Your goodness is revealed
To all of those who trust You
Oh God You are seated on Your throne
The power is Yours alone
To rule and reign forever

Remember us
In faithfulness
And steadfast love

Not to us but
To Your name be
All the glory
And all the praise
Not for us but
For Your sake be
All the glory
And all the fame

For all You are oh God
We bless Your name
For all You’ve done oh God
We bless Your name
For all to come oh God
We bless Your name
You’re not done oh God
We bless Your name

Not to us but
To Your name be
All the glory
And all the praise
Not for us but
For Your sake be
All the glory
And all the fame

__________

OT Reading: 1 Samuel 9:15-10:1b (ESV

9:15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel:  “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.” When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.” Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?” Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s house?” Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”

Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons. And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Put it aside.’” So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.”

So Saul ate with Samuel that day. And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul on the roof, and he lay down to sleep. Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Up, that I may send you on your way.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.

As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.”

Saul Anointed King

10:1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies.

__________

King Jesus  |  Brooke Ligertwood

__________

NT Reading: 1 Timothy 3:1-9 (ESV)

Qualifications for Overseers
3:1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

3:8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

__________

More Like Jesus | Passion | Sounds of Hope Lyrics

__________

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.

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior  Jesus Christ. Amen. | William Temple

Almighty God, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem: Intervene in ways that only you can, so the whole world will know that you alone are God. Protect your people from the assaults of the evil one, and grant Israel’s leaders the wisdom and courage to do what’s right in your sight. Destroy the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East; deliver all the hostages, and restore their souls. Protect the innocent and punish the guilty, that all may live in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: Kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all people the true love of peace, and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquility your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; 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.