After Pentecost | Thursday 18 Sep 2025
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening prayer:
O God,
because without you
we are not able to please you,
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
“Let God be true
though every one were a liar….”
(Romans 3:4)
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From the Psalms: Psalm 113 – Royalty – Psalm 113 | Mike Janzen
1. And He lifts the poor from the dusty streets
And He pulls the weak from the ashen heap
To be royalty
To be called His sons and daughters
2. And He makes a way through the longing years
In a bottle gathers up our tears
And He makes a home
For the homeless, lost and forgotten
Chorus. From the rising sun
Till the setting of our days
May the name of the Lord be praised
Generous we give
With the lavish love of Christ
Then the name of the Lord is praised
3. And He brings the poor to the kingdom feast
And He gives the sinner the honoured seat
He restores the weak
Bringing dignity to the fallen
4. And He holds the sick till they’re on their feet
And He puts the lonely in families
To be loved and love
To be friends and heirs in his kingdom
Bridge. This is the heart, this is the way, this is the love of Christ
This is Your throne, this is the seat where mercy topples might
Nothing too great, no one too small
This is the heartbeat of His call
This is the heart of God
This is the heart of God
This is the heart of God
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OT Reading: Exodus 23:1-9 (ESV)
Justice and Fairness
23:1 “Do not spread false rumors, and do not help a guilty person by giving false testimony. Do not follow the majority when they do wrong or when they give testimony that perverts justice. Do not show partiality to a poor person at his trial.
23:4 “If you happen to see your enemy’s cow or donkey running loose, take it back to him. If his donkey has fallen under its load, help him get the donkey to its feet again; don’t just walk off.
23:6 “Do not deny justice to a poor person when he appears in court. Do not make false accusations, and do not put an innocent person to death, for I will condemn anyone who does such an evil thing. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe makes people blind to what is right and ruins the cause of those who are innocent.
23:9 “Do not mistreat a foreigner; you know how it feels to be a foreigner, because you were foreigners in Egypt.
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The Justice Song | IJM Ghana
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NT Reading: Romans 3:1-8 (ESV)
3:1 Do the Jews then have any advantage over the Gentiles? Or is there any value in being circumcised? Much, indeed, in every way! In the first place, God trusted his message to the Jews. But what if some of them were not faithful? Does this mean that God will not be faithful? Certainly not! 
God must be true, even though all human beings are liars. As the scripture says,
“You must be shown to be right when you speak;
you must win your case when you are being tried.”
3:5 But what if our doing wrong serves to show up more clearly God’s doing right? Can we say that God does wrong when he punishes us? (This would be the natural question to ask.) By no means! If God is not just, how can he judge the world?
3:7 But what if my untruth serves God’s glory by making his truth stand out more clearly? Why should I still be condemned as a sinner? Why not say, then, “Let us do evil so that good may come”? Some people, indeed, have insulted me by accusing me of saying this very thing! They will be condemned, as they should be.
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Goodness of God | Don Moen (feat. Rachel Robinson)
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Almighty God, you created us in your own image: Grant us grace to contend fearlessly against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and help us to use our freedom rightly in the establishment of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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. Deliver all the hostages from captivity, and restore their souls. Comfort those who grieve and mourn the loss of loved ones. Protect the innocent and punish the guilty, that all may live in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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.
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.
The Peanut Gallery 