+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:*
Most powerful Holy Spirit, come down upon us and subdue us.
From heaven, where the ordinary is made glorious, and glory seems but ordinary,
Bathe us with the brilliance of Your light like dew.
Believer, hold Him high that all may see the light of Jesus in a son of man. “Aidan”
Scripture Reading (CEV)
Psalm 134:2
lift your hands in prayer
toward his holy place
and praise the Lord.
Joshua 5:13-15
One day, Joshua was near Jericho when he saw a man standing some distance in front of him. The man was holding a sword, so Joshua walked up to him and asked, “Are you on our side or on our enemies’ side?”
“Neither,” he answered. “I am here because I am the commander of the Lord’s army.”
Joshua fell to his knees and bowed down to the ground. “I am your servant,” he said. “Tell me what to do.”
“Take off your sandals,” the commander answered. “This is a holy place.”
So Joshua took off his sandals.
Matthew 28:17
They saw him and worshiped him,
but some of them doubted.
__________
Reflection**
Our lives are long enough to learn what we need to learn, but not long enough to change anything. That is our flaw. Each age must learn everything afresh. Such waste! Such waste – making all the mistakes once and again, each generation making the same mistakes, fumbling in ignorance and darkness. This oak was already old when I was born. Now I am old and soon to die, and this tree grows strong still. We are small creatures. Our lives are not long, but long enough to learn. (Stephen Lawhead)
__________
Psalm 90 (A Thousand Years) – James Block
__________
Closing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:*
Most powerful Holy Spirit, come down upon us and subdue us.
From heaven, where the ordinary is made glorious, and glory seems but ordinary,
Bathe us with the brilliance of Your light like dew.
Believer, hold Him high that all may see the light of Jesus in a son of man. “Aidan”
Scripture Reading (CEV)
Psalm 134:1
Praising the Lord at Night
Everyone who serves the Lord, come and offer praises. Everyone who has gathered in his temple tonight.
(Song of Ascents)[Psalm 134] – Praise to Our God 5 Concert – Shir Hamaalot
Isaiah 49:8-9
The Lord Will Lead His People Home
This is what the Lord says: I will answer your prayers because I have set a time when I will help by coming to save you.
I have chosen you to take my promise of hope to other nations. You will rebuild the country from its ruins, then people will come and settle there.
You will set prisoners free from dark dungeons to see the light of day. On their way home, they will find plenty to eat, even on barren hills.
Isaiah 49 – Carey Landry
John 2:5
Mary then said to the servants, “Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.”
__________
Reflection**
How wonderful it is to walk with God
along the road that holy men have trod.
How wonderful it is to hear Him say:
Fear not, have faith
’tis I who lead the way.
(Theodore H. Kitching)
__________
“Storm the Forts of Darkness” – Western Territory Staff Band
__________
Closing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:*
Most powerful Holy Spirit, come down upon us and subdue us.
From heaven, where the ordinary is made glorious, and glory seems but ordinary,
Bathe us with the brilliance of Your light like dew.
Believer, hold Him high that all may see the light of Jesus in a son of man. “Aidan”
Scripture Reading (CEV)
Psalm 133
Precious Oil (Psalm 133) – James Block
Isaiah 30:15
Trust the Lord
The holy Lord God of Israel had told all of you, “I will keep you safe if you turn back to me and calm down. I will make you strong if you quietly trust me.”
Then you stubbornly said: “No!”
Mark 9:1-8
I can assure you that some of the people standing here will not die before they see God’s kingdom come with power.
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him. They went up on a high mountain, where they could be alone. There in front of the disciples, Jesus was completely changed. And his clothes became much whiter than any bleach on earth could make them. Then Moses and Elijah were there talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Teacher, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But Peter and the others were terribly frightened, and he did not know what he was talking about.
The shadow of a cloud passed over and covered them. From the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, and I love him. Listen to what he says!” At once the disciples looked around, but they saw only Jesus.
__________
Reflection**
The things that come out of a man are they that defile him,
and to get out of them a man must go into himself,
be a convict, and scrub the floor of his cell.
(George MacDonald)
I undervalue my silence too much.
Too often I move from action into silence
instead of the other way about.
(R. Morrison)
Collect for Purity
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.
__________
He Will Hold Me Fast by Praise And Harmony from Worthy God
__________
Closing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:*
Most powerful Holy Spirit, come down upon us and subdue us.
From heaven, where the ordinary is made glorious, and glory seems but ordinary,
Bathe us with the brilliance of Your light like dew.
Believer, hold Him high that all may see the light of Jesus in a son of man. “Aidan”
Scripture Reading (CEV)
Psalm 132:10-18
David is your chosen one, so don’t reject him.
You made a solemn promise to David, when you said, “I, the Lord, promise that someone in your family will always be king. If they keep our agreement and follow my teachings, then someone in your family will rule forever.”
You have gladly chosen Zion as your home, our Lord. You said, “This is my home! I will live here forever. I will bless Zion with food, and even the poor will eat until they are full. Victory will be like robes for the priests, and its faithful people will celebrate and shout.
I will give mighty power to the kingdom of David. Each one of my chosen kings will shine like a lamp and wear a sparkling crown. But I will disgrace their enemies.”
Numbers 6:24-26
I pray that the Lord will bless and protect you, and that he will show you mercy and kindness. May the Lord be good to you and give you peace.”
The Blessing | Living Room Session | Elevation Worship
2 Corinthians 4:6
The Scriptures say, “God commanded light to shine in the dark.” Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ.
__________
Oh the Glory of Your Presence” sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
__________
Closing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
God of eternal wisdom, you alone impart the gift of right judgement. Grant us an understanding heart, that we may value wisely the treasure of your kingdom and gladly forgo all lesser gifts to possess that kingdom’s incomparable joy. We pray through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen
“Every student of the Scriptures who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of heaven
is like someone who brings out new and old treasures from the storeroom.”
__________
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah – Mennonite Hour Men’s Quartet
__________
A Reading from the Old Testament: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 (CEV)
One night while Solomon was in Gibeon, the Lord God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Solomon, ask for anything you want, and I will give it to you.”
_____
Lord God, I’m your servant, and you’ve made me king in my father’s place. But I’m very young and know so little about being a leader. And now I must rule your chosen people, even though there are too many of them to count.
Please make me wise and teach me the difference between right and wrong. Then I will know how to rule your people. If you don’t, there is no way I could rule this great nation of yours.
God said:
Solomon, I’m pleased that you asked for this. You could have asked to live a long time or to be rich. Or you could have asked for your enemies to be destroyed. Instead, you asked for wisdom to make right decisions. So I’ll make you wiser than anyone who has ever lived or ever will live.
__________
Collect for Purity
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.
__________
A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 13:44-52 (CEV)
A Hidden Treasure
The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when someone finds a treasure hidden in a field and buries it again. A person like that is happy and goes and sells everything in order to buy that field.
A Valuable Pearl
The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a shop owner is looking for fine pearls. After finding a very valuable one, the owner goes and sells everything in order to buy that pearl.
A Fish Net
The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a net is thrown into a lake and catches all kinds of fish. When the net is full, it is dragged to the shore, and the fishermen sit down to separate the fish. They keep the good ones, but throw the bad ones away. That’s how it will be at the end of time. Angels will come and separate the evil people from the ones who have done right. Then those evil people will be thrown into a flaming furnace, where they will cry and grit their teeth in pain.
New and Old Treasures
Jesus asked his disciples if they understood all these things. They said, “Yes, we do.”
So he told them, “Every student of the Scriptures who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like someone who brings out new and old treasures from the storeroom.”
__________
Psalm 119:33-40 (ESV) – The Corner Room
Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
Confirm to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.
Turn away the reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life!
__________
Dear heavenly Father, you number our hairs and determine our days; you hang the stars and feed the sparrows; you open doors no one can shut and shut doors no one can open. Surely, we can trust you when the time comes for making decisions. Father, we will trust you for generous wisdom, straight paths and peaceful hearts, all for your glory.
How we praise you for being the decision-making-God. It’s not our decisions, but yours that make all the difference.
We will plan, but we trust you to order our steps.
We will pray, but ask you to fix our prayers en route to heaven.
We will seek counsel, but count on you to overrule faulty or incomplete input from our most trusted friends and mentors.
We will search the Scriptures, but not looking for proof texts but for you, Father. All we want and need is you.
Free us from the paralysis of analysis—wanting make the right decision, more than we want to be righteous people; wanting to be known as wise people, more than we want to know you.
Free us from the idolatry of assuming there’s only one “perfect” choice in any given situation.
Free us from making decisions primary for our comfort and other’s approval, or fear their disapproval.
Free us to know that good choices don’t always lead to the easiest outcomes, especially at first.
Free us from second and twenty-second guessing our decisions.
Father, we know that in ALL things, your will is our sanctification—our becoming more and more like Jesus. Give us this passion; make it our delight, even as we trust you for the opening and closing of doors that are in front of us. All for your glory – in the name of our reigning King, Jesus we pray. Amen
__________
Nothing But Goodness – North Central University Worship Live
__________
Closing – Romans 8:28-30 (CEV)
We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose, and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children. God then accepted the people he had already decided to choose, and he has shared his glory with them.
__________
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Peanut Gallery 