+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentence
Almighty God, give me grace to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that I may fix my heart on Jesus Christ your Son my Lord where true joy is to be found. Amen.
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Reading: Psalm 28:6-7 (NLT)
Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
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Reading: Exodus 13:21 (NLT)
The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night.
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Reading: James 1:2-4 (NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
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Prayer:
Lord God, my strength and shield: be with me as I go about my work today.
+ Be my patience when I’m frustrated.
+ Be my endurance when I am tired.
+ Be my wisdom when I am uncertain.
+ Be my inspiration when I’m out of ideas.
+ Be my peacemaker when I feel hurt.
+ Be my comforter when I feel overwhelmed.
+ Be my energy when I am weary.
+ Be my guide when I am confused.
+ Be my forgiver when I get it wrong.
Lord God: I trust you with all my heart. Through Jesus Christ your Son, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
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“Press On” – Selah
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Blessing
May God keep you in all your days.
May Christ shield you in all your ways.
May the Spirit bring you healing and peace.
May God the Holy Trinity drive all darkness from you and pour upon you blessing and light.
+ 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 Sentence
Almighty God, give me grace to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that I may fix my heart on Jesus Christ your Son my Lord where true joy is to be found. Amen.
__________
Reading: Psalm 61:1-5 (NLT)
O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer!
From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!
For you have heard my vows, O God. You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.
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Reading: Isaiah 41:4-10 (NLT)
“Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time? It is I, the Lord, the First and the Last. I alone am he.”
The lands beyond the sea watch in fear. Remote lands tremble and mobilize for war. The idol makers encourage one another, saying to each other, “Be strong!” The carver encourages the goldsmith, and the molder helps at the anvil. “Good,” they say. “It’s coming along fine.” Carefully they join the parts together, then fasten the thing in place so it won’t fall over.
“But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend, I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’ For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
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Reading: Philippians 3:15-17 (NLT)
Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.
Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.
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Prayer:
By shedding his blood for us, Christ Jesus Christ gathered together a new people from every corner of the earth. Lord, be mindful of your people.
+ Christ, our king and redeemer: help us to know your power and your love.
+ Christ, our hope and courage: sustain us throughout the day.
+ Christ, our refuge and strength: fight with us against our weakness.
+ Christ, our joy and solace: stay with the poor and lonely.
Lord Jesus, hold us securely in your hand, and give us grace to joyfully begin this day in your name and to fill it with an active love for you and our neighbor. Amen.
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“Safe in the Arms of Jesus” – George Beverly Shea
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Blessing
May God keep you in all your days.
May Christ shield you in all your ways.
May the Spirit bring you healing and peace.
May God the Holy Trinity drive all darkness from you and pour upon you blessing and light.
+ 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 Sentence
Almighty God, give me grace to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that I may fix my heart on Jesus Christ your Son my Lord where true joy is to be found. Amen.
__________
Reading: Psalm 133:1-3 (NLT)
How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting.
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Reading: Isaiah 42:8-9 (NLT)
“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.”
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Reading: Matthew 19:16-21 (NLT)
Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
“Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man asked.
And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
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Prayer:
Blessed be your name, King of heaven and earth, for bringing me to this day; I thank you for protecting my life and giving me what that I need.
+ Be with me as I take up my daily tasks; help me to remember that it is in your world I live and work.
+ Show me how to serve you where you have placed me; help me to live as a responsible citizen of your Kingdom.
+ Stay with me and with everyone I meet this day; make me a bearer of your joy and your peace to the world.
King of heaven and earth, rule over my heart, my mind, and my body today. Guide my every thought, word and deed according to the commandments of your law, so that now and for ever your grace may free and save me. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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“Jesus, all for Jesus” – Robin Mark
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Blessing
May God keep you in all your days.
May Christ shield you in all your ways.
May the Spirit bring you healing and peace.
May God the Holy Trinity drive all darkness from you and pour upon you blessing and light.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Today Jesus teaches us that loving the enemy and praying for those who make life difficult are two marks of a Christian. We gather, aware of how difficult love can be, yet united by the saving mercy of God, on which we rely.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, in Christ Jesus you challenge us to renounce violence and to forsake revenge. Teach us to recognize as your children even our enemies and persecutors and to love them without measure or discrimination. We ask this 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.
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“Love divine all loves excelling” – Keswick Praise
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A Reading from the Old Testament: Leviticus19:1-2, 17-18 (NLT)
[Love for the Lord is seen in love for all God’s people.]
The Lord also said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
_____
“Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13 NLT)
Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
_____
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
_____
He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
_____
He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
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“Psalm 103” – Jess Ray
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A Reading from the Letters: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 (NLT)
[We belong to Christ and Christ is God’s, so we belong to God.]
Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.”
And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless.”
So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you — whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 5:38-48 (NLT)
[Jesus explains how Christians should live.]
“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
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“Heal Our Land” – Kari Jobe
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Intercessory Prayer:
God of love and compassion, slow to anger and rich in mercy – hear our payers:
+ For Church leaders around the world, especially those in war-torn lands….
+ For an end to war and violence, especially in Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine….
+ For people who are at war with each other — that they may forgive and make peace….
+ For those who have hurt us — that You may help us to end our quarrels….
+ For people who are sick or troubled — that You may bring them healing….
+ For ourselves and those we love — that You may always be close to us….
+ For those who have died in Christ – that You may crown them with love and compassion….
God of love and compassion, have pity on Your people and grant us Your gracious help, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Love divine all loves excelling” – Kingsway Music
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Benediction:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
__________
+ 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 Sentence
I have come to seek You, O God, just as I am I come.
I will wait for You, O God. My soul waits, and in Your word do I hope.
__________
Reading: Psalm 103:1-14 (NLT)
Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.
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Aleppo, Syria
Reading: Isaiah 58:11-12 (NLT)
The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.
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Reading: Philippians 4:10-13 (NLT)
How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
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Prayer:
Heavenly Father: You have adopted us into your family, and through the ages have stayed with us and kept us in your steadfast love. Lord, help us in our work and prayer – as “rebuilders of walls and a restorers of homes.”
+ We pray for all who rebuild and restore cities: give them wisdom and respect for every family, every life – both rich and poor.
+ Pour out your Spirit on artists, craftsmen, and musicians: may their work bring variety, joy, and inspiration to our lives.
+ Be with us as the cornerstone of all that we build: for we are only dust and can do nothing without your guidance and strength.
+ You have created us anew in the resurrection of your Son: rebuild and restore the spiritual life of broken cities through that same resurrection power.
Heavenly Father, we praise you with our whole heart and give thanks for all you are doing and will do. Life itself is your precious gift, may all we have and all we are be yours. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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“Open Up Our Eyes” – Elevation Worship
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Blessing
When you no longer know how to be, may the Father take you on your deeper journey.
When you no longer know what to do, may the Spirit reveal to you your fitting task.
When all feels lost or foreign, may you know your home in Christ.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
The Peanut Gallery 