Category: Life in Our Family

The Ascension of the Lord, 21 May 2020 – Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 47, Ephesians 1:17-23 ~ you will receive power

The Ascension of the Lord, 21 May 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Almighty God, fill us with a holy joy; teach us how to thank you with reverence and love on account of the ascension of Christ your Son. You have raised us up with him: where he, the head, has preceded us in glory, there we, the body, are called in hope. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“God has put all things under the authority of Christ”

A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 28:16-20 (NLT)

The Great Commission

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Psalm 47 (Psalm Project Africa)

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A Reading from the Book of Acts 1:1-11 (NLT)

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

The Ascension of Jesus

So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
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Responsorial Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 (NLT)

+ God has ascended with a mighty shout.
The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring.

For the Lord Most High is awesome.
He is the great King of all the earth.
He subdues the nations before us,
putting our enemies beneath our feet.

+ God has ascended with a mighty shout.
The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring.

Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King over all the earth.
Praise him with a psalm.

+ God has ascended with a mighty shout.
The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring.

God reigns above the nations,
sitting on his holy throne.
The rulers of the world have gathered together
with the people of the God of Abraham.
For all the kings of the earth belong to God.
He is highly honored everywhere.

+ God has ascended with a mighty shout.
The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring.

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Most High (Psalm 47) – James Block

Closing: Ephesians 1:17-23 (NLT)

I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Wednesday of The 6th Week of Easter, 20 May 2020 – John 16:12-15, Acts 17:15, 22—18:1, Psalm 148 ~ The Holy Spirit brings glory to Jesus.

Wednesday of The 6th Week of Easter, 20 May 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“The Holy Spirit will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.”

A Reading from the Gospels: John 16:12-15 (NLT)

There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’

A Reading from the Book of Acts 17:15, 22—18:1 (NLT)

Those escorting Paul went with him all the way to Athens; then they returned to Berea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join him.
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So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.

“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” That ended Paul’s discussion with them, but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
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Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth
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Responsorial Psalm Psalm 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14  (NLT)

+ Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,
for he issued his command, and they came into being.

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens!
Praise him from the skies!
Praise him, all his angels!
Praise him, all the armies of heaven!

+ Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,
for he issued his command, and they came into being.

Praise him, sun and moon!
Praise him, all you twinkling stars!
Praise him, skies above!
Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!
He set them in place forever and ever.
His decree will never be revoked.

+ Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,
for he issued his command, and they came into being.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
you creatures of the ocean depths,
fire and hail, snow and clouds,
wind and weather that obey him,
mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all livestock,
small scurrying animals and birds,
kings of the earth and all people,
rulers and judges of the earth,
young men and young women,
old men and children.

+ Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,
for he issued his command, and they came into being.

Let them all praise the name of the Lord.
For his name is very great;
his glory towers over the earth and heaven!
He has made his people strong,
honoring his faithful ones—
the people of Israel who are close to him.

+ Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,
for he issued his command, and they came into being.

Praise the Lord!
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Psalm 148 (Highly Exalted) – Sixteen Cities

Closing: Acts 17:28

For in God we live and move and exist.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tuesday of The 6th Week of Easter, 19 May 2020 – John 16:5-11, Acts 16:22-34, Psalm 138 ~ Under conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgement.

Tuesday of The 6th Week of Easter, 19 May 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Lord God, grant your people constant joy in the renewed vigor of our souls. We rejoice because you have restored us to the glory of your adopted children: let us look forward gladly in the certain hope of resurrection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I will send the Holy Spirit to you. He will guide you into all truth..

A Reading from the Gospels: John 16:5-11 (NLT)

The Work of the Holy Spirit

“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

A Reading from the Book of Acts: Acts 16:22-34 (NLT)

A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”

The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.
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Responsorial Psalm 138 (NLT)

I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
will sing your praises before the gods.

+ The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.

I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.
I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;
for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.
As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength.

+ The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.

Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord,
for all of them will hear your words.
Yes, they will sing about the Lord’s ways,
for the glory of the Lord is very great.
Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble,
but he keeps his distance from the proud.

+ The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.

Though I am surrounded by troubles,
you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
You reach out your hand,
and the power of your right hand saves me.

+ The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
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Psalm 138 – Psalm Project Africa

Closing: John 16:7,13

I will send the Holy Spirit to you. He will guide you into all truth.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Monday of The 6th Week of Easter, 18 May 2020 – John 15:26-16:4, Psalm 149, Acts 16:11-15 ~ “The Spirit of Truth will testify all about me.”

Monday of The 6th Week of Easter, 18 May 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

God of mercy, let the mystery we celebrate at Eastertide bear fruit for us in every season. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I will send you the Spirit of truth.
He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.

A Reading from the Gospels: John 15:26-16:4 (NLT)

I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.

“I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me. Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.

A Reading from the Book of Acts: Acts 16:11-15 (NLT)

Lydia of Philippi Believes in Jesus

We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days.

On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She and her household were baptized, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.
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Responsorial Psalm149 (NLT)

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song.
Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.

+ For the Lord delights in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.

O Israel, rejoice in your Maker.
O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King.

+ For the Lord delights in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.

Praise his name with dancing,
accompanied by tambourine and harp.

+ For the Lord delights in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.

Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them.
Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds.

+ For the Lord delights in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.

Let the praises of God be in their mouths,
This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones.

+ For the Lord delights in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.
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Psalm 149 HalleluYah – James Block

Closing: John 15:26-27

“The Spirit of truth… will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me.”

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Sixth Sunday of Easter, 17 May 2020 – John 14:15-21, Psalm 66, 1 Peter 3:15-18 ~ The Holy Spirit will never leave you.

The Sixth Sunday of Easter, 17 May 2020 

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Faithful God, who loves us in Christ Jesus, send your Spirit of truth to dwell within us, that we may always reject what is false, live by the commands of Christ, and be true to the love you have shown us. Grant this through Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, 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 Gospels: John 14:15-21 (NLT)

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
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Come Holy Spirit, Come (Bo, Ruach Elohim) – Beth Sar Shalom Worship Band

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Prayers of Intercession:

Our Father in heaven: How awesome are your works! Hear the prayers of all who cry out to you for help. We pray especially –

+ for church leaders around the world, that they may be guided by your Spirit of truth through these difficult times….
+ for governmental leaders around the world, that they may reflect your wisdom and loving-kindness in their decision-making….
+ for believers around the world, that we may face our fears with faith and confidence, knowing that you are the true ruler of the nations….
+ for the sick and elderly  in hospitals and nursing homes, that they may receive hope, help, and healing through your ever-present Spirit….
+ for those who attend the sick and support the afflicted, that they may be protected and strengthened in their ministries of mercy….
+ for those who lost jobs and are suffering great financial hardship, that their places of business may be opened safely and soon….
+ for those who are troubled and despairing, that you may lead them through “fire and flood” to a place of restoration and peace….

Our Father in heaven: You are the God of love and compassion; our lives are in your hands. Show us your miracle-working power, that we may declare your glory and tell the whole world what you have done for us. Through Jesus Christ, your Son our Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.

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Psalm 66 (You Are Great) – Robbie Seay Band

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A Reading from the Epistles: 1 Peter 3:15-18 (NLT)

You must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
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And we shall rise! – Beth Sar Shalom

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Closing: John 14:23 (NLT)

“All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.”
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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen