After Pentecost | Friday 23 Aug 2024: Psalm 84; 1 Kings 4:29-34; Romans 13:11-14 ~ Live decently in the light of day.

After Pentecost | Friday 23 Aug 2024

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

Opening:

Keep your Church, O Lord,
by your perpetual mercy; and because without you
the frailty of our nature causes us to fall,
keep us from all things hurtful,
and lead us to all things profitable for our salvation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“We should live decently,
as people who live in the light of day.”
(Romans 13:13)

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From Psalms: Psalm 84 | “No Place Better” | Caroline Cobb

How lovely is Your dwelling place
How wonderful Your presence, Lord
How my soul longs to see Your face
To come with joy into Your courts

How blessed is the little sparrow
Who makes a nest inside Your house
‘Cause I can think of no place better
To make a home and sing out loud

I wanna be in Your presence, I wanna be near Your heart
I wanna know You’re close even when I’m feeling far
I don’t want what this world would offer, I want the living God
‘Cause there’s no place better than where You are

We will go from strength to strength
Even in the wilderness
You are turning tears to desert springs
Leaving gardens in our footsteps

How blessed is the longing pilgrim
Whose heart is set on Zion’s hill
The one who knows there’s no place better
To bring our sorrows and be filled

One day with You is better than a thousand elsewhere
One word from You is better than silver or gold
I’d rather be a servant in Your house, O God
Than a king with all the riches I could hold

Oh, there’s no place better than where You are

No place better

No place better, ooh

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OT Reading: 1 Kings 4:29-34 (GW)

Solomon’s Wisdom

4:29 God gave Solomon wisdom—keen insight and a mind as limitless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the eastern people and all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was wiser than anyone, than Ethan the Ezrahite, or Heman, Calcol, or Darda, Mahol’s sons. His fame spread to all the nations around him.

Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. He described and classified trees—from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall. He described and classified animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. People came from every nation to hear his wisdom; they came from all the kings of the earth who had heard about his wisdom.

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Christ Our Wisdom (Official Video) | Sovereign Grace Music

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NT Reading: Romans 13:11-14 (GW)

13:11 You know the times ⌞in which we are living⌟. It’s time for you to wake up. Our salvation is nearer now than when we first became believers. The night is almost over, and the day is near. So we should get rid of the things that belong to the dark and take up the weapons that belong to the light. We should live decently, as people who live in the light of day. Wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, rivalry, and jealousy cannot be part of our lives. Instead, live like the Lord Jesus Christ did, and forget about satisfying the desires of your corrupt nature.

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In the Light DC TALK Lyric Video | TrulyGraceMinistries

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear our prayers, and grant that in our local Congregations the pure Word of God may be preached and the Sacraments duly administered. Strengthen and confirm the faithful; protect and guide the children; visit and relieve the sick; turn and soften the wicked; arouse the careless; recover the fallen; restore the penitent; remove all hindrances to the advancement of your truth; and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church, to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Sovereign Lord: We pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

- Protect Israel from the fiery darts of the evil one coming from every direction, both within and without.
- Grant your heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, and diplomatically;
- Give them hearts to receive, and the courage to do, what’s right in your sight.
- Comfort those who grieve and mourn the loss of loved ones;
- Rebuke those who would use grief for evil purposes.
- Bring swift and certain justice to all those complicit in the October 7th atrocities;
- Deliver the hostages from captivity, and restore their souls.
- Destroy every stronghold of the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East.
- Strengthen the Messianic communities – Jew and Arab alike – bind them together in love, that they may be a source of help, and healing, and hope;
- Use them in the restoration of your people to their proper place in your Kingdom.
- We pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

+ O God, our heavenly Father, you manifested your love by sending your only-begotten Son into the world, that all might live through him: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill his command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son 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.

After Pentecost | Thursday 22 Aug 2024: Psalm 84; 1 Kings 4:20-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 ~ Stay awake and be sober!

After Pentecost | Thursday 22 Aug 2024

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

Opening:

When people say,
“Everything is safe and sound!”
destruction will suddenly strike them.
(1 Thessalonians 5:3)

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From Psalms: Psalm 84 – (I’m Home) | Shane & Shane

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OT Reading: 1 Kings 4:20-28 (GW)

4:20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They ate and drank and lived happily.

Solomon ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the country of the Philistines and as far as the Egyptian border. These kingdoms paid taxes and were subject to Solomon as long as he lived.

Solomon’s food supply for one day was 180 bushels of flour, 360 bushels of coarse flour, 10 fattened cows, 20 cows from the pasture, and 100 sheep in addition to deer, gazelles, fallow deer, and fattened birds. He controlled all the territory west of the Euphrates River from Tiphsah to Gaza and all of its kings. So he lived in peace with all the neighboring countries. As long as Solomon lived, Judah and Israel (from Dan to Beersheba) lived securely, everyone under his own vine and fig tree.

Solomon had stalls for 40,000 chariot horses. He also had 12,000 chariot soldiers. Each of the governors provided food for one month every year for King Solomon and all who ate at his table. The governors saw to it that nothing was in short supply. They brought their quota of barley and straw for the chariot horses to the proper places.

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Woe to my Country | Hebrew music video | ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry

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NT Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (GW)

Be Ready for the Day of the Lord

5:1 Brothers and sisters, you don’t need anyone to write to you about times and dates. You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, “Everything is safe and sound!” destruction will suddenly strike them. It will be as sudden as labor pains come to a pregnant woman. They won’t be able to escape. But, brothers and sisters, you don’t live in the dark. That day won’t take you by surprise as a thief would. You belong to the day and the light not to the night and the dark. Therefore, we must not fall asleep like other people, but we must stay awake and be sober. People who sleep, sleep at night; people who get drunk, get drunk at night. Since we belong to the day, we must be sober. We must put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. It was not God’s intention that we experience his anger but that we obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake in this life or asleep in death, we will live together with him. Therefore, encourage each other and strengthen one another as you are doing.

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Wake Up Sleeper | Austin French (Official Lyric Video)

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

Lancelot Andrewes
+ Thou, who with thine own mouth hast told us that at midnight the bridegroom shall come: Grant that the cry, “The bridegroom cometh!” may sound evermore in our ears, that so we be never unprepared to meet him, or forgetful of the souls for whom he died, for whom we watch and pray. And save us, O Lord. Amen.

+ Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Sovereign Lord: We pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

- Protect Israel from the fiery darts of the evil one coming from every direction, both within and without.
- Grant your heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, and diplomatically;
- Give them hearts to receive, and the courage to do, what’s right in your sight.
- Comfort those who grieve and mourn the loss of loved ones;
- Rebuke those who would use grief for evil purposes.
- Bring swift and certain justice to all those complicit in the October 7th atrocities;
- Deliver the hostages from captivity, and restore their souls.
- Destroy every stronghold of the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East.
- Strengthen the Messianic communities – Jew and Arab alike – bind them together in love, that they may be a source of help, and healing, and hope;
- Use them in the restoration of your people to their proper place in your Kingdom.
- We pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

+ Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we your servants, who now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. 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.

After Pentecost | Wednesday 21 Aug 2024: Psalm 101; 1 Kings 8:1-21; Mark 8:14-21 ~ Watch out for viral deceit.

After Pentecost | Wednesday 21 Aug 2024

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

Opening:

Jesus warned them,
“Be careful! Watch out for the yeast
of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!”
(Mark 8:15)

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From Psalms: Psalm 101 | Lift My Voice Psalm 101 | Art by Rolleen

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OT Reading: 1 Kings 8:1-21 (GW)

The Lord Comes to His Temple

8:1 Then Solomon assembled the respected leaders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, and the leaders of the Israelite families. They came to King Solomon in Jerusalem to take the ark of the Lord’s promise from the City of David (that is, Zion). All the people of Israel gathered around King Solomon at the Festival ⌞of Booths⌟ in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.

When all the leaders of Israel had arrived, the priests picked up the Lord’s ark. They brought the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy utensils in it ⌞to the temple⌟. The priests and the Levites carried them while King Solomon with the whole assembly from Israel were offering countless sheep and cattle sacrifices in front of the ark. The priests brought the ark of the Lord’s promise to its place in the inner room of the temple (the most holy place) under the wings of the angels.

When the angels’ outstretched wings were over the place where the ark ⌞rested⌟, the angels became a covering above the ark and its poles. The poles were so long that their ends could be seen in the holy place by anyone standing in front of the inner room, but they couldn’t be seen outside. (They are still there today.) There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a promise to the Israelites after they left Egypt.

When the priests left the holy place, a cloud filled the Lord’s temple. The priests couldn’t serve because of the cloud. The Lord’s glory filled his temple.

Solomon Addresses the People

8:12 Then Solomon said, “The Lord said he would live in a dark cloud. I certainly have built you a high temple, a home for you to live in permanently.”

Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel while they were standing. “Thanks be to the Lord God of Israel. With his mouth he made a promise to my father David; with his hand he carried it out. He said, ‘Ever since I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I didn’t choose any city in any of the tribes of Israel as a place to build a temple for my name. But now I’ve chosen David to rule my people Israel.’

“My father David had his heart set on building a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. However, the Lord said to my father David, ‘Since you had your heart set on building a temple for my name, your intentions were good. But you must not build the temple. Instead, your own son will build the temple for my name.’ The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have taken my father David’s place, and I sit on the throne of Israel as the Lord promised. I’ve built the temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. I’ve made a place there for the ark which contains the Lord’s promise that he made to our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”

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Ancient Words – (Robin Mark) | Angie Jermyn

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NT Reading: Mark 8:14-21 (GW)

8:14 The disciples had forgotten to take any bread along and had only one loaf with them in the boat.

Jesus warned them, “Be careful! Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!”

They had been discussing with one another that they didn’t have any bread.

Jesus knew what they were saying and asked them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you don’t have any bread? Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you catch on? Are your minds closed? Are you blind and deaf? Don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?”

They told him, “Twelve.”

“When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many large baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?”

They answered him, “Seven.”

He asked them, “Don’t you catch on yet?”

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Let Me Hear Your Voice – Francesca LaRosa – Official Lyric Video

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your Holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

+ Sovereign Lord: We pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

- Protect Israel from the fiery darts of the evil one coming from every direction, both within and without.
- Grant your heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, and diplomatically;
- Give them hearts to receive, and the courage to do, what’s right in your sight.
- Comfort those who grieve and mourn the loss of loved ones;
- Rebuke those who would use grief for evil purposes.
- Bring swift and certain justice to all those complicit in the October 7th atrocities;
- Deliver the hostages from captivity, and restore their souls.
- Destroy every stronghold of the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East.
- Strengthen the Messianic communities – Jew and Arab alike – bind them together in love, that they may be a source of help, and healing, and hope;
- Use them in the restoration of your people to their proper place in your Kingdom.
- We pray in Jesus’ Name. 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.

After Pentecost | Tuesday 20 Aug 2024: Psalm 101; 1 Kings 7:1-12; Acts 7:9-16 ~ God rescued Joseph from all his suffering.

After Pentecost | Tuesday 20 Aug 2024

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

Opening:

“God was with Joseph and
rescued him from all his suffering.”
(Acts 7:9b-10)

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From Psalms: Psalm 101 – “I’ll Be Standing” | by Psalm 101

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OT Reading: 1 Kings 7:1-12 (GW)

The Palace Built in 13 Years

7:1 Solomon took 13 years to finish building his palace. He built a hall ⌞named⌟ the Forest of Lebanon. It was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. It had four rows of cedar pillars supporting cedar beams. The hall was covered with cedar above the side rooms, which were supported by 45 pillars (15 per row). The windows were in three rows facing each other on opposite sides ⌞of the palace⌟. All the doors and doorframes were square. There were three doors facing each other on opposite sides ⌞of the palace⌟.

Solomon made the Hall of Pillars 75 feet long and 45 feet wide. In front of the hall was an entrance hall with pillars.

He made the Hall of Justice, where he sat on his throne and served as judge. The hall was covered with cedar from floor to ceiling.

His own private quarters were in a different location than the Hall of Justice, but they were similar in design. Solomon also built private quarters like this for his wife, Pharaoh’s daughter.

From the foundation to the roof, all these buildings, including the large courtyard, were built with high-grade stone blocks. The stone blocks were cut to size and trimmed with saws on their inner and outer faces. The foundation was made with large, high-grade stones (some 12 feet long, others 15 feet long). Above ⌞the foundation⌟ were cedar beams and high-grade stone blocks, which had been cut to size. The large courtyard had three layers of cut stone blocks and a layer of cedar beams, like the inner courtyard of the Lord’s temple and the entrance hall.

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You Are My All In All | Hebrew – Arabic – English | Worship from Jerusalem

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NT Reading: Acts 7:9-16 (GW)

7:9 “Jacob’s sons were jealous of their brother Joseph. They sold him into slavery, and he was taken to Egypt. But God was with Joseph and rescued him from all his suffering. When Joseph stood in the presence of Pharaoh (the king of Egypt), God gave Joseph divine favor and wisdom so that he became ruler of Egypt and of Pharaoh’s whole palace. Then a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan brought a lot of suffering. Our ancestors couldn’t find any food. When Jacob heard that Egypt had food, he sent our ancestors there. That was their first trip. On the second trip, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family. Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his relatives, 75 people in all. So Jacob went to Egypt, and he and our ancestors died there. They were taken to Shechem for burial in the tomb that Abraham purchased in Shechem from Hamor’s sons.

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Rescue (Lauren Daigle) | A Prayer for Israel 🇮🇱 Richelle Heacock

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: We hold up all our weaknesses to your strength, our failures to your faithfulness, our sinfulness to your perfection, our loneliness to your compassion, our pains to your great agony on the Cross. We pray that you will cleanse us, strengthen us, guide us, so that in all ways our lives may be lived as you would have them lived, without cowardice and for you alone. Show us how to live in true humility, true contrition, and true love. Amen.

+ Sovereign Lord: We pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

- Protect Israel from the fiery darts of the evil one coming from every direction, both within and without.
- Grant your heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, and diplomatically;
- Give them hearts to receive, and the courage to do, what’s right in your sight.
- Comfort those who grieve and mourn the loss of loved ones;
- Rebuke those who would use grief for evil purposes.
- Bring swift and certain justice to all those complicit in the October 7th atrocities;
- Deliver the hostages from captivity, and restore their souls.
- Destroy every stronghold of the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East.
- Strengthen the Messianic communities – Jew and Arab alike – bind them together in love, that they may be a source of help, and healing, and hope;
- Use them in the restoration of your people to their proper place in your Kingdom.
- We pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

+ O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies, look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. 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.

After Pentecost | Monday 19 Aug 2024: Psalm 101; 1 Kings 3:16-28; Acts 6:1-7 ~ Choose spiritually wise associates.

After Pentecost | Monday 19 Aug 2024

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

Opening:

“So, brothers and sisters,
choose seven men whom the people know
are spiritually wise.”
(John 4:14b)

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From Psalms: Psalm 101 – Poor Bishop Hooper

i will sing of your love and justice
i will sing to you and you alone
i will be careful to lead a blameless life
i will be careful when will you come for me

i will walk in my house with a blameless heart
i will set before my eyes no vile thing
the deeds of the faithless man i despise
they will not have a part of me

i will sing of your love and justice
i will sing to you and you alone
i will be careful to lead a blameless life
i will be careful when will you come for me

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OT Reading: 1 Kings 3:16-28 (GW)

Solomon’s Wisdom in Action

3:16 A short time later two prostitutes came to the king and stood in front of him. One woman said to him, “Sir, this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth ⌞to a son⌟ while she was with me in the house. Two days later this woman also gave birth ⌞to a son⌟. We were alone. No one else was with us. Just the two of us were in the house. That night this woman’s son died because she rolled over on top of him. So she got up during the night and took my son, who was beside me, while I was asleep. She held him in her arms. Then she laid her dead son in my arms. When I got up in the morning to nurse my son, he was dead! I took a good look at him and realized that he wasn’t my son at all!”

The other woman said, “No! My son is alive—your son is dead.”

The first woman kept on saying, “No! Your son is dead—my son is alive.” So they argued in front of the king.

The king said, “This one keeps saying, ‘My son is alive—your son is dead,’ and that one keeps saying, ‘No! Your son is dead—my son is alive.’ ”

So the king told his servants to bring him a sword. When they brought it, he said, “Cut the living child in two. Give half to the one and half to the other.”

Then the woman whose son was still alive was deeply moved by her love for the child. She said to the king, “Please, sir, give her the living child. Please don’t kill him!”

But the other woman said, “He won’t be mine or yours. Cut him ⌞in two⌟.”

The king replied, “Give the living child to the first woman. Don’t kill him. She is his mother.”

All Israel heard about the decision the king made. They respected the king very highly, because they saw he possessed wisdom from God to do what was right.

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Wisdom Song | Laura Woodley Osman

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NT Reading: Acts 6:1-7 (GW)

The Disciples Choose Seven Men to Help the Apostles

6:1 At that time, as the number of disciples grew, Greek-speaking Jews complained about the Hebrew-speaking Jews. The Greek-speaking Jews claimed that the widows among them were neglected every day when food and other assistance was distributed.

The twelve apostles called all the disciples together and told them, “It’s not right for us to give up God’s word in order to distribute food. So, brothers and sisters, choose seven men whom the people know are spiritually wise. We will put them in charge of this problem. However, we will devote ourselves to praying and to serving in ways that are related to the word.”

The suggestion pleased the whole group. So they chose Stephen, who was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, who had converted to Judaism in the city of Antioch. The disciples had these men stand in front of the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on these seven men.

God’s word continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew very large. A large number of priests accepted the faith.

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Christ Our Wisdom | Sovereign Grace Music

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd who cares for his flock: We ask you to bestow upon your people the gifts of the Holy Spirit in abundance, and to raise up from among us faithful and able persons called to ordained ministries. Inspire them to spend and be spent for the sake of the Gospel, and make them holy and loving servants and shepherds of the flock for whom you shed your most precious blood. Grant this for the sake of your unfailing love for your people. Amen.

Benedict of Nursia
+ Gracious and holy Father, please give us intellect to understand you, reason to discern you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, a spirit to know you, hearts to meditate upon you, ears to hear you, eyes to see you, tongues to proclaim you, ways of life pleasing to you, patience to wait for you, and perseverance to look for you. Grant us a perfect end, your holy presence, a blessed resurrection, and life everlasting. Amen.

+ Sovereign Lord: We pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

- Protect Israel from the fiery darts of the evil one coming from every direction, both within and without.
- Grant your heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, and diplomatically;
- Give them hearts to receive, and the courage to do, what’s right in your sight.
- Comfort those who grieve and mourn the loss of loved ones;
- Rebuke those who would use grief for evil purposes.
- Bring swift and certain justice to all those complicit in the October 7th atrocities;
- Deliver the hostages from captivity, and restore their souls.
- Destroy every stronghold of the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East.
- Strengthen the Messianic communities – Jew and Arab alike – bind them together in love, that they may be a source of help, and healing, and hope;
- Use them in the restoration of your people to their proper place in your Kingdom.
- We pray in Jesus’ Name. 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.

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