+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)
“We are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith…. Therefore, let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
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Quote:
In the end, the American dream is not a sprint, or even a marathon, but a relay. Our families don’t always cross the finish line in the span of one generation. But each generation passes on to the next the fruits of their labor. – Julian Castro
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Prayer:
Merciful God:
Thank you for working behind the scenes to exceed all our expectations in these days leading up to the presidential election on November 8th.
Thank you for your providential hand in the recent revelations. The corrosive corruption of the Clinton Cartel embedded in our government and their total disregard for National Security are astounding. Thank you for your providential hand in the FBI’s re-opening of the e-mail scandal case and its affirmation of the rule of law.
On this All Saints Day, we’re reminded that we have a great host in heaven watching how we run the leg of the race you have set before each one of us. May we run with great energy and enthusiasm over the electoral finish line on November 8th. We would keep our eyes on Jesus and vote for the candidate supporting religious freedom, conservative appointees to the Supreme Court, and protection for the unborn and our families.
The future of America, our children and grand-children, and much of the free world is riding on this election. May we strip off every encumbrance to getting ourselves and our families and friends to the polls. And may we be “witnesses to the life of faith,” as the saints who have gone before us cheer us over the finish line.
__________
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit – one God forever. Amen.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
All Saints Day is the feast of the known and unknown believers who are redeemed and now in heaven. It has been celebrated for centuries on this date. Those who have gone before us cheer us on, and encourage us to live faithfully.
Opening Sentence
I desire to love.
As I get older my arms must get wider to embrace more of the world.
I think of the ones I have cared for in my life, all remembered and all loved.
Though some be in heaven and some still on the road, all remembered and all loved.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
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No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.
Reading: Revelation 7:9-10, 16-17; 19:5, 9 (NLT)
After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar,
“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”
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They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
_____
And from the throne came a voice that said,
“Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest.”
_____
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”
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Prayer: – Hymn: “For All the Saints”
For all the saints, who from their labors rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest — Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their Might; Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight; Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light — Alleluia, Alleluia!
Oh, may Thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold, Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old, And win with them the victor’s crown of gold — Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong — Alleluia, Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast, Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost — Alleluia, Alleluia!
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“Litany of the Saints” – John Becker
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Jesus 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 Sentence
I have come to seek You, O God, just as I am I come.
I have come to be sought by You, just as I am I come.
I will wait for the Lord. My soul waits, and in His word do I hope.
Reading: Psalm 119:169-176 (NLT)
Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word! Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.
My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right. Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.
Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
Reading: Nehemiah 8:12 (NLT)
And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
Reading: Philemon 4-7 (NLT)
I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
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All Hallows Eve
Confession of Faith: Coming into the light – renewal of baptismal vows
I call all heaven to witness today that I have put on Christ.
I choose no other Lord than the Maker of heaven and earth.
This day I walk with Him and He will walk with me.
I fasten close to me this day that same Jesus who came to us as flesh and blood and was Himself baptized in the Jordan River.
He died upon a cross to rescue me, broke free from death, its conqueror. He left us, to return the more certainly. All these truths and their power I fasten close to me this day.
Resisting my own selfishness and sin, refusing to live as a slave to riches, pleasure or reputation, rejecting Satan and his lies, I call on heaven to witness today that I have put on Christ.
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“The Battle is Raging” – Laura Hackett
Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins | That He might deliver us from this present evil age…
For the battle is raging | The devil is raging | And I don’t want to be sleeping | While the battle is raging | For my spirit is willing | But my flesh gets tempted | Rise up, my soul, and start praying | ‘Cause I don’t want to be defenseless
I don’t fight as one beats the air | Give me eyes to see and ears to hear
I put on Christ | Make no provision for my flesh | Put on the whole armor of God | Leave no open door to darkness | And I take the scroll | I eat the scroll | I open up my mouth | And speak forth Your Word | And I take the Sword of the Spirit
I don’t fight as one beats the air | Give me eyes to see and ears to hear
Blessed be the Lord my Rock | Who trains my hands for battle | Who trains my hands for war
I don’t fight as one beats the air | I have eyes to see and ears to hear
It doesn’t have to be a blind battle | ‘Cause I have the mind of Christ
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Jesus 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 of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
__________
Proverbs 12:17 (TLB)
A good man is known by his truthfulness; a false man by deceit and lies.
__________
“The hostility Clinton would face the day she takes office would almost seem to ensure four years of pure hell. The reason: her credibility, or rather her transparent lack of it.
_____
“With the election over, the investigative reporters of the adversary press, Pulitzers beckoning, would be cut loose to go after her.
“And as the full-court press would begin with her inauguration, Clinton would have to deal with the Syrians, Russians, Taliban, North Koreans and Xi Jinping in the South China Sea – and with Bill Clinton wandering around the White House with nothing to do.
“This election is not over. But if Hillary Clinton wins, a truly hellish presidency could await her, and us.”
For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.
__________
Prayer:
Heavenly Father: You sent Your Son into the world full of Grace and Truth – to set us free from the lies and deceit of the evil one and to enable us to live in the Light as children of the Light.
In the upcoming presidential election, the choice between truth and falsehood, between light and darkness, is becoming ever more clear.
Lord Jesus: You are the Light of the World. Lead Your people out of the shadows into the Light on November 8th.
Holy Spirit: Bear witness to the Truth in our hearts that we may go into the voting booth on November 8th with purpose and confidence as children of the Light.
__________
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit – one God forever. Amen.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
__________
Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)
Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
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“If you consider yourself an American citizen who supports this country even a little bit—you don’t have to be a flag-waving patriot for this—how do you feel about a criminal sitting in the oval office of the White House as president of the United States?” – Roger L. Simon (P.J. Media)
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Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
+ You alone are the standard for right living.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
+ Restore Your rule over America that we may, once again, be a nation “under God.”
Give us this day our daily bread,
+ Give us a spirit of generosity that we may freely share America’s abundance with the needy.
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
+ Forgive the moral decay in our country; and forgive Your people’s complicity through what we have said and done.
+ Forgive the moral decay in our country; and forgive Your people’s complicity through our silence.
And lead us not into temptation,
+ Lead us not into pride and self-righteousness; help us to get over ourselves.
+ Lead us not into absenteeism on November 8th – dereliction for our civil duty.
+ Lead us not into the “principled stupidity” of voting for 3rd party or write-in candidates.
+ Lead us not into voting for a person under federal criminal investigation because of gender.
+ Lead us not into willful ignorance of the consequences of this election.
but deliver us from evil.
+ Deliver us from the evil of abortion and its proponents both in and out of government.
+ Deliver us from the evil of criminal enterprises embedded both in and out of government .
+ Deliver us from the evil of globalism – the modern version of the “Tower of Babel.”
+ Deliver us from the evil of endless, unjust wars without purpose.
Sovereign God: we place ourselves and our country in Your hands. For Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory. Forever!
__________
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit – one God forever. Amen.
