Lent | Saturday 22 Mar 2025

+ In the name the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

Almighty God,
you know that we have
no power in ourselves to help ourselves:
Keep us both outwardly in our bodies
and inwardly in our souls,
that we may be defended
from all adversities that may happen to the body,
and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Each tree is known by its own fruit.”
(Luke 6:44)

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From the Psalms: Psalm 63 | Oh, God, you are my God.  | Fernando Ortega /  Ove Heradstveit

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OT Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7 (ESV) 

The Vineyard of the Lord Destroyed

5:1 Let me sing for my beloved
my love song concerning his vineyard:
My beloved had a vineyard
on a very fertile hill.
He dug it and cleared it of stones,
and planted it with choice vines;
he built a watchtower in the midst of it,
and hewed out a wine vat in it;
and he looked for it to yield grapes,
but it yielded wild grapes.

And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem
and men of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.
What more was there to do for my vineyard,
that I have not done in it?
When I looked for it to yield grapes,
why did it yield wild grapes?

And now I will tell you
what I will do to my vineyard.
I will remove its hedge,
and it shall be devoured;
I will break down its wall,
and it shall be trampled down.
I will make it a waste;
it shall not be pruned or hoed,
and briers and thorns shall grow up;
I will also command the clouds
that they rain no rain upon it.

For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
are his pleasant planting;
and he looked for justice,
but behold, bloodshed;
for righteousness,
but behold, an outcry!

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Restore For Us | Original Messianic Jewish Worship Music

1. Oh, Lord of mercy, hear our cry,
The walls are broken, the branches dry.
Restore for us, King David’s place,
Your dwelling here, with endless grace.

(Chorus)
Restore, restore, oh Adonai,
Bring back the glory, lift it high.
King David’s sukkah, standing tall,
A place for You, Lord of all.

2. Your promise echoes through the years,
To heal our wounds, to dry our tears.
Rebuild, renew, bring life again,
To every tribe, to every land.

(Chorus)
Restore, restore, oh Adonai,
Bring back the glory, lift it high.
King David’s sukkah, standing tall,
A place for You, Lord of all.

(Bridge)
Our hearts will bow, our voices raise,
In awe of You, with songs of praise.
Let nations see, let nations hear,
Your kingdom come, Your throne draw near.

(Chorus)
Restore, restore, oh Adonai,
Bring back the glory, lift it high.
King David’s sukkah, standing tall,
A place for You, Lord of all.

(Outro)
For Your love is strong, Your mercy wide,
In You we trust, in You abide.
Restore for us, our King and Friend,
Your sukkah here, until the end.

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NT Reading: Luke 6:43-45 (ESV)

A Tree and Its Fruit

6:43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

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Listen To Our Hearts | Casting Crowns | zimneswieta

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

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.

Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy thought can drag down; an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose can tempt aside. Bestow upon me understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and faithfulness that finally may embrace you. Amen. | Thomas Aquinas

Almighty God, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem: Intervene in ways that only you can, so the whole world will know that you alone are God. Protect your people from the assaults of the evil one, and grant Israel’s leaders the wisdom and courage to do what’s right in your sight. Deliver all the hostages from captivity, and restore their souls. Comfort those who grieve and mourn the loss of loved ones. Protect the innocent and punish the guilty, that all may live in peace; through Jesus Christ our 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.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May God our Redeemer show us compassion and love.

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