After Pentecost | Saturday 17 Oct 2026
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening prayer:
O God, our refuge and strength,
true source of all godliness:
Graciously hear the devout prayers of your Church,
and grant that those things which we ask faithfully,
we may obtain effectually;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
“Herod wanted to kill John,
but he was afraid of a riot,
because all the people believed John was a prophet.”
(Matthew 14:5)
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Psalms: Psalm 99 | Poor Bishop Hooper
the lord reigns
let the peoples tremble
he sits enthroned
upon the cherubim
let the earth quake
the lord is great in zion
over all the peoples
let them praise your name
holy is he
the king
in his might loves justice
exalt the lord
and worship at his feet
moses aaron
and samuel among them
called to the lord
you a forgiving and avenging god to them
in the pillar of the cloud
holy is he
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OT Reading: Exodus 39:32-43 (NLT)
Moses Inspects the Work
39:32 And so at last the Tabernacle was finished. The Israelites had done everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses. And they brought the entire Tabernacle to Moses:
the sacred tent with all its furnishings, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts, and bases;
the tent coverings of tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather;
the inner curtain to shield the Ark;
+ the Ark of the Covenant and its carrying poles;
the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement;
+ the table and all its utensils;
the Bread of the Presence;
+ the pure gold lampstand with its symmetrical lamp cups, all its accessories, and the olive oil for lighting;
+ the gold altar;
the anointing oil and fragrant incense;
the curtain for the entrance of the sacred tent;
+ the bronze altar;
the bronze grating and its carrying poles and utensils;
the washbasin with its stand;
+ the curtains for the walls of the courtyard;
the posts and their bases;
the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard;
the ropes and tent pegs;
all the furnishings to be used in worship at the Tabernacle;
+ the beautifully stitched garments for the priests to wear while ministering in the Holy Place—the sacred garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to wear as they minister as priests.
39:42 So the people of Israel followed all of the Lord’s instructions to Moses. Then Moses inspected all their work. When he found it had been done just as the Lord had commanded him, he blessed them.
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Only a Holy God | Praise and Harmony
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NT Reading: Matthew 14:1-12 (NLT)
The Death of John the Baptist
14:1 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus, he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.”
14:3 For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip). John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.” Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.
14:6 But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!” Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. So John was beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.
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Lord God! To Thee Be Blessing | SE Samonte
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Almighty God, you gave your servants boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Our God, in whom we trust: Strengthen us not to regard overmuch who is for us or who is against us, but to see to it that we be with you in everything we do. Amen. | Thomas à Kempis
O God: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; 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.
5:1 And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.