Holy Family Sunday: 27 Dec 2020: Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 128; Luke 2:22-40; Galatians 4:4-7 ~ “the favor of God was upon him.”


Holy Family Sunday: 20 Dec 2020 

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

Opening:

O God, you cradle us at the beginning of life
and embrace us at our journey’s end,
for you love us as your own.

Bind our families together and deepen our faith,
that, like the Holy Family of Nazareth,
we may grow in wisdom,
obedient to your word.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
in the splendor of eternal light,
God for ever and ever.

“And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom.
And the favor of God was upon him.”
(Luke 2:40)

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Joy to the World | Sandra McCracken

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A Reading from the Prophets: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 (ESV)

61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to sprout up before all the nations.

Zion’s Coming Salvation

62:1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
and her salvation as a burning torch.
2 The nations shall see your righteousness,
and all the kings your glory,
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will give.
3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

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A Reading from: Psalm 128
Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord

Blessed Are Those – [The Holy Family] | WorshipNOW Modern Psalms

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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 2:22-40 (ESV)

Jesus Presented at the Temple

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

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Now You let me go in peace (Simeon’s song) – Nina Åström feat. Phil Keaggy

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Prayer: 

+ Most loving Father, you will us to give thanks for all things, to dread nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on the One who cares for us.  Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested unto us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

+ We commend to your continual care the homes in which your people dwell. Put far from them every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, and true godliness. Knit together in constant affection those who, in holy matrimony, have been made one flesh; turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the hearts of children to their parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we may evermore be joined to one another with bonds of loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

+ 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.

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Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah) – We The Kingdom

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Closing – Galatians 4:4-7 (ESV)

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

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

Morning Prayer; The Day after Christmas: 26 Dec 2020 ~ Isaiah 52:7-10; John 1:1-14; Hebrews 1:1-4; Psalm 98 ~ The Light has come!


Morning Prayer; The Day after Christmas; 26 Dec 2020

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

Opening

We praise you, gracious God, for the glad tidings of peace,
the good news of salvation:
your Word became flesh, and we have seen his glory.
Let the radiance of that glory
enlighten the lives of those who celebrate his birth.
Reveal to all the world the light no darkness can extinguish,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
in the splendor of eternal light,
God for ever and ever. Amen.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.”
(John 1:14)

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O Come, All Ye Faithful // Awaken Worship

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A Reading from the Prophets: Isaiah 52:7-10  (ESV)

How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;
together they sing for joy;
for eye to eye they see
the return of the Lord to Zion.
Break forth together into singing,
you waste places of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people;
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.

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When Love Crossed Over – Paul Baloche | Integrity Music

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A Reading from the Gospels: John 1:1-14 (ESV)

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

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Light Has Come – Future of Forestry

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A Reading from Psalm 98 (ESV)

98 Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

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Psalm 98 (Sing Unto the Lord)

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Closing – Hebrews 1:1-4 (ESV)

The Supremacy of God’s Son

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

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

Morning Prayer, Christmas Day 25 Dec 2020: Isaiah 62:10-12, Psalm 97, Luke 2:8-20 ~ “A Savior is born!”


Morning Prayer, Christmas Day 25 Dec 2020

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

Opening

We praise you, gracious God,
for the glad tidings of peace, the good news of salvation:
your Word became flesh, and we have seen his glory.
Let the radiance of that glory enlighten the lives of those who celebrate his birth.

Reveal to all the world the light no darkness can extinguish, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
in the splendor of eternal light, God for ever and ever.  Amen.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.”
(Luke2:11)

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(Luke 1:68-79) Dawning Light Of Our Salvation – (Wendell Kimbrough & Hope College Worship)

1. Long in darkness Israel wandered; Long in mortal shadows, we
Walked in bondage and self-pity, Trod in paths of sin and grief.
In the prophets’ words He told us, Long the God of Israel spoke;
He alone in strength would save us From the hands of all our foes.

Every valley be exalted! Every mountain be made plane!
Crooked ways repent and straighten; All creation bend in praise!

2. He shall raise a mighty Savior; Born of David’s lineage, He
Comes in cov’nant love to claim us From our sins to set us free.
Light to those who dwell in darkness Life to those from death who flee
Joy unto the earth, and gladness, To your pathways dawning peace!

Every valley be exalted! Every mountain be made plane!
Crooked ways repent and straighten; All creation bend in praise!

3. Jesus, Lord, and mighty Savior, David’s Son and yet his King,
Dawning light of our salvation, Of your saving pow’r we sing!
Stand, Oh lame, and dance ye broken, Know the Savior’s healing grace;
Come, Oh deaf and hear him singing; Turn, Oh blind, behold his face!

Every valley be exalted! Every mountain be made plane!
Crooked ways repent and straighten; All creation bend in praise!

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A Reading from the Prophets: Isaiah 62:10-12 (ESV)

 10 Go through, go through the gates;
prepare the way for the people;
build up, build up the highway;
clear it of stones;
lift up a signal over the peoples.
11 Behold, the Lord has proclaimed
to the end of the earth:
Say to the daughter of Zion,
“Behold, your salvation comes;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.”
12 And they shall be called The Holy People,
The Redeemed of the Lord;
and you shall be called Sought Out,
A City Not Forsaken.

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In the Bleak Midwinter – Keith & Kristyn Getty

A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 2:8-20 (ESV)

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Glory to God – Hillsong – Christmas

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Prayer: Psalm 97:1,6,9-12 – The Lord Reigns

97 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.

9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!

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Joy To The World – for King & Country

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Closing – Titus 3:4-7 (ESV)

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

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

Evening Prayer, Christmas Eve, 24 Dec 2020: Isaiah 9:2-7, Psalm 96, Luke 2:1-7 ~ “A Son is born!”


Christmas Eve, 24 Dec 2020

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

Open

God our Creator,
who made this most holy night radiant
with the splendor of the one true light,
grant in your mercy
that, as we celebrate on earth the mystery of that light,
we may also rejoice in its fullness in heaven.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
(Isaiah 9:6)

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Once in Royal David’s City – Daniel O’Donnell

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A Reading from the Prophets: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (ESV)

2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.

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“For unto us a Child is born” from Messiah – Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir

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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 2:1-7 (ESV)

The Birth of Jesus Christ

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

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O Holy Night – Fellowship Creative

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Prayer: 

Psalm 96:1-3 – Worship in the Splendor of Holiness

96 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!

Psalm 96 – Vertical Worship

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Closing – Titus 2:11-14 (ESV)

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

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

The Fourth Sunday in Advent 20 Dec 2020: 2 Samuel 7:1-11; Luke 1:26-38; Romans 16:25-27 ~ Your will be done in me.


The Fourth Sunday in Advent 20 Dec 2020

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

Open

Here in our midst, O God of mystery, you disclose the secret hidden for countless ages.
For you we wait, for you we listen. Upon hearing your voice may we, like Mary,
embrace your will and become a dwelling fit for your Word.
Grant this through him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen.

Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord;
let it be to me according to your word.”
(Luke1:38)

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Once In Royal David’s City – engageworship.org

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A Reading from the Prophets: 2 Samuel 7:1-11 (ESV)

The Lord’s Covenant with David

Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.

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Magnificat – The ZOE Group

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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 1:26-38 (ESV)

Birth of Jesus Foretold

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

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The Mystery of God – Dan Schutte

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Prayer:

Almighty and merciful God: send us your Spirit with power to do the impossible in this land-

+ Convict this land its sin of unbelief, that the coming of Christ Jesus may be restored as the center of our holiday celebrations….
+ Convict this land of its unrighteousness, that only by grace through faith in Christ Jesus can we be made right with you….
+ Convict this land of the coming judgement, that all will be revealed, and only the just in Christ Jesus will be saved….

Almighty and merciful God: send us your Spirit with power to do the impossible in this land- and please begin with me;
I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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God Of The Impossible – Lincoln Brewster

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Closing – Romans 16:25-27 (ESV)

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—  to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

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