After Pentecost | Wednesday 24 Sep 2025: Psalm 12; Proverbs 21:10-16; Luke 20:45-21:4 ~ Beware of religious pretenders.

After Pentecost | Wednesday 24 Sep 2025

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

Opening prayer:

O Lord,
you have taught us that without love,
all our deeds are worth nothing:
Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts
that most excellent gift of charity,
the true bond of peace and of all virtues,
without which whoever lives is counted dead before you;
grant this for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen..

“Beware of the scribes,
who like to walk around in long robes…
and for a pretense make long prayers.
They will receive the greater condemnation.”
(Luke 20:46-47)

__________

From the Psalms: Psalm 12Poor Bishop Hooper

the word of the lord is a pure word
the word of the lord is a pure word
like refined and shined silver
purified seven times over
is your promise
is your promise

and this is what you promise
you will come and save the helpless
you have heard the cry of every poor
you will grant them what they long for

__________

OT Reading: Proverbs 21:10-16 (ESV

21:10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

+ When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

+ The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
he throws the wicked down to ruin.

+ Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.

+ A gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe, strong wrath.

+ When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.

+ One who wanders from the way of good sense
will rest in the assembly of the dead.

__________

Fear Of God | Brooke Ligertwood

__________

NT Reading: Luke 20:45-21:4 (ESV)

Beware of the Scribes

20:45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering

21:1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

__________

Walk With You | Zach Williams

__________

Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices; that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path we may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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.

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

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.

24th Sunday after Pentecost: 07 Nov 2021 – 1 Kings 17:8-16; Psalm 146; Mark 12:38-44 ~ Giving – a measure of trust.

24th Sunday after Pentecost: 07 Nov 2021

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

Opening:

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might
destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and
heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify
ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power
and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and
glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

And a poor widow came
and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.
And he called his disciples to him and said to them,
“Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more
than all those who are contributing to the offering box.
For they all contributed out of their abundance,
but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had,
all she had to live on.”
(Mark 12:42-44)

__________

How Firm a Foundation • T4G Live | SovereignGraceMusic

__________

OT Reading: 1 Kings 17:8-16 (ESV)

The Widow of Zarephath

17:8  Then the word of the Lord came to [Elijah], “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

__________

Psalm: Psalm 146 “What Joy” – Sarah Emerson

__________

Gospel Reading: Mark 12:38-44 (ESV)

Beware of the Scribes

12:38  And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering

12:41  And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

__________

All To Jesus I Surrender by Robin Mark

__________

Prayer:

+ Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for everything in heaven and on earth is yours; yours is the Kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as Head above all. All things come from you, O Lord, And of your own have we given you.

A Prayer Of Self-dedication – William Temple

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

+ Christ as a light, illumine and guide us. Christ as a shield, overshadow us. Christ under us; Christ over us; Christ beside us on our left and our right. This day be within and without us, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom we speak; in the mouth of each who speaks to us. This day be within and without us, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside us on our left and our right.

Benediction: Ephesians 4:20-21 (ESV)

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

__________

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