+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentence
This day is Your gift to me;
I take it, Lord, from Your hand
and thank You for the wonder of it.
__________
Reading: Psalm 119:165 (NLT)
Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.
__________
Reading: Proverbs 28:10 (NLT)
Those who lead good people along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the honest will inherit good things.
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Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
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Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ: Thank you for all you have given me; bless me and lead me through the day.
+ You are gentle and humble of heart: teach me to receive others as you did.
+ You are the light of the world; fill me with your light and life.
+ You are compassionate and kind: fill me with your mercy for the sick and troubled.
+ You were tempted in all things, yet did not sin; lead me in your righteousness.
Almighty, ever-living God, hear my prayer: dispel from my heart the darkness of sin, and draw me to the true light, Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
__________
“Lead Me Lord” – Cathedral Choir – Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels
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Blessing
On the path that is before you, may you have companions on the journey, may you find Christ in the stranger, and may you know the love and blessing of God.
+ 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
This day is Your gift to me;
I take it, Lord, from Your hand
and thank You for the wonder of it.
__________
Reading: Psalm 34:4-5 (NLT)
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
__________
Reading: Isaiah 60:1-3 (NLT)
“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.”
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Reading: Romans 8:27-28 (NLT)
And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
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Prayer:
Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.
+ The Lord has answered me when I cried out to Him
+ The Lord has loved me and freed me from my fears
+ The Lord has delivered me from shame and filled me with joy
+ The Lord has displayed His glory in a world shrouded in darkness
Heavenly Father: Conform the desires of my heart to Your will and purpose, and fill me with radiant joy, through the transforming power of Your Spirit – who lives and reigns with You and Your Son, Jesus Christ, One God, forever. Amen.
__________
““We Found Love” – Lindsey Stirling
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Blessing
On the path that is before you, may you have companions on the journey, may you find Christ in the stranger, and may you know the love and blessing of God.
+ 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
This day is Your gift to me;
I take it, Lord, from Your hand
and thank You for the wonder of it.
__________
Reading: Psalm 103:8-14 (NLT)
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.
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Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10 (NLT)
The Lord gave me this message:
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”
The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said,
“Look, I have put my words in your mouth!
Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”
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Reading: Luke 15:17-24 (NLT)
“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
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Prayer:
Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
+ Lord: You are compassionate and merciful; You do not punish me as I deserve
+ Lord: Your unfailing love and forgiveness is limitless for those who fear and honor You
Sovereign Lord: put Your words in my mouth; stay with me and protect me.
+ Show me when to uproot and tear down – false gods and ideologies
+ Show me when to build up and plant – righteousness and justice
Merciful Father: Make me painfully aware of my sins against You and those You love.
+ Remind me that I am the prodigal son and the older brother all rolled into one
+ Humble me before Your throne of grace and strip away any illusions of worthiness
Mighty God: You know how weak I am, and You have numbered my days. Extend Your saving love towards me and my children’s children. May we remain faithful to Your covenant and obedient to Your word. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.
__________
“Loving and Forgiving” – Scott Soper
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Blessing
On the path that is before you, may you have companions on the journey, may you find Christ in the stranger, and may you know the love and blessing of God.
+ 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
This day is Your gift to me;
I take it, Lord, from Your hand
and thank You for the wonder of it.
__________
Reading: Psalm 126:5-6 (NLT)
Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.
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Reading: Hosea 10:12 (NLT)
I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’
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Reading: John 12:24-26 (NLT)
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
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Prayer:
Faithful God: Restore our fortunes as streams renew the desert.
+ Replace our tears with songs of joy
+ Sow in our hearts the seeds of righteousness
+ Break up any hardness within us
+ Reap in us a harvest of love
Lord Jesus: Empower us, by your Spirit, to die to our self-service – that we may live to serve you. Amen.
__________
“Lose Your Life to Find It” – YWAM Lausanne
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Blessing
On the path that is before you, may you have companions on the journey, may you find Christ in the stranger, and may you know the love and blessing of God.
+ 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 – (In the preparation days of Celtic Advent)
+ We have waited long for You. Deep has been our darkness.
+ We long for You to shine right here among us where we are.
+ We will not fear the shadows that surround us if only You will come among us!
+ We wait the sound of a cry in the night, the joy that follows pain, the coming of hope.
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Reading: Psalm 121 (NLT)
I look up to the mountains — does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.
The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
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Reading: Isaiah 4:2-6 (NLT)
But in that day, the branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious; the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of all who survive in Israel.
All who remain in Zion will be a holy people—those who survive the destruction of Jerusalem and are recorded among the living. The Lord will wash the filth from beautiful Zion and cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains with the hot breath of fiery judgment.
Then the Lord will provide shade for Mount Zion and all who assemble there. He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day and smoke and flaming fire at night, covering the glorious land. It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain.
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Reading: Matthew 8:5-11 (NLT)
When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”
Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”
But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 1nd I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.
__________
Prayer:
Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth: we turn to Your Son, Jesus Christ, for help and protection as we begin our day. Come, Lord Jesus!
+ Christ, You are the Daystar, powerfully dispelling our darkness: awaken our faith from sleep.
+ Reveal Your presence in the world through the lives of Christian men and women.
+ Come to create a new world, where justice and peace may find a home.
+ End the long night of our pride, and make us humble of heart.
Lord God: Give us the grace to be ever on the watch for Christ Your Son. When He comes and knocks at our door, let Him find us ready and waiting, joyfully proclaiming His glory.
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“The Glory of God” – Matt Papa
God of earth and sky and sea | Creation lives and moves in Thee | it’s all for your glory | Galaxies and worlds of light | Singing silent hymns of night | It’s all for Your glory | These will pass | These will fade away | In the end | there remains
Shining in splendor | Pure and forever enduring | The glory of God
God of joy in summer’s rain | God of sorrow, winter’s pain | It’s all for Your glory | God of time and history | Kingdoms rise and fall to Thee | It’s all for Your glory | Fame will pass | Riches fade away | In the light | Of Your face
Shining in splendor | Pure and forever enduring | The glory of God
Rising, our praises | For endless ages we’ll sing of | The glory of God
From all that’s passing | Lift up our eyes oh Lord | This is what we were created for | To see You on that day
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Blessing
As we make our hearts be ready for the King of Glory to come in; we pray, come dwell among us and be our peace today.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holly Spirit. Amen!
The Peanut Gallery 