Tuesday Morning: 02 Jul 2019 – James 3:1-18 ~ Faith speaks words of blessing, wisdom and peace.

Tuesday Morning

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

Opening (A Collect for Peace – Tuesday)

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – James 3:1-18 (NLT)

Controlling the Tongue

Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

True Wisdom Comes from God

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
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Morning Reflection:

Faith speaks words of blessing, wisdom and peace.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;
then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit,
impartial and sincere. – James 3:17

A living faith produces good works and it also produces good words. How? By controlling what we say. Words matter – what we say to others reflects on our faith as much as what we do for others. Words can bless or curse.

Why the warning?

+ The tongue has as much destructive power as a spark in a forest. It is petite but powerful.
+ The tongue is the gate through which evil influences can spread like fire to inflame all the areas of life that we touch.
+ Apart from the Holy Spirit’s help no human being has ever been able to subdue his or her own tongue.

By way of contrast, a living faith speaks words of blessing, wisdom and peace.

+ Blessing:  words of God’s favor and protection; words of encouragement and approval; words that strengthen and build up.
+ Wisdom:  words that view life from God’s perspective and understanding; words that are gentle and gracious, spoken with humility and kindness.
+ Peace:  words that are open to reason, full of mercy, considerate of others, sympathetic to the needy, willing to yield to reasonable requests.

 Questions for consideration:

  • Can you think of a time when you were wounded by hurtful words? Please explain.
  • Can you think of a time when you spoke hurtful words to someone? Please explain.
  • Can you think of someone who needs a word of blessing from you? What would you say to them?  Please explain.
  • Can you think of someone who needs a word of wisdom from you? What would you say to them? Please explain.
  • Can you think of someone who needs you to be a peacemaker? What would that involve? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Prayer of Blessing:

May the Lord bless you and protect you, and may he show you his mercy and loving-kindness. May the Lord be good to you and give you his peace through his Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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“Christ Be All Around Me” – Leeland

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

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

Tuesday Morning: 25 Jun 2019 – Hebrews 12:14-29 ~ Faith listens

Tuesday Morning

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

Opening (A Collect for Peace – Tuesday)

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Hebrews 12:14-29(NLT)

A Call to Listen to God

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.

You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.
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Morning Reflection:

Faith listens

“Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking.”
– Hebrews 12:25 –

The remainder of the Book of Hebrews addresses the question: “How are Christians to live in a hostile society?”

This world is not our home; our goal is “a kingdom that cannot be shaken.” We are on pilgrimage to the city of God – a journey characterized by faith and hope in Jesus Christ, and faithfulness to the new covenant he has established.

In today’s reading we are warned not to get sidetracked, but to stay on the path that God has chosen for us. How then shall we live?

Work at:

+ listening to God
+ being thankful
+ pleasing God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe
+ living in peace with everyone
+ living a holy life
+ looking after each other

Watch out for:

+ a poisonous root of bitterness
+ immorality or godlessness
+ the refusal to listen to God

And finally – stay the course, holding onto Jesus.

You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people,
and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness….
– Hebrews 12:24

Questions for consideration:

  • Do you believe that the society in which you live is hostile to Christian living? Please explain?
  • What are some of the obstacle that you face personally? Please explain?
  • If Jesus has already forgiven us, why do we need to work at holy living? Please explain.
  • How do you listen to God for direction? What form does that take? Please explain.
  • Can you think of someone you can help today – a pilgrim who is struggling? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Life-Support Prayer:

 Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the blessing of children and the hope they give for the future of our faith. Watch over them and protect them from the wiles and deceit of the evil one. Teach them that your ways bring abundant life, and strengthen them in Christ Jesus, so that they will never know a day apart from you. We ask this in Jesus name, and for your glory. Amen.

Prayer for Living in the Peace of God (in the tradition of Francis of Assisi):

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is error, truth; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may seek not so much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

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“This World is Not My Home” – Charity Youth Bible School

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

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

Tuesday Morning: 18 Jun 2019 – Hebrews 10:1-18 ~ Jesus is making us holy.

Tuesday Morning

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

Opening (A Collect for Peace – Tuesday)

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Hebrews 10:1-18 (NLT)

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God,

“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”

First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,

“This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts,

Then he says,

“I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.”

And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.
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Morning Reflection:

Jesus is making us holy.

For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ,
once for all time. – Hebrews 10:10

In today’s reading: the holiness of believers is viewed from two perspectives – our position in relation to God as Judge (justification), and our position in relation to our fellowship with God (sanctification). Both our justification and our sanctification are accomplished through the once and for all sacrifice of the body and blood of Jesus Christ – however, while our justification is a done deal through faith by grace, our sanctification is ongoing through faith by grace.

In other words, as believers in Jesus Christ, we have been declared holy; now we need to grow into the holy people that God declares us to be.

Questions for consideration:

  • Justification – Do you believe that your sins have been forgiven once and for all time? What is the basis for your belief? Please explain.
  • Sanctification – Do you believe that you are now sinless before God? How does that square with your lifestyle? Please explain.
  • An old testament understanding of holiness includes being separated from what is unclean and consecrated to what is pure. Where in your life do you need separation from sin and consecration to purity? Please explain.
  • A new testament understanding of holiness leads to the concept of sainthood. What does the word “sainthood” bring to your mind? Where do you need the power of God’s Spirit to help you become the “saint” that God already declares you are? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Life-Support Prayer:

 Heavenly Father: Reveal the areas in my life where I need to grow up spiritually. I pray that every person now working to protect life would die to self, grow up in Christ, and be fully functional as the member of the body of Christ you have created us to be. And, call and equip many more with your Spirit to the work of elder care, advocacy for the unborn, and inclusion of persons with disabilities that they may lavish love and encouragement on those who are sick and distressed. I ask this in Jesus’ name, and for your glory. Amen.

Prayer for Personal Holiness:

Thank You Heavenly Father, for calling me out of darkness into Your marvelous light, setting me free from slavery to sin, and releasing me from bondage to fear. Thank You for breathing the new resurrection life of Christ into my very being. and for taking up permanent residence within my heart.

Lord I want to be led by Your Holy Spirit, and to walk in spirit and truth; I want to live a godly life and to develop personal holiness, but I don’t really know how. So I come to You incapable of being able to live a holy life myself, and humbly ask that You would teach me to be holy, and show me how You would have me live.

Open my eyes to see what You would have to do, unblock my ears so that I may hear Your still small voice, and give me a teachable spirit to learn all that You would teach me. I ask this in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through whom I can do all things. Amen.

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“Holiness unto the Lord” – Eden’s Bridge

Holiness unto the Lord unto the King
Holiness unto Your name I will sing

Holiness unto Jesus | Holiness unto You Lord
Holiness unto Jesus | Holiness unto You Lord

I love You, I love Your ways, I love Your name
I love You, and all my days, I’ll proclaim

Holiness unto the Lord unto the King
Holiness unto Your name I will sing
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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

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

Tuesday Morning: 11 Jun 2019 – Hebrews 6:1-20 ~ Jesus secures the anchor for our souls.

Tuesday Morning

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

Opening (A Collect for Peace – Tuesday)

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Hebrews 6:1-20 (NLT)

So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.

For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come — and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.

When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.

Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

God’s Promises Bring Hope

For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

“I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”

Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
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Morning Reflection:

Jesus secures the anchor for our souls.

This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.
– Hebrews 6:19

In today’s reading we are assured that God is trustworthy (God cannot lie), and that he has given us both his promise and his oath – therefore, we can confidently hold on to the hope God has given us – secure in Jesus’ priestly ministry – which then is the strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.

When Jesus entered heaven at his ascension, he took our hope of future reward with him. Now, seated at the right hand of God, we have a secure anchor for our souls in the very presence of God. It’s our hope in Christ that keeps us from drifting away from God. Jesus secures the anchor for our souls – the hope that is the steadying force of our entire lives.

Questions for consideration:

  • When you think of God as a Promise-Keeper, what comes to mind? Please explain.
  • When you think of something that seems hopeless, what comes to mind? Please explain.
  • How is your hope in Jesus Christ a refuge for you in a time of trouble? Please explain.
  • What can you do to draw closer to Jesus – the steadying force of your life? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Life-Support Prayer:

Heavenly Father: I pray for all couples who desperately want to have a child but have not conceived – that they will trust you to build their family in your way and on your schedule, and that they make decisions that honor you who creates and sustains life. And I pray that they may have the love and support of their worshiping communities as they wait on you. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer for Hope and Strength:

Heavenly Father: Your hope arises with each dawn, pushing back the rubble of our lives. Each new day reminds us of your grace; you paint hope across the skies. Into the deafening cry of hopelessness you whisper love. Love that catches us, holds us. There is no end, just new beginnings. No finish, just new starts.

Lord Jesus: Into your resurrection we follow you to bathe in hope. You are alive! Not only in the world but in us. And so we carry your hope within our souls. Help us to lift our eyes, and feel your resurrection hope arise in our lives.

We ask this in Jesus’ name, in the power of the Holy Spirit, all to your glory Heavenly Father. Amen

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“In Christ Alone” – Adrienne Liesching and Geoff Moore

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

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

Tuesday Morning: 04 Jun 2019 – Mark 16:9-20 ~ Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

Tuesday Morning

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

Opening (A Collect for Peace – Tuesday)

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Mark 16:9-20 (NLT)

After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her.

Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them.

Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
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Morning Reflection:

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved.
But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.” – Mark 16:15-16

Just prior to his ascension, Jesus commissioned his disciples to go into every part of the world to preach the Good News – “Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again. Believe and be baptized and you will be saved.” It all seems pretty straightforward, until you begin to read various commentaries and reflect on the signs that Jesus says will accompany those who believe.

Our different understandings are important, since in many cases they have become the walls that separate believers from one another – contrary to Jesus’ command to love one another as a sign of our belonging to Him. We can disagree without becoming disagreeable; and we can love one another despite our differences.

Questions for consideration:

  • How do believing and baptism relate to each other? Are both required for salvation? Is belief alone, or baptism alone enough? How does your tradition work this out? What do you believe? Please explain.
  • How does believing relate to accompanying signs and wonders? The disciples certainly performed miracles, as did others in Jesus’ name. How about now? Does God use signs and wonders to validate the Gospel today? What do you believe?
  • And what of speaking in tongues, handling snakes, and drinking poison? How does your tradition explain these phenomena? Are they in effect today? Why? Why not? Please explain.
  • In your relationships with believers from different traditions, which do you believe is more important – being right, or being kind and loving? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

The Persecuted Church: Prayer for those who are doing the persecuting:

Merciful God: Open the eyes and soften the hearts of the people who have brought unfathomable suffering and abuse upon Christians around the world. Remind us again that you sent your Son to save the whole world, and that you don’t want anyone – even these people – to perish.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

My Prayer:

For Evangelists: Almighty and everlasting God – Raise up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of your kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

For the Unity of All Believers: O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace to take to heart the grave dangers we are in through our many divisions. Deliver your Church from all enmity and prejudice, and everything that hinders us from godly union. As there is one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so make us all to be of one heart and of one mind, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and love, that with one voice we may give you praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God in everlasting glory. Amen.

For Those who Labor in Unity: Almighty God, we give you thanks for all who labor that the Church of Jesus Christ might be one: Grant that we, instructed by their example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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“SEEKING AND SAVING” – Greg&Lizzy – #VIGIL

You’re coming through the darkness
You’re breaking through our blindness
You’re striding through the Red Sea of death
By taking on our likeness
And dying for the lifeless
You’re raising all you children from the dead
You’re raising up my heart from the dead

You’re smashing through the prison door
O God now your have made me sure
Of how your love is breaking every chain
You’re seeking out the hopeless
You’re saving all the poor
For all you’ve done there’s only one song I can sing
You’re raising up my heart from the dead

Hallelujah Hallelujah
You’re seeking and saving my heart
Hallelujah Hallelujah
You’re seeking and saving my heart

From the darkness and the ashes
We are rising we are rising
With the hosts of all the Heavens
We are rising we are rising
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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

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