All Saints Day | Friday 01 Nov 2024
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Almighty God,
you have knit together your elect
in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical Body of your Son:
Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living,
that we may come to those ineffable joys
that you have prepared for those who truly love you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns,
one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
“Everyone who believes has God’s approval
through faith in Jesus Christ.”
(Romans 3:22)
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From Psalms: Psalm 146 | Poor Bishop Hopper
praise the lord oh my soul
i will praise him all my life
i’ll sing praises to my god
i’ll sing praises ’til i die
don’t put your trust in princes
don’t put your trust in son of man
in them there’s no salvation
when they die so do their plans
the lord brings forth justice
he feeds the hungry
he opens blind eyes
he sets the prisoners free
the lord lifts those who are down
he loves the righteous
he sees the foreigner
he upholds the fatherless
blessed is he whose help is god
whose hope is in the lord alone
the god who made heaven and earth
the lord remains faithful forever faithful
the lord brings forth justice
he feeds the hungry
he opens blind eyes
he sets the prisoners free
the lord lifts those who are down
he loves the righteous
he sees the foreigner
he upholds the fatherless
the lord will reign forever forever
the lord will reign forever
praise the lord
praise the lord oh my soul
i will praise him all my life
i’ll sing praises to my god
i’ll sing praises ’til i die
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OT Reading: Ruth 2:1-9 (GW)
Ruth Gathers Grain in the Field of Boaz
2:1 Naomi had a relative. He was from Elimelech’s side of the family. He was a man of outstanding character named Boaz.
Ruth, who was from Moab, said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field of anyone who will be kind to me. There I will gather the grain left behind by the reapers.”
Naomi told her, “Go, my daughter.”
So Ruth went. She entered a field and gathered the grain left behind by the reapers. Now it happened that she ended up in the part of the field that belonged to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family.
Just then, Boaz was coming from Bethlehem, and he said to his reapers, “May the Lord be with all of you!”
They answered him, “May the Lord bless you!”
Boaz asked the young man in charge of his reapers, “Who is this young woman?”
The young man answered, “She’s a young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, ‘Please let me gather grain. I will only gather among the bundles behind the reapers.’ So she came here and has been on her feet from daybreak until now. She just sat down this minute in the shelter.”
Boaz Speaks with Ruth
2:8 Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go in any other field to gather grain, and don’t even leave this one. Stay here with my young women. Watch where my men are reaping, and follow the young women in that field. I have ordered my young men not to touch you. When you’re thirsty, go to the jars and drink some of the water that the young men have drawn.”
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Grace Alone – Joyful Noise
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NT Reading: Romans 3:21-31 (GW)
God Gives Us His Approval as a Gift
3:21 Now, the way to receive God’s approval has been made plain in a way other than the laws in the Scriptures. Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets tell us this. Everyone who believes has God’s approval through faith in Jesus Christ.
There is no difference between people. Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory. They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free ⌞from sin⌟. God showed that Christ is the throne of mercy where God’s approval is given through faith in Christ’s blood. In his patience God waited to deal with sins committed in the past. He waited so that he could display his approval at the present time. This shows that he is a God of justice, a God who approves of people who believe in Jesus.
So, do we have anything to brag about? Bragging has been eliminated. On what basis was it eliminated? On the basis of our own efforts? No, indeed! Rather, it is eliminated on the basis of faith. We conclude that a person has God’s approval by faith, not by his own efforts.
Is God only the God of the Jews? Isn’t he also the God of people who are not Jewish? Certainly, he is, since it is the same God who approves circumcised people by faith and uncircumcised people through this same faith.
Are we abolishing the laws in the Scriptures by this faith? That’s unthinkable! Rather, we are supporting these laws.
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For All the Saints Who From Their Labours Rest (First Baptist Panama City) [Chet Valley Churches]
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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 and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Sovereign Lord: We pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
+ Do what only you can do to make your faithful people the blessing promised to every family on earth.
+ Protect them from the assaults of the evil one, coming from every direction and in every form.
+ Grant your heavenly wisdom to Israel’s leadership; give them the courage to do what’s right in your sight.
+ Comfort all those who mourn the loss of loved ones; deliver the hostages from captivity and restore their souls.
+ Destroy every stronghold and every expression of the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East.
+ Protect the Israel Defense Forces and every soldier engaged in their mission to root out this evil.
+ Strengthen the Messianic communities; use them to restore your faithful people to their proper place in your kingdom.
+ Unify your faithful people around your promise to Abraham – to bless every family on earth through them.
+ Intervene in the Middle East in ways that only you can; protect the innocent and punish the guilty, that all may live in peace.
We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide and direct the minds, we humbly pray, of all those who vote in the upcoming election for the 47th President of the United States of America. Grant that in the exercise of their elective choices they may promote your glory, and the welfare of the nation. This we ask for the sake of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 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.
There is no difference between people. Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory. They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free ⌞from sin⌟. God showed that Christ is the throne of mercy where God’s approval is given through faith in Christ’s blood. In his patience God waited to deal with sins committed in the past. He waited so that he could display his approval at the present time. This shows that he is a God of justice, a God who approves of people who believe in Jesus.
The Peanut Gallery 