After Pentecost | Saturday 13 Jul 2024
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Grant us, O Lord, we pray,
the spirit to think and do always
those things that are right, that we,
who can do no good thing apart from you,
may by you be enabled to live according to your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High.
You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way.”
(Luke 1:76)
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From Psalms: Psalm 24 – The Prestonwood Choir & Orchestra | Sunday Service October 20, 2019 | Angel Lugo
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OT Reading: Numbers 10:11-36 (GW)
Israel Leaves Mount Sinai
10:11 On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the ⌞column of⌟ smoke left the tent of the words of God’s promise. So the Israelites moved from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the ⌞column of⌟ smoke stopped in the Desert of Paran.
This was the first time they moved, following the command that the Lord had given through Moses. With their flag in front, the armies led by Judah’s descendants broke camp first. Nahshon, son of Amminadab, was in command. Nethanel, son of Zuar, commanded the army of Issachar. Eliab, son of Helon, commanded the army of Zebulun. Then the tent ⌞of meeting⌟ was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, broke camp.
With their flag in front, the armies led by Reuben’s descendants broke camp next. Elizur, son of Shedeur, was in command. Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, commanded the army of Simeon. Eliasaph, son of Deuel, commanded the army of Gad. Then the Kohathites, who carried the holy things, broke camp. By the time they arrived, the tent ⌞of meeting⌟ would already be set up.
With their flag in front, the armies led by Ephraim’s descendants broke camp next. Elisha, son of Ammihud, was in command. Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, commanded the army of Manasseh. Abidan, son of Gideoni, commanded the army of Benjamin.
As a rear guard for the whole camp, the armies led by Dan’s descendants broke camp last with their flag in front. Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai, was in command. Pagiel, son of Ochran, commanded the army of Asher. Ahira, son of Enan, commanded the army of Naphtali.
This was the order in which the Israelite armies broke camp when they went from place to place.
Moses said to his brother-in-law Hobab, son of Reuel the Midianite, “We are going to the place the Lord promised to give us. Come with us. We will be good to you, because the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”
Hobab answered, “No, I won’t go. I want to go back to my own country where my relatives are.”
But Moses said, “Please don’t leave us. You know where we can set up camp in the desert, and you could be our guide. If you come with us, we will share with you all the good things the Lord gives us.”
So they left the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the Lord’s promise went ahead of them a distance of three days’ journey to find them a place to rest. The Lord’s ⌞column of⌟ smoke was over them by day when they moved the camp.
Whenever the ark started to move, Moses would say,
“Arise, O Lord!
Scatter your enemies!
Make those who hate you run away from you!”
And whenever it stopped, he would say,
“Return, O Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel!”
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On Jordan’s Stormy Banks – Indelible Grace (feat. Matthew Perryman Jones) | tranceseraph
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NT Reading: Luke 1:57-80 (GW)
John Is Born
1:57 When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very kind to her, and they shared her joy.
When the child was eight days old, they went ⌞to the temple⌟ to circumcise him. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother spoke up, “Absolutely not! His name will be John.”
Their friends said to her, “But you don’t have any relatives with that name.”
So they motioned to the baby’s father to see what he wanted to name the child. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed.
Suddenly, Zechariah was able to speak, and he began to praise God.
All their neighbors were filled with awe. Throughout the mountain region of Judea, people talked about everything that had happened. Everyone who heard about it seriously thought it over and asked, “What does the future hold for this child?” It was clear that the Lord was with him.
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
“Praise the Lord God of Israel!
He has come to take care of his people
and to set them free.
He has raised up a mighty Savior for us
in the family of his servant David.
He made this promise through his holy prophets long ago.
He promised to save us from our enemies
and from the power of all who hate us.
He has shown his mercy to our ancestors
and remembered his holy promise,
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham.
He promised to rescue us from our enemies’ power
so that we could serve him without fear
by being holy and honorable as long as we live.
“You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High.
You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way.
You will make his people know that they can be saved
through the forgiveness of their sins.
A new day will dawn on us from above
because our God is loving and merciful.
He will give light to those who live in the dark
and in death’s shadow.
He will guide us into the way of peace.”
The child John grew and became spiritually strong. He lived in the desert until the day he appeared to the people of Israel.
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Prepare the Way | The Smithton Outpouring ~ Eric Nuzum Thomason, Integrity’s Hosanna! Music / DarleneBAZ
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+ Almighty God, you have not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities; grant that we, who for our evil deeds deserve to be punished, by the might of your grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
William Laud
+ Gracious Father, we pray for your holy catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen.
+ Sovereign Lord: We pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
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- Protect Israel from the fiery darts of the evil one coming from every direction, both within and without.
- Grant your heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, and diplomatically;
- Give them hearts to receive, and the courage to do, what’s right in your sight.
- Comfort those who grieve and mourn the loss of loved ones;
- Rebuke those who would use grief for evil purposes.
- Bring swift and certain justice to all those complicit in the Oct 7th atrocities;
- Deliver the hostages from captivity, and restore their souls.
- Destroy every stronghold of the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East.
- Strengthen the Messianic communities – Jew and Arab alike – bind them together in love, that they may be a source of help, and healing, and hope;
- Use them in the restoration of your people to their proper place in your Kingdom.
- We pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
+ Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.
The Peanut Gallery 