+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and, that we may receive what we ask, teach us by your Holy Spirit to ask only those things that are pleasing to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the same Spirit lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Follow the example of good men and women of old,
and God will comfort you and help you.
[ St Columba ]
Scripture Reading (CEV)
Psalm 127
“Don’t waste your life” – (Psalm 127) – Three Sixteen Music
Amos 9:13-15
You will have such a harvest that you won’t be able to bring in all of your wheat before plowing time. You will have grapes left over from season to season; your fruitful vineyards will cover the mountains.
I’ll make Israel prosper again. You will rebuild your towns and live in them. You will drink wine from your own vineyards and eat the fruit you grow. I’ll plant your roots deep in the land I have given you, and you won’t ever be uprooted again. I, the Lord God, have spoken!
Hebrews 12:1
Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us.
Prayer:
Lord God: You have called us to be your people; strengthen us by the power of your Word and Spirit to finish the race you have chosen for us. Help us –
to be cheered on and encouraged by those saints who have gone before us….
to rid ourselves of anything that slows us down, especially our parasitic sins…
to keep our eyes on Jesus who endured shame and put up with many insults….
to persevere in faith with the expectation of winning the prize of being called to heaven…..
Lord God: as citizens of heaven, we eagerly await our Savior’s return. Meanwhile, we press on in his name. Amen.
Press On – Selah
Closing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, 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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and, that we may receive what we ask, teach us by your Holy Spirit to ask only those things that are pleasing to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the same Spirit lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Follow the example of good men and women of old,
and God will comfort you and help you.
[ St Columba ]
Scripture Reading (CEV)
Psalm 126
It seemed like a dream
when the Lord brought us back
to the city of Zion.
We celebrated with laughter
and joyful songs.
In foreign nations it was said,
“The Lord has worked miracles
for his people.”
And so we celebrated
because the Lord had indeed
worked miracles for us.
Our Lord, we ask you to bless
our people again,
and let us be like streams
in the Southern Desert.
We cried as we went out
to plant our seeds.
Now let us celebrate
as we bring in the crops.
We cried on the way
to plant our seeds,
but we will celebrate and shout
as we bring in the crops.
Jeremiah 31:21
With rock piles and signposts, mark the way home, my dear people. It is the same road by which you left.
Luke 23:26
As Jesus was being led away, some soldiers grabbed hold of a man from Cyrene named Simon. He was coming in from the fields, but they put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
Many a commemorative cross stands by roadside or in field, but few as significantly as that which stands at Heavenfield. It reminds us of good King Oswald, returning from Iona to unite his land, and win its people to Christ. He did not shirk his responsibilities, but fulfilled them with honesty and faith, as a Christian first, and only secondly as a king. We can only imagine with what mixture of emotions he knelt before the cross that day.
God has a place for you to fill,
but it will take all of you to fill it.
(Hugh Redwood)
He walks with God who,
as he onward moves, follows
the footsteps of the Lord he loves,
and keeping Him for ever in his view,
his Savior sees and His example, too.
(Dorothy Ann Thrupp)
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, whose most dear Son, as He walked the way of The Cross, accepted the service of Simon of Cyrene to carry his physical burden for him: grant us each the grace gladly to bear one another’s burdens, for the love of him who said, “As you did it to the least of these my brethren, you did it to me,” your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us – Kaoma Chende (witten by Dorothy Ann Thrupp)
Savior, like a shepherd lead us
Much we need Thy tender care
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us
For our use Thy folds prepare
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are
We are Thine, who Thou befriend us
Be the guardian of our way
Keep Thy flock from sin defend us
Seek us when we go astray
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
Hear O hear us when we pray
Blessed Jesus, oh blessed Jesus
Hear O hear us when we pray
Closing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, 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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and, that we may receive what we ask, teach us by your Holy Spirit to ask only those things that are pleasing to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the same Spirit lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Follow the example of good men and women of old,
and God will comfort you and help you.
[ St Columba ]
Scripture Reading (CEV)
Psalm 125:3-5
He won’t let the wicked
rule his people
or lead them to do wrong.
Let’s ask the Lord to be kind
to everyone
who is good
and completely obeys him.
When the Lord punishes the wicked, he will punish everyone else who lives a crooked life.
Pray for peace in Israel!
Numbers 17:1-11
The Lord told Moses:
Call together the twelve tribes of Israel and tell the leader of each tribe to write his name on the walking stick he carries as a symbol of his authority. Make sure Aaron’s name is written on the one from the Levi tribe, then collect all the sticks.
Place these sticks in the tent right in front of the sacred chest where I appear to you. I will then choose a man to be my priest, and his stick will sprout. After that happens, I won’t have to listen to any more complaints about you.
Moses told the people what the Lord had commanded, and they gave him the walking sticks from the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron’s from the Levi tribe. Moses took them and placed them in the Lord’s sacred tent.
The next day when Moses went into the tent, flowers and almonds were already growing on Aaron’s stick. Moses brought the twelve sticks out of the tent and showed them to the people. Each of the leaders found his own and took it.
But the Lord told Moses, “Put Aaron’s stick back! Let it stay near the sacred chest as a warning to anyone who might think about rebelling. If these people don’t stop their grumbling about me, I will wipe them out.” Moses did what he was told.
John 21:15-17
When Jesus and his disciples had finished eating, he asked, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than the others do?”
Simon Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I do!”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus said.
Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you!”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus told him.
Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him three times if he loved him. So he told Jesus, “Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.”
America has been a land of promise and opportunity for people all over the world. Millions of people from every tribe and nation have come here – some by religious persecution or missionary zeal, others for social-political reasons and economic opportunity.
Founded on Judaeo-Christian principles, it is today a nation in in deep spiritual crisis – it’s very foundation of freedom of speech and religion are under assault by godless mobs. Most recently the 250 year old San Gabriel Mission founded by Padre Serra was set on fire.
The mobs have moved from the destruction of statues and businesses, to the destruction of churches and religious symbols.
_____
Pray for America to become one nation under God.
And pray for God to raise up Christian leaders,
who will strengthen and encourage believers to stand firm in their beliefs,
and grow in their love of God and their neighbor.
Prayer:
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure conduct. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom, in thy Name, we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Do It Again -Elevation Worship
Closing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, 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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and, that we may receive what we ask, teach us by your Holy Spirit to ask only those things that are pleasing to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the same Spirit lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Follow the example of good men and women of old,
and God will comfort you and help you.
[ St Columba ]
Scripture Reading (CEV)
Psalm 125:2
Just as Jerusalem is protected
by mountains on every side,
the Lord protects his people
by holding them in his arms
now and forever.
Genesis 28:16-17
Jacob woke up suddenly and thought, “The Lord is in this place, and I didn’t even know it.” Then Jacob became frightened and said, “This is a fearsome place! It must be the house of God and the ladder to heaven.”
Ephesians 3:16-19
God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love. I pray that you and all of God’s people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep. I want you to know all about Christ’s love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.
Reflection:
The house with golden windows*
This is a story told of a young boy who lived with his parents in a cottage on a hillside, overlooking a wide valley. His greatest joy was to sit on the doorstep on summer evenings, and gaze across the valley to a house miles away on the opposite hillside, for, just as the sun was sinking in the west, the windows of that house would burst into flame, shining dazzlingly with golden light. How perfectly happy the people must be who live there, he thought! One day he packed sandwiches and set off to find the house with the golden windows, but it was farther off than he expected, and it was already towards sunset as he climbed steeply uphill. To his disappointment the house was a plain cottage after all, and the windows ordinary windows. The good people there offered him supper, and made up a bed in the kitchen, for it was too late now for him to return. That night, in his dream, he asked directions of a girl about his age. ‘The house with the golden windows? Yes, I’ve seen it.’ And she pointed. He woke to the early song of the birds. Drawing the curtain aside he looked out. There far across the valley, was his own house – and, wonder of wonders, its windows flashed with gold in the brightness of the morning sun.
And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. (T.S. Eliot)
We thank you that you indeed are powerful and loving, that out of your glorious riches you strengthen us through your Spirit in our inner being. We ask you for the fresh filling of your Holy Spirit, we ask for your power and love to fill us. We thank you that as believers we know that Christ dwells richly within our hearts through faith. We pray that you would strengthen our roots and establish our lives firmly in your love.
When the world shouts hate, help us to love. When the past won’t let go, help us to love. When the enemy taunts with lies and surrounds with darkness, help us to love. When a relationship feels broken or we’re betrayed or rejected, help us to love.
Help us to love, and to keep on loving. By the power of your Spirit.
Even when it seems impossible.
Even when it doesn’t make sense.
May our lives be filled with your goodness and power, today and every day, as we walk in your Spirit of love.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Power of Your Love -Darlene Zschech
Closing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, 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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and, that we may receive what we ask, teach us by your Holy Spirit to ask only those things that are pleasing to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the same Spirit lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Follow the example of good men and women of old,
and God will comfort you and help you.
[ St Columba ]
Scripture Reading (CEV)
Psalm 125:1
Everyone who trusts the Lord is like Mount Zion that cannot be shaken and will stand forever.
Genesis 37:19
They said to one another, “Look, here comes the hero of those dreams!”
1 Corinthians 11:1
You must follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
He was born in the small town of Assisi in the year 1182. Even today, as you walk through the Umbrian countryside, the peace of St Francis seeps into your soul and you begin to believe that perfect joy is possible. When the light of the Spirit was dying out all over the world, this man, this little man, this one man re-kindled the flame. He was only 45 years old when he died, but he left behind a Dream to dream and a Journey to challenge every man. (Murray Bodo)*
There have been thousands of footsteps around Assisi, but through them all the footsteps of Francis seem freshly there, unaltered, calling out for us to walk in them, and learn. (Brenda Grace)
Prayers of St Francis of Assisi:
Most High, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart
and give me
true faith,
certain hope,
and perfect charity,
sense and knowledge,
Lord, that I may carry out
Your holy and true command.
_____
May the power of your love, Lord Christ,
fiery and sweet as honey,
so absorb our hearts
as to withdraw them from all that is under heaven.
Grant that we may be ready
to die for love of your love,
as you died for love of our love.
Those Who Trust (Psalm 125) -The Worship Circle
Closing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, 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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Hebrews 12:1
He won’t let the wicked
The Peanut Gallery 