After Pentecost | Sunday 22 Sep 2024: Jeremiah 11:18-20; Psalm 54; James 3:13 – 4:3, 7-8; Mark 9:30-37 ~ Kingdom-centered ambition.

After Pentecost | Sunday 22 Sep 2024

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

Opening prayer:

O God,
because without you we are not able to please you,
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

“Whoever wants to be the most important person
must take the last place
and be a servant to everyone else.”
(Mark 9:35)

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“O God Our Help From Ages Past” | Brian Doerksen

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OT Reading: Jeremiah 11:18-20 (GW)

Jeremiah’s Life Is Threatened

11:18 The Lord revealed their plot to me so that I would understand. He showed me what they were doing. I was like a trusting lamb brought to the slaughter. I didn’t know that they were plotting against me. They were saying, “Let’s destroy the tree with its fruit. Let’s cut Jeremiah off from this world of the living so that we won’t be reminded of him anymore.”

O Lord of Armies, you judge fairly
and test motives and thoughts.
I want to see you take revenge on them,
because I’ve brought my case to you.

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From the Psalms: Psalm 54 / Poor Bishop Hooper

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NT Reading: James 3:13 – 4:3, 7-8 (GW)

Live Wisely

3:13 Do any of you have wisdom and insight? Show this by living the right way with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and filled with self-centered ambition, don’t brag. Don’t say that you are wise when it isn’t true. That kind of wisdom doesn’t come from above. It belongs to this world. It is self-centered and demonic. Wherever there is jealousy and rivalry, there is disorder and every kind of evil.

However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere. A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers.

Stop Fighting with Each Other

4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Aren’t they caused by the selfish desires that fight to control you? You want what you don’t have, so you commit murder. You’re determined to have things, but you can’t get what you want. You quarrel and fight. You don’t have the things you want, because you don’t pray for them. When you pray for things, you don’t get them because you want them for the wrong reason—for your own pleasure….

4:7 So place yourselves under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners, and clear your minds, you doubters.

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“Walk With Me”Richard Wills

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Gospel Reading: Mark 9:30-37 (GW)

Jesus Again Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life

9:30 They left that place and were passing through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was because he was teaching his disciples. He taught them, “The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people. They will kill him, but on the third day he will come back to life.”

The disciples didn’t understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him.

Greatness in the Kingdom

9:33 Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was at home, he asked the disciples, “What were you arguing about on the road?” They were silent. On the road they had argued about who was the greatest.

He sat down and called the twelve apostles. He told them, “Whoever wants to be the most important person must take the last place and be a servant to everyone else.” Then he took a little child and had him stand among them. He put his arms around the child and said to them, “Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

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The Servant Song | Sunday 7pm Choir

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

For Purity of Heart:

+ Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of  your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Church and the world:

    • We pray for the peace of the whole world;
    • and for the well-being and unity of the people of God.
    • We pray for all those who proclaim the Gospel at home and abroad;
    • and for all who teach and disciple others.
    • We pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted for their faith;
    • and for all those supporting them.
    • We pray for our nation, and for those in positions of authority;
    • and for a spirit of repentance and revival throughout the land.
    • We pray for the peace of Jerusalem;
    • and for the restoration of your people to their proper place in your Kingdom.
    • We pray for all those who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity;
    • and especially for those in the Middle East.
    • We pray for all those who have departed this life in the certain hope of the resurrection;
    • and for those who mourn their loss.
    • In Jesus’ name we pray.

For Answered Prayer:

+ Heavenly Father, grant these our prayers for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of  the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 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.

After New Year’s Day | Tuesday 02 Jan 2024: Psalm 148; Proverbs 1:1-7; James 3:13-18 ~ Live humbly and do what’s right.

After New Year’s Day | Tuesday 02 Jan 2024

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

Opening:

Almighty God, you have poured upon us
the new light of your incarnate Word:
Grant that this light, kindled in our hearts,
may shine forth in our lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen.

Do any of you have wisdom and insight?
Show this by living the right way
with the humility that comes from wisdom.
(James 3:13)

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From Psalms: Psalm 148 (Anglican Chant) [Chet Valley Churches]

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OT Reading: Proverbs 1:1-7 (GW

The Reasons for Proverbs

1:1 The proverbs of Solomon, David’s son who was king of Israel, ⌞given⌟
+ to grasp wisdom and discipline,
+ to understand deep thoughts,
+ to acquire the discipline of wise behavior—
righteousness and justice and fairness—
+ to give insight to gullible people,
+ to give knowledge and foresight to the young—
a wise person will listen and continue to learn,
and an understanding person will gain direction—
+ to understand a proverb and a clever saying,
the words of wise people and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.

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The Fear of the LordFirst Baptist Dallas

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NT Reading: James 3:13-18 (GW)

Live Wisely

3:13 Do any of you have wisdom and insight? Show this by living the right way with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and filled with self-centered ambition, don’t brag. Don’t say that you are wise when it isn’t true. That kind of wisdom doesn’t come from above. It belongs to this world. It is self-centered and demonic. Wherever there is jealousy and rivalry, there is disorder and every kind of evil.

However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere. A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers.

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God of Grace and God of Glory – (Fifth Presbyterian Church Choir) [Jonathan C. Cuevas]

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ O God, our heavenly Father: Pour out your Spirit on your faithful people in the Middle East, that your Son’s life-giving Gospel may be preached to every tribe and nation. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Bring home the hostages, and deliver from bondage every person captivated by the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And finally, grant heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, diplomatically, and especially to those who will restore Israel spiritually, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May God, who has called us out of darkness
into his marvelous light,
bless us and fill us with peace.

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