After Pentecost | Sunday 03 Nov 2024
+ In the name the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening prayer:
Grant us, Lord,
not to be anxious about earthly things,
but to love things heavenly; and even now,
as we live among things that are passing away,
to hold fast to those that shall endure;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“Which commandment
is the most important of them all?”
(Mark 12:28)
__________
Holy, Holy – Jimmy Owens [Chet Valley Churches]
__________
OT Reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (GW)
Love the Lord
6:1 These are the commands, laws, and rules the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. Obey them after you enter the land and take possession of it. As long as you live, you, your children, and your grandchildren must fear the Lord your God. All of you must obey all his laws and commands that I’m giving you, and you will live a long time. Listen, Israel, and be careful to obey these laws. Then things will go well for you and your population will increase in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord God of your ancestors promised you.
Listen, Israel: The Lord is our God. The Lord is the only God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words that I give you today. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you’re at home or away, when you lie down or get up. ⌞Write them down, and⌟ tie them around your wrist, and wear them as headbands as a reminder. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
__________
From the Psalms: Psalm 119:1-8 NKJV) | “The Word of God” – Snehal Amolik
__________
NT Reading: Hebrews 9:11-14 (GW)
9:11 But Christ came as a chief priest of the good things that are now here. Christ went through a better, more perfect tent that was not made by human hands and that is not part of this created world. He used his own blood, not the blood of goats and bulls, for the sacrifice. He went into the most holy place and offered this sacrifice once and for all to free us forever.
The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of cows sprinkled on unclean people made their bodies holy and clean. The blood of Christ, who had no defect, does even more. Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself to God and cleansed our consciences from the useless things we had done. Now we can serve the living God.
__________
You Are My King (Amazing Love) | Newsboys
__________
Gospel Reading: Mark 12:28-34 (GW)
Love God and Your Neighbor
12:28 One of the experts in Moses’ Teachings went to Jesus during the argument with the Sadducees. He saw how well Jesus answered them, so he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of them all?”
Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. So love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
The expert in Moses’ Teachings said to Jesus, “Teacher, that was well said! You’ve told the truth that there is only one God and no other besides him! To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
When Jesus heard how wisely the man answered, he told the man, “You’re not too far from God’s kingdom.”
After that, no one dared to ask him another question.
__________
Shema Yisrael | Six13 / Raining Melodies
__________
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.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
We speak the Name of Jesus:
+ Over the 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. Amen.
+ Over the world, kindle in the hearts of all people the true love of peace, and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquility your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love. Amen.
+ Over the Holy Land, have mercy on those who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, and bereavement; protect the innocent and punish the guilty. Amen.
+ Over Jerusalem, fill it with lasting peace; comfort your faithful followers; and use them to restore your people to their proper place in your Kingdom. Amen.
+ Over those who preach the Gospel, 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. Amen.
+ Over our Families, fill us all with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, and true godliness; so enkindle fervent charity among us, that we may evermore be joined to one another with bonds of loving-kindness. Amen.
+ Over those we love, care for them and love them in this life and the life to come; for you can do far better things than anything we can ask or imagine for them. 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.
Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide and direct the minds 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.
Increase, O God, the spirit of neighborliness among us, that in peril we may uphold one another, in suffering tend to one another, and in homelessness, loneliness, or exile befriend one another. Grant us brave and enduring hearts that we may strengthen one another, until the disciplines and testing of these days are ended, and you again give peace in our time; through 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 