Epiphany Season | Wednesday 12 January 2022

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

Opening:

Eternal Father, at the baptism of Jesus you revealed him to be
your Son, and your Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove:
Grant that we, who are born again by water and the Spirit, may
be faithful as your adopted children; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.

“Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.
If you are filled with light, with no dark corners,
then your whole life will be radiant,
as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”
(Luke 11:35-36)

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Psalms: Psalm 10 – Poor Bishop Hooper

praise the lord give thanks
for he is good his steadfast love endures

we with our fathers have sinned in wickedness
forgot your wondrous works when they were in egypt
nevertheless he saved them and for his name’s sake own
that he might make his power known

he led them through the sea at his command the waters dried
then they covered every enemy not one was left alive
though they sang his praise believed his words
they soon forgot his works

praise the lord give thanks
for he is good his steadfast love endures

wanton craving in the wilderness jealousy and envious
the earth it opened swallowing then plague and fire and flame
they made a calf in horeb they traded glorious god
for a man-made metal image for a grass-eating ox

they forgot God their savior then he said he would destroy them
had not moses his chosen stood in breach before him
to turn away his wrath they despised the pleasant land
having no faith in his promise they murmured in their tents

they angered him at meribah they sacrificed their sons
the land it was polluted with the blood of innocents
so god’s anger burned against them an abhorred inheritance

nevertheless he pitied them and listened
remembering his covenant he relented
according to the greatness of his love

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OT Reading: Numbers 27:1-11 (NLT)

The Daughters of Zelophehad

27:1 One day a petition was presented by the daughters of Zelophehad—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Their father, Zelophehad, was a descendant of Hepher son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, son of Joseph. These women stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the tribal leaders, and the entire community at the entrance of the Tabernacle. “Our father died in the wilderness,” they said. “He was not among Korah’s followers, who rebelled against the Lord; he died because of his own sin. But he had no sons. Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan just because he had no sons? Give us property along with the rest of our relatives.”

 So Moses brought their case before the Lord. And the Lord replied to Moses, “The claim of the daughters of Zelophehad is legitimate. You must give them a grant of land along with their father’s relatives. Assign them the property that would have been given to their father. “And give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If a man dies and has no son, then give his inheritance to his daughters. And if he has no daughter either, transfer his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. But if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan. This is a legal requirement for the people of Israel, just as the Lord commanded Moses.”

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Righteous Judge – Laodicean Church Of God

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NT Reading: Luke 11:33-36 (NLT)

Receiving the Light

11:33 “No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.

 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”

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Let Your Light Shine In The Darkness Live – New Scottish Hymns Band

Father God You look on me
Yet see no sin or shame
You see Your Son who died for all
To take away my blame
He left his Father’s glorious throne
All radiance set aside
And hung alone eclipsed by sin
‘Til sin was crucified

Let Your light shine in the darkness
Let Your light shine in the darkness

Empty now the threat of death
As Empty lay the grave
And all whose faith is in his life
Will know His power to save
Christ returned to heaven above
In glorious light and power
And by His Spirit I have hope
To light my darkest hour

Let Your light shine in the darkness
Let Your light shine in the darkness

As the moon reflects the sun
Now radiant we stand
Freed from sin and Satan’s grip
God’s kingdom is at hand
Darkness, sin and death retreat
And flee the marching dawn
His love casts out our fear and doubt
So let His church shine on

Let Your light shine in the darkness
Let Your light shine in the darkness
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Declaration of Faith: Faith and Worship

+ You are our strength, the light by which we walk, the truth by which we talk.
+ You are our hope, the promise to which we hold, the story that must be told.
+ You are the peace this world cannot provide, that overcomes our pride.
+ You are our God, the One whose name we praise to whom our hands are raised. Amen
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Closing: Faith and Worship

Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me,
Be thou a smooth path below me,
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me,
Today – tonight – and for ever

— Columba (?521-597) Irish monk and missionary in Scotland

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