The Lenten Season | Tuesday 19 Mar 2024

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

Opening:

Almighty God,
you alone can bring into order
the unruly wills and affections of sinners:
Grant your people grace to love what you command
and desire what you promise; that,
among the swift and varied changes of this world,
our hearts may surely there be fixed
where true joys are to be found;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

“God brought [Jesus] from death back to life
and destroyed the pains of death,
because death had no power to hold him.”
(Acts 2:24)

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From Psalms: Psalm 119:9-16 // Poor Bishop Hooper

how can a young man keep his way pure
by guarding it according to your word
with my whole heart I seek you that i won’t sin against you
your word is hidden in my heart and stored
blessed are you blessed are you lord

more than riches
i will fix my eyes
i’ll delight i’ll delight in your word

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OT Reading: Isaiah 44:1-8 (GW)

44:1 But now listen, my servant Jacob, Israel, whom I have chosen.
The Lord made you, formed you in the womb, and will help you.

This is what the Lord says:

Don’t be afraid, my servant Jacob,
Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
I will pour water on thirsty ground and rain on dry land.
I will pour my Spirit on your offspring
and my blessing on your descendants.
They will spring up with the grass
as poplars spring up by streams.
One person will say, “I belong to the Lord.”
Another will call on the name of Jacob.
Another will write on his hand, “The Lord’s,”
and he will adopt the name of Israel.

The Nations Form Idols, but the Lord Formed Israel

44:6 The Lord is Israel’s king and defender.
He is the Lord of Armies.

This is what the Lord says:

I am the first and the last,
and there is no God except me.
If there is anyone like me, let him say so.
Let him tell me what happened
when I established my people long ago.
Then let him predict what will happen to them.
Don’t be terrified or afraid.
Didn’t I make this known to you long ago?
You are my witnesses.
Is there any God except me?
There is no ⌞other⌟ rock; I know of none.

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Victorious // Heartcry of David (Israel + United Kingdom Collaboration)

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NT Reading: Acts 2:14-24 (GW)

Peter Talks to the Crowd

2:14 Then Peter stood up with the eleven apostles. In a loud voice he said to them, “Men of Judea and everyone living in Jerusalem! You must understand this, so pay attention to what I say. These men are not drunk as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning. Rather, this is what the prophet Joel spoke about:

‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour my Spirit on everyone.
Your sons and daughters will speak what God has revealed.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.

In those days
I will pour my Spirit on my servants, on both men and women.
They will speak what God has revealed.
I will work miracles in the sky and give signs on the earth:
blood, fire, and clouds of smoke.
The sun will become dark,
and the moon will become as red as blood
before the terrifying day of the Lord comes.

Then whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

“Men of Israel, listen to what I say: Jesus from Nazareth was a man whom God brought to your attention. You know that through this man God worked miracles, did amazing things, and gave signs. By using men who don’t acknowledge Moses’ Teachings, you crucified Jesus, who was given over ⌞to death⌟ by a plan that God had determined in advance. But God brought him from death back to life and destroyed the pains of death, because death had no power to hold him.

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Ain’t No Grave (LIVE) – Bethel Music & Molly Skaggs | VICTORY

Verse 1
Shame is a prison as cruel as a grave
Shame is a robber and he’s come to take my name
Love is my redeemer lifting me up from the ground
Love is the power where my freedom song is found

There ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down
There ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down
When I hear that trumpet sound, I’m gonna rise up out of the ground
There ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down

Verse 2
Fear is a liar with a smooth and velvet tongue
Fear is a tyrant, he’s always telling me to run
Love is resurrection and love is a trumpet sound
Love is my weapon, I’m gonna take my giants down

Verse 3
There was a battle, a war between death and life
There on a tree the Lamb of God was crucified
He went on down to hell, He took back every key
He rose up as a lion and He’s setting all the captives free

Chorus 2
There ain’t no grave could hold His body down
There ain’t no grave could hold His body down
When He heard the trumpet sound, He rose up out of the ground
There ain’t no grave could hold His body down
There ain’t no grave could hold His body down

There ain’t no grave could hold my body down
There ain’t no grave could hold my body down

Bridge
If You walked out of the grave, I’m walkin’ too

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Most loving Father, you will us to give thanks for all things, to dread nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on the One who cares for us. Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested unto us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift justice and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Deliver the hostages from captivity and restore their souls. Destroy every stronghold of the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And grant your heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, diplomatically – and especially to those who will restore Israel spiritually – through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Almighty God our Savior, you desire that none should perish, and you have taught us through your Son that there is great joy in heaven over every sinner who repents: Grant that our hearts may ache for a lost and broken world. May your Holy Spirit work through our words, deeds, and prayers, that the lost may be found and the dead made alive, and that all your redeemed may rejoice around your throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May Christ, who bore our sins on the cross,
set us free to serve him with joy.

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