After Pentecost | Wednesday 24 Sep 2025: Psalm 12; Proverbs 21:10-16; Luke 20:45-21:4 ~ Beware of religious pretenders.

After Pentecost | Wednesday 24 Sep 2025

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

Opening prayer:

O Lord,
you have taught us that without love,
all our deeds are worth nothing:
Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts
that most excellent gift of charity,
the true bond of peace and of all virtues,
without which whoever lives is counted dead before you;
grant this for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen..

“Beware of the scribes,
who like to walk around in long robes…
and for a pretense make long prayers.
They will receive the greater condemnation.”
(Luke 20:46-47)

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From the Psalms: Psalm 12Poor Bishop Hooper

the word of the lord is a pure word
the word of the lord is a pure word
like refined and shined silver
purified seven times over
is your promise
is your promise

and this is what you promise
you will come and save the helpless
you have heard the cry of every poor
you will grant them what they long for

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OT Reading: Proverbs 21:10-16 (ESV

21:10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

+ When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

+ The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
he throws the wicked down to ruin.

+ Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.

+ A gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe, strong wrath.

+ When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.

+ One who wanders from the way of good sense
will rest in the assembly of the dead.

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Fear Of God | Brooke Ligertwood

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NT Reading: Luke 20:45-21:4 (ESV)

Beware of the Scribes

20:45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering

21:1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

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Walk With You | Zach Williams

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices; that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path we may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem: Intervene in ways that only you can, so the whole world will know that you alone are God. Protect your people from the assaults of the evil one, and grant Israel’s leaders the wisdom and courage to do what’s right in your sight. Deliver all the hostages from captivity, and restore their souls. Comfort those who grieve and mourn the loss of loved ones. Protect the innocent and punish the guilty, that all may live in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our God, in whom we trust: Strengthen us not to regard overmuch who is for us or who is against us, but to see to it that we be with you in everything we do. Amen. | Thomas à Kempis

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 Pentecost | Wednesday – 21 Sep 2022: Psalm 12; Proverbs 21:10-16; Luke 20:45-21:4 ~ Jesus: Beware of religious pretenders!

After Pentecost | Wednesday – 21 Sep 2022

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

Opening:

O Lord, you have taught us that without love,
all our deeds are worth nothing:
Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts
that most excellent gift of charity,
the true bond of peace and of all virtues,
without which whoever lives is counted dead before you;
grant this for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“[Beware of those who]
shamelessly cheat widows out of their property
and then pretend to be pious
by making long prayers in public.
Because of this,
they will be severely punished.”
(Luke 20:47)

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Psalms Reading: Psalm 12The Psalms Project

Help! Help, Lord
For the godly cease to be
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men
Everybody speaks idle words with smooth-talking, flattering lips and a double heart
May the Lord cut off all truth-perverting, flattering lips and the tongue that speaks with pride
The tongue that speaks with pride
For this is what they say…

“With the words we speak we’ll conquer
With our tongue and our lips, the weapons of our choice
There’s no God over us”
It’s a war of words
And our enemies think they will win

“For the oppression of the poor, now I will arise,” says the Lord
“For the groaning of the needy, now I will arise, says the Lord
“I will give my salvation to whosoever yearns for it in his heart”
The words of the Lord are pure words
Not the lying wicked words of men

The words of the Lord are pure words
Purified pure as silver that’s purified seven times
You will keep them, You’ll preserve them for all time
Now and forever

The wicked prowl on every side when evil is exalted among the sons of men

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OT Reading: Proverbs 21:10-16 (NLT)

21:10 Evil people desire evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.

11 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise;
if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.

12 The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked;
he will bring disaster on them.

13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor
will be ignored in their own time of need.

14 A secret gift calms anger;
a bribe under the table pacifies fury.

15 Justice is a joy to the godly,
but it terrifies evildoers.

16 The person who strays from common sense
will end up in the company of the dead.

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JusticeLuke Finch & Ali McFarlane – The Revelation Room

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NT Reading: Luke 20:45-21:4 (NLT)

20:45 Then, with the crowds listening, he turned to his disciples and said, “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished.”

The Widow’s Offering

20:21 While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

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Here’s My Life | Planetshakers

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ 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.

+ O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices; that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path we may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thomas à Kempis

+ Our God, in whom we trust: Strengthen us not to regard overmuch who is for us or who is against us, but to see to it that we be with you in everything we do. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

Be the Life I live
Be the Love I give

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