After Pentecost | Saturday 07 Nov 2026
+ In the name of 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.
“What sign will signal your return
and the end of the world?”
(Matthew 24:14)
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Psalms: Psalm 78 | Poor Bishop Hooper
o people listen incline your ear
to the mysteries to the teaching here
things that we have heard, things that we have known
parables our fathers told oh no we won’t hide them
we’ll let the children hear
he divided the sea and let them pass through it
made the waters stand there as a heap
in the day he lead by cloud, but with fire in the night
he split the rock for water so they could drink
he opened up the skies the very doors of heaven
poured the bread of angels there to eat
by his very might on the wind he fulfilled every hungering
in spite of all of this they sinned they sinned
in spite of all of this they rebelled again
in spite of all of this they sinned they sinned
he had made the river blood sent the swarms to devour
he gave the crops to beasts the harvest of their labor
the hail destroyed the vine the flocks by lighted sky
amidst the thundercloud
he let loose his anger by a company of angels
and when the path was made from death he wouldn’t save
struck down the firstborn first fruits of egypt’s strength
then he lead his people out
in spite of all of this they sinned they sinned
in spite of all of this they rebelled again
in spite of all of this they sinned they sinned
so full of wrath God rose
against his own laid low
the young men and the strong they fell
he delivered up his glory
into fire all consuming
the women had no marriage song
the priests fell by the sword
the widows they made no lament
but then the lord
full of compassion
his anger was restrained
yet full of compassion
he remembered them again
yet full of compassion
with a pure heart and skillful hand
yet full of compassion
he remembered them again
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OT Reading: Joshua 20 (NLT)
The Cities of Refuge
20:1 The Lord said to Joshua, “Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses. Anyone who kills another person accidentally and unintentionally can run to one of these cities; they will be places of refuge from relatives seeking revenge for the person who was killed.
20:4 “Upon reaching one of these cities, the one who caused the death will appear before the elders at the city gate and present his case. They must allow him to enter the city and give him a place to live among them. If the relatives of the victim come to avenge the killing, the leaders must not release the slayer to them, for he killed the other person unintentionally and without previous hostility. But the slayer must stay in that city and be tried by the local assembly, which will render a judgment. And he must continue to live in that city until the death of the high priest who was in office at the time of the accident. After that, he is free to return to his own home in the town from which he fled.”
20:7 The following cities were designated as cities of refuge: Kedesh of Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali; Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim; and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), in the hill country of Judah. On the east side of the Jordan River, across from Jericho, the following cities were designated: Bezer, in the wilderness plain of the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead, in the territory of the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, in the land of the tribe of Manasseh. These cities were set apart for all the Israelites as well as the foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed another person could take refuge in one of these cities. In this way, they could escape being killed in revenge prior to standing trial before the local assembly.
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O Lord My Rock and My Redeemer | Bob Kauflin | 2025 Shepherd’s Conference at Grace Community Church
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NT Reading: Matthew 24:1-14 (NLT)
Jesus Speaks about the Future
24:1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
+ Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”
24:4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
24:9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.
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Go Ye Into All the World | Eugene Butler | Virtual Choir
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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.
O God, our heavenly Father: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill Christ’s command to preach the Gospel to all people. 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.
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth: 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.
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven,
bring us to reign with him in glory.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.