Easter Season | Tuesday 30 Apr 2024
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Almighty God,
whom truly to know is everlasting life:
Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ
to be the way, the truth, and the life,
that we may steadfastly follow his steps
in the way that leads to eternal glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A harvest that has God’s approval
comes from the peace planted by peacemakers.
(James 3:18)
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From Psalms: Psalm 80 – Poor Bishop Hooper
oh god restore
shine your face
once more
on us
hear us shepherd of israel
you who shepherd your people well
who sits among the light
oh god restore
shine your face
once more
on us
come again almighty one
the vine you’ve chosen needs the son
who sits at your right hand
the one whom you’ve raised up
oh god restore
shine your face
once more
on us
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OT Reading: Isaiah 32:9-20 (GW)
32:9 Get up, and listen to me, you pampered women.
Hear what I say, you overconfident daughters.
In a little less than a year
you overconfident women will tremble,
because the grape harvest will fail
and no fruit will be brought in ⌞from the fields⌟.
Shudder, you pampered women.
Tremble, you overconfident women.
Take off your clothes, walk around naked,
and wear sackcloth around your waists.
Beat your breasts as you mourn for the fields,
for the vines bearing grapes.
Mourn for my people’s land where thorns and briars will grow.
Mourn for all the happy homes in a joyful city.
Palaces will be deserted.
Noisy cities will be abandoned.
Fortresses and watchtowers will become permanent caves.
They will be a delight for wild donkeys and pastures for flocks
until the Spirit is poured on us from on high.
Then the wilderness will be turned into a fertile field,
and the fertile field will be considered a forest.
Then justice will live in the wilderness,
and righteousness will be at home in the fertile field.
Then an act of righteousness will bring about peace,
calm, and safety forever.
My people will live in a peaceful place,
in safe homes and quiet places of rest.
The forest will be flattened because of hail,
and the city will be completely leveled.
Blessed are those who plant beside every stream
and those who let oxen and donkeys roam freely.
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Shalom Aleichem / English Lyrics Hebrew Maayan Band
https://youtu.be/Ya8BqLJRH9A?si=p6tjW9cOjOkkYdfc?rel=0
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NT Reading: James 3:17-18 (GW)
3:17 However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere. A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers.
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Instruments of Your Peace // Sounds Like Reign
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+ Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: Kindle, we pray, 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; through 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.
+ Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is error, truth; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may seek not so much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
May the risen Christ grant us the joys of eternal life.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
15 until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,
The Peanut Gallery 