After Epiphany | Saturday 15 Feb 2025
+ In the name the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening prayer:
O Lord, our heavenly Father,
keep your household the Church
continually in true faith and practice,
that we who trust in the hope of your heavenly grace
may always be defended by your mighty power;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those
who hear the word of God and keep it!”
(Luke 11:24-28)
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From the Psalms: Psalm 1 | Caroline Cobb
1: Blessed is the one who loves your word
Your ways are his delight
Knows that he needs it
Eat, sleeps and breathes it
Thinkin’ on it day and night
2: But sad for the one who walks away
Sits down with all the scoffers with all the scoffers
Building his kingdom
Callin’ it freedom
Chasing after what the world offers
Chorus:
I want to be like a tree by the river!
Oh plant me down by the deep, deep water
When the sun gets hot my leaves won’t wither!
Oh plant me down like a tree by your/the river
Oh plant me down by your deep, deep water
3: I want to be like a mighty oak
Roots growing strong and deep
When the wind blows
The roots gonna hold
Cause you’re holding on to me
Yeah you’re holding on to me
Chorus:
I want to be like a tree by the river!
Oh plant me down by the deep, deep water
When the sun gets hot my leaves won’t wither!
Oh plant me down like a tree by your/the river
Oh plant me down by your deep, deep water
Bridge:
Plant me, plant me, plant me by the river
Wash me, wash me, wash me with your water
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OT Reading: Jeremiah 17:1-4 (ESV)
The Sin of Judah
17:1 “The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of their altars, while their children remember their altars and their Asherim, beside every green tree and on the high hills, on the mountains in the open country. Your wealth and all your treasures I will give for spoil as the price of your high places for sin throughout all your territory. You shall loosen your hand from your heritage that I gave to you, and I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.”
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Change My Heart Oh God ~ Maranatha! Music ~ Easy Worship Resources
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NT Reading: Luke 11:24-28 (ESV)
Return of an Unclean Spirit
11:24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
True Blessedness
11:27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
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“Speak, O Lord” – The Village Chapel Worship
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Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your Holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 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.
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. Protect the innocent and punish the guilty, that all may live in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we your servants, who now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
May Christ, who sends us to the nations,
give us the power of his Spirit.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
11:14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
The Peanut Gallery 