Tag: set your sights on the realities of heaven

Monday of The 7th Week of Easter, 25 May 2020 – John 16:29-33, Acts 19:1-8,Psalm 68, Col 3:1 ~ “Take heart… I have overcome the world.”

Monday of The 7th Week of Easter, 25 May 2020

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

Opening:

Lord God, let the grace of the Holy Spirit come upon us, so that we may hold fast to your will with fidelity and show it forth in a holy life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

 

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Praise be to the Lord, to God, our Savior.
Praise to God Who daily bears our burdens.
Oh, Sovereign Lord You give us breath, You deliver us from death.
Praise to God Who daily bears our burdens.

Savior – Psalm 68 – Judy Rogers

Chariots of God are tens of thousands.
He is come into His sanctuary
Oh, our God is a God Who saves, therefore shall His name be praised.
He is come into His sanctuary.

Show us Your strength, oh Lord, as You have done before.
Let the mighty congregation hear Your thunder roar.

God is awesome in His sanctuary.
He will give His people strength and power.
Oh, He Who rules the earth and seas soon shall crush your enemies.
God is awesome in His sanctuary.

Show us your strength, oh Lord, as you have done before.
Let the mighty congregation hear Your thunder roar.

Praise be to the Lord, to God, our Savior.
Praise to God who daily bears our burdens.
Oh, Sovereign Lord You give us breath, You deliver us from death.
Praise to God who daily bears our burdens;
Praise be to the Lord, to God, our Savior.
Savior
Savior
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A Reading from the Gospels: John 16:29-33 (NLT)

Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”

Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
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A Reading from the Book of Acts: Acts 19:1-8 (NLT)

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them.

“No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

“Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked.

And they replied, “The baptism of John.”

Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”

As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.

Paul Ministers in Ephesus

Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God.
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Psalm 68 (Let God Arise) – words by Isaac Watts / Music by Gregory Wilbur

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Closing: Col 3:1 (NLT)

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ,
set your sights on the realities of heaven,
where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.  

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

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Sat, 22 July – Colossians 3-4 ~ set your sights on the realities of heaven

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

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

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Reading: Colossians 3-4 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

Think About The Things Of Heaven

Colossians 3:1-4 (NLT) – Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Lord God: You have claimed me as your own through faith and baptism, and made me a new creation in Christ Jesus. Continue the good work you have begun in me – that there might be less of me in me, and more of Christ in me – that my true life in Christ might be revealed.

Put to death your old nature

+ Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires.

+ Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

+ Get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

Put on your new nature

+ Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

+ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.

+ Clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

+ Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts; and always be thankful.

Devote Yourselves To Prayer

Colossians 4:2 (NLT) – Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Lord God: Thank you for allowing to approach your throne of grace through faith in your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. We ask for your mercy and help in this our time of need.

+ That you might give us many opportunities to speak about your plan concerning Christ.

+ That we might proclaim this message as clearly as we should.

+ That we might live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.

+ That our conversations might be gracious and attractive – the right response for everyone.

Lord God: I ask that the message about Christ, in all its richness, might fill our lives. And that whatever we do or say, might be done and said as representatives of our Lord Jesus, always giving thanks through him to you, our heavenly Father.

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“Eternity” – John Alexander Wilson


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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

18th Ordinary Sunday, 31 July: Ecc 1:2; 2:21-23; Ps 90:3-6, 12-14, 17; Col 3:1-5, 9-11; Lk 12:13-21 ~ our days are numbered

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

God’s Word calls us to recognize the transience of life, to keep our eyes on what is lasting.

Opening Prayer:

O God, the giver of every gift that endures, only by your grace can we rightly understand the wonder of life and why it is given. By the word of your Son challenge our foolishness, confront our greed, and shape our lives to the wisdom of the gospel. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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“God of Our Fathers”


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A Reading from the Old Testament: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23 (NLT)
[The Preacher tells us that it is easy to fall into the trap of vanity.]

“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”
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Ecclesiastes Pascal

Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17 (NLT)

You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals!” For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.

You sweep people away like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning. In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered.
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Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
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And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!
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“Psalm 90” – James Block


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A Reading from the Letters: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 (NLT)
[Leave sin behind, says Paul, and look to Christ. He is a model worth imitating.]

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

hidden in Christ

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
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Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 12:13-21 (NLT)
[Jesus’ warning against greed is accompanied by a reminder of what it means to follow him: we must be always prepared.]

Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”

Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
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“Be Thou My Vision” – Tommy Walker


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Intercessory Prayer:

God of endless generations: help us as we lay out our needs before you today.

+ That church leaders may live the simple life they preach…. Lord, hear us.
+ That the wealthy may share with those who are hungry and poor…. Lord, hear us.
+ That men and women who work too hard may find rest in you this summer…. Lord, hear us.
+ That there may be peace and forgiveness in families…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those who suffer, in mind or body or spirit, may have peace…. Lord, hear us.
+ That all the people on vacations may travel safely…. Lord, hear us.
+ That all who have died recently, especially Fr. Jacques Hamel (martyred in France), may enter heaven where Christ sits at God’s right hand…. Lord, hear us.

O God, you have been our refuge and our strength, from one generation to the next: hear your people’s prayer today, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Elohim Lanu Machaseh Va’oz – The Lord is Our Refuge & Strength”


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Benediction:

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. – Jude 24-25

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