After Pentecost | Tuesday 24 Oct 2023
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Set us free, loving Father,
from the bondage of our sins,
and in your goodness and mercy give us the liberty
of that abundant life which you have made known to us
in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen.
Then a mighty angel
picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone.
He threw it into the ocean and shouted,
“Just like this, the great city Babylon
will be thrown down with violence
and will never be found again.”
(Revelation 18:21)
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From Psalms: Psalm 63 – (Poor Bishop Hooper)
god you are my god
you’re the only one i seek god
you are my god
i’m in the desert and i’m thirsty god
you are my god
i know you’re in your sanctuary god
you are my god
i’ve seen your power and you glory god
you’re better than life
my lips will give praise to you
my soul satisfied
with the richest foods therefore
my lips will sing praise
god i think of you
on my bed throughout the night god
i think of you
because you help and i am safe god
i think of you
as i sing under your wings god
i think of you
and feel your hand as you uphold me god
you’re better than life
my lips will give praise to you
my soul satisfied
with the richest foods therefore
my lips will sing praise
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OT Reading: Numbers 12:1-9 (NLT)
The Complaints of Miriam and Aaron
12:1 While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the Lord heard them. (Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.)
So immediately the Lord called to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam and said, “Go out to the Tabernacle, all three of you!” So the three of them went to the Tabernacle. Then the Lord descended in the pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle. “Aaron and Miriam!” he called, and they stepped forward. And the Lord said to them, “Now listen to what I say:
“If there were prophets among you,
I, the Lord, would reveal myself in visions.
I would speak to them in dreams.
But not with my servant Moses.
Of all my house, he is the one I trust.
I speak to him face to face,
clearly, and not in riddles!
He sees the Lord as he is.
So why were you not afraid
to criticize my servant Moses?”
The Lord was very angry with them, and he departed.
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We Will Fear The Lord – Ben Slee Music
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NT Reading: Revelation 18:21-24 (NLT)
18:21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted,
“Just like this, the great city Babylon
will be thrown down with violence
and will never be found again.
The sound of harps, singers, flutes, and trumpets
will never be heard in you again.
No craftsmen and no trades
will ever be found in you again.
The sound of the mill
will never be heard in you again.
The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again.
The happy voices of brides and grooms
will never be heard in you again.
For your merchants were the greatest in the world,
and you deceived the nations with your sorceries.
In your streets flowed the blood of the prophets and of God’s holy people
and the blood of people slaughtered all over the world.”
__________
The Earth Shakes – Don Moen | Songs of Faith
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+ O God, almighty and merciful, you heal the broken-hearted, and turn the sadness of the sorrowful to joy; let your fatherly goodness be upon all believers in the Holy Land. Though they be troubled on every side, suffer them not to be distressed; though they are perplexed, save them from despair. Mightily befriend innocent sufferers, and sanctify to them the endurance of their wrongs. Grant this, O Lord, for the love of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
+ Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of the Israeli Defense Forces. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [See “Contrasting Darkness and Light” below]
+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Set free the hostages, and deliver every person captivated by the evil “death cult” terrorizing the Middle East. And finally, grant heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, as well as those who will restore Israel politically, and especially spiritually, 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
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.
[Contrasting Darkness and Light – Tikkun Global]
Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, “Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
The Peanut Gallery 