After Pentecost | Wednesday 23 Aug 2023

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

Opening:

Keep your Church, O Lord,
by your perpetual mercy; and
because without you the frailty of our nature
causes us to fall, keep us from all things hurtful,
and lead us to all things profitable for our salvation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“And I tell you this,
that many Gentiles will come
from all over the world—from east and west—
and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
(Matthew 8:11)

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From Psalms: Psalm 130 |  Poor Bishop Hooper

out of the depths i cry to you oh lord
hear my voice let your ears hear my cry
if you oh lord kept a record of wrong
who could stand oh my god who could stand

but with you there is forgiveness
therefore you you are feared

wait for the lord oh my soul waits
and in his word only do i put my hope
my soul waits for the lord more than the watchmen
wait for the bright morning to come

israel hope in the lord
he himself will redeem

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OT Reading: Genesis 45:16-28 (NLT)

Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt

45:16 The news soon reached Pharaoh’s palace: “Joseph’s brothers have arrived!” Pharaoh and his officials were all delighted to hear this.

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘This is what you must do: Load your pack animals, and hurry back to the land of Canaan. Then get your father and all of your families, and return here to me. I will give you the very best land in Egypt, and you will eat from the best that the land produces.’”

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt to carry your little children and your wives, and bring your father here. Don’t worry about your personal belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

So the sons of Jacob did as they were told. Joseph provided them with wagons, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he gave them supplies for the journey. And he gave each of them new clothes—but to Benjamin he gave five changes of clothes and 300 pieces of silver. He also sent his father ten male donkeys loaded with the finest products of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other supplies he would need on his journey.

So Joseph sent his brothers off, and as they left, he called after them, “Don’t quarrel about all this along the way!” And they left Egypt and returned to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan.

“Joseph is still alive!” they told him. “And he is governor of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn’t believe it. But when they repeated to Jacob everything Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him, their father’s spirits revived.

Then Jacob exclaimed, “It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.

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To The Table – Zach Williams

Hear the voice of love that’s calling
There’s a chair that waits for you
And a friend who understands
Everything you’re going through

But you keep standing at a distance
In the shadows of your shame
But there’s a light of hope that’s shining
Won’t you come and take your place

So bring it all to the table
It’s nothing he ain’t seen before
For all your sin, all your sorrow
And your sadness
There’s a savior and he calls
Bring it all to the table

He can see the weight you carry
And the fears that hold your heart
But through the cross you’ve been forgiven
You’re accepted as you are

So bring it all to the table
It’s nothing he ain’t seen before
For all your trials, all your worries
And all your burdens
There’s a savior and he calls
Bring it all to the table

Come on in and take your place
There’s no one who’s turned away
All you sinners all you saints
There’s no one who’s turned away

So bring it all to the table
It’s nothing he ain’t seen before
For all your trials, all your worries
And all your burdens
There’s a savior and he calls
Bring it all to the table

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NT Reading: Matthew 8:1-13 (NLT)

Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy

8:1 Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, 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 Faith of a Roman Officer

8:5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”

Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”

But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

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We Will Feast In The House Of Zion (Anchor Hymns)

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Almighty God, you have not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities; grant that we, who for our evil deeds deserve to be punished, by the might of your grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

+ Almighty and immortal God, giver of life and health: We implore your mercy for our loved ones who are sick, that by your blessing upon them and  upon those who minister to them with your healing gifts, they may be restored to health of body and mind, according to your gracious will, and may give thanks to you in your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

+ Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

Bless your children
whoever they might be
with the warmth of your love and grace.

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