+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentences
Heavenly Father, you made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you: Look upon the heartfelt desires of your humble servants, and stretch forth the strong hand of your Majesty to be our defense against our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.
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Reading: John 1:14 (MSG)
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.
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Reading: John 5:19-20b (NLT)
So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing.
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Prayer:
Heavenly Father: attune my heart and mind to yours through the guidance of your Word and Spirit. Give me the discernment to see you at work in my neighborhood.
+ Show me what you are doing with my family, near and afar
+ Show me what you are doing with my neighbors on either side of me
+ Show me what you are doing with my neighbors across the street
+ Show me what you are doing with my single and divorced neighbors
+ Show me what you are doing with my widow and widower neighbors
+ Show me what you are doing with my sick and infirmed neighbors
Heavenly Father: give me generosity of spirit that I may willingly join your work in the lives of my neighbors. Through my 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.
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“Why Join God in the Neighborhood?” – Alan Roxburgh
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Blessing
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentences
Heavenly Father, you made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you: Look upon the heartfelt desires of your humble servants, and stretch forth the strong hand of your Majesty to be our defense against our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.
__________
Reading: John 4:43-54 (NLT)
Jesus Heals an Official’s Son
At the end of the two days, Jesus went on to Galilee. He himself had said that a prophet is not honored in his own hometown. Yet the Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there.
As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.
Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”
The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.”
Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.
While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.
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Prayer:
Sovereign Lord: you are the One in whom I live, and breathe, and have my being. You are the One in whom I find rest for my soul. Grant me your peace –
+ that I may trust you to provide for the daily, mundane, aspects of my life
+ that I may trust you with the lives of my family, my children and grandchildren
+ that I may trust in your loving-kindness for me especially when I’m at my wits end
+ that I may trust in your goodness to answer me when I cry out to you for help
+ that I may trust in your presence with me for strength and courage to face the day
Sovereign Lord: my whole life is a miracle – a continuing series of signs and wonders, testimonies to your power, mercy and grace. Empower me to show and tell those you have already prepared to hear and believe the Good News of what you have done for me. Through my 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.
__________
“Anchor of Hope” – Ellie Holcomb
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Blessing
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentences
Almighty God, you know that I have no power in myself to help myself: Keep me both outwardly in my body and inwardly in my soul, that I may be defended from all adversities which may happen to my body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt my soul; through Jesus Christ my Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
__________
Reading: Exodus 12:13-14 (NLT)
“The blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.
“This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord. This is a law for all time.
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Reading: John 14:25-27 (NLT)
“I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
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Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 (NLT)
On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”
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Eucharistic Prayer: adapted
Let us give thanks and praise to the Lord our God.
+ It is truly right to give you thanks, truly just to give you glory, Father, most holy, for you are the one God living and true, existing before all ages and abiding for all eternity, dwelling in unapproachable light; yet you, who alone are good, the source of life, have made all that is, so that you might fill your creatures with blessings and bring joy to many of them by the glory of your light.
+ We give you praise, Father most holy, for you are great, and you have fashioned all your works in wisdom and in love. You formed man in your own image and entrusted the whole world to his care, so that in serving you alone, the Creator, he might have dominion over all creatures.
+ And when through disobedience he had lost your friendship, you did not abandon him to the domain of death. For you came in mercy to the aid of all, so that those who seek might find you. Time and again you offered them covenants and through the prophets taught them to look forward to salvation.
+ And you so loved the world, Father most holy, that in the fullness of time you sent your Only Begotten Son to be our Savior. Made incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, he shared our human nature in all things but sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation, to prisoners, freedom, and to the sorrowful of heart, joy.
+ To accomplish your plan, he gave himself up to death, and, rising from the dead, he destroyed death and restored life. And that we might live no longer for ourselves but for him who died and rose again for us, he sent the Holy Spirit from you, Father, as the first fruits for those who believe, so that, bringing to perfection his work in the world, he might sanctify creation to the full.
+ Therefore, O Lord, we pray: may this same Holy Spirit graciously sanctify these offerings, that they may become the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for the celebration of this great mystery, which he himself left us as an eternal covenant.
Look, O Lord, upon the Sacrifice which you yourself have provided for your Church, and grant in your loving kindness to all who partake of this one Bread and one Chalice that, gathered into one body by the Holy Spirit, they may truly become a living sacrifice in Christ to the praise of your glory. Amen.
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“Remembrance” – Matt Redman
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Blessing
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentences
Almighty God, you know that I have no power in myself to help myself: Keep me both outwardly in my body and inwardly in my soul, that I may be defended from all adversities which may happen to my body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt my soul; through Jesus Christ my Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
__________
Reading: Psalm 86:11 (NLT)
Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.
__________
Reading: Jeremiah 6:16 (NLT)
This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’
__________
Reading: John 14:6 (NLT)
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
__________
Prayer:
Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!
+ Forgive my wandering heart and re-direct me along the path leading to Life.
+ Purify my heart that I may honor you and want what you want for me.
+ Apply your unchanging word to my ever-changing world that I may not sin against you.
+ School me in godliness that I may follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
O Lord, your ancient path leads to rest for my soul in this life and the life to come. Lead me one step at a time on this path of righteousness. Through my 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.
__________
“Ancient Words” – Robin Mark
__________
Blessing
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentences
Almighty God, you know that I have no power in myself to help myself: Keep me both outwardly in my body and inwardly in my soul, that I may be defended from all adversities which may happen to my body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt my soul; through Jesus Christ my Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
__________
Reading: Philemon 6 (NLT)
I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.
__________
Reading: James 4:6 (NLT)
God gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
__________
Prayer:
Faithful God: Thank you for making me your friend through the self-less life, death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ. He has shown me the cost of true love and friendship.
+ Lord, show me how to be a friend to those around me – at home, at work, at church, and in my neighborhood.
+ Lord, change my thinking from serving myself to serving the needs of those around me.
+ Lord, give me generosity of spirit that I may freely share the good things you have given me.
+ Lord, place within me a forgiving heart that I may willingly forgive the wrongdoing of others.
+ Lord, humble me before you and override my pride that I make take the initiative in reconciliation.
+ Lord, give me a spirit of faithfulness that I may keep faith with you and my friends no matter what happens.
Faithful God: You are my faithful friend, my best friend forever. Give me the grace and humility to show those closest to me the same faithful friendship I’ve received from you. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God. for ever and ever. Amen.
__________
“You’ve Got A Friend in Me” – Randy Newman
__________
Blessing
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
The Peanut Gallery 