Holy Trinity Sunday: John 16:12-15 NLT – Holy, Holy, Holy

Reading: John 16:12-15 NLT

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The Holy Trinity an Orthodox wall painted icon at the ceiling of the entrance (πρόστωον) Vatopedion Monastery at Agion Oros (Mount Athos), Greece.

“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.

“He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.

“All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me….’”

Prayer: Holy Spirit – Guide me, teach me, lead me… so that I might glorify the Son… and so honor the Father… in justice, truth, and mercy. Amen.

Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy! (Savior and King)”Reginald Heber (1826)

7th Sunday of Easter: Revelation 22. 12-21 NLT – Come!

Reading: Revelation 22:12-21 NLT

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

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Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.

And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.

Prayer: Amen! Come Lord Jesus!

Spiritual Song: “Come to the well” – Casting Crowns

6th Sunday of Easter: Revelation 21.10-14, 22-27 NLT – new Jerusalem

Reading: Revelation 21.10-14, 22-27 NLT

new-jerusalem-coming-down-out-of-heavenSo he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west. The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty— but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – deliver me from evil and write my name in your Book of Life. For your name’s sake, I ask it. Amen.

Spiritual: “Twelve gates to the city / I bid you goodnight”Robert Plant & Band of Joy

5th Sunday of Easter: Revelation 21.1-5a (NLT) – the new Jerusalem

Reading: Revelation 21.1-5a NLT

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

Valerie Anne Kelly
The new Jerusalem
Valerie Anne Kelly

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”

Anthem: “The Holy City” – Stephen Adams / Frederic Weatherly

4th Sunday of Easter Reading: Revelation 7.9-17 (NLT) – clothed in white

Reading: Revelation 7.9-17 (NLT)

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar:

“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”

And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. They sang,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

white-robeThen one of the twenty-four elders asked me, “Who are these who are clothed in white? Where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.”

Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.

“That is why they stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter. They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

Prayer: “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”

Wash me whiter than snow… cleanse me with the blood of the Lamb. And fill my heart, and mind, and soul with praise for Jesus – the Lamb of God – my Shepherd and my Lord.

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Scripture Song: “Salvation belongs to our God”Petra