Tag: Worship

The Baptism of the Lord – 13 Jan 2019 – Luke 3:15-22 ~ You bring me joy!

The Baptism of the Lord

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

Opening Prayer

Open the heavens, almighty Father, and pour out your Spirit on your people. Renew the power of our baptismal cleansing and fill us with enthusiasm for good deeds. Speak to us once again, that we may joyfully follow your beloved Son our certain hope of eternal life. Grant this through Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, in the splendor of eternal light, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Down In The River To Pray” – ALISON KRAUSS

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Gospel Reading: Luke 3:15-22 (NLT)

Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.

John also publicly criticized Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for many other wrongs he had done. So Herod put John in prison, adding this sin to his many others.

The Baptism of Jesus

One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
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Prayers of Intercession:

Loving God, whose Spirit renews the face of the earth: send your Spirit to us today. We pray especially –

+ For all who have been baptized into your family, fill us with your Spirit that we will faithfully follow you….
+ For newly baptized believers, that they will grow in faith and understanding as they discover the gift’s of your Spirit….
+ For all baptized believers, that our lives will bear witness to your loving-kindness, mercy, and grace….
+ For all newborn babies, that their parents will shepherd them into a baptized, saving relationship with your Son, Jesus Christ….
+ For expectant mothers, and parents hoping for a baby, that their dream of a happy, healthy child will become a reality….
+ For leaders of tribes and nations, that you raise up people of faith and wisdom who will help them face the challenges of today….
+ For our friends and loved ones who have gone before us in faith, that they will rejoice as eternal citizens of your Kingdom….

Loving God, your creative Spirit renews humanity and sustains us always: hear our prayers and continue to support us by your mercy and grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Baptizing my son in the Jordan River. No greater joy!” – Andres Bisonni

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Blessing –

Almighty God: Send us out in the power of the Holy Spirit, that we may follow in Jesus’ footsteps – going around doing good, healing the sick, and bringing the Good News of your great love for all people everywhere.

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

Saturday Morning: 12 Jan 2019 – John 3:1-21 ~ You must be born again.

Saturday Morning

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

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 3:1-21 (NLT)

There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

“How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.

Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
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Morning Reflection:

“You need the new birth
so that you can understand and respond to spiritual truth.”
Steven J. Cole

In today’s reading, two words jumped out at me – “see” (vs 3), and “enter” (vs 5). As much as Nicodemus may want to know Jesus and the Kingdom, he remains blind to both, and is prevented from understanding, or entering, the Kingdom of God because he has not yet been “born again.”

Why? Because there is a fundamental divide between physical birth and spiritual birth. And that divide is only spanned when we are “born again,” i.e. by believing and accepting Jesus (John 1:12-13). That’s when we become “children of God”; and that’s when we become citizens of the Kingdom of God, with concurrent privileges and responsibilities.

I have sometimes quipped: “I sat in church for years, but it wasn’t until I surrendered my life to Christ that the preaching improved.” That’s when I began to understand what I was hearing and was hungry for more. That’s when I became a new creation through the power of God’s Word and Spirit.

Questions for Consideration:

+ Have you experienced new birth in Christ? If so, what has changed in your life? If not, why not? What’s preventing you? (Check out the website PeaceWithGod.net)

+ Do you have loved ones and friends who just don’t understand spiritual truths? God loves them and Jesus died for them; will you pray for them? List your top three and ask the Holy Spirit to make them new creations in Jesus Christ.
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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Pour out your Spirit on us today. Continue to unfold your eternal truths to us – your unfailing love, your endless mercy, your transforming power. Open our eyes that we might recognize the reality of your Kingdom presence around us. And transform us into worthy citizens and ambassadors.

We pray today for family and friends who can’t see or understand the wonder of your love for them expressed in the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. (If someone comes to mind, mention them by name.) Have mercy on them and open their hearts to the life-giving power of your Word and Spirit.

Shine the light of your truth and grace on our lives, that we might continue to repent of our residual sins and receive your gracious forgiveness. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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“God So Loved the World” – The Choir of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and 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.

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

Friday Morning: 11 Jan 2019 – John 2:13-25 ~ Jesus Clears the Temple

Friday Morning

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

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 2:1-12 (NLT)

Jesus Clears the Temple

It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”

But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”

“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

“What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.

Jesus and Nicodemus

Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.
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Morning Reflection:

Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures:
“Passion for God’s house will consume me.” – John 2:17 (NLT)

Jesus’ first public work was to transform a market place into a place of worship.

Imagine going home and finding squatters trashing your house in the middle of the day. How would you respond? Probably with anger, but certainly with a sense that your person, your sanctuary, had been violated. And so, the Word of God cleansed the House of God, in order to restore it as a place for Communion with God.

No one needed to tell [Jesus] about human nature,
for he knew what was in each person’s heart. – John 2:25 (NLT)

And so it is today, Jesus is just as passionate about his place in your heart – the place where you commune with God.

Collect for Purity: “Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.”

Questions for your consideration:

+ What is going on in your heart? Is Jesus welcome? If not, why not?

+ What thoughts, desires, or secrets need cleansing so that Jesus can feel welcome and at home?

+ Ask Jesus for forgiveness and help in transforming your heart into his home.
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Morning Prayer:

Lord Jesus: Here are my thoughts, desires, and secrets that I know offend you….
I’m sorry, please forgive me.

Thank you for your assurance of forgiveness and cleansing; help me turn things around so that “I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name.”

I ask this in your Name, so that my life, inside and out, might glorify you. Amen.
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“Clean This House” – Isaac Carree

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and 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.

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

Thursday Morning: 10 Jan 2019 – John 2:1-12 ~ The Wedding at Cana

Thursday Morning

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

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 2:1-12 (NLT)

The Wedding at Cana

The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”

“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.

When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”

This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.
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Morning Reflection:

Jesus reveals his glory at a joyous wedding celebration, and his first miracle reinforces the disciples’ faith. As you read through this story, what stands out for you?

Here’s what I found interesting –

+ Jesus’ participation – It’s a joyous celebration with wine included. And he was happy to participate in the event, bringing friends along with him.

+ Jesus’ reluctance – He’s not ready to reveal himself, the timing isn’t right. Why does Mary intervene? Perhaps the embarrassed hosts are relatives.

+ Jesus’ power – Demonstrated over the natural world (that he created as the Word of God); he simply spoke the command. And converted water for ceremonial washing into wine for joyous celebration.

+ Jesus’ humility – It’s all done quietly without fanfare. There is no “tadah” moment. But the wonder of it all is not lost on Mary and his new followers.

Questions for consideration:

+ When do you invite Jesus into your life events – When you’re happy? When you’re sad? When you’re in trouble? At other times?

+ What do you expect of him – Bless your proceedings? Comfort your distress? Fix your problems? Perform a miracle? Something else?

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Morning Prayer:

Come Lord Jesus, into our lives, and into our life events. Give us the boldness of Mary to ask, and the obedience of the servants to do, what is required to demonstrate your glory, that all may believe. I ask this in your name and for your glory. Amen.
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“When You Walk Into the Room” – Bryan & Katie Torwalt

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and 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.

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

Wednesday Morning: 09 Jan 2019 – John 1:35-51 ~ Come and see for yourself.

Wednesday Morning

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

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 1:35-51 (NLT)

The First Disciples

The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.

Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them.

They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

“Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”).

Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.

Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”

“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

“Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.

As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”

“How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”

Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”

Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
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Morning Reflection:

Meeting Jesus personally will change your life forever.
Steven J. Cole

How did you come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord?

For me, it was a two-step process. I knew about Jesus as a teen, but it wasn’t until I sat down with a friend over coffee that I decided to follow Jesus, and that was 15 years later. And that decision changed my life forever.

In today’s reading, five men decided to follow Jesus at the very beginning of His ministry. They didn’t know a lot about Jesus, but they were willing to take a look, listen to what He had to say, and learn from Him.

What they discovered is that there is a lot more to Jesus than they realized, but they were willing to begin the journey with Him – the Lamb of God, the Messiah – because of the life-changing promise of sins forgiven.

Questions for consideration: Have you begun your journey with Jesus?

+ If not, why not begin today? See for yourself how at PeaceWithGod.net.
+ If yes, who was instrumental in bringing you to Jesus? And, do you have a friend that needs your help getting to Jesus? Ask God for help.

Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Thank you for your saving grace throughout my life, and especially for my wife and friends who gently introduced me to your Son, the Lamb of God, who took away my sins. My life has never been the same.

Renew in me that experience of “first love” – when everything was new and exciting as I climbed a very steep learning curve. Thank you for those who were patient with me, and sometimes long-suffering. Thank you for those who prayed for me.

As the year unfolds, give me opportunities to befriend the people around me, and show me how to gently connect them with you. Keep me faithful in daily time spent with you, and teach me your ways, through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.
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“Help Me Find It” – Sidewalk Prophets


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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and 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.

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