+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentence
As I arise today, may the strength of God pilot me, the power of God uphold me, the wisdom of God guide me.
Morning Reading: Proverbs 9:10 (NLT)
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Morning Reading: Isaiah 66:1-2 (NLT)
This is what the Lord says:
“Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken!
“I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word….”
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ: Thank you for all you have given me – accept and bless my work today.
+ You offered yourself to the Father on my behalf – join my offering with yours.
+ You are gentle and humble of heart – teach me to receive others as you did.
+ You bring light and life into the world – may your light shine in my heart and reflect your life to the world.
+ You heal the sick – manifest your healing presence and show mercy to all who are sick today.
+ You are the King of Glory – accept my worship and increase my trust in you.
Almighty, ever-living God, dispel from my heart the darkness of sin, and bring me ever closer to the true light, Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
“Facedown,” – Matt Redman
Blessing
Christ with me, Christ in me.
Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left; Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down; Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me; Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me.
Christ with me, Christ in me.
+ 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 Sentence
As I arise today, may the strength of God pilot me, the power of God uphold me, the wisdom of God guide me.
Morning Reading: Proverbs 7:1-3 (NLT)
A soldier reads the Torah at the Western Wall.
Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands.
Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes. Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.
Morning Reading: Ephesians 2:19-22(NLT)
So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Prayer
Praise to you, Heavenly Father, for including us as members of your family – make us a holy people after the likeness of your Son, Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit –
+ Give us strength and life – that we may do our part to build up the body of Christ.
+ Give us humility and forbearance – that we may preserve the unity of the body of Christ.
+ Give us clarity and conviction – that we may repent of our sins and receive your forgiveness.
+ Give us a hunger for your Word – that we may grow in wisdom and live out your instructions.
Almighty God and Father, strengthen us in the faith which has been handed down to us by the prophets and apostles, and made flesh and blood in your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that your Church may become the sign and seal of salvation for all the nations of the earth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“Cornerstone” – Hillsong Live
Blessing
Christ with me, Christ in me.
Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left; Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down; Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me; Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me.
Christ with me, Christ in me.
+ 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 Sentence
As I arise today, may the strength of God pilot me, the power of God uphold me, the wisdom of God guide me.
Morning Reading: Proverbs 5:15, 18 (NLT)
Drink water from your own well—share your love only with your wife.
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Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
Morning Reading: Romans 13:11-13 (NLT)
Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.
Prayer
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, the high priest of our faith: you have called us to share the life of God. You are our Savior and our God.
+ Almighty King, you have made us a royal priesthood – may we offer you a constant sacrifice of praise.
+ Help us to keep your commandments – so that through your Holy Spirit we may dwell in you, and you in us.
+ Everlasting Wisdom, come to us – dwell with us and work in us today.
+ Help us to be considerate and kind – grant that we may bring joy, not pain, to those we meet.
As the day unfolds, Lord, look with favor on us and, in your saving love, let your light penetrate the hidden places of our hearts. May no sordid desires darken our minds, renewed and enlightened as we are by your heavenly grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“Christ In Me” – Tim Timmons
Blessing
Christ with me, Christ in me.
Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left; Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down; Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me; Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me.
Christ with me, Christ in me.
+ 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 Sentence
As I arise today, may the strength of God pilot me, the power of God uphold me, the wisdom of God guide me.
Morning Reading: Proverbs 6:6-11 (NLT)
Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!
Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.
But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
Morning Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 (NLT)
Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”
Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.
Prayer
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is the fullness of grace and the Spirit of God. Thank you for all your blessings.
+ Lord, give us your Spirit – that we may have peace of mind and generosity of heart
+ Lord, give us your Spirit – that we may have health and strength to do your will.
+ Lord, give us your Spirit – that we may be enfolded in your love throughout the day.
+ Lord, give us your Spirit – that we may be guided in our work throughout the day.
+ Lord, give us your Spirit – that we may pray for those in need in accordance with your will.
Almighty God, our Father, give us your Spirit and grant that we may come to the Kingdom of heaven and to the glory destined for your children. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“Lazy Bones” – Leon Redbone
Blessing
Christ with me, Christ in me.
Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left; Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down; Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me; Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me.
Christ with me, Christ in me.
+ 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.
Our God is a gracious God, who throws open the doors to the Kingdom to all of humanity.
Opening Prayer:
To the banquet of your kingdom, O God of the nations, you have invited people of every race and tongue. May all who are called to a place at your table come by the narrow way to the unending feast of life. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“All are welcome” – by Marty Haugen
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A Reading from the Old Testament: Isaiah 66:18-21 (NLT)
[Isaiah dreams of the time when all the nations will accept God’s message and be gathered together.]
Chief Military Rabbi Shlomo Goren at the Western Wall in 1967 shortly after the liberation of Jerusalem. (Photo: Wiki Commons)
“I can see what they are doing, and I know what they are thinking. So I will gather all nations and peoples together, and they will see my glory. I will perform a sign among them. And I will send those who survive to be messengers to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (who are famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to all the lands beyond the sea that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. There they will declare my glory to the nations. They will bring the remnant of your people back from every nation. They will bring them to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord. They will ride on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the Lord. “And I will appoint some of them to be my priests and Levites. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 117:1-2 (NLT)
Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth.
For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever.
Praise the Lord!
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“Psalm 117” – Sons of Korah | All You Peoples All you Nations
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A Reading from the Letters: Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 (NLT)
[Suffering is interpreted as a way of being trained to do what is right.]
And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,
“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 13:22-30 (NLT)
[Salvation is open to all people, but many now first will be last into the kingdom of God.]
Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”
He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’
“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God. And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”
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“Come to the Banquet of God” – Christ the King Choir Qatar
Come to the banquet of God, our God who embraces all people, our God who gathers all of humanity and calls us with passion untold.
Come to the feast of our God, our God who delights in us all, our God in whose arms we’re safely enfolded who loves us with passion untold!
In the love of the Lord we belong. In the heart of God we dwell. In the banquet of God we herald and sing the wonder of oneness, the triumph of love, compassion, salvation for all!
Come to the banquet of God. Feast of all friends, meal of love. Par-take in the goodness, share in the majesty. God’s justice is mercy untold!
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Intercessory Prayer:
God of love and faithfulness, hear our prayers:
+ That missionaries who are struggling may not give up…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those who preach the gospel may do so with courage and clarity…. Lord, hear us.
+ That all the peoples of the earth may learn to live in friendship and peace…. Lord, hear us.
+ That all believers may live the Gospel, in faith, honesty and love of neighbor…. Lord, hear us.
+ That teachers and students returning to school may look forward to making a new start…. Lord, hear us.
+ That people in need may have the support of their friends and neighbors…. Lord, hear us.
+ That all who have preceded us in death may take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God…. Lord, hear us.
Faithful God, strong is your love for all people: hear our prayers, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“You Are Mine” – David Haas
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Benediction:
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 15:5-6
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Peanut Gallery 