Saturday, July 7, 2018

  • 1 This Week's Theme
  • 2 Preparing Our Hearts
  • 3 Praising Our God
  • 4 Listening to His Voice
  • 5 Responding in Faith
  • 6 Departing to Serve
  • 7 For Your Weekly Journey
  • The Heavenly Throne

    Revelation 4

    Nothing is more important in the life of the Church than a true picture of God. This is not an intellectual affair, or a philosophical task. Only through the Spirit of God can we truly discern the beauty and majesty of the One who is the creator of the universe and redeemer of humankind. Only through his grace and invitation can we truly come to under­stand his glory; all things find their source and sustenance in him. He is the object of the vision of John, and he is worthy of our worship. Let us worship and bow down, and kneel before the One who sits on the throne, and the Lamb.

    No true disciple of Christ fails to long for the beatific vision that John was given to see – the One seated on the throne, our Maker and God. In all of life, nothing is more valuable or important than seeing a true picture of God, and being transformed by that vision. This is not the end of a rationalized argument or a philosophical dialogue. What we need is a vision from God, a heavenly invitation made real by the Holy Spirit to gaze on him who is our life and our source.

    And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

    ~ Revelation 4.8

  • Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation

    Eternal God our Father, catch us up in your Spirit and enable us to see you as you truly are, the sovereign creator of the universe, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We worship you today. Amen.

    Call to Worship  

    Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, Amen.

  • Te Deum Laudamus

    You are God: we praise you; you are the Lord; we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

    The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

    You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

    Praise and Thanksgiving (songs and prayers)

    Gloria Patri

    Glory be to the Father, And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, Is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen, amen. 

  • Chronological Reading for the Day

    Saturday: Jer. 25; 36; 45-46



    Lectionary Readings for the Day

    Psalm: Ps. 30

    OT: Lam. 3.22-33

    Gospel: Mark 5.21-43

    NT: 2 Cor. 8.7-15

    (Click here for all readings)

    Reflection: Silence and/or Journaling

  • The Apostles' Creed

    I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

    I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

    *In the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).

    Prayers of Confession
    Let us now confess our sins to God and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

    Assurance of Pardon
    Having faithfully confessed and renounced your sin, Christ also has been faithful to forgive your sins and to purify you from all unrighteousness. It is certain, that there is One who has spoken to the Father in your defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. His grace and peace are with you now. Amen.

    Petitions and Supplications, Ending with The Lord's Prayer
    Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

    --Matthew 6.9-13 (KJV)

    Doxology (and/or closing song)
    Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
    Praise Him all creatures here below;
    Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
    Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

  • Benediction  
    Dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, draw us to your side and enable us to see your Father as he truly is – the Creator of the universe, the Lord and Sovereign, our Lord God Almighty. Only through you can we come to the Father; draw us to his side tonight. Amen.

    Affirmation from the Psalms
    Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! [2] I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. [3] Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. [4] When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. [5] Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, [6] who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; [7] who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free.

    ~ Psalm 146.1-7

    Pray without Ceasing - Flash Prayer for the Day
    Grant to me a vision of your heavenly throne, O God, that I may know how to live to please you here, on earth.

  • Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus

    The Heavenly Throne

    Revelation 4



    Book Reading

    Ladd, A Commentary on the Revelation of John

    Our Corporate Disciplines

    Book Discussion: Monday, July 2, 2018