Tuesday, October 30, 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 Consummation

    Revelation 21

    We’re going to a place where we will dwell in the presence of God and his Christ, and will never know sorrow, fear, or pain again. The blessed hope of Christ’s return is the yearning of our hearts, the longing of our souls. The intimacy and connection that was so viciously broken and forfeited in the Garden will wondrously be restored in the holy city, the New Jerusalem. As the hope of the saints throughout all time, our desire has always been to be where he is, to live in his presence, to dwell in our new home. Truly, for those who believe, there’s no place, truly no place, like home!

    It is comforting to know that in our future home is a place of justice and peace – a place absent from unjust lending, predatory practices, or variable mortgage rates. Racial, ethnic, and national bigotry will be extinguished, and religious hatred will be eliminated forever. Our future hope is the city-of-God’s-own-building, the holy city, the New Jerusalem, where the Lord and the Lamb dwell, which will become our forever hometown. The promise is sure and the hope is certain: God will dwell with us, we will be his people, and God himself will be our God. Let us long and yearn for our true home, the place of our future, the city of our joy.

    And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”

    ~ Revelation 21.3

  • Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation

    Eternal God our Father, we thank you for the promise of living with you forever in a city made with your infinite design and brilliant display. Greater than its splendor, however, will be your own holy presence; we will forever be blessed dwelling with you in your holy city, with all your saints, whose residence has been made sure by the shed blood of your Son our Savior, Jesus Christ. We set our mind on these things above today, through Christ our Lord, 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

    Tuesday: Rom. 14-16



    Lectionary Readings for the Day

    Psalm: Ps. 34.1-8, 19-22

    OT: Job 42.1-6, 10-17

    Gospel: Mark 10.46-52

    NT: Heb. 7.23-28

    (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  
    Soon-and-coming King, O Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for obtaining for us a place which you have personally crafted and constructed for those who approach the throne through you. We yearn to see your face, and to dwell with you in that place which will be our home forever. Keep this prospect and blessing ever in our sights and hope. In your name, amen.

    Affirmation from the Psalms
    Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, [2] beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. [3] Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.

    ~ Psalm 48.1-3

    Pray without Ceasing - Flash Prayer for the Day
    Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, the city where God’s honor dwells.

  • Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus

    The One Given Dominion

    Daniel 7.9-14



    Book Reading

    Lutzer, One Minute after You Die

    Special Church Year Service

    Reformation Day: Wednesday, October 31, 2018

    All Saints Day: Thursday, November 1, 2018