Daily Prayer for December 10

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Daily Readings for Friday, December 10, 2021

• Morning Psalms 102; 148
• First Reading Haggai 1:1-15
• Second Reading Revelation 2:18-29
• Gospel Reading Matthew 23:27-39
• Evening Psalms 130; 16

O God, whose presence is veiled from our eyes: Grant that when we do not recognize you, our hearts may burn within us, and when feeling is lost, we may cling in faith to your Word and the power of bread broken. Eternal God of unchanging power and light, look with mercy on your whole church. Bring to completion your saving work, so that the whole world may see the fallen lifted up, the old made new, and all things brought to perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. God of grace and hope, we thank you for life, love, and good memories, for the gift of age, and for the wisdom that comes from experience. We bless you for your constant presence, for with you there is fullness of joy. Give us the courage and faith to accept life as it comes, confident that the future is yours and that we belong to you forever. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

Micah 5:2-4

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

    though you are small among the clans[b] of Judah,

out of you will come for me

    one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,

    from ancient times.”

3 

Therefore Israel will be abandoned

    until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,

and the rest of his brothers return

    to join the Israelites.

⁴ 

He will stand and shepherd his flock

    in the strength of the Lord,

    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

And they will live securely, for then his greatness

    will reach to the ends of the earth.

Photo by Patrick Schneider on Unsplash

Waiting

The mother of expectation is patience. The French author Simone Weil writes in her notebooks: "Waiting patiently in expectation is the foundation of the spiritual life." Without patience our expectation degenerates into wishful thinking. Patience comes from the word "patior" which means to suffer. The first thing that Jesus promises is suffering: "I tell you...you will be weeping and wailing...and you will be sorrowful." But he calls these pains birth pains. And so, what seems a hindrance becomes a way; what seems to be an obstacle becomes a door; what seems a misfit becomes a cornerstone. Jesus changes our history from a random series of sad incidents and accidents into a constant opportunity for a change of heart. To wait patiently therefore means to allow our weeping and wailing to become the purifying preparation by which we are made ready to receive the joy which is promised to us.

from Out of Solitude by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

Isaiah 40:9,11

 You who bring good news to Zion,

StJohnsAshfield_StainedGlass
_GoodShepherd

    go up on a high mountain.

You who bring good news to Jerusalem,[c]

    lift up your voice with a shout,

lift it up, do not be afraid;

    say to the towns of Judah,

    “Here is your God!”

He tends his flock like a shepherd:

    He gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them close to his heart;

    he gently leads those that have young.

COAT DRIVE RESULTS

Over 100 new and “like new” coats were collected for distribution by Third Pres and Isaiah 58 Ministries. The recipients were literally warmed by your generosity and want you to know how much they appreciate the coats.

Order of Worship December 5: Peace

 

CENTERING PRAYER

 

God of the Covenant, you send us messengers to cleanse and refine us for your coming. Help us endure and embrace the prophets’ message, that we may see you when you suddenly appear among us; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

PRELUDE (Sunday Worship) Noel Suisse Daquin (1694-1772) 

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Advent Wreath Liturgy 

We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ. 

In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord! 

Make a highway in the desert for our God. 

From ages of old, no ear has heard, no eye has seen one so glorious as the Lord our God, for whom we wait. 

Every valley shall be lifted, every mountain and hill, made low; 

Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed. 

Let us live into PEACE!

 † HYMN      “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”      Hymnal #88

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Refining God, you send us prophets, but we do not listen. You show us the way of life, but we prefer to go our own way. You give us your light, but we are more comfortable in the darkness. By your tender mercy, forgive us, and renew your covenant within us, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. (Silent Confession)

 

 

ASSURANCE OF GRACE 

† SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST 

The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

 †GLORIA PATRI       Hymnal #581 

TIME WITH CHILDREN (Sunday Worship) (Children 5th grade and younger may leave to attend Sunday School) 

SCRIPTURE      Malachi 3:1-4 

SERMON      “Into the Fire”      Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess 

† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Westminster Confession of Faith, Shorter Catechism Question One

 Q. What is our chief end? A. Our chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy God forever. 

OFFERING Noel Nouvelet arr. Pethel 

Declan Phipps, cello 

† THE DOXOLOGY      Hymnal #606 

THE CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION 

Invitation to the Table 

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer 

Words of Institution   

Sharing of the Bread & Cup   

Prayer After Communion 

† HYMN “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning” Hymnal #350 

† CHARGE AND BLESSING 

† BENEDICTION “Peace On the Earth” 

 POSTLUDE (Sunday Worship)      Diapason Movement      Green

 † You are invited to stand, as you are able

 

Scripture for Dec. 5

 

Malachi 3:1-4

3 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.

2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.Read full chapter

Photo by Cathal Mac an Bheatha on Unsplash

Daily Prayer December 3

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

Daily Readings for Friday, December 3, 2021

• Morning Psalms 102; 148
• First Reading Amos 5:1-17
• Second Reading Jude 1-16
• Gospel Reading Matthew 22:1-14
• Evening Psalms 130; 16

Jesus, Good Shepherd of the sheep, by whom the lost are sought and guided into the fold: Feed us and we shall be satisfied, heal us and we shall be whole, and lead us that we may be with you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Almighty God, by grace alone you call us and accept us in your service. Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call. Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation. In the beginning you separated light from darkness and placed all your works in our hands. You have given us the light of day that we might see your wonders in all we say and do; you give us the gentle darkness of the night that we might rest from our burdens and be refreshed in body and spirit. Break through the darkness of our sins with the splendor of your mercy and love. Send your light to dispel our fears and anxieties and fill us with hope and joy. Glory, praise, and honor are yours, O God. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

Isaiah 40: 3-5

 A voice of one calling:

“In the wilderness prepare

    the way for the Lord[a];

make straight in the desert

    a highway for our God.[b]

4 

Every valley shall be raised up,

    every mountain and hill made low;

the rough ground shall become level,

    the rugged places a plain.

5 

And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,

    and all people will see it together.

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Photo by Fares Nimri on Unsplash

6 

Children and Youth Events

 CHILDREN'S PROGRAM---DECEMBER 5 4PM

YOUTH GATHERING – DECEMBER 5 Youth are asked to stay after worship to get the plastic lids weighed and bagged into 50 pound bags. We will also play in the gym and have pizza for lunch!

CHRISTMAS PARTY--December 15 6-7PM  Wear your favorite ugly sweater or dress up in your Christmas best! Join us for food, fun, and fellowship! 

YOUTH MISSION TRIP REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Copperhill, TN June 12-18

Contact Pastor MP for more information