Liturgy for August 06, 2023
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Reflections
The prophet promises that one day YHWH will restore the fortunes of Israel by bringing about a new covenant, …a new marriage of God and God’s people. …Jeremiah spoke of this in terms of God putting his law into people’s hearts, and that is very close to what Paul envisages here. But the central thing he has to say, the central contrast between the old covenant and the new one, is that now God will give his own spirit to his people.
N.T. Wright
God, who as at this time did teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Savior, who lives and reigns with thee, in the unity of that same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Pentecost Collect
from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer
Every time we say, 'I believe in the Holy Spirit,' we mean that we believe that there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it.
J. B. Phillips
When troubles surround us, when evils come.
The body grows weak, the spirit grows numb.
When these things beset us, he doesn't forget us,
he sends down his love,
on the wings of a dove.On the wings of a snow white dove,
he sends his pure sweet love.
A sign from above,
on the wings of a dove.Ferlin Husky
from On the Wings of a Dove
Call to Worship
from Psalm 13
Leader: How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
People: How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Leader: Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
People: lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
Leader: But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
People: I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Leader: Come and Worship!
Hymn of Praise: God, All Nature Sings Thy Glory
Prayer of Praise and the Lord’s Prayer
Confession of Sin
Psalm 19:7-14
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Corporate Confession of Sin
All: Father, we know how we should live. You have written your law both in Your word and on our hearts. You have instilled in us an awareness when we sin against your law. We know your might, your power, your holiness, your great love for your people, and yet, despite this, we sin against you. At this time we come to You in confession, thinking of our sin, and the many ways we have transgressed against You. And yet, we can never confess all our sin because we are unable to even know them Help us now, Lord, to confess and we pray as did the Psalmist to declare us innocent from hidden faults. Deliver us from impulsive and presumptuous sins. Cleanse us again, we pray, through the sacrifice of Jesus, our savior and only hope. In His name we pray, Amen.
Declaration of Forgiveness and the Peace of God
Romans 5:1-2
Leader: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Leader: People of God, we are at peace with God. Jesus has redeemed us, and we can stand before God, not because of anything we have done but only because of His work. Our sins have been totally and completely forgiven and removed as far as the east is from the west.
People: Blessed is the name of Jesus, our Savior!
Silent Confession and Reflection
Hymn: In Christ Alone
Affirmation of Faith
The Apostles Creed
Leader: Christian, what do you believe?
People: I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living 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.
Hymn: Gloria Patri
Prayer of Intercession
Hymn: Arise, O God
Preaching of the Word
Are You Restoring Your Kingdom to Israel Now? -- Rev. Tim Lien
Scripture: Acts 1:4-11
Hymn: All Authority and Power
Benediction
Jude 24, 25
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. And God’s People said:
All: Amen!