EChurch@Wartburg – 12.29.13

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Adoration_Magi_Louvre_OAR511.jpgAdoration – Magi (Louvre)

If you are new to EChurch, please click on this link for an explanation

Here is Our Order of Worship

A New Year's Prayer link

Come, Holy Spirit,
Spirit of the Risen Christ, be with us today and always.
Be our Light, our Guide, and our Comforter.
Be our Strength, our Courage, and our Sanctifier.
May this new year be a time of deep spiritual growth for us,
A time of welcoming your graces and gifts,
A time for forgiving freely and unconditionally,
A time for growing in virtue and goodness.

Come, Holy Spirit,
Be with us today and always.
Amen

The Lord's Prayer link

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, 
thy will be done, 
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us. 
And lead us not into temptation, 
but deliver us from evil. 
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. 
Amen 

Scripture Reading:  John 18:34 (NASB Bible Gateway)

Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”

Billy Graham's Prayer for the New Year link

(Billy Graham is very sick and we ask that you would pray for him as he prepares to enter eternity.)

Our Father and our God,
as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future.

We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us
but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges.
So help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives during this coming year. 

In the midst of life’s uncertainties in the days ahead,
assure us of the certainty of Your unchanging love. 
In the midst of life’s inevitable disappointments and heartaches,
help us to turn to You for the stability and comfort we will need. 

In the midst of life’s temptations and the pull of our stubborn self-will,
help us not to lose our way but to have the courage to do what is right in Your sight,
regardless of the cost. 

And in the midst of our daily preoccupations and pursuits,
open our eyes to the sorrows and injustices of our hurting world,
and help us to respond with compassion and sacrifice to those who are friendless and in need.
May our constant prayer be that of the ancient Psalmist:
“Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end” (Psalm 119:33).

We pray for our nation and its leaders during these difficult times,
and for all those who are seeking to bring peace and justice to our dangerous and troubled world.
We pray especially for Your protection on all those who serve in our armed forces,
and we thank You for their commitment to defend our freedoms,
even at the cost of their own lives.
Be with their families also, and assure them of Your love and concern for them. 

Bring our divided nation together,
and give us a greater vision of what You would have us to be.
Your Word reminds us that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

As we look back over this past year we thank You for Your goodness to us
far beyond what we have deserved.
May we never presume on Your past goodness or forget all Your mercies to us,
but may they instead lead us to repentance,
and to a new commitment to make You the foundation and center of our lives this year. 

And so, our Father, we thank You for the promise and hope of this new year,
and we look forward to it with expectancy and faith.
This I ask in the name of our Lord and Savior,
who by His death and resurrection has given us hope both for this world and the world to come. 
Amen

Benediction 
Romans 15:13 NIV

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Happy New Year!

Comments

EChurch@Wartburg – 12.29.13 — 7 Comments


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    Thank you both for this.


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    Yet another beautiful sermon and beautiful hymns! (especially O Holy Night :))

    Thank you!


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    I love seeing the Lord’s Prayer in the Elizabethan text of 1611. It just doesn’t have the same ring to it in the newer translations.


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      __

    @Wade

    “Festive Foundations: Tidings Of Great Joy?”

    Kirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrk!

    The kingdoms of this world, have become the kingdom of Christ?

    hmmm…

    -not yet-

    (sadface)

    But sooooooooon!

    Kingdom? 

    “A kingdom for a stage”?

    huh?

    “…for God’s sake, let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings…”?

    C’est fini. 

    Are we all da done dink with the season of this world’s puny kingdoms?

    What?

    For Christ’s kingdom is not cast upon a proverbial world stage of Lust and Pride.

    (…farrrrr greater is He)

    All that is in the kingdoms of this world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the boastful pride of life…

    Hmmm…

    This is not the kingdom of God.

    quack! quack!

    This is not such a kingdom in which Christ would rule.

    “My kingdom is not of this world”, Jesus said.

    Sure.

    Jesus’ kingdom is not one of Lust n’ Pride…

    BUt,

    One of…Righteousness, Peace, n’ Joy!

    Hum, hum, hum…

    “Glory to the coming King…” ?

    Yehaaaaaaaa!

    Sopy
    __
    Inspirational: Sarah Reeves –
    “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMp3kHSSBdg
    Bonus: Sarah Reeves – “Take Me to the King”
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaePjn1zC8I

    ;~)


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    Thanks everyone! Praying you will have a blessed New Year.


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    “E-Chuech, Popcorn, N’ A Front Row Seat?”

    hmmm…

    Deb,

    Thank you for the complimentary  sub-script-ion to E-Church. 

    (grin)

    I would very much like to renew my subscription for 2014.

    Many thanks for all you do!

    As you know, (all things considered) many a kind folk, are just ‘churched out’. Thank-You so much, for the wonderful alternative!

    A very Happy New Year to you and your family,

      I would suspect at this juncture, your name has been submitted for the ‘Christ Hall Of Fame’.

    I’m glad.

    Mega Blessings!

    hum, hum, hum…

    …dis lit’l light oh mine, Ize gonna let it shine…

    Sopy


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      __

    FYI: The broadcasted Christmas Eve service @ Wade’s place of Worship:

    http://vimeo.com/82736785