August 26, 2023

Pentecost

The word ‘Pentecost’ comes from the Greek meaning simply ‘fiftieth.’ Pentecost Sunday ends the season of Easter and symbolizes a new beginning. It celebrates the unleashing of the Holy Spirit on the world and the empowering of the church to reach the world with the gospel. In remembering Pentecost and living in light of this powerful turning point the church expresses gratitude to Christ for sending “another counselor” (John 14:16), celebrates the work of the Spirit in the renewal of all creation, and professes its confidence and security in knowing the Spirit’s power is available for its mission.

 

- Calling - 

O Lord, open our lips.

And our mouth shall proclaim Your praise.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness:
O come, let us adore him.

 

- Constitution - 

Read/Listen, Meditate, Pray, and Contemplate on God’s Word, remembering that God is with you and ready to speak to you because he loves you.


 

Obadiah

[1] The vision of Obadiah.

Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom:

We have heard a report from the LORD,

and a messenger has been sent among the nations:

“Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!”

[2] Behold, I will make you small among the nations;

you shall be utterly despised.

[3] The pride of your heart has deceived you,

you who live in the clefts of the rock,

in your lofty dwelling,

who say in your heart,

“Who will bring me down to the ground?”

[4] Though you soar aloft like the eagle,

though your nest is set among the stars,

from there I will bring you down,

declares the LORD.

[5] If thieves came to you,

if plunderers came by night—

how you have been destroyed!—

would they not steal only enough for themselves?

If grape gatherers came to you,

would they not leave gleanings?

[6] How Esau has been pillaged,

his treasures sought out!

[7] All your allies have driven you to your border;

those at peace with you have deceived you;

they have prevailed against you;

those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you—

you have no understanding.

[8] Will I not on that day, declares the LORD,

destroy the wise men out of Edom,

and understanding out of Mount Esau?

[9] And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman,

so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.

[10] Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob,

shame shall cover you,

and you shall be cut off forever.

[11] On the day that you stood aloof,

on the day that strangers carried off his wealth

and foreigners entered his gates

and cast lots for Jerusalem,

you were like one of them.

[12] But do not gloat over the day of your brother

in the day of his misfortune;

do not rejoice over the people of Judah

in the day of their ruin;

do not boast

in the day of distress.

[13] Do not enter the gate of my people

in the day of their calamity;

do not gloat over his disaster

in the day of his calamity;

do not loot his wealth

in the day of his calamity.

[14] Do not stand at the crossroads

to cut off his fugitives;

do not hand over his survivors

in the day of distress.

[15] For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations.

As you have done, it shall be done to you;

your deeds shall return on your own head.

[16] For as you have drunk on my holy mountain,

so all the nations shall drink continually;

they shall drink and swallow,

and shall be as though they had never been.

[17] But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape,

and it shall be holy,

and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.

[18] The house of Jacob shall be a fire,

and the house of Joseph a flame,

and the house of Esau stubble;

they shall burn them and consume them,

and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau,

for the LORD has spoken.

[19] Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau,

and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines;

they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria,

and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.

[20] The exiles of this host of the people of Israel

shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath,

and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad

shall possess the cities of the Negeb.

[21] Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion

to rule Mount Esau,

and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.

Psalm 149

[1] Praise the LORD!

Sing to the LORD a new song,

his praise in the assembly of the godly!

[2] Let Israel be glad in his Maker;

let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!

[3] Let them praise his name with dancing,

making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

[4] For the LORD takes pleasure in his people;

he adorns the humble with salvation.

[5] Let the godly exult in glory;

let them sing for joy on their beds.

[6] Let the high praises of God be in their throats

and two-edged swords in their hands,

[7] to execute vengeance on the nations

and punishments on the peoples,

[8] to bind their kings with chains

and their nobles with fetters of iron,

[9] to execute on them the judgment written!

This is honor for all his godly ones.

Praise the LORD!

- Communion - 


Pray for yourself, others, our church, our neighbors, and the world.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer & the collect of the week:

Our Father who art in heaven...

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

- Commission - 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)

Let us go forth in the name of Christ.