The need and the call

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Bible reading Nehemiah 1 Nehemiah’s Prayer 1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, […]

Loved and cherished

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Bible reading & Paraphrase poem Psalm 139 1 You have searched me, Lord,     and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise;     you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down;     you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue […]

Being filled with the Spirit

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Bible reading Luke 1:46-55 Mary’s Song 46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful     of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—     holy is […]

Being filled with the Spirit

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Bible reading Luke 1:46-55 Mary’s Song 46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful     of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—     holy is […]

Making the Kingdom Present

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Bible reading Luke 4:16-21 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The […]

Living lives that count

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Bible reading 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Instructions on Worship 2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants […]

Say Yes and Saying No

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Bible reading 1 Peter 2:9-12 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had […]

Going forth

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Bible reading Matthew 28:16-20 The Great Commission 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go […]