HOLY WEEK : SABBATH 26.3.16

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HOLY SABBATH 
Christ became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name. Philippians 2.8-9 ~ Creator of heaven and earth, as the crucified body of Your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so may we await with Him the coming of the third day, and rise with Him to newness of life. ~ As we wait in stillness . . . ~ O God,  we offer the prayers we carry deep in our heart that those who need deliverance  may know Your steadfast love and salvation. ~ Merciful God, release us from the time of trial and oppression, that we may witness to the eternal hope of grief becoming joy and life rising from death.  Amen. ~
Scripture Readings: { click to read } ~~ Job 14.1-14  |  Psalm 31.1-4, 15-16  |  l Peter 4.1-8  |  John 19.38-42 ~ Eternal God, Rock and Refuge: with roots grown old in the earth, river beds run dry, and flowers withered in the field, we wait for revival and release. Abide with us until we come alive in the sunrise of Your glory. With faith, believing in Your Name. Amen.





~*~  prayers reprinted {with modifications} from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright 2002 Consultation on Common Texts and The Book of Alternative Services
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HOLY WEEK: GOOD FRIDAY 25.3.16

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Scripture Readings: { click to read }
Isaiah 52.13-53.12  |  Psalm 22.1-17  |  Hebrews 4.14-16; 5.7-9 | John 19.17-30  |
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Grieving God,
on the cross Your Son embraced death even as He had embraced life; faithfully and with good courage.
Grant that we who have been born out of His wounded side may hold fast to our faith in Him.
Make us steadfast witnesses of our Saviour's reign that we may live in the pattern of Christ, Who was faithful in all things, even death. In the name of Him
Whose darkest hour gives Light and Hope.   Amen.
~*~

prayers reprinted {with modifications} from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, 
copyright 2002 Consultation on Common Texts ___________
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HOLY WEEK: THURSDAY PRAYERS + READINGS 24.3.16

~ HOLY WEEK:  MAUNDY THURSDAY ~ After he had washed their feet, taken back his clothes and returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me ‘Rabbi’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because I am. Now if I, the Lord and Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet.  For I have set you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you. Yes, indeed! I tell you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is an emissary greater than the one who sent him.
John 13.12-16

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Father, in the sharing of a meal, in the washing of feet, Your Son has shown us a new way of life. May You grant, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, these signs of our life in faith may speak to our hearts, feed our spirits, and refresh our bodies. In the name of the One who is our Example.  Amen.

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 On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread  and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”  For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
l Corinthians 11. 23-26
~ May we recognize the example set by our Lord Jesus' in breaking the bread. May we too, live the broken life. Broken and Given. In remembrance of Him. Amen. ~

Scripture Readings:
{ click to read }

Jeremiah 31.31-34  |  Psalm 116.10-17  |  Hebrews 10.16-25  |  Luke 22.7-20

~ Lord,
Your love and life is poured out in death for our sakes.
Hold us in Your embrace as we wait for Easter's dawn.
Comfort us with the promise that no power on earth, not even death itself, can separate us from Your love, and strengthen us to wait for Your victory when You are revealed to us in all Your glory. In Your victorious name we pray.  Amen.
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HOLY WEEK: MONDAY PRAYERS + READINGS 21.3.16

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This is real love - not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent
His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
1 John 4.10
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HOLY WEEK:  MONDAY  God, through Christ, has given us as a covenant to the people, to heal and to liberate through prayer and presence. We gather the concerns of the church and the world, and hold them in our hearts before our Creator and Redeemer. Gracious God, the Hope of all in need, pour your Spirit upon us, that we may be instruments of Your justice and compassion, a light to the nations, and a living promise of Your new heaven and new earth. In Your Son's name we pray, Amen. ~ Scripture Readings: {click to read} Isaiah 42.1-9 |  Psalm 36.5-11  |  Hebrews 9.11-15  |  John 12.1-11 ~ God of steadfast love, Light of the blind and Liberator of the oppressed, we see Your holy purpose in the tender compassion of Jesus, who calls us into new and living friendship with You. May we, who take shelter in the shadow of Your wings, be filled with the grace of His tender caring; may we, who stumble in selfish darkeness, see Your glory in the light of His self-giving. We ask this through The One whose suffering is victorious. Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.



~*~ prayers reprinted with modifications from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright 2002 Consultation on Common Texts ______ FIND MORE FHC on BOOK DEPOSITORY | PINTEREST | TWITTER | GOOGLE+ | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | NETWORKED BLOGS | LIBRARYTHING Tweet

HOLY WEEK: WORSHIP and EASTER VIGIL

Share five favourite Holy Week things, 

five things that are truly worshipful for you. 

my five ~

1 Definitely Maundy Thursday.

the blessing of leading new believers into the deep truths of 

loving each other

serving each other

in humbling one's self before the other

as Christ led by example.

washing one another's feet

breaking and serving each other the bread and wine

in Remembrance of Him...
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2 Celebration of the Palm Branch Praise Service

the JoY and exuberance 

of welcoming Christ

Hosannas of Gratitude in Thanksgiving for Who He IS 

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3  the depths of Christ's agony on our behalf

His willingness to suffer what we deserved 

in recognition of our sins against God

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truly Good this Friday worship 

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4 Easter Eve with the Great Vigil

anticipation ...

all with candles awaiting the Light of the Risen Christ

"we share in the light of Your glory through Your Son,

The Light of the World

inflame us with new hope..."

"For Christ has ransomed us with His blood,

and paid for us the price of Adam's sin to our Eternal Father!"

yes ~ truly a night of Triumphal worship as we welcome the Risen Lord!

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5 that Holy Week is just that!

It's more than just an Easter sunday one day event.

It's an entire week of deeply meaningful worship

of Christ and all He IS and has done...
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following the spiritual journey of Lent

it is a week of intense awe and wonder of our Great God!

Love and Gratitude openly expressed in Worship

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~ Come ~ join the worship ! 
Share your favourites of Holy Week in comments or blog post [then leave the link so we can find them]
~ May your blessings increase in keeping the Easter Vigil!



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HOLY WEEK: MAUNDY THURSDAY 2.4.15

MAUNDY THURSDAY REMEMBRANCES


Tonight as we remember the mandates of Yeshua Jesus to His disciples

we look at some of the highlights of the Seder Meal the Jewish family has

when it celebrates the Passover

and compare them with the Last Supper Jesus had with His disciples

just before He went to the cross.

Here is Paul’s description of the Passover meal Jesus had with His disciples

before He went to the cross.

 from 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

 For  I  received  from  the Lord what  I also passed on  to  you:

The Lord  Jesus, on  the night he was betrayed,

took bread,  and when he had given  thanks, he broke it and said,

“This is my body, which  is  for  you;  do  this  in  remembrance  of  me.”  

In  the  same  way,  after  supper  he  took  the cup, saying,

“This cup is the new covenant in  my blood;

do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

source

The four cups that are consumed during the meal

symbolize the four distinct redemptions promised by G-d to the Hebrews 

as told in Exodus 6:6-7

four cups of wine to celebrate redemption and freedom

and are particularly pertinent to the sacrifice of Christ as the Lamb of God

slain for the sins of the world.

"Cup of Sanctification"

 as God set apart His people in Egypt

drink in remembrance that we have been set apart

by the Lord's sanctification

“Cup of Instruction”

tells the story of the cross and how it delivered us from bondage

“Cup of Redemption,”

Matthew 26:26-28 , Luke 22:14-20

"he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. 

He gave it to them and said, 

“Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, 

which confirms the covenant between God and his people. 

It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many."

{Andrea describes the Passover beautifully

with many of its implications to followers of Christ.}

The same is true of the unleavened matzah bread used in the ceremony,

even to the very way it is baked

unleavened ~ being without hypocrisy and sin

the bread of Life ~ Christ ~ John 6.48-51

being pierced and striped

broken for us

as is the middle matzah of the three at the Seder 

 Father Son and Holy Spirit

the broken matzah then wrapped in white linen

as was Christ

source

I pray your worship this Maundy Thursday

has deeply reflected the impact of Christ's mandates

of serving one another in humility

as He led by example in washing His followers feet,

His command to Love one another,

and the breaking of bread and sharing the cup

around the table of His remembrance ...

if you are interested in more on this,

Joe Amaral has been a wonderful resource of

First Century Foundations by dvd of Ancient Feasts

{free study guide available at his site}

and his release Understanding Jesus

which recognizes the cultural realities that impact accurate 

interpretation of scripture ~ excellent resources

 both book and dvd

Reflections continue tomorrow
as we worship our Lord
throughout Good Friday remembrances...

*
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HOLY WEEK: PALM SUNDAY March 29.15

* We begin this final week of Lent with the Palm Sunday Celebration of  Yeshua's Welcome into Jerusalem 

* HOSANNA 
Paul Baloche leads today's praise for #SONGSonSUNDAYs

* You are invited to add your praise link for #SONGSonSUNDAYs in comments.
If you've posted it to your blog, please include the url link back to this post. Thanks for sharing with us today! * Every Blessing on your worship and reflection this Holy Week...

*

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Easter JoY !

Easter

“Oh, what joy for those

      whose disobedience is forgiven,

      whose sin is put out of sight!”

The Alleluia of Easter 

while living in a Good Friday world, 

King David’s words resonate with me increasingly 

as I near the day of celebration.

Caspar David Friedrich 1833

My Lenten journey has been long 

as I’ve plumbed new depths of relationship 

with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  

Spiritual discoveries gained through exploration 

of new directions led by Holy Spirit, 

that voice behind me saying, 

"This is the way you should go,”” Is 30.21. 

From the very inception of this Lenten journey 

I have been led on a new path.  

Not a common path of caffeine or sugar sacrifice; 

A path of inner recognition; a path of listening and hearing; 

a path of relational focus;  

An uncommon path of sacrificing distractions.  

I was impelled to answer the searching gaze that queried, 

“What is keeping you occupied?  

What has your attention?  

Your focus?  Your heart?” 

Which is, of course, what God is always pursuing; 

our heart.  My heart in this case. 

 And was it a worthy focus?  A worthy occupation?  

These attractions; these distractions 

that so cleverly kept my attention?  

Anaesthetizing me to the very relationship 

to which I’m called and for which I’m created.  

The questions searched the depths of me; my core.  

Which they must if I am to be changed.  

To be transformed.  

To be conformed to the image 

of the One who designed and desires me as His own. 

And so the journey continues.  

Hearing, now that I’m listening.  

Listening, now that I’m hearing.  

The joy and beauty of a developing love relationship.  

How do we fall in love?  

By spending time together.  

Which is exactly what this Lenten journey has provided.  Focused time – together. 

Time intentionally redirected to God.  

Sitting in His Presence.  

Reading and re-reading His love letters.  

Conversation.   Notes taken in those conversations.   

Ah hah  moments of revelation.  

Resting in His embrace.  

Gratitude and reflection.  

Contemplation of beauty – His beauty.  

Of person, heart, love, nature.  

‘Altogether lovely’, isn’t He described in scripture?  

And I’ve - we’ve – been invited 

to discover this loveliness for ourselves. 

And so I enter into Easter.  

Into this celebration of joy.  

Focused.  Intentional.  

Undivided in heart and attention.  

In heart satisfying relationship with my Saviour.  

And with all Easter people I joyfully proclaim, 

Alleluia!  Christ is risen!  

The Lord is risen indeed!  

Alleluia!

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Maundy Thursday of Holy Week 28.3.13

This is the day

that Christ the Lamb of God

gave himself into the hands of those who would slay him.

This is the day

that Christ gathered with his disciples in the upper room.

 This is the day

that Christ took a towel

and washed the disciples' feet,

giving us an example that we should do to others

as He has done to us.

This is the day

that Christ our God gave us the feast,

that we who eat this bread and drink this cup

may here proclaim his Holy Sacrifice

may keep always in remembrance of Him

and be partakers of His resurrection,

and at the last day may reign with Him in heaven.

O God,

your son Yeshua Jesus

has left to us this meal of bread and wine

in which we share His body and His blood.

May we who celebrate this sign of His great love

show in our lives the fruits of His redemption;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever... Amen.

Readings:

{click reference to link directly to scripture}

Jeremiah 31.31-34

Psalm 116.10-17

I will lift up the cup of salvation.

Hebrews 10.16-25

Luke 22.7-20

Father,

we spread the table

to remember the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ, 

your Son, and our Saviour.

Accept all we offer you this day.

Bind us together in His love

and in the love He has commanded us to bring one another

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Fellow servants of our Lord Jesus Christ,

on the night before His death,

Yeshua Jesus set an example for His disciples

by washing their feet, an act of humble service.

He taught that strength and growth

in the life of the kingdom of God

come not by power, authority, or even miracle,

but by such lowly service.

Therefore, all who share in the royal priesthood of Christ

may recall Whose servants we are

by following the example of our Master.

Remembering His admonition

that what will be done for you

 is also to be done by you to others,

for "a servant is not greater than his master,

nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

John 13.17

Holy God,

source of all love,

on the night of His betrayal

Yeshua Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment,

to love one another as He loved them.

Write this commandment in our hearts;

give us the will to serve others

as He was the servant of all,

who gave His life and died for us,

yet is alive and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

One God, now and for ever.  Amen and Amen.

A new commandment I give to you,

that you love one another as I have loved you.

John 13.34

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