Lent Daybook 30: Rescue Is Coming
Look: Cabeza de Cristo, Paulo Medina - Source
Listen*: Rescue Is Coming (B Walk Down Stairs), David Crowder Band - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube
Read**: Psalm 121, 122, 123; Exodus 5:1-6:1; 1 Corinthians 14:20-33a,39-40; Mark 9:42-50
Excerpts:
"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."
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"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! "May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” For my brothers and companions' sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good."
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"To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us."
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"Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.
... Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”
But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”
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"Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
... For God is not a God of confusion but of peace."
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"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
- Psalm 121 * Psalm 122:6-9 * Psalm 123:1-2 * Exodus 5:1-9, 22-6:1 * 1 Corinthians 14:20-25, 33a * Mark 9:42-50 (ESV)
Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Prayers of the People (Form VI)
On Tuesdays, through Lent, we’ll practice an intercessory prayer method called “Prayers of the People”. This comprehensive format of call and response guides us through each sphere of our world with specific prayer. If you’re praying with a friend or family member, one of you can read the first part (the bidding) and one can read the second part (the response).
“In peace, we pray to you, Lord God. Silence
For all people in their daily life and work; For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.
For this community, the nation, and the world; For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
For the just and proper use of your creation; For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble; For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.
For the peace and unity of the Church of God; For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.
For our church leaders; and all other ministers; For all who serve God in his Church.
For the special needs and concerns of our congregation.
Silence
Add your own requests and petitions: ____________.
Hear us, Lord; For your mercy is great.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life.
Silence
Add your own thanksgivings: ________________.
We will exalt you, O God our King; And praise your Name for ever and ever.
We think of all who have died in Christ, and thank you that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.
Silence
Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them; Who put their trust in you.
We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins.
Silence
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; in your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone; and so uphold us by your Spirit that we may live and serve you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Silence
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.”
Do: Fast from spending money. Feast on giving alms instead.
This week, fast from spending money, and feast on giving alms instead. Let each necessary purchase remind you of the reality of our complete poverty and helplessness before God and without the work of Christ. Instead of spending practice giving. Almsgiving is a traditional Lenten practice. This week pray that the Lord would show you his face in the most distressing of your neighbors, and lead you to ways that you can show compassionate mercy.
Three giving opportunities to consider:
Give locally, to a local mission or food pantry. With so many out of work, food pantries are already reporting shortages, and Bridgeport Rescue Mission will see a spike in daily meals served and food distributed. Church of the Apostles will be making a special donation to BRM to help in this time. Join us by dropping of non-perishable food items at the mission or making a donation. You can check out news from BRM by following this link.
Give at the U.S. Border as recommended by Sarah Quezada: "Abara is an organization I have visited and worked with on the border between El Paso and Juarez. They are on the ground and working to support migrants waiting along the border. They have offered specific donation requests (and of course, financial gifts are needed, too). Please consider supporting them!
Give globally. Quarantined Refugees are running out of food. Donate through one of my favorite charities - https://preemptivelove.org/food-crisis/
* Listen to my entire playlist on Spotify - Lent: Worship & Prayer 2020. Add it to your account by clicking ‘Save to My Library.’
** Sunday Scripture readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary (Year A). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the Book of Common Prayer (Year 2).