Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday A Necessary Step To Easter

And Two Glaring Messages

Video Introduction https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cqg2APNAMRE/?igshid=ZTlkMDEyOTY=

As We Start Holy Week, we will have a Service Post each day.

Our Facebook, LinkedIn, and Web Page will have each lesson posted, as well as a Link on Twitter, you are welcome to share these messages, and please consider attending some of the Churches whose Music we post through their YouTube post.

Have you ever thought, how such a triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, could in less than 5 days bring Jesus to such a horrific death?

Well, we will review that the natural heart of Mankind, makes this not so surprising, as we see over and over in world events, mankind’s inhumane treatment of each other.

Jesus for ordained and knew the very people and path HE Fully embraced.   

As we approach Seder Wednesday, and Maundy Thursday I would really hope we see the stunning difference between an Original Passover Meal, and The LORD’S Supper.

Each Day will build on the collision course Jesus has Preordained in order to redeem us from our treason.

This lesson on the simple Palm Branch, and the need for a Palm Sunday is truly the Foundation of Holy Week, and an important stepping Stone to fulfilling the Law Completely.

Let’s Run to Worship

Call To Worship;

Revelation 4:8 ¶ And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME."

 9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,

Processional All Glory Laud & Honor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJALo93pTis

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Detroit, Michigan 

Passing of the Peace Of Christ

May The Peace Of Christ Be With You

ALL: And Also With You

Please take a moment to Pass the Peace of Christ

Hymn The GOD Of Abraham Praise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xl2kNlUhXA

Faith Presbyterian Church, Tacoma, Washington, Organist Mr. Ron Bechtel

First Reading

Isaiah 62:11 Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, "Lo, your salvation comes; Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him."

 12 And they will call them, "The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD"; And you will be called, "Sought out, a city not forsaken."

Zechariah 9:8 But I will camp around My house because of an army, Because of him who passes by and returns; And no oppressor will pass over them anymore, For now I have seen with My eyes.

 9 ¶ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

This Is The WORD Of The LORD

ALL: Thanks Be To GOD!

The LORD’S Prayer & Nicene Creed

Matthew 6:9 ¶ And Jesus said "In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

 11 Give us this day our daily bread.

 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Christian What Do You Believe?

I believe in one God the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth,

And of all things visible and invisible:

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,

Begotten of his Father before all worlds,

God of God, Light of Light,

Very God of very God,

Begotten, not made,

Being of one substance with the Father,

By whom all things were made;

Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven,

And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,

And was made man,

And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

He suffered and was buried,

And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,

And ascended into heaven,

And sitteth on the right hand of the Father.

And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead:

Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost,

The Lord and giver of life,

Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son,

Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified,

Who spake by the Prophets.

And I believe one Catholic and Apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.

And I look for the Resurrection of the dead,

And the life of the world to come.

Amen.

The Doxology

Praise GOD From Whom All Blessings Flow: Tune All Creatures of Our God and King

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3zXtUBKqVI

Hymn The Palms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuiHWj6cvn4

Hope Lutheran Church, Organist Curtis Pierce, Palm Desert, California

Second Reading

Matthew 21:1-17 & John 12:12-15 Revelation 7:9

Matthew 21:1 ¶ When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

 2 saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me.

 3 "If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them."

 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

 5 "SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, 'BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.'"

 6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them,

 7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats.

 8 Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road.

 9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!"

 10 When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?"

 11 And the crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee."

 12 ¶ And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves.

 13 And He *said to them, "It is written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER'; but you are making it a ROBBERS' DEN."

 14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.

 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became indignant

 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these children are saying?" And Jesus *said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF'?"

 17 And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

Where do we get the name Palm Sunday please turn to

John 12:10 But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also;

 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.

 12 ¶ On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

 13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel."

 14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written,

 15 "FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY'S COLT."

Revelation  7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

The Holy Gospel of Our LORD Jesus Christ

ALL: All Glory to you LORD Christ

Lesson

Palm Sunday A Necessary Step To Easter

And Two Glaring and Blunt Proclamations

Three quick names to cover before we get into the passage;

First Bethphage = house of unripe figs, Second Bethany = House of Affliction though it too can be unripe figs,  Jerusalem = City of Peace

1st We look at my thoughts Palm Sunday in the past

2nd the background of Palm Sunday

3rd What does it mean for the Church today

1st We look at my thoughts Palm Sunday in the past

As a Kid this, was my thoughts on the Sunday before Easter, and that was about all.

It meant we would get out of School on Good Friday sometimes a half day sometimes a full day, and then we got a week off!

Our Church was not big on having a Good Friday Service as at Noon the Churches in the Town had an ecumenical Service at St. James Episcopal Church, as it is still done today.

It also meant the next week we would be getting up before Sunrise to go to Sunrise Service at First Presbyterian that was always followed by breakfast of Pancakes, eggs, sausage & Bacon.

We would then go to Church there would be no Sunday School that morning.

But that was really all Palm Sunday ever meant to me.

This all changed when I was at St. Andrews Chapel in Stanford, Florida and Dr. R.C. Sproul mention the understanding of the Palm branch during his Sermon.

Though his sermon was not on Palm Sunday it did get me digging and in truth I will never let Palm Sunday pass again as insignificant and I hope following this message you too if you have will not either.

I have been to a variety of Presbyterian Churches over the Last 8 years and only one The Church I Interned at gave proper address to Palm Sunday, though not in the Depth we have exposed.

It seems today’s “Reformed” Pastor are so Stuck on their Series, that they can’t suspend for Lent as it might actually prove they can speak on more than the current Theological Star’s Book they are heavily borrowing from, this use to be plagiarism, but in today’s preaching circles has become the norm and it is prevalent in all Churches.

Palm Sunday hasn’t changed much We still love to Sing Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes In the name of the LORD, and yet within 4 days of the 1st Palm Sunday, Our Lord was arrested and by Friday the Crowd (In Our Sins for real we too) would be shouting CRUCIFY, CRUCIFY!  Pilate would consent to turn him over to be Crucified!

Our hatred for Christ wasn’t satisfied to have him killed, as with Stephen who was stoned, that would not work, we wanted Jesus cursed also!   Deuteronomy  21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.NASB95

Paul quotes this fact Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE" NASB95

The truest caution of our Palm Sunday joy even today, is how fast we can turn on our King.

As I reflect on my own Treason against God, and how quickly I turn on him each day may, I ask God to guard me from MYSELF, and allow me to serve and Love him with all my heart, soul and mind!

May Passion Week 2016, truly change our lives to serve Jesus Christ, with the Love HE showed us.

2nd the background of Palm Branch & Palm Sunday

Now let’s look at Palm Branches in the time of Jesus’s Earthly Ministry

and see that it is NOT an unknown as perhaps today.

Rome we will find out is Aware of the Palm Branches and what is signifies and that John is aware writing while writing this that Rome could see this as Treason.

146 BC Roman Coins and Symbols of Conquest had Palm Branch images all over them, and in the first season there was good reason as this article will attest;

Palm branch (symbol)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The palm branch is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace and eternal life originating in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world. The palm (Phoenix) was sacred in Mesopotamian religions, and in ancient Egypt represented immortality. In Judaism, a closed frond of the date palm is part of the festival of Sukkot. A palm branch was awarded to victorious athletes in ancient Greece, and a palm frond or the tree itself is one of the most common attributes of Victory personified in ancient Rome.

In Christianity, the palm branch is associated particularly with Palm Sunday, when according to Christian tradition palm branches were waved at the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It was adopted into Christian iconography to represent the victory of martyrs, or the victory of the spirit over the flesh.

Since a victory signals an end to a conflict or competition, the palm developed into a symbol of peace, a meaning it can have in Islam,[1] where it is often associated with Paradise.

As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, the Fact that in John 12:13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel."

Is not a scene that would be missed by the Priests, Scribes & Pharisees (Nor the Romans) and as we will see they don’t MISS it!!

2nd Maccabees 10:7 Therefore they bare branches, and fair boughs, and palms also, and sang psalms unto him that had given them good success in cleansing his place. 8 They ordained also by a common statute and decree, That every year those days should be kept of the whole nation of the Jews.

John will also write about a picture of Palm Branches another time and again Rome is WELL aware of the image he is using, we will see that later.

He comes riding of a Donkey

Zechariah  9:9 ¶ "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

Back to the fact that Roman and the Synagogue officials are aware of this scene and the threat it could mean.

The Children shout in Mt 21:15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became indignant

 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these children are saying?" And Jesus *said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF'?"

Or as Luke says it in 19:40 But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!"

So YES they knew what the Crowd was doing and surely knew what is being said!!

The Children are using What name? "Hosanna to the Son of David," I preached another Message that showed what was so significant in this pronouncement as it was also the name the “blind men in Matthew 9, & 20, and the Canaanite Woman in Matthew used this name.

It is and ONLY can be the Messianic name!!!!

And it’s KIDS saying it!!!

3rd What does it mean for the Church today

As I said John writes about the Palm Branch imagery It also says John lead by the Holy Spirit is NOT being coy with his use of the symbol in Revelation  7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

John is telling the readers of this book something and its blunt. Believe me Rome, & the Synagogue leaders should understand it and ANGERED even more as this is TREASON to Rome, and the Religious Leader KNOW what is being said!

To we readers in the 21st Century readers perhaps we don’t grab some of these images, like the Rider on the Great White Horse in Chapter 21 declaring Jesus as Greater than any Caesar.

The picture in Revelation Chapter 5 of the Worthy Slain Lamb 5:5 and one of the elders *said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."

Who were the Children, the Blind and the Unclean calling to?

And now John has the NERVE to use this image in Revelation Chapter 7 connecting to his first writing in John Chapter 12 and this IS BLUNT

In Christ Jesus alone WE HAVE WON!!!!!

So Church this Holy Week remember Jesus Wins and it was all part of the FATHERS Plan!

This Holy Week we will look Wednesday at the Passover Seder, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday so post and emails will be frequent.

In Christ alone

Hymn

Ride on Ride on In Majesty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-qDQSjnzH8

Kings College Cathedral, Cambridge, England (sorry about the ad)

The LORD’S Feast

1Co 11:23 ¶ For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;

 24 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."

 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.

 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.

Guide Me O Thou Our Great Redeemer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwvpTl88jwI

Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London, England (From the Wedding of Prince William & Princess Kate)

The LORD’S Benediction

Romans 16:25 ¶ Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,

 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;

 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

Let Us Go Forth As Those Who Love And Proclaim Our Risen KING and Savior, Our LORD Jesus Christ

ALL: Thanks Be To GOD!, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, AMEN!

Recessional A Mighty Fortress Is Our GOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk76_0JaTRY

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Detroit, Michigan 

Holy Monday Vespers

Jesus Cleanses the Temple, Would Our Churches Too Need A Cleaning?

Video Introduction https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqjPq0KgmTU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link 

We also should be reminded that the only True High Priest, and the True Temple Is Jesus the Christ so HE truly has the right to Cleanse the Temple from the abuse.

Before our lesson, let’s take a sidebar and think of this question, Why did ONLY the Samaritan Leper return of the 10 cleansed to give thanks to Jesus?

I will answer this, though I am sure you know at the end of vespers.

Call To Vespers

Revelation 4:8 ¶ And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME."

Processional: Ride On Ride On In Majesty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6I7BFebqfE

The Church Of St. Mary The Virgin, Times Square, New York City, New York

Passing of the Peace Of Christ

May The Peace Of Christ Be With You

ALL: And Also With You

Please take a moment to Pass the Peace of Christ

Deuteronomy 14:23-29

23 "You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.

 24 "If the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the LORD your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the LORD your God blesses you,

 25 then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses.

 26 "You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.

 27 "Also you shall not neglect the Levite who is in your town, for he has no portion or inheritance among you.

 28 "At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town.

 29 "The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

(NAS95)

This Is The WORD Of The LORD

Response By All: Thanks Be To GOD!

The LORD’S Prayer & Nicene Creed

Matthew 6:9 ¶ And Jesus said "In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

 11 Give us this day our daily bread.

 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Christian What Do You Believe?

I believe in one God the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth,

And of all things visible and invisible:

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,

Begotten of his Father before all worlds,

God of God, Light of Light,

Very God of very God,

Begotten, not made,

Being of one substance with the Father,

By whom all things were made;

Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven,

And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,

And was made man,

And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

He suffered and was buried,

And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,

And ascended into heaven,

And sitteth on the right hand of the Father.

And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead:

Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost,

The Lord and giver of life,

Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son,

Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified,

Who spake by the Prophets.

And I believe one Catholic and Apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.

And I look for the Resurrection of the dead,

And the life of the world to come.

Amen.

The Doxology

Praise GOD From Whom All Blessings Flow: Tune All Creatures of Our God and King

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3zXtUBKqVI

Matthew 21:10-21

10 When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?"

 11 And the crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee."

 12 ¶ And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves.

 13 And He *said to them, "It is written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER'; but you are making it a ROBBERS' DEN."

 14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.

 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became indignant

 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these children are saying?" And Jesus *said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF'?"

 17 And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

 18 ¶ Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry.

 19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He *said to it, "No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you." And at once the fig tree withered.

 20 Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, "How did the fig tree wither all at once?"

 21 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen.

The Holy Gospel Of Our LORD Jesus Christ

Response By All: All Glory To YOU LORD Christ!

Homily

Jesus Cleanses the Temple, Would Our Churches Too Need A Cleaning?

Before Robin and I left for California August 2010 we went to a Church that we heralded as the model of a true Reformed Church.

Since we have returned June 2016 we sadly have found this is Stunningly NOT the case and this is in less than 6 years.

We have in fact walked out on 8 out of 10 Services and will no longer go to the West Side Service, as last week was the LAST Straw.

It seems the Church has become a Social Justice, agenda driven group, suffering from the Council of Rehoboam as they have gone with unskilled young “Pastors” who quite frankly DON’T know the Bible!

You really need to know when we left the Church in 2010 we said if we ever get back to the New York Area we are going go there as our Church, and sadly it really is a nightmare!

I bring this up only to caution that as we read of Passage today, we may not think it is talking about the Church today as it only deals with the Naughty Temple days right?

Well nothing can be further from the Truth as it applies to Each Church as a Caution today!!

Just a couple of quick examples to help you understand how far this “Reformed” Church has fallen, and could indeed be in need of a cleansing:

First the Pastor said “Jesus came on Palm Sunday to Establish true Justice” Yes this is a direct quote, and that we should be thrilled about this, as if “We Just” should happy about the Justice of GOD being established against the Unjust!

Well if you are confused by this then you really have not been listening as the this Kid Pastor should have been taken off the stage upon saying this, and again here is why:

Mr 10:17 ¶ As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

 18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

Ro 3:10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."

 13 "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";

Ro 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

You see as a Pastor the gentleman should have known that first of all we are NOT just, and cannot stand before the Justice of GOD Save Jesus Christ alone!

He also should have known that Jesus came to live the perfect Life we could never live yes from Cradle to Grave, and to Resurrection to Ascension.

Had he really been Reformed He would have said that Christ alone is Just!

He also charged new Members with “Living in accordance with the Bible, and not May the LORD Bless you to live in accordance with the Bible, as we cannot live in accordance to the Bible without the LORD’S strength, and indwelling.

This Church is launching a New Location, and sadly another Rehoboam as “Lead Pastor”, this gentleman is so clueless we have walked out on him the both times we had to endure him.

This lesson is to caution the Church against being as the Pharisaical Church and that is defined as a Just or Righteous Church as there IS no such Church here on Earth.

So yes as we see the cleansing of the Temple, we should look closer to see how our Church can be cleansed by our LORD.

We Rest only in Jesus Christ alone, as HE alone is Just.

Answer to our question: The Samaritan was the Only one the HOLY SPIRIT had opened His eyes to the only True HIGH PRIEST, and as such He presented Himself to Jesus,

The LORD’S Benediction

Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

(NAS95)

Let Us Go Forth As Those Who Love And Proclaim Risen KING and Savior Our LORD Jesus Christ

ALL: Thanks Be To GOD!, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, AMEN!

Recessional : The KING Of Love My SSHEPHERD Is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0TGpDE2FJo

St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, New York City, New York

                              Holy Tuesday Vespers 

                                   The Eight Woes                

Call To Vespers 

Isaiah 6:3 And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory."

 Video Introduction https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cqlnz5xArrq/?igshid=YjNmNGQ3MDY%3D

Opening Hymn: KING Of Glory, KING Of Peace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTNDNVV8ICg

Passing of the Peace Of Christ

May The Peace Of Christ Be With You

ALL: And Also With You

Please take a moment to Pass the Peace of Christ 

Ex 30:26 "With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony,

 27 and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense,

 28 and the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the laver and its stand.

 29 "You shall also consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them shall be holy.

 30 "You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me.

 31 "You shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations.

 32 'It shall not be poured on anyone's body, nor shall you make any like it in the same proportions; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you.

 33 'Whoever shall mix any like it or whoever puts any of it on a layman shall be cut off from his people.'"

 34 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take for yourself spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, spices with pure frankincense; there shall be an equal part of each.

 35 "With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.

 36 "You shall beat some of it very fine, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you.

 37 "The incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the LORD.

 38 "Whoever shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people."

(NAS95)

This Is The WORD Of The LORD

Response By All: Thanks Be To GOD!

The LORD’S Prayer & Nicene Creed

Matthew 6:9 ¶ And Jesus said "In this manner, therefore, pray: 

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

 11 Give us this day our daily bread.

 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Christian What Do You Believe?

I believe in one God the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth,

And of all things visible and invisible:

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,

Begotten of his Father before all worlds,

God of God, Light of Light,

Very God of very God,

Begotten, not made,

Being of one substance with the Father,

By whom all things were made;

Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven,

And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,

And was made man,

And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

He suffered and was buried,

And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,

And ascended into heaven,

And sitteth on the right hand of the Father.

And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead:

Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost,

The Lord and giver of life,

Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son,

Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified,

Who spake by the Prophets.

And I believe one Catholic and Apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.

And I look for the Resurrection of the dead,

And the life of the world to come.

Amen. 

The Doxology

Praise GOD From Whom All Blessings Flow: Tune All Creatures of Our God and King 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3zXtUBKqVI

Matthew 23

1 ¶ Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples,

 2 saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;

 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.

 4 "They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.

 5 "But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.

 6 "They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues,

 7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men.

 8 "But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.

 9 "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.

 10 "Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.

 11 "But the greatest among you shall be your servant.

 12 "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

 13 ¶ "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

 14 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

 15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

 16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.'

 17 "You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?

 18 "And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.'

 19 "You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering?

 20 "Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it.

 21 "And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it.

 22 "And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

 24 "You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

 25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.

 26 "You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

 27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.

 28 "So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

 29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,

 30 and say, 'If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'

 31 "So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.

 32 "Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers.

 33 "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

 34 ¶ "Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city,

 35 so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

 36 "Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

 37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.

 38 "Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!

 39 "For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'"

(NAS95)

The Holy Gospel Of Our LORD Jesus Christ

Response By All: All Glory To YOU LORD Christ!!

Homily 

During Holy Week, Jesus confronts the Religious Leaders of the day, and I would suggest perhaps HE would rightly be pronouncing these same Woes today on the condition of Today’s Church.

A Proper reading of the Old Testament should caution the leaders of the Church and the Congregants against self-Righteousness that sadly is our default, and is the Danger the Church Still and always will face.

We will not belabor today’s point, but will be to the Point, as these Eight Woes are not just for the Pharisees but for today’s Bishops, Pastors, Elders and Deacons as the Woes are the trap Churches fall into.

We are NOT The Good!!!

We are a true collection of Sinners that are saved by the LORD alone in Christ Jesus alone!

So to the Elders who are offended when I preach “Not one righteous person walked through the door of the Church Today!” to bad as this is the truth, and if you are offended by the Church you are called to serve as an Elder NOT being perfect then you should quit!

The LORD Jesus Christ is the only one who is and will ever be perfect, the Law of the LORD pointed to HIM alone.

The Eight Woes of Holy Week, were as relevant when Jesus pronounced them as they are for the Church today.

We Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and HIM Alone and NOT Agendas or “Our Need to Obey the Law” as if somehow we today could obey the same Law that the Old Testament Witnesses could not do either.

Preachers who use the normal 3 point Sermon that ends with how we are to perform or comply with the Law are NOT Reformed but Pharisees, as they have fled to Religious Star Theologian Books and are NOT preaching the Bible as they would have recalled the Council of Jerusalem:

Ac 15:4 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."

 6 ¶ The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.

 7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

 8 "And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;

 9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

 10 "Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

 11 "But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are."

So yes these Woes are a caution to open our eyes as not to fall into self-righteousness and not believe the Church and its leaders are “good” as Jesus Christ ALONE Is Good! 

Tomorrow we look at the Posture of the Passover Meal  

The LORD’S Benediction

Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

(NAS95)

Let Us Go Forth As Those Who Love And Proclaim Risen KING and Savior Our LORD Jesus Christ

ALL: Thanks Be To GOD!, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, AMEN!

Closing Hymn: Oh Love How Deep, How Broad, High High

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNQXxwjOp-A

Seder Wednesday

Seder Wednesday Vespers

This is a two part lesson, and it is important to view The Two Postures and actually experienced within 24 hours this why we look at Seder on Wednesday and not on Passover, and in particular the posture of Standing dressed to run, as it compares to the First LORD'S Supper tomorrow with the "Take your shoes of, Have a seat, relax as it is finished in Christ, and we have made it to the promise and no longer seek the Messiah as HE is here.

These two postures are striking on purpose and why I don't believe in unleavened Bread at the LORD'S Table as the posture tells us there is NO HURRY and we are to enjoy the LORD'S Feast.

I hope you enjoy this reflection

 Video Introduction https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqoeObqAQby/?igshid=YjNmNGQ3MDY= 

We will be Standing throughout this Service and dressed ready to leave quickly

Why do we as Christian look at the Passover Seder, we aren’t tied to it are we?

Call to Vespers 

Leviticus 23:5 'In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the LORD'S Passover.

Reading and Lesson 

Exodus 12:1 ¶ Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,

 2 "This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.

 3 "Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers' households, a lamb for each household.

 4 'Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; according to what each man should eat, you are to divide the lamb.

 5 'Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.

 6 'You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight.

 7 'Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.

 8 'They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

 9 'Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with water, but rather roasted with fire, both its head and its legs along with its entrails.

 10 'And you shall not leave any of it over until morning, but whatever is left of it until morning, you shall burn with fire.

 11 'Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste--it is the LORD'S Passover.

 12 'For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments--I am the LORD.

 13 'The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

 14 'Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance.

This Is The WORD Of The LORD

ALL: Thanks Be To GOD!

Lesson Why do we as Christian look at the Passover Seder, we aren’t tied to it are we?

Yes we are, and our knowledge of the posture of the Ordained Passover meal is imperative.

We are repeating the Ordained posture on purpose as you may have been to a Seder meal and not seen the Ordained posture practiced as noted in verse 11 'Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste--it is the LORD'S Passover.

There has never been a license to change this posture and the charge was a perpetual charge.

The license to sit down at the table comes from a Jewish claim that they are now free men and can use the posture of Roman free men and sit at a table.

As you have notice the LORD has not given this license, but a false tradition that they could change the Ordinance.

But why is the posture so important?

Well it will become stunningly clear tomorrow as we reenact the First LORD’S Supper, but what is important tonight is to STAND through this Service dressed and ready to be delivered quickly. It is also crystal clear why the Posture was NOT to be changed as it was pointing to a future deliverance and our being prepared to be delivered.

When we come tomorrow this will become very clear, and why each year we go through a Seder Wednesday, and Maundy Thursday Service. 

The Passover looked forward to a Perfect LAMB being sacrificed for us, and that LAMB Delivering us.

I hope this short Service has your thoughts going, and that Maundy Thursday becomes a very Special Day for us as I am sure it was stunning to the Apostles that first LORD’S Supper.

This lesson continues tomorrow

Eating of the meal

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday Service

Following the reading of the Arrest we will leave in silence 

Our Video Introduction https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqrCDHqgoBc/?igshid=YjNmNGQ3MDY%3D

Have A Seat, Take Your Shoes Off

Maundy Thursday Service

Following the Final reading of the Arrest We will leave in silence, the Lights will be turned off and remain off until Easter Sunday Service.

The Striking Difference Between the Postures of the Original Seder Meal, and The LORD’S Supper is do only to the Mission of Jesus Christ from the very beginning of Time,

Let’s Walk with our Savior as HIS Mission unfolds.

Have A Seat, Take Your Shoes Off

Call to Worship

Luke 22:15 And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

Opening Hymn

The KING Of Love My SHEPHERD Is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu83WQdQ7-Y

Westminster Abbey Anglican Church, Westminster, London, England

The LORD Be With You

ALL: And Also With You

Quick Homily as we do not want to get in the way of the Scriptures

It is our hope that the striking difference between yesterday’s Seder Posture, and today’s setting have our eyes wide open.

Yesterday was about being prepared to leave, today is about resting in the LORD.

Yesterday we stood, had our shoes on, and packed, staff in our hands, Today we recline, have our shoes off, and comfortable.

This also why serving unleavened Bread at the LORD’S Table is actually NOT a proper nor constant reading of what is happening here.

 Sadly, a lazy understanding of the LORD’S Table ties it unnaturally to the Passover Jesus has called us to Rest in him, and that means we have time to bake the raised bread as it is finished in Christ!

We note that Jesus will wash our feet, a task no Jewish Slave would be asked to do, and some of what is behind Peter’s objection, truth be told they ALL should have reacted like Peter. I know you have heard time and again Peter was a knuckle head, but that is only because we don’t learn how to read, and get deep into the first Century Culture when we use Scripture to interpret Scripture.

We could go on, but I will allow you to dig in, now let’s allow ourselves to live the first Maundy Thursday as we read the Scriptures.

Hymn

Love Devine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFckP0F93JM

Westminster Abbey Anglican Church, Westminster, London, England

First Reading

Luke 22:1-22

1 ¶ Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching.

 2 The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people.

 3 And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve.

 4 And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them.

 5 They were glad and agreed to give him money.

 6 So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.

 7 ¶ Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

 8 And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it."

 9 They said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare it?"

 10 And He said to them, "When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters.

 11 "And you shall say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'

 12 "And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there."

 13 And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

 14 When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.

 15 And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

 16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

 17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, "Take this and share it among yourselves;

 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes."

 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.

 21 ¶ "But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table.

 22 "For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"

Hymn

Guide Me Oh Though Great REDEEMER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA24kNXdhrM

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, London, England

The LORD’S Supper

Washing of the Congregational and Pastors feet

John 13:1-12

1 ¶ Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

 2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,

 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,

 4 *got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.

 5 Then He *poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

 6 So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?"

 7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter."

 8 Peter *said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."

 9 Simon Peter *said to Him, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head."

 10 Jesus *said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."

 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean."

 12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?

The Arrest

Matthew 26:29-67

29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

 30 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

 31 ¶ Then Jesus *said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.'

 32 "But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."

 33 But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away."

 34 Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."

 35 Peter *said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." All the disciples said the same thing too.

 36 ¶ Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."

 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed.

 38 Then He *said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me."

 39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."

 40 And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, "So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?

 41 "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

 42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done."

 43 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

 44 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.

 45 Then He *came to the disciples and *said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

 46 "Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!"

 47 ¶ While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people.

 48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him."

 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.

 50 And Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.

 52 Then Jesus *said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.

 53 "Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

 54 "How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?"

 55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me.

 56 "But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets." Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

 57 ¶ Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

 58 But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

 59 Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.

 60 They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward,

 61 and said, "This man stated, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.'"

 62 The high priest stood up and said to Him, "Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?"

 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God."

 64 Jesus *said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."

 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy;

 66 what do you think?" They answered, "He deserves death!"

 67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him,

68 and said, "Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?"

 69 ¶ Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean."

 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about."

 71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and *said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."

 72 And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man."

 73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away."

 74 Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed.

 75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

(NAS95)

Please Leave In Silence

Good Friday, The Perfect LAMB HIMSELF Purchases HIS Peoples Sinful Souls

Good Friday Vespers

The Traditional 12:00 Noon Service, Though It Can Be Used For The Evening Too.

 Our Video Introduction https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqticYWgarY/?igshid=YjNmNGQ3MDY=

When We Hear the Term “Free Grace”, Good Friday Reminds Us It Is Only Free For Us, It Cost Jesus Christ Everything!

HE Really Paid It All For HIS Elect.

After A Brief Homily On The Inspection Of The Lamb, The Scriptures Will Do The Talking During This Service, We Will Again Exit In Silence Following The Final Reading.

Opening Hymn

Lift High The Cross

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbcBXYP4AlE

Matthew 27:1-10

1 ¶ Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death;

 2 and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.

 3 Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

 4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to that yourself!"

 5 And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.

 6 The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood."

 7 And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter's Field as a burial place for strangers.

 8 For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

 9 Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel;

 10 AND THEY GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER'S FIELD, AS THE LORD DIRECTED ME."

The LORD’S Prayer & Apostles Creed

Matthew 6:9 ¶ And Jesus said "In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

 11 Give us this day our daily bread.

 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Christian What Do You Believe?

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried:
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;
The Holy Catholic Church;

The Communion of Saints;
The Forgiveness of sins;
The Resurrection of the body,
And the Life everlasting.
Amen.

Hymn

Tis Midnight; And On Olives Brow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uuzm17gBs0

Faith Presbyterian Church, Tacoma, Washington, Organist Mr. Ron Bechtel

Brief Homily then the Readings

The LAMB has been Declared Without Spot

As We walk through our Readings Please note a few things that reminds us the LORD will NOT break HIS own law ever!

So the HIS LAMB must be inspected Exodus 12:5 'Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. Leviticus 9:3 "Then to the sons of Israel you shall speak, saying, 'Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both one year old, without defect, for a burnt offering,

 4 and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD, and a grain offering mixed with oil; for today the LORD will appear to you.'"

Upon the Inspections of Pilate, Herod & Pilate the World’s Leaders have Declared the LAMB ready for slaughter.

Next look for the Serpent Strike in the Piecing, The Head and Arms stained with blood as where the Door Post, and listen an record as many signs as you can.

Exodus 12:22 "You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning.

 23 "For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.

 24 "And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.

Another hint as hyssop is present at both sacrifices.

One last reminder and believe me this is for me especially

I was the one who hung Jesus Christ on the Cross, as you too, but this is on me and my treason, and what will always stun me is Jesus redeemed me knowing this in full, HE loves us not when we were first friends but when we were HOLLARING CRUSIFY, CRUSIFY!!!

I want to also note in the Gospel of John, Jesus crying from the Cross that this was NOT a King demanding a drink to clear HIS throat as was horrifyingly preached in an OPC Church in 2020 for Easter, but was indeed Jesus enduring the very pains of separation from the FATHER as witnessed and told to us what it would be like in Jesus own Parable about the Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19 ¶ "Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.

 20 "And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,

 21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.

 22 "Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.

Please Notice the estate of the Rich Man in 23 & 24

 23 "In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.

 24 "And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.'

Does this sound like a “King demanding a drink to clear HIS throat” or as it IS, a KING paying in FULL for our Sins and thirsting from the Depths of Separation from the FATHER!

What Amazing Love!!

Can we Love as Christ Loved Us?

Special Music

He Was Despised

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCdWc5-EHsg

Laura McAlpine Mezzo Soprano, Organist David Briggs

  Hymn

See Amid The Winters Snow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TjM-Ih5LP4

The Bach Choir

Hymn

Ah Holy Jesus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7MpWAKltos

The Cathedral Church Of Saints Peter and Paul, Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.

Luke 23

The First Inspection of The LAMB

1 ¶ Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate.

 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."

 3 So Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered him and said, "It is as you say."

 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no guilt in this man."

Hymn

Stricken, Smitten And Afflicted

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykA7fsmTsDk

Faith Presbyterian Church, Tacoma, Washington, Organist Mr. Ron Bechtel

Hymn

In Christ Alone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gax8GL7EViE

The Big Sing, Royal Albert Hall, London, England

The Second Inspection of the LAMB

 5 But they kept on insisting, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place."

 6 When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.

 7 And when he learned that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time.

 8 Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him.

 9 And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing.

 10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently.

 11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate.

 12 Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.

 13 ¶ Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

 14 and said to them, "You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him.

 15 "No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.

Hymn

Amazing Grace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I

Chris Tomlin

Special Music

Worthy Is The LAMB That Was Slain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnnWP7lvzQQ

Handel’s Messiah, AD Libitum, Francisco Gamon

Isaiah 53

1 ¶ Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

 2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.

 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

 4 ¶ Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.

 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

 9 And they made His grave with the wicked-But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.

 10 ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.

 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.

 12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

(NKJV)

Hymn

And Can It Be That I Should Gain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQeIGbKqiw8&list=RDsQeIGbKqiw8#t=10

Songs Of Praise Broadcast

How Deep The FATHERS Love For Us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD9-omLKwWI

Nicole Nordeman

Hymn

Not All The Blood Of Beasts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glSj3c9Ue8w

Faith Presbyterian Church, Tacoma, Washington, Organist Mr. Ron Bechtel

Silent Dismissal Follows immediately after this reading

The Third Inspection of the LAMB & Sacrifice

 16 "Therefore I will punish Him and release Him."

 17 Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.

 18 But they cried out all together, saying, "Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!"

 19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.)

 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again,

 21 but they kept on calling out, saying, "Crucify, crucify Him!"

 22 And he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him."

 23 But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail.

 24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.

 25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.

 26 ¶ When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

 27 And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him.

 28 But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

 29 "For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.'

 30 "Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, 'FALL ON US,' AND TO THE HILLS, 'COVER US.'

 31 "For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

 32 ¶ Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.

 33 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.

 34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

 35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One."

 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine,

 37 and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!"

 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!"

 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

 41 "And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."

 42 And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"

 43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

John 19:28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, "I am thirsty."

 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.

 Luke 23:44 ¶ It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour,

 45 because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

 46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT." Having said this, He breathed His last.

 47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent."

 48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts.

 49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.

John 19:29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.

30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

31 ¶ Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

 32 So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him;

 33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.

 36 For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, "NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN."

 37 And again another Scripture says, "THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED."

Luke 23: 50 ¶ And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man

 51 (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God;

 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

 53 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain.

 54 It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

 55 Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid.

Silent Dismissal Follows immediately after this reading

Darkness Saturday 

Reflection

Video Introduction https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqwPucRADJe/?igshid=YjNmNGQ3MDY%3D

Unlike Worship Services Darkness Saturday is an attempt to return us as best possible, to that First Saturday after Good Friday, and the just what the Disciples of Christ must have thought.

Our own quarantine during the 2020 writing of this message can only provide the lockdown feeling though not the threat of arrest leading to quick execution as was done to First Century Citizens of Rome not Romans.

So, this Vespers is very Short with mostly self-reflection on just how astonishing that First Easter Sunday was.

We will not be singing and I would ask we not gather in large groups as the first Darkness Saturday was lived in fear and crushing despair as Jesus Was CLEARLY Dead and indeed buried! (Please remember one of Gospel writers was a Medical Doctor and investigated and proved all so yes Jesus was dead)

In the 21st Century we might not have an appreciation for this despair and as many well-meaning Churches practice, set up “vigils” literally watches.

Well let’s again gasp the reality of our First Saturday and be blunt Jesus was DEAD, and Dead people don’t rise from the dead and walk talk and eat, so YES Jesus IS DEAD!!!

Now if you don’t believe me, perhaps this experiment will make it crystal clear;

Take a chair to your local Cemetery and food for two weeks and sit in front of a loved one’s grave, or a freshly interred person and keep a vigil, waiting for the person to rise from the dead.

Yes, this is nuts to ask, but so are Darkness Saturday Vigils as our First Saturday Brothers and Sisters were crushed, and in hiding.

They were NOT, Yes NOT expecting Jesus to rise from the Dead, just as they refused to accept, HE was going to be crucified, even though Jesus told them over and over about Both!!!!!

By setting this mindset table we will be able to at least dip our toe into the Stunning, and Earthshaking (literally too) Resurrection of Jesus, and just how they must have had to come to grips with this Amazing and Very True News that Jesus is Really alive.

So let’s take this Saturday to appreciate that first Observers of Darkness Saturday, and that we get to enjoy each Saturday since that first one KNOWING That Jesus Did Indeed do all HE set out from the beginning of time to do and that HE has never lied, and will indeed return As HE Promised and in the Timing of HIS and Our FATHER.

Here are our Readings

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.

 8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?

 9 His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.

 10 ¶ But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

 11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.

 12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.

(NAS95)

Matthew 27:57 ¶ When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.

 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.

 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.

 61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.

Luke 23:55 Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid.

 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

John 19:41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.

 42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

(NAS95)

 Matthew 27:62 Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate,

 63 and said, "Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I am to rise again.'

 64 "Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first."

 65 Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how."

 66 And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.

(NAS95)

Sunrise Easter Service

Sunrise Scriptures

Our Introductory Video https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cqyd0WbgeMB/?igshid=YjNmNGQ3MDY=

We Will Read The Scriptures Responsively 

Mark 16:1 ¶ When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him.

 2 Very early on the first day of the week, they *came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

 3 They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" 

Mt 28:2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.

 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.

Luke 24:3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing;

 5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead?

Mark 16:6 And he *said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.

 7 "But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.'"

Christ The LORD is Risen Today & Thine Be The Glory

https://www.google.com/search?q=christ+the+lord+is+risen+today+processional+duke+chapel&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS890US890&sxsrf=APwXEdf98jrlRWYYXLmmug-w8upST2PWwA:1680984306013&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwje_LrDipv-AhW9F1kFHXeiBvsQ0pQJegQIBhAC&biw=1600&bih=757&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:4f05f125,vid:-k1HYP6skcE

Duke University Chapel, Durham, North Carolina

Officiant: The LORD Is Risen

Response By All: HE Has Risen Indeed!!

John 20:11 ¶ But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;

 12 and she *saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.

 13 And they *said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She *said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

 14 When she had said this, she turned around and *saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.

 15 Jesus *said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she *said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away."

 16 Jesus *said to her, "Mary!" She turned and *said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher).

Hymn He Arose

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFAhThTZamQ&t=104s

Weddington United Methodist, Weddington, North Carolina

Homily

After a Saturday Sabbath of Despair,  What did the women expect to encounter when they arrived at Jesus Grave with the pounds of embalming spices?

Well they had a few hurdles didn’t they, as they would;

First have to deal with the guards and the fact that the Grave was sealed.

The Guard could be in a position to take advantage of our Sisters that early in the morning, their word verses the Soldiers please don’t discount this as we forget the Soldiers of that time were professional killers and nasty treatment was just witnessed by even these woman as they whipped and tortured our LORD and enjoyed it.

Next we cannot discount the sealed Grave and that it would have perhaps been the largest obstacle from an order perspective to even contemplate asking it to be rolled back as such an action would break the seal and cause the guard not to be 100% in compliance with their Orders, and would subject themselves to execution.

Finally, having possibly gotten this far, They couldn’t possibly move the Stone, and would again have to ask for help from Soldiers use to granting favor for favor, so again even asking for the Stone to be rolled away was not as simple as we perhaps understand it today.

All of this of course becomes mute points as the LORD could NOT be kept in the Grave, nor could HIS Angles stand by nor did they have to any longer, as that poor stone had NO Chance and was flung like a pebble!

Sure, Jesus could have freed HIMSELF, but HIS Armies had had to stand down during HIS sacrifice and this was their turn to Serve their KING!

The LORD’S Feast

1Co 11:23 ¶ For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;

 24 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."

 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.

 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.

We Will Eat The Meal Together

As we prepare for of Easter full Service let us Praise Our Risen Savior with the Singing as we Go to Breakfast

The Pastors at St. Bartholomew’s Church New York City Will Dismiss us in this Recessional

Hymn Crown HIM With Many Crowns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD-oubDZaIU&t=212s   

St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, New York City, New York

Easter Sunday Morning

Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Easter Sunday Morning

Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Our Introductory Video https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqyewUugtYU/?igshid=YjNmNGQ3MDY=

Call To Worship

Luke 24:5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead?

 6 "He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,

Processional

Christ The LORD is Risen Today & Thine Be The Glory

https://www.google.com/search?q=christ+the+lord+is+risen+today+processional+duke+chapel&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS890US890&sxsrf=APwXEdf98jrlRWYYXLmmug-w8upST2PWwA:1680984306013&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwje_LrDipv-AhW9F1kFHXeiBvsQ0pQJegQIBhAC&biw=1600&bih=757&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:4f05f125,vid:-k1HYP6skcE

Duke University Chapel, Durham, North Carolina

The LORD is Risen!!!

ALL: The LORD has Risen indeed!!

Hymn

Up From The Grave He Arose

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paM-hgZfsys

The LORD’S Prayer & Apostles Creed

Matthew 6:9 ¶ And Jesus said "In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

 11 Give us this day our daily bread.

 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Christian What Do You Believe?

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried:
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;
The Holy Catholic Church;

The Communion of Saints;
The Forgiveness of sins;
The Resurrection of the body,
And the Life everlasting.
Amen.

The Doxology

Praise GOD From Whom All Blessings Flow: Tune All Creatures of Our God and King

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3zXtUBKqVI

Homily

Atheist each Christmas buy a Billboard stating "You know the Myth, this season celebrate reason".

Outside of the Bible The LORD Jesus Christ has been proved as an Historical figure by enough sources who hate him to PROVE HE lived!

Instead on naming some I will allow you to view two sites on you own

http://www.provethebible.net/T2-Divin/D-0201.htm

http://www.str.org/articles/is-there-any-evidence-for-jesus-outside-the-bible#.VSCzH8mopOY

I am sure you have heard of the Historian FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS (CBS's The Dovekeepers had him portrayed recently)

And The Emperor Constantine:

Constantine I, byname Constantine the Great, Latin in full Flavius Valerius Constantinus   (born February 27, after ad 280?, Naissus, Moesia [now Niš, Serbia]—died May 22, 337, Ancyrona, near Nicomedia, Bithynia [now İzmit, Turkey]), the first Roman emperor to profess Christianity. He not only initiated the evolution of the empire into a Christian state but also provided the impulse for a distinctively Christian culture that prepared the way for the growth of Byzantine and Western medieval culture

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/133873/Constantine-I

One Final thought would it also be a surprise to find out that the Islamic Qur’an speaks of Jesus Son of Mary as a true Prophet of God?

In Fact the Qur’an mentions Jesus 29 Times here are two examples:

61. And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way.  63. When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: "Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah and obey me.

Allah; God; Muhammed; Mohammed; Ali CBE, Hafiz Abdullah Yusuf (2010-12-26). The Kindle Qur'an | Kindle Koran | Kindle Quran | Kindle Al-Qur'an (Definitive English Edition) Complete and Unabridged With Full Color Reproductions of ... Moslem | Qur'an | Koran | Quran | Al-Qur'an) (Kindle Location 8720). Islamic Studies Press. Kindle Edition.

Think for a second; if three witnesses sat down and gave Testimony and as we have seen from Detective shows that they were exactly the same we would doubt them rightly. Now if they gave the Testimony of Matthew, Mark, & John we would say this is the same testimony and it must be true!

Now through in a Gentle Medical Doctor to give Medical evidence and you have sealed the deal.

Well that is exactly what GOD has done in the Bible!!

So the next time you see the manure the Atheist are spreading plow it under as they have NO case to bring.

Easter Sunday Morning Scripture Lesson

Matthew 28:1 ¶ Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

Luke 24:3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.

Joh 20:12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

Luke 24:5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

John 20:13 Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

Matthew t 28:5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

 6 "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

John  20:14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.

 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away."

 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).

 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My

Matthew 28: 7 "And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."

 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.

 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."

Lu 24:13 ¶ And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.

 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.

 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.

 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.

 17 And He said to them, "What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?" And they stood still, looking sad.

 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, "Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?"

 19 And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to Him, "The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,

 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.

 21 "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.

22 "But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning,

 23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.

 24 "Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see."

 25 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

 26 "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?"

 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

 28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther.

 29 But they urged Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over." So He went in to stay with them.

Lu 24:30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them.

 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.

 32 They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?"

 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them,

 34 saying, "The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon."

 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

 36 ¶ While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst.

 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.

 38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

 39 "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."

 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"

 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish;

 43 and He took it and ate it before them.

 44 Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

 46 and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day,

 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

 48 "You are witnesses of these things.

 49 "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

 50 ¶ And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

 53 and were continually in the temple praising God.

(NAS95)

The Holy Gospel Of Our LORD Jesus Christ

ALL: All Glory To You LORD Christ!

Hymn

Welcome Happy Morning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuXAbDtGkmM

The Feast Of The LORD

The Strife is O’er , The Battle Done

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGVazujx9Lc

Joy To The World  (Yes the Words are also the Easter Story)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlF8XYWsNmQ

For Unto Us a Child Is Born

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFBIJgkj_-g

And the Glory of the Lord

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1Ou4H4Qig0

Worthy is the Lamb who was Slain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnnWP7lvzQQ

Halleluiah Chorus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c

The LORD’S Benediction

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

(NAS95)

Let Us Go Forth As Those Who Love And Proclaim Our Risen LORD And Savior Jesus Christ

ALL: Thanks Be To GOD, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia AMEN!

Recessional

HE Is Risen, HE Is Risen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILd3P8IvTdI&list=PLXWnZTcrdns_DFC3-Yl9MhSS8EjIXRpm2