SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2019

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Words of Greeting: John 4:13-16

One: By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his own Spirit.

All: And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.

One: Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

All: So we know and believe the love God has for us.  God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Each Sunday as we study a particular Prophet, I try to expose us to more of the book by immersing us their word/scripture.  So we are using passages from Zechariah for both our Prayer of Confession and the Words of Assurance.  It translates well for us, as you will read/hear, because it is clear that God has a plan for us, that disobedience (our confession) has dire consequences and separates us from God, and that turning to God we can be assured of our pardon and forgiveness because  of God's love for his children and the saving work of Jesus  Christ. 

Unison Prayer of Confession: Zechariah 7:8-14

And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.' "But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry. " 'When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the Lord Almighty. 'I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land was left so desolate behind them that no one could come or go. This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.' "   (Silent Prayer and Reflection)

Assurance of Pardon: Zechariah 8:7-8

One: This is what the Lord Almighty says: "I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God." Friends, believe the good news of the Gospel!

All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

Scripture Reading                                                  Zechariah 9:9-12

Scripture Reading                                      Zechariah 4:1-6, 10b-14

The Minor Prophets: ZECHARIAH    "The Fifth Vision"