Worship Archive – October 22nd 2023

Sunday Service from Hillside Circuit for October 22nd 2023:

Lectionary Theme: Make your faith known.

Occasion: 21st Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary readings:
Psalm 99
Exodus 33: 12-23
1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10
Matthew 22: 15-22

[Click or tap on a Bible reference above to jump down the page to the Bible reading to read it for yourself and then click or tap on Back to top to come back here.]

Songs:

Here are the songs for Sunday morning service. Click or tap on a song to open it in YouTube.

Because He lives.
Lord, make me a mountain.
Let the beauty of Jesus.
I worship you, almighty God.
O perfect love.
Immortal, Invisible.
May the mind of Christ my Saviour.
Christ be beside me.

You can listen and join in with prayers from the English Methodist Service Book. They can be found at the Prayers for worship webpage.

Children’s Address:

Audio Children’s Address for Hillside Circuit on October 22nd 2023 with Mr Bellington Mudyawabikwa.

Sermon:

Audio message for Hillside Circuit on October 22nd 2023 with Rev Margaret James.

Bible readings:

Psalm 99

1 Our LORD, you are King!
You rule from your throne above the winged creatures,
as people tremble and the earth shakes.
2 You are praised in Zion, and you control all nations.
3 Only you are God! And your power alone,
so great and fearsome, is worthy of praise.
4 You are our mighty King, a lover of fairness,
who sees that justice is done everywhere in Israel.
5 Our LORD and our God, we praise you
and kneel down to worship you, the God of holiness!

6 Moses and Aaron were two of your priests.
Samuel was also one of those who prayed in your name,
and you, our LORD, answered their prayers.
7 You spoke to them from a thick cloud,
and they obeyed your laws.

8 Our LORD and our God, you answered their prayers
and forgave their sins,
but when they did wrong, you punished them.
9 We praise you, LORD God,
and we worship you at your sacred mountain.
Only you are God!

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Exodus 33

12 Moses said to the LORD, “I know that you have told me to lead these people to the land you promised them. But you have not told me who my assistant will be. You have said that you are my friend and that you are pleased with me. 13 If this is true, let me know what your plans are, then I can obey and continue to please you. And don’t forget that you have chosen this nation to be your own.”
14 The LORD said, “I will go with you and give you peace.”
15 Then Moses replied, “If you aren’t going with us, please don’t make us leave this place. 16 But if you do go with us, everyone will know that you are pleased with your people and with me. That way, we will be different from the rest of the people on earth.”
17 So the LORD told him, “I will do what you have asked, because I am your friend and I am pleased with you.”
18 Then Moses said, “I pray that you will let me see you in all of your glory.”
19 The LORD answered:
All right. I am the LORD, and I show mercy and kindness to anyone I choose. I will let you see my glory and hear my holy name, 20 but I won’t let you see my face, because anyone who sees my face will die. 21 There is a rock not far from me. Stand beside it, 22 and before I pass by in all of my shining glory, I will put you in a large crack in the rock. I will cover your eyes with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back. You will not see my face.

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1 Thessalonians 1

1 From Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
To the church in Thessalonica, the people of God the Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I pray that God will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!
2 We thank God for you and always mention you in our prayers. Each time we pray, 3 we tell God our Father about your faith and loving work and about your firm hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 My dear friends, God loves you, and we know he has chosen you to be his people. 5 When we told you the good news, it was with the power and assurance that come from the Holy Spirit, and not simply with words. You knew what kind of people we were and how we helped you. 6 So, when you accepted the message, you followed our example and the example of the Lord. You suffered, but the Holy Spirit made you glad.
7 You became an example for all the LORD’S followers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 And because of you, the LORD’S message has spread everywhere in those regions. Now the news of your faith in God is known all over the world, and we don’t have to say a thing about it. 9 Everyone is talking about how you welcomed us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God. 10 They also tell how you are waiting for his Son Jesus to come from heaven. God raised him from death, and on the day of judgment Jesus will save us from God’s anger.

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Matthew 22

15 The Pharisees got together and planned how they could trick Jesus into saying something wrong. 16 They sent some of their followers and some of Herod’s followers to say to him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest. You teach the truth about what God wants people to do. And you treat everyone with the same respect, no matter who they are. 17 Tell us what you think! Should we pay taxes to the Emperor or not?”
18 Jesus knew their evil thoughts and said, “Why are you trying to test me? You show-offs! 19 Let me see one of the coins used for paying taxes.” They brought him a silver coin, 20 and he asked, “Whose picture and name are on it?”
21 “The Emperor’s,” they answered.
Then Jesus told them, “Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God.” 22 His answer surprised them so much that they walked away.

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[Did you miss last week’s Sunday Services? They can now be found at Worship Archive – October 15th 2023.]