Opening Prayer: Almighty God, help me to stand firm, as I celebrate the nearness of Your Son, I pray in His Name, Amen.

Read: Galatians 5:22-23

Reflect: Read these verses slowly. Concentrate on each word, perhaps reading the passage repeatedly, emphasizing a different word each time. Consider how each “fruit” changes and informs the others. Consider how each fruit looks in your life.

Prayer: for the church, for others, and for myself

Hymn: Rejoice, the Lord is King;
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing,
And triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart;
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice; again I say: rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love.
When He had purged our stains,
He took His seat above.
Lift up your heart;
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice; again I say: rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail;
He rules over earth and heaven.
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus given.
Lift up your heart;
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice; again I say: rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord the Judge, shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home.
Lift up your heart;
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice; again I say: rejoice!

Closing Prayer: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ by with your spirit. Amen (Philippians 4:23)

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, help me to stand firm, as I celebrate the nearness of Your Son, I pray in His Name, Amen.

Read: Romans 12:9-21

Reflect: Paul’s ethics in these verse seem to be in opposition to the world’s standards. What do these verses teach Christians about letting their gentleness show to all people? In what does Paul suggest Christians find joy? How do you find joy in your hope in the Lord?

Prayer: for the church, for others, and for myself

Hymn: Rejoice, the Lord is King;
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing,
And triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart;
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice; again I say: rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love.
When He had purged our stains,
He took His seat above.
Lift up your heart;
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice; again I say: rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail;
He rules over earth and heaven.
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus given.
Lift up your heart;
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice; again I say: rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord the Judge, shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home.
Lift up your heart;
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice; again I say: rejoice!

Closing Prayer: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ by with your spirit. Amen (Philippians 4:23)

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, you have given me hope as Your child. Help me to live up al all that you have attained in me through Your Son, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Read: Philippians 4:1-23

Reflect: I will be preaching from this last chapter of the book of Philippians through the end of the summer. Please ask God to speak through these words of the Apostle Paul.

Prayer: for the church, for others, and for myself

Hymn: “Be Still My Soul”

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and wind still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Closing Prayer: My Heavenly Father, thank you for being on my side, to comfort and order my life this day, and always. Amen.