Opening Prayer: Almighty God, you have sent Jesus to take our nature upon himself and to be for us sign and Savior. Grant that by the power of your spirit Christ may be born within us today to the end that our ministry may be pleasing to you and helpful to your people. We pray in the name and spirit of Christ. Amen.

Read: Psalm 1

Read: Matthew 23:1-36

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

Hymn: “O for a Faith That Will Not Shrink”
O for a faith that will not shrink,
Though pressed by every foe,
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe!

That will not murmur nor complain
Beneath the chastening rod,
But, in the hour of grief or pain,
Will lean upon its God;

A faith that shines more bright and clear
When tempest rage without;
That when in danger knows no fear,
In darkness feels no doubt:

Lord, give me such a faith as this;
And then, whatever may come,
I’ll taste, e’en now, the hallowed bliss
Of an eternal home. Amen.

Closing Prayer: And now may the Spirit which was in Jesus Christ be in me, enabling me to know God’s will and empowering me to do God’s will. Amen.