God has created each person in his image, and each one deserves our respect and hospitality. God’s love and compassion touches every person, regardless of background, place, class, or kindred. As servants of Christ, our service and care are not based on their sense of worthiness, but on God’s image that each person inherently bears. As such, we should treat each one according to their own dignity and worth, showing each one the mercy and love the Father shows to us all.

Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation

Thank you, Father, that every human being bears the image of God, and is therefore worthy of dignity, worth, and care. This is the ground of your command to us to show hospitality to all; since all are worthy of dignity, all are worthy of care. Make us vessels of your love that others can sense and know the love you have for them, and for us. In Christ’s name, amen.

Call to Worship
Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, amen.

Te Deum Laudamus 
You are God: we praise you; you are the Lord; we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

Praise and Thanksgiving (songs and prayers)

Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.

The Apostles’ Creed
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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits 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 Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

*In the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).

Prayers of Confession
Let us now confess our sins to God and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

Assurance of Pardon
Having faithfully confessed and renounced your sin, Christ also has been faithful to forgive your sins and to purify you from all unrighteousness. It is certain, that there is One who has spoken to the Father in your defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. His grace and peace are with you now. Amen.

Petitions and Supplications, Ending with The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

~ Matthew 6.9-13 (KJV)

Doxology (and/or closing song)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Benediction 

Thank you, Father, for the hospitality you have shown to us, the same hospitality that you now ask us to show to others. Because you are Love, and have loved us, we must now show that love to others, and do so freely and generously. Fill us with your Spirit that we might be able to show tangible acts of care and hospitality to others, in your name. Make us like Christ that others can know him through us. In his name, we pray, amen.

Pray without Ceasing – Flash Prayer for the Day
Thank you, heavenly Father, that you have created each person in your image, and now each one deserves our respect and hospitality.

Finally, believers live out their priestly calling as they love one another, show hospitality and visit those languishing in prison (Heb 13:1-3). They moreover show themselves priests by guarding holiness, seen here in terms of keeping the marriage bed undefiled, abstaining from the love of money and remaining steadfast against false teaching (Heb 13:4-9). The next verses make clear the basis for all such action – namely, the truth that the “altar” Christians have is far greater than that of the old covenant, just as Christ’s blood surpasses that of animals (Heb 13:10-12). Since the sacrifice of Jesus is greater and lasting, the church is encouraged to offer through Christ, instead of blood sacrifices, the “sacrifice of praise” and the sacrifices of kindness and generosity to others (Heb 13:15-16). The phrase “the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (13:15) is drawn from Hosea and refers to worship, preaching and witness. Priestly service thus extends to every domain of life.

~ Uche Anizor and Hank Voss, Representing Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2016. pp. 52-53.

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
The Everlasting Dominion to Come, Daniel 7.1-18

Book Reading
Anizor and Voss, Representing Christ

Our Corporate Disciplines
Solitude and Silence: Tuesday, November 8, 2022