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Sabbath Service
September 5, 2009Scriptures used in this service are from the Restored Name King James Version of the Bible.
Torah Reading: Deuteronomy 26:1-29:9
Haftarah Reading: Isaiah 60:1-22(You may incorporate the Torah and Haftarah portions into the following service, or
read them before, after, or at some point during your Sabbath observance.)MESSIANIC OPENING (Others may drop down to “Prelude”)
Lighting of Candles
The father says:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim … Through him all things were made … In him was life, and that life was the light of men. … The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1,3,14). Yahshua is ‘the light of the world’ (John 8:12), the ‘true light that gives light to every man’ (John 1:9). Through him we are empowered to be lights in the world (Phil. 2:15). As we light these two Shabbat candles, we set this night apart unto Yahweh to remember that we are given both physical rest and spiritual rest through the gift of Yahweh by his Son, Yashua Messiah.
The mother lights two candles while saying this blessing:
Blessed are you, O Yahweh our Elohim, King of the universe, who has set us apart by your Word and has called us to be the light of the world.Blessing Yahweh for the Wine
The father pours wine into a cup, and holds it up, saying:
Wine represents to us the joy that we have in knowing that through the shed blood of Yahshua we have ceased from our labors and entered into his rest. Through it we remember the price that he paid for our redemption.
The father prays this blessing:
Blessed are you, O Yahweh our Elohim, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
All partake of the cup.Blessing Yahweh for the Bread
The father holds up the bread, saying:
Bread reminds us that we have shared the true bread from heaven in the person of Yahshua, our Master.
The father prays this blessing:
Blessed are you, O Yahweh our Elohim, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
All partake of the bread.Blessings on Wife, Husband, Sons, and Daughters
Sound the Shofar
Prelude (Musical selection for your listening enjoyment)
“The Wings of the Morning” by Kelly Willard (Psalm 139:7-14)
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18)
O Yahweh, you know us inside and out, through and through.
You search us out and lay your hand upon us.
You know what we are going to say even before we speak.
We praise you, O Yahweh, for the wonderful knowledge that whoever we are and wherever we go, you are with us.Hymn #105 (Choral Arrangement)
(Download Hymn #105, right click, “save link as”)
Where Shall I Go From Your Spirit, O El (God)?
Psalm 139
Dwight Armstrong
Yah (Lord), You have searched and have compassed my path;
You, O Eternal El (God), know all my ways.
You are before me and you are behind;
There is no word on my tongue that You miss.
My downfall and my uprising You know;
Your knowledge, Yah (Lord), is so far above me.
Where shall I go from Your Spirit, O El (God)?
Where shall I flee from Your presence, O Yah (Lord)?
If up to heaven, behold You are there;
If down to hell, You would soon find me there;
If I take wings or dwell far out at sea,
Even Your right hand shall hold me, O El (God).
Though darkness comes and the night covers me.
Even the darkness hides nothing from El (God).
Yea, even darkness shall shine as the day;
To the Eternal they both are alike.
He knew my life ere before I was born;
How vast, O El (God), is the sum of Your thoughts!
Prayer of Praise and Adoration
Elohim of all generations, as the author of the psalm acknowledged your creative presence in such an intimate and personal way, so we affirm your presence with us in an even more wonderful and personal way — in the relationship established through Yahshua Messiah and through the Holy Spirit. We praise and thank you, O Yahweh, for reaching out to us and touching our lives in this way. We turn toward you in gratitude seeking to love as we have been loved and pray that this time of worship will be a worthy offering of praise and thanksgiving for the way you lay your guiding hand on our lives. In Yahshua’s name, we pray. Amen.
**NOTE: Offering a variety of different types of Messianic or sacred name music each week, we will dance before the King much as David danced when he led the Ark up to Jerusalem.
Dance before Yahweh (Messianic Music)
Click on the first Track to begin the player. After all songs have played, or when you have reached the point of ending your dance, click on the “Stop” button at the top of the player (otherwise the tracks will just keep playing over and over).
This text will be replaced by the flash music player.***Please be seated and return to the service.***
No Praises are Adequate
* From an Egyptian inscription, about 4 B.C.Who on earth
can adequately sing your praises?What can my eye see
with which I can liken you?
What music is there
with which to compare you?
You are above me, below me,
within me and without.All exist in you,
all are from you,
you give us everything
you withhold nothing.Who on earth
can sing your praises?Hebrew Scripture Reading
Jeremiah 18:1-11 RNKJV
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from YHVH, saying,
2 Arise, and go down to the potters house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3 Then I went down to the potters house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5 Then the word of YHVH came to me, saying,
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith YHVH. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
11 Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith YHVH; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.
A Thanksgiving
We praise and thank you, Giver of grace:
for the clean doubts that bless us,
for the questions that unsettle us,
for the mysteries which baffle us,
and for those wonder-moments
which leave us agape with awe.We praise and thank you, Giver of grace:
for the ideals that draw us,
for the hungers that drive us,
for the dreams that inspire us,
and for those wonder-moments
which leave us riven with awe.We praise and thank you, Giver of grace:
for the truth that arrests us,
for the light that strip-searches us,
for the self-awareness that humbles us,
and for those wonder-moments
which leave us aching with awe.We praise and thank you, Giver of grace:
for the faith that holds on to us,
for the hope that uplifts us,
for the love that enthrals us,
and for those wonder-moments
which leave us praising with awe.We praise and thank you, Giver of grace:
for the Arms that enfold us,
for the Shoulders that carry us,
in the Voice that laughs with us,
and for those wonder-moments
which leave us adoring with awe.
Who Is Like You?
Who is like you, O Yahweh, the Source of deepest mysteries and the purest delights?Who is like you: Saviour of sinners, Strength of the meek, and Rest of the weary?
Who is like you: Seeker of the lost, Bread of the hungry, Hope of the hopeless, and Home of the orphan?
Who is like you: Scourge of the arrogant, Disrupter of Apathy, Goad of the recalcitrant, Judge of the presumptuous?
Who is like you: Companion of pilgrims, Friend of the persecuted, Victory of the crucified, Comfort of the dying?
There is none, holy Yahweh. No other name, no other love, and no other hope that is forever true, no other healing place from pain and shame, none beside you.
O generous Creator of time and space,
loving Saviour of fools and rebels, joyful Counsellor of the children of light,
Yours is the kingdom of hope-fullness, the power of saving grace, and the endless glory of crucified and risen love, forever and ever.
Amen.Gospel Reading
Luke 14:25-33 RNKJV
25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.Prayer of Confession
Master Yahshua Messiah, we know in our hearts that discipleship demands an utterly new way of seeing people as you did, and being with them unconditionally, as you were, but the journey from heart to eyes and hands and feet can be long and difficult. We confess that we find it especially difficult to remember that loving you takes priority over everything and everyone else in our lives — even family and friends. Remind us that when we do love you like this, our relationships are shaped by this love also and can become deeper and stronger.
Forgive our reluctance to proclaim with our lips and our lives that you are Master of our lives.
We confess that we prefer our journeys of faith to be devout, but not too daring: comfortable and not too threatening.
Forgive our fear of treading your way of obedience — the way of the cross.
Master Yahshua Messiah, give us the grace to trust in the unknowing nature of your call to each of us and the unknown direction which you call us to travel. You have traveled the road already so what have we to fear?
Yahshua, Savior and Master, we do want to be your followers so that we can reveal through our lives, as you did, the shape of Yahweh’s unconditional love.
May we be filled, renewed, and guided by the Holy Spirit so that we commit ourselves anew to the challenge of following Yahshua Messiah — serving and loving others in his name and for his sake. Amen.Assurance of Forgiveness
Yahshua Messiah came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15) — so rejoice — for in him, we are forgiven, we are healed, we are renewed.
Thanks be to Yahweh.Hymn #1 (Choral Arrangement)
(Download Hymn #1, right click, “save link as”)Blest and Happy Is The Man
Psalm 1
Dwight Armstrong
Blest and happy is the man Who does never walk astray,
Nor with the ungodly men Stands in sinner’s way.
All he does prospers well, But the wicked are not so;
They are chaff before the wind, Driven to and fro.
Ne’er in scorner’s chair he sits, For he places his delight
In Yah’s (God’s) law and meditates On it day and night.
All he does prospers well, But the wicked are not so;
They are chaff before the wind, Driven to and fro.
He shall be a tree that grows, Planted by the river’s side,
Which in season yields its fruit; Green its leaves abide.
All he does prospers well, But the wicked are not so;
They are chaff before the wind, Driven to and fro.
Study Paper, Video or Audio Sermon (Your Choice)Creed and Affirmation for the Labor Day weekend
Good News to the Poor
Luke 4: 14-21Yahweh is good, Yahweh is loving,
and Yahweh wants a fair go for each and for all.This I believe; so help me Yahweh.
I believe the Spirit of Yahweh alighted supremely upon Messiah Yahshua,
who in humble strength came to announce
good news to the destitute and hungry, and forgotten;
to cry freedom for captives of war and addictions,
to deliver restoration of sight to those blind in body and soul,
and to win liberty with justice to all who are oppressed.He came for all people,
whether clothed in fine raiment or wearing jeans and joggers.
He came and lived among us,
making it clear, once and for all,
that the jubilee of salvation has arrived.Yahweh is good, Yahweh is loving,
Yahweh is like Messiah Yahshua.
Into this faith I have been liberated.This I do believe; so help me Yahweh.
The Shema
Hear, O Israel, Yahweh our Elohim is One. Blessed be the name of Yahweh whose glorious kingdom is forever! You shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all of your heart. You shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all of your soul. You shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all of your mind. You shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your strength.
And these words, which I am instructing you today, shall be on your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them, when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house, and on your gates. (Deut. 6:6-9)Yahshua said, “You shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37-39)
Closing Prayer
Gracious and loving Yahweh, we offer the service of our lives praying that they are acceptable to you. May they be evidence of our desire to follow Yahshua, and our turning away from all that hinders our discipleship. In Yahshua’s name, we pray. Amen.Aaronic Blessing
Yahweh bless you and keep you: Yahweh make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: Yahweh lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.