Holy Qurbana
Worship Service
Lectionary Theme: God who led us till now
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1 Samuel 7:1-12 First Lesson
1. And the people of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. They consecrated his son, Eleazar, to have charge of the ark of the Lord.
2. From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.
3. Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Astartes from among you. Direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”
4. So Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and they served the Lord only.
5. Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.”
6. So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted that day and said, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.
7. When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8. The Israelites said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, and pray that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
9. So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord; Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.
10. As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel, but the Lord thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were routed before Israel.
11. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them down as far as beyond Beth-car.
12. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah and named it Ebenezer, for he said, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
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Romans 8:31-39 Second Lesson
31. What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
32. He who did not withhold his own Son but gave him up for all of us, how will he not with him also give us everything else?
33. Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34. Who is to condemn? It is Christ who died, or rather, who was raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
35. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword?
36. As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37. No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us.
38. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39. nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 Epistle
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Matthew 11:25-30 Gospel
25. At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants;
26. yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
27. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28. “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”