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January 7, 2021CALL TO PRAYER: Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. GLORIA: Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the being, is now and will be forever, world without end, AmenWorship the Lord in holy attire; Tremble before Him, all the earth. Psalms 96:9 CONFESSION of FAITH:I believe in God, the Father almighty,creator of heaven and earth;I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spiritand born of the Virgin Mary.He suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried.He descended into hell.On the third day he rose again.He ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy Christian Church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sinsthe resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. Amen.CANTICLE:Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Confession of sin: I know Lord, I am not alone. I know you have forgiven me for my iniquities. Help me to live more in the Spirit you have given me, so that my desires are only for those things you desire for me.SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Peter 1:3‭-‬25 https://bible.com/bible/59/1pe.1.3-25.ESVDEVOTIONAL:Hope for Hard Times • Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3 We live in a world where many foundations are crumbling. Many institutions are fading. People that we admired and respected are being exposed as predators and frauds. Natural disasters have become more devastating. And in our lives, trouble abounds. Hope is based on the expectation that things can get better. But in our world, it seems like things just keep getting worse. Even for Christians, it is easy to fall into despair.Despair is nothing new, and neither is the remedy. In today’s passage, Peter argues that because of Christ’s resurrection we are able to be born anew and therefore are not bound to a false hope. Instead, we are bound to a living hope! Despite our trials now, we can rejoice in the inheritance we have been promised. But how can we trust this hope? The apostle Paul challenged some among the church at Corinth who denied the resurrection. If, Paul argues, Christ has not risen from the dead, then Christians are to be pitied above everyone and we have no true basis for our hope (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). But, he affirms, the resurrection is true!In the darkness of despair, the Bible has a message for the world: there is hope, and that hope is the person of Jesus Christ. No matter what challenges come our way, we can rest assured that there is a reason for the hope within us (1 Peter 3:15). As you pray, hold onto the hope of Jesus and ask God to make you a vessel of his hope for others. https://bible.com/reading-plans/22131/day/1?segment=0THE LORD'S PRAYER:“Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on 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 Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever.PERSONAL PRAYERS:Lord please hear our heart felt personal prayers. Give us strength to get through the days ahead. PRAYERS of THE CHURCH:Lord, today is a very difficult day for many of us. The events of yesterday were upsetting to everyone, often for different reasons. It was a day when the beginnings of the end seem to real. The folks you think you can believe telling lies, the rest also full of false information. Seems few are believable. A time when families are decided and argue over ridiculous things, a time when a nation seems on the brink of collapse. So, yes, this is the time we need to come to You and rest knowing You have this. You are in control. And help us to take that next step confident that You will brming us through. We place our total trust in You. THE BLESSING:“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”