Scripture for Today

By Aliso Creek ChurchReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Scripture for Today episodes

December 05, 2023 Psalm | Psalm 80:1-7 (with Nick Locke)
Opening Song:
Psalm 80 by Poor Bishop Hooper
Lyrics:
O God, restore
Shine Your face
Once more on us
Hear us, Shepherd of Israel
You who shepherd Your people well
Who sits among the light
O God, restore
Shine Your face
Once more on us
Come again, Almighty One
The vine You've chosen needs the Son
Who sits at Your right hand
The One whom You've raised up
O God, restore
Shine Your face
Once more on us
Passage:
1 Listen, Shepherd of Israel,
who leads Joseph like a flock;
you who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine
2 on Ephraim,
Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Rally your power and come to save us.
3 Restore us, God;
make your face shine on us,
so that we may be saved.
4 LORD God of Armies,
how long will you be angry
with your people’s prayers?
5 You fed them the bread of tears
and gave them a full measure
of tears to drink.
6 You put us at odds with our neighbors;
our enemies mock us.
7 Restore us, God of Armies;
make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved.
(Psalm 80:1-7 CSB)
Musical Reflection:
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (PICARDY)
Reflection Notes:
Adapted from a medieval French folk tune, PICARDY was later arranged by esteemed English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams as a congregational hymn. The minor tonalities and scalar phrasing are very reminiscent of chant and serve to create a hushed environment in which to reflect on the rich text.
Prayer:
Almighty God, who sees that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves, keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-The Gregorian Sacramentary
8 min
December 04, 2023 Advent Special | O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Song: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
8 min
December 01, 2023 Old Testament | Ezekiel 34:11-20 (with Tom Gastil)
Opening Song:
The Good Shepherd by Fernando Ortega, Jana Alayra, and Tim Macres
Lyrics:
I am The Good Shepherd
I lay down my life for you
Enter in enter in enter in
I am The Good Shepherd
As the Father knows me I know you
I know you I know you I know you
And no one can take you away
And no one can take you away
You are The Good Shepherd
You lay down your life for me
Enter in enter in enter in
You are The Good Shepherd
As the Father knows you you know me
You know me you know me you know me
And no one can take you away
And no one can take you away
Passage:
11 “‘For this is what the Lord God says: See, I myself will search for my flock and look for them. 12 As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and total darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them to their own soil. I will shepherd them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 I will tend them in good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel’s lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will tend my flock and let them lie down. This is the declaration of the Lord God. 16 I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak, but I will destroy[b] the fat and the strong. I will shepherd them with justice.
17 “‘As for you, my flock, the Lord God says this: Look, I am going to judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and goats. 18 Isn’t it enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Or isn’t it enough that you drink the clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Yet my flock has to feed on what your feet have trampled, and drink what your feet have muddied.
20 “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord God says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.
Musical Reflection:
“Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us,” tune by William Bradbury
Reflection Notes:
The tune BRADBURY is named for its composer, a New Englander from the first half of the nineteenth century. The sweet melody for the verses repeats, then is followed by a strong refrain.
Prayer:
Father, what we know not, teach us; what we have not, give us; what we are not, make us; for the sake of your Son our Savior. Amen.
-Old Anglican Prayer
11 min
November 30, 2023 Gospel | Matthew 25:31-46 (with Nick Locke)
Opening Song:
“He is Among Us (The Least of These)” by Andy Pierce, Isaac Wardell, John Swinton, Orlando Palmer, and Paul Zach
Lyrics:
You'll find Me with the broken and the weak
In the spaces in between
You'll hear My voice cry out with those who weep
Only if you're listening
Whatever you do for the least of these
You do it unto Me
You'll find Me with the ones without a voice
The forgotten and ignored
My blessing is on those who love the poor
'Til you open up the door
Whatever you do for the least of these
You do it unto Me
Whatever you do for the least of these
You do it unto Me
Hallelujah, hallelujah
He is among us, He is among us
Hallelujah, hallelujah
He is among us, He is among us
Hallelujah, hallelujah
He is among us, He is among us
Hallelujah, hallelujah
He is among us, He is among us
By this the world will know the Father's love
We will know the Father's love
Passage:
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 “‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’
40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger and you didn’t take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.’
44 “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help you?’
45 “Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
(Matthew 25:31-46 CSB)
Musical Reflection:
Bless the Lord, My Soul by Jacques Berthier
Reflection Notes:
A contribution to the Taizé tradition, this tune by Berthier provides a reverent foundation for the text: “Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.”
Prayer:
Stir up, O Lord, your power, and come; mercifully fulfill that which you have promised to your church unto the end of the world! [Amen.]
-The Gelasian Sacramentary
10 min
November 29, 2023 New Testament | 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (with Nick Locke)
Opening Song:
Christ is Risen by Matt Maher and Mia Fieldes
Lyrics:
Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
But fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely You've bled for us
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but heaven's will
No scheme of hell no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim
O death where is your sting
O hell where is your victory
O church come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night
Singing O death where is your sting
O hell where is your victory
O church come stand in the light
Our God is not dead He's alive He's alive
Passage:
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God[a] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
Musical Reflection:
Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 by J.S. Bach
Reflection Notes:
Bach’s well-known prelude spins out a series of modulations, almost imperceptible at first. The new harmonies continually unfold in a way that intrigues but never shocks.
Prayer:
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
11 min
November 28, 2023 Psalm | Psalm 95 (with Nick Locke)
Opening Song:
Never Stop Singing (Psalm 95) by Britton Hardcastle, Carrie Hardcastle, Bryan Fowler, Mac Hays, George Koehl, and John Marc Koh
Lyrics:
From the greatest depths
To the highest heights
Oh the endless breadth
Of Your hands
By Your spoken Word
All creation formed
Can we hear
You speak again
Come let us sing
Come let us shout
Of Your goodness
Come let us praise
Come let us bow down
In worship
You are our God
God of salvation
You are the song
We’ll never stop singing
Never stop singing
In our wandering
When we’ve lost our way
Still You’re holding us
In Your hands
In the raging seas
In the barren land
On Your promise
We will stand
Come let us sing
Come let us shout
Of Your goodness
Come let us praise
Come let us bow down
In worship
You are our God
God of salvation
You are the song
We’ll never stop singing
My only song
Jesus my only song
You are the only one worthy of
My Hallelujah
Come let us sing
Come let us shout of Your goodness
Come let us praise
Come let us bow down in worship
Come let us sing
Come let us shout
Of Your goodness
Come let us praise
Come let us bow down
In worship
You are our God
God of salvation
You are the song
We’ll never stop singing
Never stop singing
Passage:
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
7 For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9 when your fathers put me to the test
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
10 For forty years I loathed that generation
and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart,
and they have not known my ways.”
11 Therefore I swore in my wrath,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
Musical Reflection:
“Amazing Grace,” Appalachian folk tune
Reflection Notes:
This beloved tune, formally known as NEW BRITAIN, originates from the folk music of Appalachia. The melody is simple and outlines triads, making it memorable; the ascending line creates a triumphant climax.
Prayer:
This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.
12 min
November 27, 2023 Psalm | Psalm 34 (with Tom Gastil)
Opening Song:
Psalm 34 (Taste and See) by Joe Rigney and Shane Barnard
Lyrics:
I sought the Lord and He answered me
And delivered me from every fear
Those who look on Him are radiant
They'll never be ashamed
They'll never be ashamed

This poor man cried and the Lord heard me
And saved me from my enemies
The Son of God surrounds His saints
He will deliver them
He will deliver them

Magnify the Lord with me
Come exalt His name together
Glorify the Lord with me
Come exalt His name forever

O taste and see that the Lord is good
O blessed is he who hides in Him
O fear the Lord O all you saints
He'll give you everything
He'll give you everything

Let us bless the Lord
Every day and night
Never ending praise
May our incense rise
Passage:
Taste and See That the Lord Is Good
[a] Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.
34 I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
    not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Musical Reflection:
Nothing But The Blood (PLAINFIELD) by Robert Lowry
Reflection Notes:
Lowry wrote several hymns for his congregation’s use in the late nineteenth century. This particular tune is pentatonic (only five notes used per octave) and falls within a small vocal range, which made it accessible for all parishioners to sing and enjoy.
Prayer:
O Lord, you have mercy upon all—take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of your Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore you, a heart to delight in you, to follow and to enjoy you, for Christ’s sake. Amen. Ambrose

13 min
November 23, 2023 New Testament | Colossians 1:11-20 (with Nick Locke)
Opening Song:
Fullness of God by Jonathan Ogden
Lyrics:
We are citizens of a heavenly home
This life that we now live is no longer our own
Cause we're living for the King of Glory
Our lives laid down will tell His story
He is the image of the invisible God
He made all things on Earth and Heaven above
The firstborn over all creation
The ruler over all the nations
In Him
All the fullness of God was pleased to dwell
Through Him
He we will reconcile all things to Himself
And He'll never change
From age to age He stays the same
Eternal surpassing
His love's everlasting
He'll never change
From age to age He stays the same
He's steadfast unchanging
His love's never ending
In Him
All the fullness of God was pleased to dwell
Through Him
He we will reconcile all things to Himself
Passage:
…being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks[a] to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
The Preeminence of Christ
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[c] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Musical Reflection:
“Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us,” tune by William Bradbury
Reflection Notes:
The tune BRADBURY is named for its composer, a New Englander from the first half of the nineteenth century. The sweet melody for the verses repeats, then is followed by a strong refrain.
Prayer:
O Lord, you have given us your Word as a light to shine on our path; grant that we may so meditate on that Word and follow its teaching that we may find in it the light that shines more and more until the perfect day; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
-Jerome
10 min
November 22, 2023 Psalm | Psalm 121 (with Nick Locke)
Opening Song:
Psalm 121 by Anthony Skinner, David Leonard, and Leslie Jordan
Lyrics:
Lift my eyes up to the hills
There is where my help comes from and I
Don't have to be afraid
I'll never be afraid
I will find You and be still
And I know that You are here
I can hear you in the whispers
I will find you and be still now
Lord You're watching over me
You give me faith and I believe that I
Don't have to be afraid
I'll never be afraid
Oh Maker of Heav'n and Earth
Oh Saviour You hold my world
You will keep me both now and forevermore
Passage:
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
Musical Reflection:
Harp Meditation No. 2 by Gretchen Kirby
Reflection Notes:
This modal meditation centers around an intervallic pattern in the right hand that is anchored by deep bass octaves in the left hand and occasional supportive harmonies. Though somewhat haunting, the melodic motif provokes reflection.
Prayer:
Now may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and may Jesus Christ himself also, the eternal high priest and Son of God, build you up in faith and truth, and in gentleness, avoidance of anger, forbearance, longsuffering, patient endurance and purity; and may he grant you to inherit a place among his saints; may he grant this to us also so that we can be with you, and to everyone under heaven who will believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and in his Father who raised him from the dead.
Polycarp
12 min
November 21, 2023 Old Testament 1 | Zephaniah 3:14-20 (with Nick Locke)
Opening Song:
Prepare Him Room by Rebecca Elliott and Dave Fournier
Lyrics:
O behold the mystery now unfolds
See the star shine on the virgin foretold
Angels sing and light up the sky
Hope rings out in a newborn's cry
Swing wide you ancient gates
For Christ is born today
Prepare Him room prepare Him room
Let the King of Glory enter in
God with us the promise has come to be
This the one the prophets were longing to see
In the darkness a blazing light
To the hungry the words of life
His kingdom now is near
For those with ears to hear
Oh our hearts as busy as Bethlehem
Hear Him knock don't say there's no room in the inn
Through the cradle cross and grave
See the love of God displayed
Now He's risen and He reigns
Praise the Name above all names
Passage:
14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you;
he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
17 The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
19 Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you in,
at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes,” says the LORD.
(Zephaniah 3:14–20 ESV)
Musical Reflection:
Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming (ES IST EIN ROS) by Michael Praetorius
Reflection Notes:
Praetorius composed this tune in the early seventeenth century while working at various court and church appointments in Germany. The somewhat melancholy nature of the melody reflects the theological tension of the text: the rose of Christ is born to die, but will rise again in resurrection glory.
Prayer:
O Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient toward the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world, we may be found a people acceptable in your sight; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
10 min

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