Scripture for Today

By Aliso Creek ChurchReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Scripture for Today episodes

December 02, 2022 Advent Special | O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
8 min
December 01, 2022 Gospel | Luke 21:25-36 (with Nick Locke)
Opening Song:
Be On the Lookout by Caroline Cobb Smith and Paul Zach
Lyrics:
Lift up your head
Be on the lookout
Wake from your bed
Don’t fall asleep
Lift up your head
He’s coming soon now
Get yourself ready
For the coming of the King
Could a mother forget her children?
Could a husband forget his wife?
How much more, then, will He remember?
Will He come and set things right?
Lift up your head
Be on the lookout
Wake from your bed
Don’t fall asleep
Lift up your head
He’s coming soon now
Get yourself ready
For the coming of the King
Cast aside all the works of darkness
Live as children of the day
Light your lamps and keep them burning
Till we see our bridegroom’s face
Lift up your head
Be on the lookout
Wake from your bed
Don’t fall asleep
Lift up your head
He’s coming soon now
Get yourself ready
For the coming of the King
See those fields, they’re ripe for harvest
See the work that’s left undone
Take to the world his love and justice
Singin’ “Let his kingdom come!”
Oh let his kingdom come!
Passage:
25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
(Luke 21:25–36 ESV)
Musical Reflection:
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, tune by Rowland Hugh Prichard
Reflection Notes:
This jubilant Advent text was written by the well-known hymn writer, Charles Wesley. While several tunes have been used over the years, one of the most popular for the Advent season is HYFRIDOL, a lilting Welsh melody composed by Rowland Hugh Prichard in the early nineteenth century.
Prayer:
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of
darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of
this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit
us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come
again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the
dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
10 min
November 30, 2022 New Testament | 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 (with Nick Locke)
Opening Song:
Teach Us Your Ways by Isaac Wardell, Leslie Jordan, Orlando Palmer, and Paul Zach
Lyrics:
Teach us Your ways teach us Your ways
As we learn from one another
Learn to love each other
Teach us Your ways
Teach us to give teach us to give
Give ourselves for one another
Learn to love each other
Teach us to give
Teach us to weep teach us to weep
Let us weep with one another
Learn to love each other
Teach us to weep
Hallelujah hallelujah
Let us learn from one another
Learn to love each other
Teach us Your ways
Passage:
9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
(1 Thessalonians 3:9–13 ESV)
Musical Reflection:
Harp Meditation No. 1 by Gretchen Kirby
Reflection Notes:
A repetitive pattern in the left hand provides a meditative foundation while the right hand experiments with ascending lines. The tune is meant to be joyful and evoke delight.
Prayer:
Incline, O Lord, thy merciful ears, and illuminate the darkness of our hearts by the light of thy visitation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-The Gelasian Sacramentary
8 min
November 29, 2022 Psalm | Psalm 25:1-19 (with Jeff Sholar)
Opening Song:
25 by Red Rocks Worship
Passage:
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
6 Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
(Psalm 25:1–9 ESV)
Musical Reflection:
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” tune by Robert Jackson
Reflection Notes:
TRENTHAM is a tune by Robert Jackson, an English composer during the nineteenth century. It fits perfectly with the text for “Breath On Me, Breath of God,” by Edwin Hatch; each phrase is allotted ample space for reflection.
Prayer:
Grant us, O Lord, not to mind earthly things but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to cleave to those that shall abide through Jesus Christ our Lord.
-The Leonine Sacramentary
12 min
November 28, 2022 Old Testament | Jeremiah 33:14-16 (with Tom Gastil)
Opening Song:
O Righteous Branch by Caroline Cobb Smith
Lyrics:
Oh righteous branch from Jesse's root
Please come and bring Your kingdom
The lion dwelling with the lamb
Bring peace and life and freedom
Oh Son of David come to rule
And reign in us forever
Come write Your law upon our hearts
And keep us like a shepherd
Hallelujah Jesus we wait for You
Hallelujah Jesus come soon come soon
Messiah come Your Spirit give
Turn stony hearts to flesh
Redeem us from captivity
The power of sin and death
Jesus come soon come soon
At last at last the morning comes
With healing in its wings
We'll leap like calves loosed from their stalls
For You have done great things
Yes You have done great things
Passage:
14 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’
(Jeremiah 33:14–16 ESV)
Musical Reflection:
O Come, O Come Emmanuel, chant adapted by Thomas Helmore
Reflection Notes:
The tune VENI IMMANUEL comes from a 15th century chant and originally served as part of a requiem mass. Thomas Helmore adapted it for congregational use as a hymn in the late 1800s, while still retaining the speech-like flow of the original chant. The text dates back to the 8th century and was translated from Latin to English by J. M. Neal.
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.
11 min
November 25, 2022 Gospel | Luke 23:35-43 (with Nick Locke)
Opening Song:
Remember by Bryan and Katie Torwalt
Lyrics:
How quickly we forget
The God who lives in ev'ryday
How easy to lose sight
That You reside in the mundane
How quickly we forget the pow'r
That's running through our veins
The kind of pow'r that empties graves
(And) oh my soul
Remember who you're talking to
The only One who death bows to
That's the God who walks with you
And oh my soul
You know that if He did it then
He can do it all again
His pow'r can still raise the dead
Don't tell me that He's finished yet
Lest we not forget the voice
That's holding back the waves
Was once the voice that told the skies
To pour them into place
Let us join the endless song of everlasting praise
The only God who empties graves
If You broke through the oceans
You can break through these chains
If Your word made the mountains
It can move them all the same
If death fell before You
And it's still on its face
Then the power that raised You
Is about to move again
Is about to move again
Mmm He's not finished yet
And oh my soul
His pow'r can still raise the dead
Don't tell me that He's finished yet
Passage:
And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him,[a] “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,[b] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.
Musical Reflection:
Jesus, Remember Me by Jacques Berthier
Reflection Notes:
“Jesus, Remember Me” is a tune from the French Taizé tradition; these simple songs are meant to be repeated indefinitely with added instrumentation or voice parts. They are meant to be meditative and allow for prayer.
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.
12 min
November 23, 2022 Psalm | Psalm 46 (with Tom Gastil)
Opening Song:
Psalm 46 (Lord of Hosts) by Jennie Lee Riddle, Josh Miller, Josiah Warneking, and Shane Barnard
Lyrics:
O come behold the works of God
The nations at His feet
He breaks the bow and bends the spear
And tells the wars to cease
O Mighty One of Israel You are on our side
We walk by faith
In God who burns the chariots with fire
Lord of hosts You’re with us with us in the fire
With us as a Shelter
With us in the storm
You will lead us
Through the fiercest battle
Oh where else would we go
But with the Lord of hosts
O God of Jacob fierce and great
You lift Your voice to speak
The earth it bows
And all the mountains move into the sea
O Lord You know the hearts of men
And still You let them live
O God who makes the mountains melt
Come wrestle us and win
O God who makes the mountains melt
Come wrestle us and win
Though oceans roar You are the Lord of all
The One who calms the wind and waves
And makes my heart be still
Though the earth gives way
The mountains move into the sea
The nations rage
I know my God is in control
Passage:
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present[b] help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Musical Reflection:
All to Jesus I Surrender (SURRENDER) by Winfield S. Weeden
Reflection Notes:
This tune was originally intended to have two-part harmonies on the verse and four-part harmonies of the refrain; the additional harmonic fullness adds to the repeated emphasis of the words “I surrender all.”
Prayer:
Most loving Father, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who care for us: Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
12 min
November 22, 2022 Old Testament | Jeremiah 23:1-6 (with Jeff Sholar)
Opening Song:
O Righteous Branch by Caroline Cobb Smith
Lyrics:
Oh righteous branch from Jesse's root
Please come and bring Your kingdom
The lion dwelling with the lamb
Bring peace and life and freedom
Oh Son of David come to rule
And reign in us forever
Come write Your law upon our hearts
And keep us like a shepherd
Hallelujah Jesus we wait for You
Hallelujah Jesus come soon come soon
Messiah come Your Spirit give
Turn stony hearts to flesh
Redeem us from captivity
The power of sin and death
Jesus come soon come soon
At last at last the morning comes
With healing in its wings
We'll leap like calves loosed from their stalls
For You have done great things
Yes You have done great things
Passage:
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. 3 Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord.
5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’
Musical Reflection:
“Air on the G String” from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major by J.S. Bach
Reflection Notes:
The slow, descending bass line creates musical “steps” in an elegant fashion while a suspended melody several octaves above creates a satisfying combination of sound registers.
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 21, 2022 Monday Reflection | Colossians 1:9-14
Passage:
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 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.
Song:
Give Thanks to God by Allan McKinlay and Peter Crockett
Lyrics:
He sent His Son to die and rise again to save us
His never ending love is steadfast and sure
He’s broken our chains and given us freedom
Give thanks to God for He is good
In Him we are alive and have joy everlasting
His never ending love is steadfast and sure
He casts out all fear and ﬁlls us with courage
Give thanks to God for He is good
When storms come and rage His peace overwhelms us
His never ending love is steadfast and sure
The Lord is our refuge when trouble surrounds us
Give thanks to God for He is good
Give thanks to God for He is good
He’s always pouring out His abundant provision
His never ending love is steadfast and sure
For the depths of His riches and
Incredible wisdom
Give thanks to God for He is good
Give thanks to God for He is good
Always good
Always good to me
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.
9 min
November 17, 2022 Psalm | Psalm 17 (with Nick Locke)
Opening Song:
For All My Life by Hank Bentley, Jon Guerra, and Taya Gaukrodger
Lyrics:
When my troubles are a little too heavy
Who can I turn to to share the weight
When my mind is cluttered and cloudy
Who can I turn to to clear the way
Who can I turn to I turn to You
I won't lean on my own understanding
I will let go follow empty handed
You say Your yoke is easy
You say Your burden's light
So I'll let You lead me for all my life
When my past is still trying to haunt me
Who can I turn to to give me grace
When my future is a little uncertain
Who can I turn to turn to today
Who can I turn to I turn to You
Some days are long some work is tough
Whatever I lack You make it up
Your yoke is easy Your burden is light
You gave me life You give me love
Whenever I'm dry You fill my cup
Your yoke is easy Your burden is light
I know Your yoke is easy
I know Your burden's light
So I'll let You lead me for all my life
Passage:
Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
2 From your presence let my vindication come!
Let your eyes behold the right!
3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,
you have tested me, and you will find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.
7 Wondrously show[a] your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9 from the wicked who do me violence,
my deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11 They have now surrounded our steps;
they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.
12 He is like a lion eager to tear,
as a young lion lurking in ambush.
13 Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him!
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14 from men by your hand, O Lord,
from men of the world whose portion is in this life.[b]
You fill their womb with treasure;[c]
they are satisfied with children,
and they leave their abundance to their infants.
15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
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:
Father, I am seeking: I am hesitant and uncertain, but will you, O God, watch over each step of mine and guide me?
Augustine
10 min

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