Gathering Preview | Joy | Psalm 16
CALL TO WORSHIP
Jesus traveled on His way through Tyre and Sidon, eventually returning to the region of the Sea of Galilee. From there He pressed on to the area of the Ten Cities. Among the sick who were brought to Him was a man who was deaf and could barely speak at all, and those who brought him begged Jesus to lay His hands on the man. Jesus took him aside from the crowd, alone, and touched his ears with His fingers. Then after spitting on His fingers, Jesus touched the man’s tongue. Looking heavenward to God, Jesus sighed and commanded,
Jesus: Open up[ and let this man speak.] [Immediately] the man could hear, his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. Jesus ordered those who had witnessed this to tell no one; but the more He insisted, the more zealously people spread the word. People (astonished) : He does everything so well! He even returns sound to the deaf and mute. Mark 7:31-37 (The Voice)
Hear of God’s promise. The promise rests on grace. God gives life to the dead. The promise rests on grace God calls into being things that did not exist. The promise rests on grace. God came to us through Jesus. The promise rests on grace. Jesus died and rose again to save us. God’s grace comes to us through our faith. From Romas 4
SONG | OH! GREAT IS OUR GOD
PRAYER OF CONFESSION | Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The Lord my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights! Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
SONG | COME THOU FOUNT
PRAYER OF ASSURANCE
If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.
SONG | LIVING HOPE
SCRIPTURE READING -PSALM 16
EMOTIONS-JOY
Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you. I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you.” As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones. All my delight is in them. The sorrows of those who take another god for themselves will multiply; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not speak their names with my lips. Lord, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I will bless the Lord who counsels me— even at night when my thoughts trouble me. I always let the Lord guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely. For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay. You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
Psalm 16
THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.
COMMUNION
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said,“This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11.23-26) Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
(For the bread) “This is the body of Christ, broken for you.”
(For the juice) “This is the blood of Christ, shed for you.”
The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
SONG | JESUS PAID IT ALL
SONG | TOTAL PRAISE
BENEDICTION
Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:12-13
PEACE BE WITH YOU. And Also with you
Midweek Meditation | Psalm 16
Pastor Christopher leads through our Midweek Meditation on Pslam 16. The purpose of the Midweek Meditation is to give you an opportunity to rest, meditate on Scripture, and prepare yourself for the upcoming Gathering.
Is this sadness? Or depression?
By: Amy Rager, student in the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Christian Theological Seminary
Sadness is an unavoidable, natural emotion for human beings. But how can you tell if what you are experiencing is more than ‘just’ sadness? While depression and sadness can seem similar, the following symptoms may indicate you are dealing with a depressive disorder:
Things that typically bring you happiness are no longer enjoyable.
Feelings of hopelessness
Feeling ‘empty’
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
Insomnia (Trouble going to sleep and/or staying asleep) or hypersomnia (feeling excessively sleepy, increased daytime sleeping)
Fatigue or loss of energy
Reduced ability to think clearly or make decisions
Unexplained headaches and body aches
As you think about the above symptoms, it may be helpful to consider: Is my life being negatively impacted by my mood? For example, are you having difficulty getting out of bed and getting to work on time? Are you unable to engage with your loved ones as you normally would? Are your relationships showing signs of stress because of your mood?
The following symptoms require immediate attention from your doctor or a mental health professional:
Thoughts of harming yourself or others.
Feeling as if those you love would be better off if you were dead.
Wishing that you could fall asleep and not wake up.
There is no reason to endure sadness or depression in silence. Many of us have been exposed to teaching that says the answer to mental and emotional anguish can only be found in Christ and in scripture. Ironically, these same Christians would never recommend that a believer forgo insulin for their diabetes or financial advice from an expert. If all of life is a spiritual endeavor, why is mental health the only arena where ‘secular’ help is prohibited?
It is true that spiritual, mental, and emotional health are very much intertwined. But I would like to propose that instead of viewing that relatedness as a danger to tiptoe around, we view it as a distinct advantage. Spirituality is a tremendous resource during mental health treatment and, likewise, mental health treatment can be a tremendous resource for spirituality. After all, a rising tide raises all boats.
Personally, I have been on a psychotropic drug since 2014 to treat ADHD. I can attest to improved mental health benefiting spiritual health. Meditation, sustained prayer, and Bible reading were such a struggle before treatment. I thank God for Adderall. I enjoy more sustained attention to his presence because of it (and can now keep car insurance because I'm not having fender benders 3-4 times a year).
In closing, my plea to you is this: if you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, reach out to someone. It is not a failure of faith to ask for help. Engaging in mental health services does not indicate that you have a ‘too small’ view of God and his capacity to heal. There’s nothing small about believing God is willing and able to work in tandem with scientific interventions.
Help is out there, friends. Don’t needlessly resign yourself to suffering.
___
*Look for a blog post about the different options for professional Helpers next week!*
**A note about grief: Many of the eight symptoms listed after the first paragraph are present during the normal grieving process- particularly feeling ‘empty,’ loss of joy during formerly enjoyable activities, and insomnia. It often takes an appointment with a clinician to determine the difference between extended grief and clinical depression. In general, and over time, grief should be experienced in waves with a decrease in intensity. Waves of grief typically follow reminders of the lost loved one whereas clinical depression is more consistently present. Feelings of worthlessness often distinguish depression from grief. When in doubt please talk with your doctor.
___
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Gathering Preview | Psalm 77
GATHERING | 02/21
100 YEAR CELEBRATION | CALL TO WORSHIP
How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in peace! It is like the finest oils poured on the head, sweet-smelling oils flowing down to cover the beard, Flowing down the beard of Aaron, flowing down the collar of his robe. It is like the gentle rain of Mount Hermon that falls on the hills of Zion. Yes, from this place, the Eternal spoke the command, from there He gave His blessing—life forever.
Psalm 133 (The Voice)
Almighty God, you have called the church into being and have gathered us into one family. By the power of your Holy Spirit help us to live in unity and peace with all your children. May our actions this day be fruit of our faith in your kingdom. In the name of Christ. AMEN.
SONG | THE LION AND THE LAMB
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
1 Corinthians 3:5-17 (NLT)
For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
SONG | LORD I NEED YOU
PRAYER OF ASSURANCE
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 (CSB)
Sanctuary” BY Paige McNally
I sit in the 100-year-old sanctuary today and hear the sighs and sniffles of my brothers and sisters. I wonder how much weeping you have heard in this space, Lord. How many groans and pains and prayers? How many victories and celebrations have You heard? And how many tears of joy have dropped onto these floors? These wooden pews have provided respite to so many- Physical rest for our bodies, as our souls have rested under the leadership of those our God has chosen to shepherd us so well. These stained glass windows have filtered colored light and provided physical beauty in situations where beauty wasn’t otherwise evident. This is the sanctuary where wedding covenants were made and where women have rocked and swayed with babies in their bellies and we have been introduced to teeny ones once they finally come. This sanctuary has housed funerals where choked goodbyes were whispered one last time. The altar has given stage to the beautiful feet of those bringing good news, both in preaching and song. Oh the altar where heads have been dunked in beautiful baptism and babies were dedicated to the Lord. This place isn’t the church, but this place houses the church. This place is sacred. This place is a sanctuary.
SONG | HOPE IN JESUS
SCRIPTURE READING -PSALM 77
EMOTIONS-SADNESS & DEPRESSION
I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. I sought the Lord in my day of trouble. My hands were continually lifted up all night long; I refused to be comforted. I think of God; I groan; I meditate; my spirit becomes weak.
Selah
You have kept me from closing my eyes; I am troubled and cannot speak. I consider days of old, years long past. At night I remember my music; I meditate in my heart, and my spirit ponders. “Will the Lord reject forever and never again show favor? Has his faithful love ceased forever? Is his promise at an end for all generations? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
Selah
So I say, “I am grieved that the right hand of the Most High has changed.” I will remember the Lord’s works; yes, I will remember your ancient wonders. I will reflect on all you have done and meditate on your actions. God, your way is holy. What god is great like God? You are the God who works wonders; you revealed your strength among the peoples. With power you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah
The water saw you, God. The water saw you; it trembled. Even the depths shook. The clouds poured down water. The storm clouds thundered; your arrows flashed back and forth. The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind; lightning lit up the world. The earth shook and quaked. Your way went through the sea and your path through the vast water, but your footprints were unseen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Psalm 77
THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.
COMMUNION
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said,“This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11.23-26) Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. (For the bread) “This is the body of Christ, broken for you.” (For the juice) “This is the blood of Christ, shed for you.” The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
SONG | FOREVER
PRAYER FOR PARTNERS
SONG | GREAT ARE YOU LORD
BENEDICTION
Be held in the center of God’s will today and know the joy freedom, and power of walking by faith in the faithfulness.
PEACE BE WITH YOU. And Also with You
Midweek Meditation | Psalm 77
Pastor Christopher leads through our Midweek Meditation on Pslam 77. The purpose of the Midweek Meditation is to give you an opportunity to rest, meditate on Scripture, and prepare yourself for the upcoming Gathering.
Gathering Preview | Matthew 25: 1-13
CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 50:1-6 God shines forth in glory The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes and does not keep silence, before him is a devouring fire, and a mighty tempest all around him. He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge.
SONG | Great is The Lord
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
2 Corinthians 4:3-6 God’s light seen in Christ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
SONG | Take My Life
PRAYER OF ASSURANCE
Hallelujah! It’s a good thing to sing praise to our God; praise is beautiful, praise is fitting. God’s the one who rebuilds Jerusalem, who regathers Israel’s scattered exiles. He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and assigns each a name. Our Lord is great, with limitless strength; we’ll never comprehend what he knows and does. God puts the fallen on their feet again and pushes the wicked into the ditch. Sing to God a thanksgiving hymn, play music on your instruments to God, Who fills the sky with clouds, preparing rain for the earth, Then turning the mountains green with grass, feeding both cattle and crows. He’s not impressed with horsepower; the size of our muscles means little to him. Those who fear God get God’s attention; they can depend on his strength.
Psalm 147:1-11
SONG | How Deep is the Father’s Love For Us
SCRIPTURE READING -THE TENS BRIDESMAIDS
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them; but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’ “Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ “The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.’ “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’ “He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’ “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.
Matthew 25:1-13
THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.
COMMUNION
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said,“This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11.23-26) Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. (For the bread) “This is the body of Christ, broken for you.” (For the juice) “This is the blood of Christ, shed for you.” The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
SONG | Nothing But The Blood
SONG| Come Lord Jesus (Even So Come)
BENEDICTION
Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21
PEACE BE WITH YOU. And Also With You
Midweek Meditation | Matthew 25:1-13
Pastor Christopher leads through our Midweek Meditation on Matthew 25: 1-13. The purpose of the Midweek Meditation is to give you an opportunity to rest, meditate on Scripture, and prepare yourself for the upcoming Gathering.
Gathering Preview | The Parable of the Unjust Judge
CALL TO WORSHIP
And now the fateful day when the Eternal One first spoke to me: Eternal One: Before I even formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew all about you. Before you drew your first breath, I had already chosen you to be My prophet to speak My word to the nations. Jeremiah: Ah, Eternal Lord! I’m too young and inexperienced to speak for You. Eternal One: Don’t use your youth as an excuse; you can and will go wherever I send you. You can and will say whatever I tell you to say. You have no reason to fear the people you speak to, for I am with you and will defend you.(Then the Eternal reached out and touched my mouth, and He gave me His divine message.) Eternal One: Look, I have placed My words in you. You will know what to say now, for you will be My voice. Jeremiah 1:4-9 (The Voice)
SONG | Friend of God
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
The Eternal had a hold on me, and I couldn’t escape it. The divine wind of the Eternal One picked me up and set me down in the middle of the valley, but this time it was full of bones. God led me through the bones. There were piles of bones everywhere in the valley—dry bones left unburied.
Eternal One (to Ezekiel): Son of man, do you think these bones can live? Ezekiel: Eternal Lord, certainly You know the answer better than I do.
Eternal One: Actually, I do. Prophesy to these bones. Tell them to listen to what the Eternal Lord says to them: “Dry bones, I will breathe breath into you, and you will come alive. I will attach muscles and tendons to you, cause flesh to grow over them, and cover you with skin. I will breathe breath into you, and you will come alive. After this happens, you will know that I am the Eternal.” So I did what God told me to do: I prophesied to the bones. As I was speaking, I heard a loud noise—a rattling sound—and all the bones began to come together and form complete skeletons. 8 I watched and saw muscles and tendons attach to the bones, flesh grow over them, and skin wrap itself around the reforming bodies. But there was still no breath in them. Eternal One: Prophesy to the breath. Speak, son of man, and tell them what the Eternal Lord has to say: “O sweet breath, come from the four winds and breathe into these who have been killed. Make these corpses come alive.” So I did what God told me to do: I prophesied to the breath. As I was speaking, breath invaded the lifeless. The bodies came alive and stood on their feet. I realized then I was looking at a great army.
Eternal One: Son of man, these bones are the entire community of Israel. They keep saying, “Our bones are dry now, picked clean by scavengers. All hope is gone. Our nation is lost.” He told me to prophesy and tell them what He said.
Eternal One: Pay attention, My people! I am going to open your graves and bring you back to life! I will carry you straight back to the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Eternal One. I will breathe My Spirit into you, and you will be alive once again. I will place you back in your own land. After that you will know I, the Eternal, have done what I said I would do. So said the Eternal One. Ezekiel 37:1-14
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
SONG | Great Is Thy Faithfulness
PRAYER OF ASSURANCE
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9
SONG | Is He Worthy
SCRIPTURE READING -THE UNJUST JUDGE
Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up. “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God or respect people. And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ “For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people, yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so that she doesn’t wear me out by her persistent coming.’” Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them? I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.
COMMUNION
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said,“This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11.23-26)
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. (For the bread) “This is the body of Christ, broken for you.” (For the juice) “This is the blood of Christ, shed for you.” The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
BAPTISM
SONG | New Again
ANNOUNCEMENTS | GIVING | BENEDICTION
Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace. Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation... grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. 2 Peter 3:14b-15,18
PEACE BE WITH YOU. And also with you