The Hope of the Ends of the Earth--June 19, 2015

God of our salvation,

in these days your word seems rare;

visions are not widespread.

We do not spend much time

together in worship, nor break bread

with glad and generous hearts.

We have beautiful buildings, though,

designed and built by skilled workers--

some day will all be thrown down?

We do not know, but this we believe--

you are the hope of the ends of the earth

and of the farthest seas.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 51; 148; 142; 65

1 Sam. 3:1-21

Acts 2:37-47

Luke 21:5-19

Selected Verses

Ps. 65:5

By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
          O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth
          and of the farthest seas. 

1 Sam. 3:1b

The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

Acts 2:46

Day by day, as [all who believed] spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts…

Luke 21:5-6

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, [Jesus] said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”