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Psalm 22: (Cantor: Bill Wilkins)

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My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

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My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

And are so far away from my cry

and from the words of my distress?

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer;

by night as well, but I find no rest.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Yet you are the Holy One,

enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

Our forefathers put their trust in you;

they trusted, and you delivered them.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

They trusted you and were delivered;

they trusted in you and were not put to shame.

But as for me, I am a worm and no man,

scorned by all and despised by the people.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

All who see me laugh me to scorn;

they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,

"He trusted in the LORD; let him deliver him;

let him rescue him, if he delights in him."

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Yet you are he who took me out of the womb,

and kept me safe upon my mother's breast.

I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born;

you were my God when I was still in my mother's womb.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Be not far from me, for trouble is near,

and there is none to help.

Many young bulls encircle me;

strong bulls of Bashan surround me.

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My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

They open wide their jaws at me,

like a ravening and a roaring lion.

I am poured out like water;

and all my bones are out of joint;

my heart within my breast is melting wax.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd;

my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;

and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.

Packs of dogs close me in,

and gangs of evildoers circle around me;

they pierce my hands and my feet;

I can count all my bones.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

They stare and gloat over me;

they divide my garments among them;

they cast lots for my clothing.

Be not far away, O LORD;

you are my strength; hasten to help me now.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

I will declare your Name to my brethren;

in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

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Epistle: Hebrews 10:16-25

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The Holy Spirit testifies saying,

     "This is the covenant that I will make with them
          after those days, says the Lord:

     I will put my laws in their hearts,
          and I will write them on their minds,"

he also adds,

     "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."

Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.