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Seek the Lord who is still to be found:
call upon God who is yet at hand.
Return to the Lord, who will have compassion:
to our God, who will abundantly pardon.
Old Testament Reading - The Outcome of Esther's story
1 So the king and Haman came to Esther’s banquet. 2Again, during the wine course, the king asked her, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? What do you wish? Whatever it is, I will give it to you, even if it is half of my kingdom!”
3And at last Queen Esther replied, “If I have won your favor, O King, and if it please Your Majesty, save my life and the lives of my people. 4For I and my people have been sold to those who will destroy us. We are doomed to destruction and slaughter. If we were only to be sold as slaves, perhaps I could remain quiet, though even then there would be incalculable damage to the king that no amount of money could begin to cover.”
5“What are you talking about?” King Ahasuerus demanded. “Who would dare touch you?”
6Esther replied, “This wicked Haman is our enemy.”
Then Haman grew pale with fright before the king and queen.
9 Then Harbona, one of the king’s aides, said, “Sir, Haman has just ordered a 75-foot gallows constructed, to hang Mordecai, the man who saved the king from assassination! It stands in Haman’s courtyard.”
“Hang Haman on it,” the king ordered.
10 So they did, and the king’s wrath was pacified.
20Mordecai wrote a history of all these events and sent letters to the Jews near and far, throughout all the king’s provinces, 21encouraging them to declare an annual holiday on the last two days of the month, 22to celebrate with feasting, gladness, and the giving of gifts these historic days when the Jews were saved from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned to gladness and their mourning into happiness.
. . . . . Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22Intercession
Intercession and Thanksgiving are offered in free prayer
or in silence, ending with the following
Show us your mercy, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
Lord, have mercy. E te Ariki, kia aroha mai.
The earth is full of violence:
look, O Lord, upon your covenant.
Christ, have mercy. E te Karaiti, kia aroha mai.
O God, do not be silent;
do not keep still, nor hold your peace, O God.
Lord, have mercy. E te Ariki, kia aroha mai.
Amen.
