Nicolaus Copernicus
Born in 1473, Nicolaus Copernicus first studied law and medicine before serving as a cleric under the direction of his uncle, the Bishop of Warmia (in northeastern Poland). Copernicus first set forth his heliocentric theory of astronomy in a small work called the Commentariolus, which was not published until 1878. His argument that the sun, rather than the earth, was the center of the universe around which the planets rotated was developed fully in his 1543 opus De Revolutionibus Orbium Caelestium.
The initial ecclesiastical reaction to his revolutionary theory was somewhat muted, but when his thought was further developed by Galileo, the religious debate was intensified, and De Revolutionibus was placed on the index of banned books. Copernicus had originally dedicated his work to the Pope, and he saw no conflict between his theory and the authority of Scripture. He died on May 24, 1543. HWHM
Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/3739jfvw
The merciful love of the Lord fills the earth;
by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, alleluia. Psalm 33
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires, known,
and from whom no secrets are hid:
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Music: https://tinyurl.com/ycn4djk5
O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will declare your praise.
Make haste, O God, to deliver me;
make haste to help me, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Praise to you, O Christ, Alleluia!
HYMN: John W Chadwick
Tune: Song 1 https://tinyurl.com/4a9e7afu
1 Eternal Ruler of the ceaseless round
of circling planets singing on their way;
guide of the nations from the night profound
into the glory of the perfect day;
rule in our hearts, that we may ever be
guided and strengthened and upheld by thee.
2 We are of thee, the children of thy love,
the brothers of thy well-belovèd Son;
descend, O Holy Spirit, like a dove,
into our hearts, that we may be as one:
as one with thee, to whom we ever tend;
as one with him, our Brother and our Friend.
3 We would be one in hatred of all wrong,
one in our love of all things sweet and fair,
one with the joy that breaketh into song,
one with the grief that trembles into prayer,
one in the power that makes thy children free
to follow truth, and thus to follow thee.
4 O clothe us with thy heavenly armour, Lord,
thy trusty shield, thy sword of love divine;
our inspiration be thy constant word;
we ask no victories that are not thine:
give or withhold, let pain or pleasure be;
enough to know that we are serving thee.
PSALMS
Psalm 110 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/wo7aol8)
1 The Lord said unto my Lord *
Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2 The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion *
be thou ruler, even in the midst among thine enemies.
3 In the day of thy power shall the people offer thee
free-will offerings with an holy worship *
the dew of thy birth is of the womb of the morning.
4 The Lord sware, and will not repent *
Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech.
5 The Lord upon thy right hand *
shall wound even kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the heathen; he shall fill the places with the dead bodies *
and smite in sunder the heads over divers countries.
7 He shall drink of the brook in the way *
therefore shall he lift up his head.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.
Psalm 111 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vddmean)
1 I will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart *
secretly among the faithful, and in the congregation.
2 The works of the Lord are great *
sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3 His work is worthy to be praised, and had in honour *
and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous works *
that they ought to be had in remembrance.
5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him *
he shall ever be mindful of his covenant.
6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works *
that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7 The works of his hands are verity and judgement *
all his commandments are true.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever *
and are done in truth and equity.
9 He sent redemption unto his people *
he hath commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his Name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom *
a good understanding have all they that do thereafter;
the praise of it endureth for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.
Psalm 112 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yxyhobau)
1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord *
he hath great delight in his commandments.
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth *
the generation of the faithful shall be blessed.
3 Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house *
and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness *
he is merciful, loving, and righteous.
5 A good man is merciful, and lendeth *
and will guide his words with discretion.
6 For he shall never be moved *
and the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.
7 He will not be afraid of any evil tidings *
for his heart standeth fast, and believeth in the Lord.
8 His heart is established, and will not shrink *
until he see his desire upon his enemies.
9 He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor *
and his righteousness remaineth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
10 The ungodly shall see it, and it shall grieve him *
he shall gnash with his teeth, and consume away;
the desire of the ungodly shall perish.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.
Psalm 113 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/s3ye4cx)
1 Praise the Lord, ye servants *
O praise the Name of the Lord.
2 Blessed be the Name of the Lord *
from this time forth for evermore.
3 The Lord’s Name is praised *
from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same.
4 The Lord is high above all heathen *
and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like unto the Lord our God that hath his dwelling so high *
and yet humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and earth?
6 He taketh up the simple out of the dust *
and lifteth the poor out of the mire;
7 That he may set him with the princes *
even with the princes of his people.
8 He maketh the barren woman to keep house *
and to be a joyful mother of children.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.
Psalm 110 (Liturgical Folk https://tinyurl.com/9mtt9js)
1 The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, *
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
2 The LORD will send the scepter of your power out of Zion, *
saying, “Rule over your enemies round about you.
3 Princely state has been yours from the day of your birth; *
in the beauty of holiness have I begotten you,
like dew from the womb of the morning.”
4 The LORD has sworn and he will not recant: *
“You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord who is at your right hand will smite kings
in the day of his wrath he will rule over the nations.
6 He will heap high the corpses; *
he will smash heads over the wide earth.
7 He will drink from the brook beside the road; *
therefore he will lift high his head.
The LORD has sworn and he will not recant: *
“You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” (x2)
Psalm 111 (LSB https://tinyurl.com/m4wu4t4z)
Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,*
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the LORD,*
studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,*
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;*
the LORD is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who | fear him;*
he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works*
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;*
all his precepts are trustworthy;
they are established forever and ever,*
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.*
Holy and awesome is his name!
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;*
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son*
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,*
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Psalm 112 (Karl Kohlhase: https://tinyurl.com/u8nezcvs)
Hallelujah! How blessed is the man, who fears the LORD,
with great delight in His commandments.
His descendants will be mighty upon the earth;
the generation of the upright are blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house,
his righteousness lasting forever.
Hallelujah! How blessed is the man, who fears the LORD,
with great delight in His commandments.
Light rises in the dark for the upright;
he is gracious, compassionate and righteous.
It is well with the man who lends graciously;
he will maintain his cause in judgment.
Hallelujah! How blessed is the man, who fears the LORD,
with great delight in His commandments.
For he will never be shaken;
the righteous are remembered forever.
He will not fear evil tidings;
his steadfast heart trusts in the LORD.
Hallelujah! How blessed is the man, who fears the LORD,
with great delight in His commandments.
His heart is upheld, he will not fear,
even when he looks on his enemies.
He’s donated freely unto the poor,
his righteousness lives forever.
Hallelujah! How blessed is the man, who fears the LORD,
with great delight in His commandments.
His horn will be exalted in honor;
the wicked will see and be vexed,
He’ll gnash his teeth and melt away;
the desire of the wicked will perish.
Hallelujah! How blessed is the man, who fears the LORD,
with great delight in His commandments.
Psalm 113 (Grail https://tinyurl.com/yterk33s)
Ant. Sing praise to our God, all his saints.
Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!
May the name of the LORD be blest
both now and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
praised be the name of the LORD!
High above all nations is the LORD,
above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the LORD, our God,
who has risen on high to his throne,
yet stoops from the heights to look down
to look down upon heaven and earth?
From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the dung heap he raises the poor,
to set them in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people.
To the childless wife he gives a home
and gladdens her heart with children.
Ant. Sing praise to our God, all his saints.
PRAYER
Strength of the weak,
defender of the needy,
rescuer of the poor,
deliver us from the power of wickedness,
that we may rejoice in your justice now and forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
Dinah, the daughter whom Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to meet the women of that country. When Shechem the son of the Hivite Hamor and the country’s prince saw her, he took her, slept with her, and humiliated her. He was drawn to Dinah, Jacob’s daughter. He loved the young woman and tried to win her heart. Shechem said to his father Hamor, “Get this girl for me as my wife.” Now Jacob heard that Shechem defiled his daughter Dinah; but his sons were with the animals in the countryside, so he decided to keep quiet until they got back. Meanwhile, Hamor, Shechem’s father, went out to Jacob to speak with him. Just then, Jacob’s sons got back from the countryside. When they heard what had happened, they were deeply offended and very angry, because Shechem had disgraced Israel by sleeping with Jacob’s daughter. Such things are simply not done.
Hamor said to them, “My son Shechem’s heart is set on your daughter. Please let him marry her. Arrange marriages with us: give us your daughters and take our daughters for yourselves. Live with us. The land is available to you: settle down, travel through it, and buy property in it.”
Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers, “If you approve of me, tell me what you want, and I will give it to you. Make the bride price and marriage gifts as large as you like, and I will pay whatever you tell me. Then let me marry the young woman.”
Jacob’s sons responded deviously to Shechem and his father Hamor because Shechem defiled their sister Dinah. They said to them, “We can’t do this, allowing our sisters to marry uncircumcised men, because it’s disgraceful to us. We can only agree to do this if you circumcise every male as we do. Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters for ourselves. We will live with you and be one people. But if you don’t listen to us and become circumcised, we will take our daughter and leave.”
HYMN: Psalm 25; para. Trinity Psalter Hymnal, alt.
Tune: Anima Christi https://tinyurl.com/3s458359
1 LORD, I lift my soul to you,
2 O my God, I trust your might;
let not foes exult o’er me,
shame me not before their sight.
3 Truly none who wait for you
will be ever put to shame;
those who wantonly betray,
they will ever be ashamed.
4 Make me know your ways, O LORD;
in your path lead me in truth.
5 You are God, my Savior true,
all the day I wait for you.
6 LORD, remember in your love
all your mercies from of old.
7 But remember not my sin,
for your goodness’ sake, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
he instructs all those who stray.
9 All the meek he leads aright,
he will teach his holy way.
10 All his paths are steadfast love,
he is faithful in his ways,
for all those who keep his word
and his covenant obey.
11 For the sake of your own name,
LORD, forgive my guilt, though great.
12 Who are they who fear the LORD?
God will teach them all his ways.
13 In well-being they abide,
their children receive the land.
14 The LORD loves those who fear him,
makes them know his covenant.
15 To the LORD I turn my eyes;
from all snares he plucks my feet.
16 Show your grace and turn to me;
I am lonely and afraid.
17 All my troubles are enlarged,
give relief from my distress.
18 See my deep afflictions, LORD,
and forgive my sinfulness.
19 See how many are my foes,
see the violence of their hate.
20 Guard my soul! Deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame,
21 since I wait for you, O LORD.
May my uprightness prevail.
22 From its troubles, gracious God,
O redeem your Israel.
Brothers and sisters, I urge you to watch out for people who create divisions and problems against the teaching that you learned. Keep away from them. People like that aren’t serving the Lord. They are serving their own feelings. They deceive the hearts of innocent people with smooth talk and flattery. The news of your obedience has reached everybody, so I’m happy for you. But I want you to be wise about what’s good, and innocent about what’s evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
HYMN: Henry Francis Lyte
Tune: Eventide https://tinyurl.com/mrxjyu59
1 Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
2 Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see.
O thou who changest not, abide with me.
3 I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like thyself my guide and strength can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
4 I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless,
ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.
5 Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes.
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Now when Jesus heard that John was arrested, he went to Galilee. He left Nazareth and settled in Capernaum, which lies alongside the sea in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfilled what Isaiah the prophet said:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
alongside the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who lived in the dark have seen a great light,
and a light has come upon those who lived in the region and in shadow of death.
From that time Jesus began to announce, “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!”
CANTICLE Ephesians 1:3-10
(John Michael Talbot https://tinyurl.com/ya8y3kqs)
Ant. God chose us in his Son to be his beloved children.
Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, *
who bestowed on us in Christ every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
God chose us in him before the world began, *
to be holy and blameless in his sight.
He predestined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ, *
such was his will and pleasure,
that all might praise the glorious favor
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.
In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed, *
and our sins forgiven, so immeasurably generous is God’s favor to us.
God has given us the wisdom to understand fully the mystery, *
the plan he was pleased to decree in Christ.
A plan to be carried out in Christ, in the fullness of time, *
to bring all things into one in him, in the heavens and on the earth
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
THE PRAYERS PWC
Liberator of the peoples, fill all who confess the name of Christ
with the power your Holy Spirit.
Holy One, accomplish your purposes in us.
Be the joy and the strength of all
whose lives are bound in mutual love
and for those who live in celibacy.
Holy One, accomplish your purposes in us.
Grant your salvation to all who are far from home,
prisoners, exiles and victims of oppression.
Holy One, accomplish your purposes in us.
Show your kindness and mercy to all who are facing trials and difficulties,
to those who are sick and to those who are dying.
Holy One, accomplish your purposes in us.
Forgive our sins and set us free from all hardship,
distress, want, war and injustice.
Holy One, accomplish your purposes in us.
Guide us into new and just ways of sharing the goods of the earth,
so that we may live by the abundance of your mercies.
Holy One, accomplish your purposes in us.
Strengthen us in our struggle
against exploitation, greed and lack of concern,
so that we may find joy together.
Holy One, accomplish your purposes in us.
Unite us in love and service,
so that we may live in communion with all Christ’s saints.
Holy One, accomplish your purposes in us.
(Traditional chant: http://oremus.org/chant/LP-1940.mp3)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
As the heavens declare your glory, O God, and the firmament shows your handiwork, we bless your Name for the gifts of knowledge and insight you bestowed upon Nicolaus Copernicus; and we pray that you would continue to advance our understanding of your cosmos, for our good and for your glory; through Jesus Christ, the firstborn of all creation, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. HWHM
Music: https://tinyurl.com/y9efvwm5
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. 2 Cor. 13:14
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BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.
HWHM Holy Women, Holy Men © 2010 The Church Pension Fund.
The three main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.
The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The contemporary version of Psalm 110 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979); Psalm 111 is from Lutheran Service Book; Psalm 112 is in the version sung by Karl Kohlhase; and Psalm 113 is from The Grail Psalms.
Musical links are usually either to artists’ albums posted on Spotify or to recordings made available at smallchurchmusic.com. Audio stripped from YouTube videos is footnoted accordingly above.
Compilation © 2024 Stephen T. Benner. All links worked at the time they were created, but I cannot accept responsibility for their content or any damage resulting from their use. The linked content is under the control of the respective content creators and is subject to change at any time. Any copyright texts included in this compilation are provided for non-commercial purposes related to study or worship. Please contact the respective copyright holders for permission to use the texts in other contexts.
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