Oremus for Sunday, May 10, 2020

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Today’s lessons are those for the Second and Third Services appointed in the Church of England. For a form of worship in the home based on today’s lessons in the Revised Common Lectionary, go to https://blogs.elca.org/worship/2192/

Easter Troparion (Music: https://tinyurl.com/t3b97pa)

Christ is risen from the dead,
by death hath he trampled down death,
and upon those in the tombs
he hath bestowed life!

Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden:
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may worthily
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy Name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Glory 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.
Alleluia!

HYMN: George Wallace Briggs © Hope Publishing Co.
Tune: Christchurch (https://tinyurl.com/y9ej6e4u)

1 Now is eternal life,
if ris’n with Christ we stand,
in him to life reborn,
and held within his hand;
no more we fear death’s ancient dread,
in Christ arisen from the dead.

2 Man long in bondage lay,
brooding o’er life’s brief span;
was it, O God, for naught,
for naught, thou madest man?
Thou art our hope, our vital breath;
shall hope undying end in death?

3 And God, the living God,
stooped down to man’s estate;
by death destroying death,
Christ opened wide life’s gate.
He lives, who died; he reigns on high;
who lives in him shall never die.

4 Unfathomed love divine,
reign thou within my heart;
from thee nor depth nor height,
nor life nor death can part;
my life is hid in God with thee,
now and through all eternity.

PSALMS

Psalm 50 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yaptmvbw)

1  The Lord, even the most mighty God, hath spoken *
 and called the world, from the rising up of the sun,
unto the going down thereof.
2  Out of Sion hath God appeared *
 in perfect beauty.
3  Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence *
 there shall go before him a consuming fire,
and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.
4  He shall call the heaven from above *
 and the earth, that he may judge his people.
5  Gather my saints together unto me *
 those that have made a covenant with me with sacrifice.
6  And the heaven shall declare his righteousness *
 for God is Judge himself.
7  Hear, O my people, and I will speak *
 I myself will testify against thee, O Israel; for I am God, even thy God.
8  I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices, or for thy burnt-offerings *
 because they were not alway before me.
9  I will take no bullock out of thine house *
 nor he-goat out of thy folds.
10  For all the beasts of the forest are mine *
 and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11  I know all the fowls upon the mountains *
 and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight.
12  If I be hungry, I will not tell thee *
 for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein.
13  Thinkest thou that I will eat bulls’ flesh *
 and drink the blood of goats?
14  Offer unto God thanksgiving *
 and pay thy vows unto the most Highest.
15  And call upon me in the time of trouble *
 so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.
16  But unto the ungodly said God *
 Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my covenant in thy mouth;
17  Whereas thou hatest to be reformed *
 and hast cast my words behind thee?
18  When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him *
 and hast been partaker with the adulterers.
19  Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness *
 and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.
20  Thou satest, and spakest against thy brother *
 yea, and hast slandered thine own mother’s son.
21  These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue,
and thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself *
 but I will reprove thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast done.
22  O consider this, ye that forget God *
 lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.
23  Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he honoureth me *
 and to him that ordereth his conversation right
will I shew the salvation of God.
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 51 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yb6rfjqo)

1  Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness *
 according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
2  Wash me throughly from my wickedness *
 and cleanse me from my sin.
3  For I acknowledge my faults *
 and my sin is ever before me.
4  Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight *
 that thou mightest be justified in thy saying,
and clear when thou art judged.
5  Behold, I was shapen in wickedness *
 and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
6  But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts *
 and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
7  Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean *
 thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8  Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness *
 that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9  Turn thy face from my sins *
 and put out all my misdeeds.
10  Make me a clean heart, O God *
 and renew a right spirit within me.
11  Cast me not away from thy presence *
 and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
12  O give me the comfort of thy help again *
 and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
13  Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked *
 and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14  Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God,
thou that art the God of my health *
 and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
15  Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord *
 and my mouth shall shew thy praise.
16  For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee *
 but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
17  The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit *
 a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
18  O be favourable and gracious unto Sion *
 build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19  Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness,
with the burnt-offerings and oblations *
 then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
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 52 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ycgabjj9)

1  Why boastest thou thyself, thou tyrant *
 that thou canst do mischief;
2  Whereas the goodness of God *
 endureth yet daily?
3  Thy tongue imagineth wickedness *
 and with lies thou cuttest like a sharp razor.
4  Thou hast loved unrighteousness more than goodness *
 and to talk of lies more than righteousness.
5  Thou hast loved to speak all words that may do hurt *
 O thou false tongue.
6  Therefore shall God destroy thee for ever *
 he shall take thee, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling,
and root thee out of the land of the living.
7  The righteous also shall see this, and fear *
 and shall laugh him to scorn;
8  Lo, this is the man that took not God for his strength *
 but trusted unto the multitude of his riches,
and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
9  As for me, I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God *
 my trust is in the tender mercy of God for ever and ever.
10  I will always give thanks unto thee for that thou hast done *
 and I will hope in thy Name, for thy saints like it well.
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.

PRAYER

Sovereign God,
you cut down trees that bear no fruit,
and prune fruitful trees that they may bear more.
Make us grow like rich olive trees in your kingdom,
firmly rooted in the power and mercy
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Book of Common Worship

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Zechariah 4.1–10

The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as one is wakened from sleep. He said to me, ‘What do you see?’ And I said, ‘I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it; there are seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And by it there are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.’ I said to the angel who talked with me, ‘What are these, my lord?’ Then the angel who talked with me answered me, ‘Do you not know what these are?’ I said, ‘No, my lord.’ He said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring out the top stone amid shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’

Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel.

‘These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.’

HYMN: Ann Phillips, alt. Rejoice and Sing © United Reformed Church
Tune: Beweley https://tinyurl.com/y92ojwy9

1. Into a world of dark,
waste and disordered space,
he came, a wind that moved
across the waters’ face.

2. The Spirit in the wild
breathed, and a world began.
From shapelessness came form,
from nothingness, a plan.

3. Light in the darkness grew;
land in the water stood;
and space and time became
a beauty that was good.

4. Into a world of doubt,
through doors we closed, he came,
the breath of God in power
like wind and roaring flame.

5. From empty wastes of death,
on love’s disordered grief,
light in the darkness blazed
and kindled new belief.

6. Still, with creative power,
God’s Spirit comes to give
a pattern of new life;
our worlds begin to live.

Reading: Revelation 21.1–14

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
‘See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.’

And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, the murderers, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.’

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates are inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites; on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

HYMN: Andrae Crouch
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/yay5acga

1 Soon and very soon we are goin’ to see the King,
Soon and very soon we are goin’ to see the King,
Soon and very soon we are goin’ to see the King,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
we’re goin’ to see the King!

2 No more cryin’ there we are goin’ to see the King,
No more cryin’ there we are goin’ to see the King,
No more cryin’ there we are goin’ to see the King,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
we’re goin’ to see the King!

3 No more dying there we are goin’ to see the King,
No more dying there we are goin’ to see the King,
No more dying there we are goin’ to see the King,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
we’re goin’ to see the King!

4 Soon and very soon we are goin’ to see the King,
Soon and very soon we are goin’ to see the King,
Soon and very soon we are goin’ to see the King,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
we’re are goin’ to see the King!

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Reading: John 5.19–29

Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgement to the Son, so that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Anyone who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life.

‘Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.’

CANTICLE
(Setting: Richard Hillert https://tinyurl.com/w3xtu8o)

Refrain:
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

1 Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
Whose blood set us free to be people of God. [Refrain]

2 Power, riches, wisdom, and strength,
And honor, blessing, and glory are his. [Refrain]

3 Sing with all the people of God,
And join in the hymn of all creation. [Refrain]

4 Blessing, honor, glory, and might
Be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen. [Refrain]

5 For the Lamb who was slain
Has begun his reign. Alleluia! [Refrain] Revelation 5:12-14

THE PRAYERS Book of Common Worship

Gracious God,
because we are not strong enough to pray as we should,
you provide Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit
to intercede for us in power.

In this confidence we ask you to accept our prayers.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.

Faithful God,
you formed your church from the despised of the earth
and showed them mercy, that they might proclaim your salvation to all.
Strengthen those whom you choose today,
that they may faithfully endure all trials
by which you conform your church to the cross of Christ.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.

Creator of all,
you entrusted the earth to the human race,
yet we disrupt its peace with violence
and corrupt its purity with our greed.
Prevent your people from ravaging creation,
that coming generations may inherit lands brimming with life.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.

Sovereign God,
you hold both the history of nations
and the humble life of villages in your care.
Preserve the people of every nation from tyrants,
heal them of disease,
and protect them in time of upheaval and disaster,
that all may enter the kingdom that cannot be shaken.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.

Judge of the nations,
you created humanity for salvation, not destruction,
and sent your Son to guide us into the way of peace.
Enable people of every race and nation
to accept each other as sisters and brothers,
your children, on whom you lavish honor and favor.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.

God Most High,
in Jesus of Nazareth you show us the authority that pleases you:
for he rules not by power or might,
but serves in obedience to your will.
We pray for all in authority over us.
Deliver them from vain ambitions
that they may govern in wisdom and justice.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.

Merciful God,
since Jesus longed to protect Jerusalem
as a hen gathers her young under her wings,
we ask you to guard and strengthen all who live and work here.
Deliver your people from jealousy and contempt
that they may show mercy to all their neighbors.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.

Holy God,
from whom every family on earth takes its name:
Strengthen parents to be responsible and loving
that their children may know security and joy.
Lead children to honor parents by compassion and forgiveness.
May all people discover your parental care
by the respect and love given them by others.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.

Compassionate God,
your Son gives rest to those weary with heavy burdens.
Heal the sick in body, mind, and spirit.
Lift up the depressed. Befriend those who grieve. Comfort the anxious.
Stand with all victims of abuse and other crime.
Awaken those who damage themselves and others
through the use of any drug.
Fill all people with your Holy Spirit
that they may bear each other’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.

Eternal God,
your love is stronger than death,
and your passion more fierce than the grave.
We rejoice in the lives of those
whom you have drawn into your eternal embrace.
Keep us in joyful communion with them
until we join the saints of every people and nation,
gathered before your throne in ceaseless praise.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.

God of glory,
you see how all creation groans in labor as it awaits redemption.
As we work for and await your new creation,
we trust that you will answer our prayers with grace,
and fulfill your promise that all things work together for good
for those who love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Traditional chant: https://tinyurl.com/ydzx5jdp)

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.]

O God,
by whom the meek are guided in judgment
and light rises in darkness for the godly:
Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties,
the grace to ask what you would have us do;
that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices,
and that in your light we may see light,
and in your straight path may not stumble;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen. Book of Common Worship

https://tinyurl.com/rkxkpmc
Go in peace, alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia!

Glory to God whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine:
Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church,
and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.    Ephesians 3:20,21