Oremus for Thursday, September 10, 2020

Antiphon¹

Ant. People of Zion behold, *
the Lord is coming to save all nations;
and the Lord shall cause you to hear his majestic voice
for the joy of your heart.
V. O shepherd of Israel, hear us, *
you who lead Joseph like a flock:
enthroned on the cherubim, shine forth †
upon Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh. *
Rouse up your might and come to save us. Isaiah 30; Psalm 80

Eternal God,
you never fail to give us each day all that we ever need,
and even more.
Give us such joy in living
and such peace in serving Christ,
that we may gratefully make use of all your blessings,
and joyfully seek our risen Lord
in everyone we meet.
In Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. ^BCW

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: David Mowbray ©
Tune: St Catherine https://tinyurl.com/ycgwy7bh

1. Father of all, whose laws have stood
as signposts for our earthly good;
whose Son has come with truth and grace,
your likeness shining in his face:
Refrain:
Give us Christ’s love, its depth and length,
its heart and mind and soul and strength.

2. The first and finest day is yours,
to consecrate all other hours;
all other lords may we disown
and worship bring to you alone: Refrain

3. Surround our homes with joy and peace,
with loyalty and cheerfulness;
let parents live without pretence
and children grow in confidence: Refrain

4. May bitter hearts fresh mercy feel
and thieving hands no longer steal;
none damn their neighbour with a lie,
nor stoke the fires of jealousy: Refrain

5. Father of all, whose laws have stood
as signposts for our earthly good;
whose Son has come with truth and grace,
your likeness shining in his face: Refrain

PSALMS
For psalms in contemporary language, https://tinyurl.com/y9tjh7rk

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. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Genesis 37:12-36

Now Joseph’s brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to him, ‘Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.’ He answered, ‘Here I am.’ So he said to him, ‘Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me.’ So he sent him from the valley of Hebron.

He came to Shechem, and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, ‘What are you seeking?’ ‘I am seeking my brothers,’ he said; ‘tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.’ The man said, ‘They have gone away, for I heard them say, “Let us go to Dothan.” ’ So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.’ But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, ‘Let us not take his life.’ Reuben said to them, ‘Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him’—that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.

Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, ‘What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.’ And his brothers agreed. When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes. He returned to his brothers, and said, ‘The boy is gone; and I, where can I turn?’ Then they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood. They had the long robe with sleeves taken to their father, and they said, ‘This we have found; see now whether it is your son’s robe or not.’ He recognized it, and said, ‘It is my son’s robe! A wild animal has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.’ Then Jacob tore his garments, and put sackcloth on his loins, and mourned for his son for many days. All his sons and all his daughters sought to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and said, ‘No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.’ Thus his father bewailed him. Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard

HYMN: Psalm 103; para. Helen Otte ©
Tune: Genevan 103

1 Come, praise the LORD, my soul, and all within me,
praise his most holy name; bring him the glory.
Forget not all his benefits to you.
He is forgiving, heals all your diseases,
redeems your life, so satisfies and pleases
that, like the eagle’s, he renews your youth.

2 To all the needy God is just and faithful.
He showed his deeds to Moses and his people.
The LORD is gracious, rich in steadfast love.
He is compassionate and slow to anger.
He will not keep his wrath on us forever.
He does not treat us as our sins deserve.

3 High as the heavens above, so great God loves us.
So far has he moved our transgressions from us
as far removed as east is from the west.
As parents have compassion on their children,
God is compassionate to those who fear him;
he knows our frame, remembers we are dust.

4 Our days are gone as quickly as a flower;
like grass, we flourish for the briefest hour.
But God’s love is forevermore the same;
from everlasting unto everlasting,
to children’s children, human love surpassing,
his love remains with all who fear his name.

5 God in his kingdom over all is ruling.
Praise him, you angels, you who do his bidding,
you mighty servants who obey his word.
Come, praise the LORD, all works of his creation.
Praise God in every part of his dominion.
Come, O my soul, forever praise the LORD.

Reading: 1 John 3:11-16

For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.

CANTICLE Song of the Three Young Men 29-34
(Setting by Timothy R. Smith: https://tinyurl.com/ycrdhlqc)

Refrain:
Glory and praise, glory and praise, glory and praise for ever!

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
and blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all ages. Refrain

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Refrain

Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Refrain

Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Refrain

THE PRAYERS ^BCW

Loving God, as the rising sun chases away the night, so you have scattered the
power of death in the rising of Jesus Christ, and you bring us all blessings in him.
Especially we thank you for
the community of faith in our church . . .
those with whom we work or share common concerns . . .
the diversity of your children . . .
indications of your love at work in the world . . .
those who work for reconciliation. . . .

Mighty God, with the dawn of your love you reveal your victory over all that would
destroy or harm, and you brighten the lives of all who need you.
Especially we pray for
families suffering separation . . .
people different from ourselves . . .
those isolated by sickness or sorrow . . .
the victims of violence or warfare . . .
the church in the Pacific region. . . .

Setting by Eric Wyse:²

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread;
and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.

God of mercy:
Help us to forgive, as you have forgiven us.
Help us to trust you, even when hope is failing.
Help us to take up our cross daily
and follow you in your redeeming work;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen. ^BCW

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

---

^BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.

^EH Exciting Holiness, Ed. Brother Tristram SSF © European Province of the Society of Saint Francis, 1997

^RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.

¹ Adam Bartlett, Simple English Propers; audio from https://musicasacra.com/additional-publications/sep-practice-videos/ ©

2 Eric Wyse, Lord’s Prayer, ©; audio from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_a40ME7aVk

The three main scripture readings are from the The New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Edition, The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662).

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 © 2020 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.