Oremus for Tuesday, September 29, 2020

St Michael and All Angels
Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the three named biblical angels, depicted as the belovèd messengers of God. Michael, which means ‘who is like God?’, is described as protector of Israel and leader of the armies of God and is perhaps best known as the slayer of the dragon in the Revelation to John. He is thus regarded as the protector of Christians from the devil, particularly those at the hour of death. A basilica near Rome was dedicated in the fifth century in honour of Michael on 30 September, beginning with celebrations on the eve of that day, and 29 September is now kept in honour of Michael and all Angels throughout the western Church. ^EH

Antiphon¹

Ant. If I walk in the midst of tribulation *
you shall preserve my life, O Lord;
you shall stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;
your right hand has delivered me.
V. I thank you, Lord, with all my heart; *
you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I praise you. *
I bow down toward your holy temple. Psalm 138

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: Gerard Moultrie
Tune: Picardy https://tinyurl.com/ybppq66t

1 Let all mortal flesh keep silence, 
and with fear and trembling stand; 
ponder nothing earthly-minded, 
for with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth, 
our full homage to demand. 

2 King of kings, yet born of Mary, 
as of old on earth he stood, 
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
in the body and the blood, 
he will give to all the faithful 
his own self for heav’nly food. 

3 Rank on rank the host of heaven 
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of light descendeth
from the realms of endless day, 
that the pow’rs of hell may vanish 
as the darkness clears away. 

4 At his feet the six-winged seraph, 
cherubim, with sleepless eye, 
veil their faces to the presence, 
as with ceaseless voice they cry, 
“Alleluia, alleluia, 
alleluia, Lord Most High!” 

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

Psalm 139 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/qk5mvmw)

1  O Lord, thou hast searched me out, and known me *
 thou knowest my down-sitting, and mine up-rising;
thou understandest my thoughts long before.
2  Thou art about my path, and about my bed *
 and spiest out all my ways.
3  For lo, there is not a word in my tongue *
 but thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether.
4  Thou hast fashioned me behind and before *
 and laid thine hand upon me.
5  Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me *
 I cannot attain unto it.
6  Whither shall I go then from thy Spirit *
 or whither shall I go then from thy presence?
7  If I climb up into heaven, thou art there *
 if I go down to hell, thou art there also.
8  If I take the wings of the morning *
 and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea;
9  Even there also shall thy hand lead me *
 and thy right hand shall hold me.
10  If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me *
 then shall my night be turned to day.
11  Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee,
but the night is as clear as the day *
 the darkness and light to thee are both alike.
12  For my reins are thine *
 thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
13  I will give thanks unto thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made *
 marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.
14  My bones are not hid from thee *
 though I be made secretly, and fashioned beneath in the earth.
15  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect *
 and in thy book were all my members written;
16  Which day by day were fashioned *
 when as yet there was none of them.
17  How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God *
 O how great is the sum of them!
18  If I tell them, they are more in number than the sand *
 when I wake up I am present with thee.
19  Wilt thou not slay the wicked, O God *
 depart from me, ye blood-thirsty men.
20  For they speak unrighteously against thee *
 and thine enemies take thy Name in vain.
21  Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee *
 and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22  Yea, I hate them right sore *
 even as though they were mine enemies.
23  Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart *
 prove me, and examine my thoughts.
24  Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me *
 and lead me in the way everlasting.
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 140 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/syzjs5r)

1  Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man *
 and preserve me from the wicked man.
2  Who imagine mischief in their hearts *
 and stir up strife all the day long.
3  They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent *
 adder’s poison is under their lips.
4  Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the ungodly *
 preserve me from the wicked men,
who are purposed to overthrow my goings.
5  The proud have laid a snare for me,
and spread a net abroad with cords *
 yea, and set traps in my way.
6  I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God *
 hear the voice of my prayers, O Lord.
7  O Lord God, thou strength of my health *
 thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
8  Let not the ungodly have his desire, O Lord *
 let not his mischievous imagination prosper, lest they be too proud.
9  Let the mischief of their own lips fall upon the head of them *
 that compass me about.
10  Let hot burning coals fall upon them *
 let them be cast into the fire, and into the pit,
that they never rise up again.
11  A man full of words shall not prosper upon the earth *
 evil shall hunt the wicked person to overthrow him.
12  Sure I am that the Lord will avenge the poor *
 and maintain the cause of the helpless.
13  The righteous also shall give thanks unto thy Name *
 and the just shall continue in thy sight.
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 141 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/wrx2qat)

1  Lord, I call upon thee, haste thee unto me *
 and consider my voice when I cry unto thee.
2  Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense *
 and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.
3  Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth *
 and keep the door of my lips.
4  O let not mine heart be inclined to any evil thing *
 let me not be occupied in ungodly works with the men that work wickedness,
lest I eat of such things as please them.
5  Let the righteous rather smite me friendly *
 and reprove me.
6  But let not their precious balms break my head *
 yea, I will pray yet against their wickedness.
7  Let their judges be overthrown in stony places *
 that they may hear my words, for they are sweet.
8  Our bones lie scattered before the pit *
 like as when one breaketh and heweth wood upon the earth.
9  But mine eyes look unto thee, O Lord God *
 in thee is my trust, O cast not out my soul.
10  Keep me from the snare that they have laid for me *
 and from the traps of the wicked doers.
11  Let the ungodly fall into their own nets together *
 and let me ever escape them.
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

Almighty God, creator of the universe,
we are awed by your wondrous works
and overwhelmed by your infinite wisdom.
For all your majesty we praise you;
yet even more
we rejoice that you do not forget us,
that you want to know us,
that you come to care for us,
sisters and brothers of Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Genesis 28.10–17

Jacob left Beer-sheba and went towards Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’ Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!’ And he was afraid, and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’

HYMN: Psalm 148; para. unknown
Tune: Hyfrydol https://tinyurl.com/y348cxnm

1 Praise the LORD! O heavens, adore him;
praise him, angels in the height.
Sun and moon, rejoice before him;
praise him, shining stars of light.
Praise the LORD, for he has spoken;
worlds his mighty voice obeyed.
Laws which never shall be broken
for their guidance he has made.

2 In the earth let all things praise him:
seas and all that they contain,
stormy winds that do his pleasure,
hail and lightning, snow and rain.
Hills and mountains, praise your Maker;
praise him, all you flocks and herds.
Fields and orchards, sing his glory;
praise him, creeping things and birds.

3 All you nations, come before him:
earthly rulers and all kings,
men and women, parents, children,
join with all created things.
Praise the God of our salvation,
who restores from sin and shame.
Heaven and earth and all creation,
praise and magnify his name!

Reading: Revelation 12.7–12

And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming,
‘Now have come the salvation and the power
   and the kingdom of our God
   and the authority of his Messiah,
for the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down,
   who accuses them day and night before our God.
But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
   and by the word of their testimony,
for they did not cling to life even in the face of death.
Rejoice then, you heavens
   and those who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
   for the devil has come down to you
with great wrath,
   because he knows that his time is short!’

HYMN: Rabanus Maurus, trans. C.S. Phillips
Tune: Coelites plaudant https://tinyurl.com/y4gowmbr

1 Christ, the fair glory of the holy angels,
ruler of all, and author of creation,
grant us in mercy grace to win by patience
joys everlasting.

2 Send thine archangel Michael from thy presence:
peacemaker blessèd, may he hover o’er us,
hallow our dwellings, that for us thy children
all things may prosper.

3 Send thine archangel, Gabriel the mighty:
on strong wings flying, may he come from heaven,
drive from thy temple Satan the old foeman,
succour our weakness.

4 Send thine archangel, Raphael the healer:
through him with wholesome med’cines of salvation
heal our backsliding, and in paths of goodness
guide our steps daily.

5 Father almighty, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Godhead eternal, grant us our petition;
thine be the glory through the whole creation
now and for ever. Amen.

Reading: John 1.47–51

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’

CANTICLE Te Deum
(Chant by Joe Cox: https://tinyurl.com/ybzyundx)

We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud,
the Heavens and all the Powers therein.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry:
    Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;
    Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory.
The glorious company of the apostles praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee.
The noble army of martyrs praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world
                              doth acknowledge thee,
    the Father, of an infinite majesty,
    thine adorable, true, and only Son,
    also the Holy Ghost the Comforter.

Thou art the King of glory, O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man,
thou didst humble thyself to be born of a Virgin.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death,
thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge.
    We therefore pray thee, help thy servants,
    whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
    Make them to be numbered with thy saints,
    in glory everlasting.

THE PRAYERS ^{Common Worship}

In the power of the Spirit,
and in union with Christ,
let us pray to the Father.

Father in heaven,
by his blood your Christ has ransomed us to you,
and has made us a kingdom and priests to you our God.
As the angels minister to you in heaven,
strengthen your Church to serve you here on earth.
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.

Father in heaven,
when the angels greeted the birth of your Son
they sang for joy ‘Glory to God and peace on earth’.
Bless with Christ’s peace the nations of the world.
Lord, hear us,

Lord, graciously hear us.
Father in heaven,
your Son has promised to your children
the care of the guardian angels who look upon your face.
Protect by your mercy our neighbours, families and friends.
Lord, hear us,

Lord, graciously hear us.
Father in heaven,
you give your angels charge over those who trust in you
to guard them in all their ways.
Be with those in trouble…,
rescue them and show them your salvation.
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.

Father in heaven,
your angel declares ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.’
‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit,
‘for they may rest from their labours,
for they take with them the record of their deeds.’
Enfold in your love [… and] all who come in faith
to your judgement seat in heaven.
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.

(Plainsong Mode 2: https://tinyurl.com/yctqq8cf)^DL

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today the bread of life;
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.

Everlasting God,
you have ordained and constituted the ministries
   of angels and mortals in a wonderful order:
grant that as your holy angels
   always serve you in heaven,
so, at your command,
they may help and defend us on earth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen. ^EH

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.

^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/ ©

Common Worship: Festivals, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2008 and published by Church House Publishing.

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.