Oremus for Saturday, October 10, 2020

Antiphon¹

Ant. O God, my God, from daybreak do I watch for you;
and in invocation of your name will I lift up my hands.
V. O God, you are my God; at dawn I seek you; *
for you my soul is thirsting.
For you my flesh is pining, *
like a dry, weary land without water.
I have come before you in the sanctuary, *
to behold your strength and your glory. Psalm 63

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: William Williams; trans. Peter Williams
Tune: Cwm Rhondda https://tinyurl.com/y4yup4ks

1 Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore.

2 Open now the crystal fountain
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fiery cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through:
strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield.

3 When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death, and hell’s destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side:
songs and praises
I will ever give to thee.

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

Psalm 53 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y6wzcn8t)

1  The foolish body hath said in his heart *
 There is no God.
2  Corrupt are they, and become abominable in their wickedness *
 there is none that doeth good.
3  God looked down from heaven upon the children of men *
 to see if there were any, that would understand, and seek after God.
4  But they are all gone out of the way,
they are altogether become abominable *
  there is also none that doeth good, no not one.
5  Are not they without understanding that work wickedness *
 eating up my people as if they would eat bread?
they have not called upon God.
6  They were afraid where no fear was *
 for God hath broken the bones of him that besieged thee;
thou hast put them to confusion, because God hath despised them.
7  O that the salvation were given unto Israel out of Sion *
 O that the Lord would deliver his people out of captivity!
8  Then should Jacob rejoice *
 and Israel should be right glad.
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 54 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y73kppwg

1  Save me, O God, for thy Name’s sake *
 and avenge me in thy strength.
2  Hear my prayer, O God *
 and hearken unto the words of my mouth.
3  For strangers are risen up against me *
 and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek after my soul.
4  Behold, God is my helper *
 the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
5  He shall reward evil unto mine enemies *
 destroy thou them in thy truth.
6  An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy Name, O Lord *
 because it is so comfortable.
7  For he hath delivered me out of all my trouble *
 and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.
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 55 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yb9gqlve)

1  Hear my prayer, O God *
 and hide not thyself from my petition.
2  Take heed unto me, and hear me *
 how I mourn in my prayer, and am vexed.
3  The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly cometh on so fast *
 for they are minded to do me some mischief; so maliciously are they set against me.
4  My heart is disquieted within me *
 and the fear of death is fallen upon me.
5  Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me *
 and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me.
6  And I said, O that I had wings like a dove *
 for then would I flee away, and be at rest.
7  Lo, then would I get me away far off *
 and remain in the wilderness.
8  I would make haste to escape *
 because of the stormy wind and tempest.
9  Destroy their tongues, O Lord, and divide them *
 for I have spied unrighteousness and strife in the city.
10  Day and night they go about within the walls thereof *
 mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11  Wickedness is therein *
 deceit and guile go not out of their streets.
12  For it is not an open enemy, that hath done me this dishonour *
 for then I could have borne it.
13  Neither was it mine adversary, that did magnify himself against me *
 for then peradventure I would have hid myself from him.
14  But it was even thou, my companion *
 my guide, and mine own familiar friend.
15  We took sweet counsel together *
 and walked in the house of God as friends.
16  Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down quick into hell *
 for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
17  As for me, I will call upon God *
 and the Lord shall save me.
18  In the evening, and morning, and at noon-day will I pray, and that instantly *
 and he shall hear my voice.
19  It is he that hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me *
 for there were many with me.
20  Yea, even God, that endureth for ever, shall hear me, and bring them down *
 for they will not turn, nor fear God.
21  He laid his hands upon such as be at peace with him *
 and he brake his covenant.
22  The words of his mouth were softer than butter, having war in his heart *
 his words were smoother than oil, and yet be they very swords.
23  O cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee *
 and shall not suffer the righteous to fall for ever.
24  And as for them *
 thou, O God, shalt bring them into the pit of destruction.
25  The blood-thirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days *
 nevertheless, my trust shall be in thee, O Lord.
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

God our helper, hear our prayer
and uphold your church in times of testing.
Deliver us from evil,
so that from the rising of the sun to its setting
we may offer you our sacrifice of praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Numbers 20:1-13

The Israelites, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died there, and was buried there.

Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and against Aaron. The people quarrelled with Moses and said, ‘Would that we had died when our kindred died before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to bring us to this wretched place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; and there is no water to drink.’ Then Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting; they fell on their faces, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and your brother Aaron, and command the rock before their eyes to yield its water. Thus you shall bring water out of the rock for them; thus you shall provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.

So Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he had commanded him. Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?’ Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me, to show my holiness before the eyes of the Israelites, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.’ These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarrelled with the Lord, and by which he showed his holiness.

HYMN: Evelyn Atwater Cummins
Tune: Laramie

1 I know not where the road will lead
I follow day by day,
or where it ends: I only know
I walk the King’s highway.
I know not if the way is long,
and no one else can say;
but rough or smooth, up hill or down,
I walk the King’s highway.

2 And some I love have reached the end,
but some with me may stay,
their faith and hope still guiding me:
I walk the King’s highway.
The way is truth, the way is love,
for light and strength I pray,
and through the years of life, to God
I walk the King’s highway.

3 The countless hosts lead on before,
I must not fear nor stray;
with them, the pilgrims of the faith,
I walk the King’s highway.
Through light and dark the road leads on 
till dawns the endless day,
when I shall know why in this life
I walk the King’s highway.

Reading: Romans 6:1-11 

What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

HYMN: Brian Wren ©
Tune: Truro https://tinyurl.com/rs8daua

1 Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
Love, drowned in death, shall never die.

2 Christ is alive! No longer bound
To distant years in Palestine,
But saving, healing, here and now,
And touching ev’ry place and time.

3 In ev’ry insult, rift, and war,
Where color, scorn, or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
And lives, where even hope has died.

4 Women and men, in age and youth,
Can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
And find the way, the life, the truth,
Revealed in Jesus, freed for all.

5 Christ is alive, and comes to bring
Good news to this and ev’ry age,
Till earth and sky and ocean ring
with joy, with justice, love, and praise.

Reading: John 16:29-33

His disciples said, ‘Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’

CANTICLE Luke 1:46-55
(Cyprian Consiglio: https://tinyurl.com/y6vrp28t)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit finds its joy in God my Savior.
For God has looked with favor on this lowly servant
and from this day forth all ages call me blest.

The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and from age to age God’s Name is ever holy.
Great mercy God has always shown to those who fear the Lord,
whose right arm defeats the proud in their conceit.

Our God has cast the mighty from their thrones,
and then in their place are lifted up the lowly.
The hungry ones are given everything they need to live,
while the rich are sent away with empty hands.

The Lord has helped his servant Israel,
by remembering the promise of his mercy,
the promise that was spoken to our father Abraham
and the promise to his children forevermore.

THE PRAYERS ^BCW

Great and wonderful God, we praise and thank you for the gift of renewal in Jesus
Christ. Especially we thank you for
opportunities for rest and recreation . . .
the regenerating gifts of the Holy Spirit . . .
activities shared by young and old . . .
fun and laughter . . .
every service that proclaims your love. . . .

You make all things new, O God, and we offer our prayers for the renewal of the
world and the healing of its wounds. Especially we pray for
those who have no leisure . . .
people enslaved by addictions . . .
those who entertain and enlighten . . .
those confronted with temptation . . .
the church in North America. . . .

(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.

Strong God of love:
your Son Jesus told us
that his church would be persecuted
as he was persecuted.
If we should suffer for righteousness’ sake,
save us from self-righteousness.
Give us grace to pray for enemies,
and to forgive them,
even as you have forgiven us;
through Jesus Christ,
who was crucified but is risen,
whom we praise 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.

^WS2 Worship Sourcebook, 2^nd Edition, © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources

^DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.

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

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.