For another form of worship in the home based on today’s lessons in the Revised Common Lectionary, go to https://blogs.elca.org/worship/2956/
All Saints
All Saints celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who are the body of Christ. As November heralds the dying of the landscape in many northern regions, the readings and liturgy call us to remember all who have died in Christ and whose baptism is complete. We gather with the faithful of every time and place, trusting that the promises of God will be fulfilled and that all tears will be wiped away in the new Jerusalem. ELCA blog
Antiphon1
Ant. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God;
blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God;
blessed are those who suffer persecution for the sake of justice,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
V. When the Lord brought back the exiles of Sion, *
we thought we were dreaming.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter; *
on our tongues, songs of joy. Matthew 5; Psalm 126
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 J Irons
Tune: Hymn to Joy https://tinyurl.com/ydfxhyd5
1 Sing with all the saints in glory,
Sing the resurrection song!
Death and sorrow, earth’s dark story,
To the former days belong.
All around the clouds are breaking,
Soon the storms of time shall cease;
In God’s likeness we awaken,
Knowing everlasting peace.
2 O what glory, far exceeding
All that eye has yet perceived!
Holiest hearts, for ages pleading,
Never that full joy conceived.
God has promised, Christ prepares it,
There on high our welcome waits.
Ev’ry humble spirit shares it;
Christ has passed the eternal gates.
3 Life eternal! heav’n rejoices:
Jesus lives who once was dead.
Shout with joy, O deathless voices!
Child of God, lift up your head!
Patriarchs from distant ages,
Saints all longing for their heav’n,
Prophets, psalmists, seers, and sages,
All await the glory giv’n.
4 Life eternal! O what wonders
Crowd on faith; what joy unknown,
When, amid earth’s closing thunders,
Saints shall stand before the throne!
Oh, to enter that bright portal,
See that glowing firmament,
Know, with you, O God immortal,
Jesus Christ whom you have sent!
PSALMS
For psalms in contemporary language, https://tinyurl.com/y9tjh7rk
Psalm 1 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yaev8zrk)
1 Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor stood in the way of sinners *
and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord *
and in his law will he exercise himself day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-side *
that will bring forth his fruit in due season.
4 His leaf also shall not wither *
and look, whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper.
5 As for the ungodly, it is not so with them *
but they are like the chaff, which the wind
scattereth away from the face of the earth.
6 Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgement *
neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
7 But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous *
and the way 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 2 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ya85zg8v)
1 Why do the heathen so furiously rage together *
and why do the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together *
against the Lord, and against his Anointed.
3 Let us break their bonds asunder *
and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn *
the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath *
and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my King *
upon my holy hill of Sion.
7 I will preach the law, whereof the Lord hath said unto me *
Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
8 Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance *
and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron *
and break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings *
be learned, ye that are judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord in fear *
and rejoice unto him with reverence.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and so ye perish from the right way *
if his wrath be kindled, (yea, but a little,)
blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
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 3 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yabg6jbn)
1 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me *
many are they that rise against me.
2 Many one there be that say of my soul *
There is no help for him in his God.
3 But thou, O Lord, art my defender *
thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head.
4 I did call upon the Lord with my voice *
and he heard me out of his holy hill.
5 I laid me down and slept, and rose up again *
for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people *
that have set themselves against me round about.
7 Up, Lord, and help me, O my God *
for thou smitest all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone;
thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord *
and thy blessing is upon thy people.
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 4 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y7jpb9m3)
1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness *
thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble;
have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.
2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour *
and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing?
3 Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man that is godly *
when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
4 Stand in awe, and sin not *
commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be still.
5 Offer the sacrifice of righteousness *
and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There be many that say *
Who will shew us any good?
7 Lord, lift thou up *
the light of thy countenance upon us.
8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart *
since the time that their corn, and wine, and oil, increased.
9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest *
for it is thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.
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 5 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yd4gge8p)
1 Ponder my words, O Lord *
consider my meditation.
2 O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my God *
for unto thee will I make my prayer.
3 My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O Lord *
early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
4 For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness *
neither shall any evil dwell with thee.
5 Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight *
for thou hatest all them that work vanity.
6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing *
the Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.
7 But as for me, I will come into thine house,
even upon the multitude of thy mercy *
and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies *
make thy way plain before my face.
9 For there is no faithfulness in his mouth *
their inward parts are very wickedness.
10 Their throat is an open sepulchre *
they flatter with their tongue.
11 Destroy thou them, O God;
let them perish through their own imaginations *
cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness;
for they have rebelled against thee.
12 And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice *
they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them;
they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee;
13 For thou, Lord, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous *
and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield.
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
You alone, O God, are holy and righteous,
and we praise you for protecting us in times of trial.
Keep us safe from all evil
and lead us in paths of justice
that we may know the joy of trusting Jesus Christ
our shield and defender. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
Reading: Isaiah 65.17–25
For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice for ever
in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labour in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord—
and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent—its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.
HYMN: Joy F Patterson
Tune: Samanthra https://tinyurl.com/y56uaobz
1 Isaiah the prophet has written of old
how God’s earthly kingdom shall come.
Instead of the thorn tree the fir tree shall grow;
the wolf shall lie down with the lamb.
The mountains and hills shall break forth into song,
the peoples be led forth in peace;
for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God
as the waters cover the seas.
2 Yet nations still prey on the meek of the world,
and conflict turns parent from child.
Your people despoil all the sweetness of earth;
the brier and the thorn grow wild.
Lord, hasten to bring in your kingdom on earth,
when no one shall hurt or destroy,
when wisdom and justice shall reign in the land
and your people shall go forth in joy.
Reading: Hebrews 11.32 – 12.2
And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, without us, be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
HYMN: Fred Pratt Green ©
Tune: Repton https://tinyurl.com/y6y9tjqm
1 How clear is our vocation, Lord,
when once we heed your call:
to live according to your word,
and daily learn, refreshed, restored,
that you are Lord of all,
and will not let us fall.
2 But if, forgetful, we should find
your yoke is hard to bear;
if worldly pressures fray the mind,
and love itself cannot unwind
its tangled skein of care:
our inward life repair.
3 We marvel how your saints become
in hindrances more sure;
whose joyful virtues put to shame
the casual way we wear your name,
and by our faults obscure
your power to cleanse and cure.
4 In what you give us, Lord, to do,
together or alone,
in old routines and ventures new
may we not cease to look to you,
the cross you hung upon–
all you endeavored done.
Reading: Luke 9.18–27
Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’ They answered, ‘John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered, ‘The Messiah of God.’
He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, ‘The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’
Then he said to them all, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.’
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 Joe Milner
For the Church: that, inspired by the witness of the saints, we may rely upon God’s mercy and providence as we strive to be faithful disciples
For this community of faith: that our worship may be joined with the heavenly worship and draw us into greater communion with God
For greater unity in the church: that women and men from south and north, east and west; from poverty and riches, authority and powerlessness; from every race, language, and culture, maybe joined in Christ into one Body of faith, service, and witness by the one Spirit
For the grace of transformation: that we may more and more put on the mind of Christ and be sustained by the vision of whom God is calling us to be
For inspiration: that we may draw strength and courage from the witness of the saints, both the famous and the ordinary, who have touched our lives
For the gift of integrity: that we may honestly claim our gifts and admit our weaknesses, and thereby live in singleness of heart
For a deeper appreciation of our Baptism: that we find our deepest value and source of dignity in being children of God
For a greater awareness of God’s grace at work around and within us: that we may recognize the work of God in those who love us, forgive us, teach us, and call us to be our truest selves
For all who are persecuted for their faith: that God’s strength will sustain them and help them be faithful witnesses to God who is the source of all life
For leaders of nations and business: that the Spirit of God will remind them of the weak, vulnerable, and powerless of society as they develop and implement policies to confront disease and poverty
For great hope: that we may approach death as a passageway into the fuller life of God’s reign of mercy and peace
For peacemakers: that God will give them the courage to work for peace even when events darken the future and hearts seem hardened
For all who are struggling financially: that God will give them hope, open doors to employment opportunities, and touch the hearts of many to support them
For all who fear death and have no hope in the resurrection: that they may encounter the Risen Lord and come to faith in Christ who is the resurrection and the life
For honest and safe voting: that the Spirit will guide us in fulfilling our civic responsibility through voting this week and that Gospel principles may inspire our choices
For healing: that through the intercession of the saints, God will deliver the human family from the corona virus and everything that destroys God’s gift of life
(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.]
God of the ages,
your saints who lived in faithful service
surround your throne
and offer you praise and worship both night and day.
May we, your saints on earth,
join our voices with theirs to proclaim
your rule of righteousness and peace,
which comes to us through Jesus Christ
now and forever. Amen. RCLP
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.
RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.
BCP The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, 1979.
1 Adam Bartlett, Simple English Propers; audio from https://musicasacra.com/additional-publications/sep-practice-videos/ ©
The intercessions are by Joe Milner http://liturgy.slu.edu
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.
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