Oremus for Monday, November 2, 2020

All Souls
‘The believer’s pilgrimage of faith is lived out with the mutual support of all the people of God. In Christ all the faithful, both living and departed, are bound together in a communion of prayer.’ This simple, agreed statement from the Anglican–Roman Catholic International Commission explains the purpose of the celebration on this day. Since its foundation, Christians have recognised that the Church, the ecclesia, the assembled people of God, is at its most perfect when it recognises its unity in God’s redeeming love with all who have said, who say now, and who will say in the fullness of time, ‘Jesus is Lord’. ^EH

Antiphon¹

Ant. May eternal light shine upon them, O Lord,
in the company of your saints for eternity,
for you are full of goodness.
V. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; *
Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive *
to the sound of my pleadings. 4 Esdras; Psalm 130

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: Martin Luther; trans. Frederick Hedge
Tune: Ein feste’ Burg https://tinyurl.com/yye33vf5

1 A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

2 Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.

3 And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

4 That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever! 

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

Psalm 9 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yczh7vnk)

1  I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart *
 I will speak of all thy marvellous works.
2  I will be glad and rejoice in thee *
 yea, my songs will I make of thy Name, O thou most Highest.
3  While mine enemies are driven back *
 they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
4  For thou hast maintained my right and my cause *
 thou art set in the throne that judgest right.
5  Thou hast rebuked the heathen, and destroyed the ungodly *
 thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
6  O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end *
 even as the cities which thou hast destroyed;
their memorial is perished with them.
7  But the Lord shall endure for ever *
 he hath also prepared his seat for judgement.
8  For he shall judge the world in righteousness *
 and minister true judgement unto the people.
9  The Lord also will be a defence for the oppressed *
 even a refuge in due time of trouble.
10  And they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee *
 for thou, Lord, hast never failed them that seek thee.
11  O praise the Lord which dwelleth in Sion *
 shew the people of his doings.
12  For, when he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them *
 and forgetteth not the complaint of the poor.
13  Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider the trouble
which I suffer of them that hate me *
 thou that liftest me up from the gates of death.
14  That I may shew all thy praises within the ports of the daughter of Sion *
 I will rejoice in thy salvation.
15  The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made *
 in the same net which they hid privily, is their foot taken.
16  The Lord is known to execute judgement *
 the ungodly is trapped in the work of his own hands.
17  The wicked shall be turned into hell *
 and all the people that forget God.
18  For the poor shall not alway be forgotten *
 the patient abiding of the meek shall not perish for ever.
19  Up, Lord, and let not man have the upper hand *
 let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
20  Put them in fear, O Lord *
 that the heathen may know themselves to be but men.
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 10 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yakosuxg)

1  Why standest thou so far off, O Lord *
 and hidest thy face in the needful time of trouble?
2  The ungodly for his own lust doth persecute the poor *
 let them be taken in the crafty wiliness that they have imagined.
3  For the ungodly hath made boast of his own heart’s desire *
 and speaketh good of the covetous, whom God abhorreth.
4  The ungodly is so proud, that he careth not for God *
 neither is God in all his thoughts.
5  His ways are alway grievous *
 thy judgements are far above out of his sight,
and therefore defieth he all his enemies.
6  For he hath said in his heart, Tush, I shall never be cast down *
 there shall no harm happen unto me.
7  His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and fraud *
 under his tongue is ungodliness and vanity.
8  He sitteth lurking in the thievish corners of the streets *
 and privily in his lurking dens doth he murder the innocent;
his eyes are set against the poor.
9  For he lieth waiting secretly, even as a lion lurketh he in his den *
 that he may ravish the poor.
10  He doth ravish the poor *
 when he getteth him into his net.
11  He falleth down, and humbleth himself *
 that the congregation of the poor may fall into the hands of his captains.
12  He hath said in his heart, Tush, God hath forgotten *
 he hideth away his face, and he will never see it.
13  Arise, O Lord God, and lift up thine hand *
 forget not the poor.
14  Wherefore should the wicked blaspheme God *
 while he doth say in his heart, Tush, thou God carest not for it.
15  Surely thou hast seen it *
 for thou beholdest ungodliness and wrong.
16  That thou mayest take the matter into thine hand *
 the poor committeth himself unto thee;
for thou art the helper of the friendless.
17  Break thou the power of the ungodly and malicious *
 take away his ungodliness, and thou shalt find none.
18  The Lord is King for ever and ever *
 and the heathen are perished out of the land.
19  Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the poor *
 thou preparest their heart, and thine ear hearkeneth thereto;
20  To help the fatherless and poor unto their right *
 that the man of the earth be no more exalted against 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.

Psalm 11 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yboxkznx)

1  In the Lord put I my trust *
 how say ye then to my soul,
that she should flee as a bird unto the hill?
2  For lo, the ungodly bend their bow,
and make ready their arrows within the quiver *
 that they may privily shoot at them which are true of heart.
3  For the foundations will be cast down *
 and what hath the righteous done?
4  The Lord is in his holy temple *
 the Lord’s seat is in heaven.
5  His eyes consider the poor *
 and his eye-lids try the children of men.
6  The Lord alloweth the righteous *
 but the ungodly, and him that delighteth in wickedness
doth his soul abhor.
7  Upon the ungodly he shall rain snares,
fire and brimstone, storm and tempest *
 this shall be their portion to drink.
8  For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness *
 his countenance will behold the thing that is just.
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 Most High,
in Jesus Christ you rule the world with righteousness
and judge the nations with equity.
Cast down the haughty and lift up the lowly.
Make us compassionate to the needy
that we may be close to Jesus Christ,
our servant Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Wisdom 3:1-9

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
and no torment will ever touch them.
In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be a disaster,
and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.
For though in the sight of others they were punished,
their hope is full of immortality.
Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
like gold in the furnace he tried them,
and like a sacrificial burnt-offering he accepted them.
In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,
and will run like sparks through the stubble.
They will govern nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord will reign over them for ever.
Those who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will abide with him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,
and he watches over his elect.

HYMN: Joachim Neanders; trans. Robert Bridges
Tune: Michael https://tinyurl.com/vzqw9se

1 All my hope on God is founded;
he doth still my trust renew.
Me through change and chance he guideth,
only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone
calls my heart to be his own.

2 Human pride and earthly glory,
sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil he buildeth,
tower and temple, fall to dust.
But God’s power,
hour by hour,
is my temple and my tower.

3 God’s great goodness aye endureth,
deep his wisdom, passing thought:
splendour, light, and life attend him,
beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
from his store
new-born worlds rise and adore.

4 Daily doth th’ Almighty giver
bounteous gifts on us bestow;
his desire our soul delighteth,
pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand
at his hand;
joy doth wait on his command.

5 Still from earth to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ his Son.
Christ doth call
one and all:
ye who follow shall not fall.

Reading: Revelation 7:9-17

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, singing,
‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honour
and power and might
be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you are the one that knows.’ Then he said to me, ‘These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For this reason they are before the throne of God,
   and worship him day and night within his temple,
   and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
   the sun will not strike them,
   nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd,
   and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

HYMN: James Montgomery
Tune: St George’s, Windsor https://tinyurl.com/y2btckak

1 Who are these in bright array,
This innumerable throng,
Round the altar, night and day,
Hymning one triumphant song?
“Worthy is the Lamb, once slain,
Blessing, honor, glory, pow’r,
Wisdom, riches to obtain,
New dominion ev’ry hour.”

2 These through fiery trials trod,
These from great affliction came;
Now, before the throne of God,
Sealed with His almighty Name,
Clad in raiment pure and white,
Victor-palms in every hand,
Through their dear Redeemer’s might,
More than conquerors they stand.

3 Hunger, thirst, disease unknown,
On immortal fruits they feed;
Then the Lamb amidst the throne,
Shall to living fountains lead;
Joy and gladness banish sighs;
Perfect love dispels all fears;
And forever from their eyes
God shall wipe away the tears.

Reading: John 6.37–40

Jesus said, ‘Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.’

CANTICLE John 11:25-26; Job 19:25-27; Romans 14:7-8; Revelation 14:13
(David Charles Walker: https://tinyurl.com/y4y73tza)

I am Resurrection and I am Life, says the Lord.
All who have faith in me shall have life,
even though they die.
And all who have life,
and have committed themselves to me in faith,
shall not die for ever.

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives
and that at the last will stand upon the earth.
After my awaking, he will raise me up;
and in my body I shall see God.
I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him
who is my friend and not a stranger.

For we have no life in ourselves,
and none of us becomes our own master when we die.
For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord,
and if we die, we die in the Lord.
So, then, whether we live or die,
we are the Lord’s possession.

Happy from now on
are those who die in the Lord!
So it is, says the Spirit,
for they rest from their labors.

THE PRAYERS ^BCW

Eternal God,
we acknowledge the uncertainty of our life on earth.
We are given a mere handful of days,
and our span of life seems nothing in your sight.
All flesh is as grass;
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades;
but your word will stand forever.
In this is our hope,
for you are our God.
Even in the valley of the shadow of death,
you are with us.
O Lord, let us know our end
and the number of our days,
that we may learn how fleeting life is.
Turn your ear to our cry, and hear our prayer.
Do not be silent at our tears,
for we live as strangers before you,
wandering pilgrims as all our ancestors were.
But you are the same
and your years shall have no end. Amen.

(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.

Lord of life and death,
you made us in your image
and hold us in your care.
We thank you for those who are departed,
for the gift of their lives,
and for the love and mercy they received from you and gave to us.
Especially we praise you for your love in Jesus Christ,
who died and rose from the grave
to free us from evil,
and give us life eternal.
Grant that when our time on earth is ended,
we may be united with all the saints
in the joys of your eternal home,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.

^DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.

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

The 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.