Oremus for Friday, December 4, 2020

Antiphon¹

Ant. The Lord said unto me: You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.
V. Why do the nations conspire, *
and the peoples plot in vain?
They arise, the kings of the earth; *
princes plot against the Lord and his Anointed. Psalm 2

Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness,
and put on the armor of light,
now in the time of this mortal life
in which your Son Jesus Christ came
to visit us in great humility;
that in the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge both the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. 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: Karl Friedrich Lochner
Tune: O daß ich tausend Zungen hätte https://tinyurl.com/y25l2foj

1 Soul, what return has God, thy Savior,
For all He gives thee day by day?
Oh, hast thou in thy gift a favor
That can delight and please Him?–Say!
The best of off’rings He requires:
Thy heart it is that He desires.

2 Give unto God thy heart’s affection,
Who else can claim thee as His own?
Should Satan hold thee in subjection?
With him but pangs of hell are known.
To Thee alone, O Lord divine,
My heart and all I now resign.

3 Accept the gift which Thou requirest,
My heart and soul, O gracious God,
The first fruits Thou so much desirest,
For which Thy Son paid with His blood.
To Thee I willingly assign
My heart, dear Lord, for it is Thine.

4 Whom should I give my heart’s affection
But Thee, who gavest Thine to faith?
Thy fervent love is my protection;
Lord, Thou hast loved me unto death.
My heart with Thine shall ever be
One heart throughout eternity.

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

Psalm 22 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tcvjnwc)

1  My God, my God, look upon me; why hast thou forsaken me *
 and art so far from my health, and from the words of my complaint?
2  O my God, I cry in the day-time, but thou hearest not *
 and in the night-season also I take no rest.
3  And thou continuest holy *
 O thou worship of Israel.
4  Our fathers hoped in thee *
 they trusted in thee, and thou didst deliver them.
5  They called upon thee, and were holpen *
 they put their trust in thee, and were not confounded.
6  But as for me, I am a worm, and no man *
 a very scorn of men, and the out-cast of the people.
7  All they that see me laugh me to scorn *
 they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads, saying,
8  He trusted in God, that he would deliver him *
 let him deliver him, if he will have him.
9  But thou art he that took me out of my mother’s womb *
 thou wast my hope, when I hanged yet upon my mother’s breasts.
10  I have been left unto thee ever since I was born *
 thou art my God even from my mother’s womb.
11  O go not from me, for trouble is hard at hand *
 and there is none to help me.
12  Many oxen are come about me *
 fat bulls of Basan close me in on every side.
13  They gape upon me with their mouths *
 as it were a ramping and a roaring lion.
14  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint *
 my heart also in the midst of my body is even like melting wax.
15  My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue cleaveth to my gums *
 and thou shalt bring me into the dust of death.
16  For many dogs are come about me *
 and the council of the wicked layeth siege against me.
17  They pierced my hands and my feet; I may tell all my bones *
 they stand staring and looking upon me.
18  They part my garments among them *
 and cast lots upon my vesture.
19  But be not thou far from me, O Lord *
 thou art my succour, haste thee to help me.
20  Deliver my soul from the sword *
 my darling from the power of the dog.
21  Save me from the lion’s mouth *
 thou hast heard me also from among the horns of the unicorns.
22  I will declare thy Name unto my brethren *
 in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23  O praise the Lord, ye that fear him *
 magnify him, all ye of the seed of Jacob,
and fear him, all ye seed of Israel;
24  For he hath not despised, nor abhorred,
the low estate of the poor *
 he hath not hid his face from him,
but when he called unto him he heard him.
25  My praise is of thee in the great congregation *
 my vows will I perform in the sight of them that fear him.
26  The poor shall eat, and be satisfied *
 they that seek after the Lord shall praise him; your heart shall live for ever.
27  All the ends of the world shall remember themselves,
and be turned unto the Lord *
 and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before him.
28  For the kingdom is the Lord’s *
 and he is the Governor among the people.
29  All such as be fat upon earth *
 have eaten, and worshipped.
30  All they that go down into the dust shall kneel before him *
 and no man hath quickened his own soul.
31  My seed shall serve him *
 they shall be counted unto the Lord for a generation.
32  They shall come, and the heavens shall declare his righteousness *
 unto a people that shall be born, whom the Lord hath made.
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 23 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/swfdhyk)

1  The Lord is my shepherd *
 therefore can I lack nothing.
2  He shall feed me in a green pasture *
 and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.
3  He shall convert my soul *
 and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his Name’s sake.
4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil *
 for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
5  Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me *
 thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.
6  But thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life *
 and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
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

Lord Jesus Christ, our good shepherd,
in the waters of Baptism you give us birth,
and at your table you nourish us with heavenly food.
In your goodness and mercy,
lead us along safe paths,
beyond the terrors of evil and death,
to the house of the Lord
where we may rest securely in you forever. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Hosea 6:11-7:5, 10-16

For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed.

When I would restore the fortunes of my people,
when I would heal Israel,
   the corruption of Ephraim is revealed,
   and the wicked deeds of Samaria;
for they deal falsely,
   the thief breaks in,
   and the bandits raid outside.
But they do not consider
   that I remember all their wickedness.
Now their deeds surround them,
   they are before my face.
By their wickedness they make the king glad,
   and the officials by their treachery.
They are all adulterers;
   they are like a heated oven,
whose baker does not need to stir the fire,
   from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.
On the day of our king the officials
   became sick with the heat of wine;
   he stretched out his hand with mockers.
Israel’s pride testifies against him;
   yet they do not return to the Lord their God,
   or seek him, for all this.

Ephraim has become like a dove,
   silly and without sense;
   they call upon Egypt, they go to Assyria.
As they go, I will cast my net over them;
   I will bring them down like birds of the air;
   I will discipline them according to the report made to their assembly.
Woe to them, for they have strayed from me!
   Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me!
I would redeem them,
   but they speak lies against me.

They do not cry to me from the heart,
   but they wail upon their beds;
they gash themselves for grain and wine;
   they rebel against me.
It was I who trained and strengthened their arms,
   yet they plot evil against me.
They turn to that which does not profit;
   they have become like a defective bow;
their officials shall fall by the sword
   because of the rage of their tongue.
So much for their babbling in the land of Egypt.

HYMN: Fred Kaan ©
Tune: St Thomas (Webbe) https://tinyurl.com/yyubopzb

1 For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord;
For a just and equal sharing
Of the things that earth affords.
To a life of love and action
Help us rise and pledge our word.

2 Lead your people into freedom,
From despair your world release
That, redeemed from war and hatred,
All may come and go in peace.
Show us how, through care and goodness,
Fear will die and hope increase.

3 All that kills abundant living,
Let it from the earth be banned:
Pride of status, race, or schooling,
Dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
May we hallow life’s brief span.

4 You, creator God, have written
Your great name on humankind;
For our growing in your likeness
Bring the life of Christ to mind,
That by our response and service
Earth its destiny may find.

Reading: Philippians 2:12-18

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labour in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you— and in the same way you also must be glad and rejoice with me.

HYMN: Olive W Spannaus ©
Tune: Beatus vir

1 Lord of all nations, grant me grace
To love all people, ev’ry race,
To see each person as I ought,
My kindred, whom your love has bought.

2 Break down the wall that would divide
Your children, Lord, on ev’ry side.
My neighbor’s good let me pursue;
Let Christian love bind warm and true.

3 Forgive me, Lord, where I have erred
By loveless act and thoughtless word.
Make me to see the wrong I do
Will crucify my Lord anew.

4 Give me your courage, Lord, to speak
Whenever strong oppress the weak.
Should I myself as victim live,
Rememb’ring you, may I forgive.

5 With your own love may I be filled,
And by your Holy Spirit willed,
That all whose live are touched by mine
May know your healing touch divine.

Reading: Mark 12:13-17

Then they sent to Jesus some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. And they came and said to him, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?’ But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, ‘Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.’ And they brought one. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they were utterly amazed at him.

CANTICLE Philippians 2:6-11
(Chant by John Michael Talbot: https://tinyurl.com/y8ljx8y7)

Though he was in the form of God,
Jesus did not deem equality with God
something to be grasped at.
Rather, he emptied himself
and took the form of a slave,
being born in the likeness of men.
He was known to be of human estate
and it was thus that he humbled himself,
obediently accepting even death,
death on a cross!
Because of this,
God highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
above every other name,  
So that at Jesus’ name
every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth,
and under the earth,
and every tongue proclaim
to the glory of God the Father:  
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

THE PRAYERS ^CGP

We are an anxious people, a waiting people, God.
We long for a new and powerful encounter with you.
We wait in bondage through no fault of our own,
entangled by distant forces of evil,
by anger and greed we did not create;
saddened by the waste and foolishness of our time.
We come to drink of your power, to be set free!
And we wait in bondage because of our own sin.
Lead us beyond advertisements
which entice us to have much,
that we might be open to receive much:
to have time for personal relationships,
to give thanks for creation,
to allow your coming into our lives anew.
And so we wait and wait,
remembering your promise, O Promise-Fulfilling God.
And we rejoice that you are more faithful than are we:
that you tug us again into hoping,
and nudge us into life in your Spirit.
We wait, then, as generations have waited,
for the Christ who came among us, is among us,
and will come among us. Amen.

Setting: Sanford Dole https://tinyurl.com/y7ldq7h5

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as 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.

God, our Father,
the One who comes in your name comes again
with grace and power,
with forgiveness and strength,
with truth and imagination,
with gentleness and love.
May the Coming One enter the hearts
of those who wait with quiet expectation
for all that is good and holy and just. Amen. ^CGP

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.

^CGP Celebrating God’s Presence, United Church of Canada

^BCP79 The Book of Common Prayer

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.