Oremus for Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Antiphon¹

Ant. Behold, the Sovereign Lord is coming;
kingship, government and power are in his hands.
V. O God, give your judgment to the king, *
to a king’s son your justice,
that he may judge your people in justice, *
and your poor in right judgment. Malachi 3; 1 Chronicles 29; Psalm 72

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: Andrew Reed
Tune: Nun danket all und bringet Ehr https://tinyurl.com/y5op6gnl

1 Spirit divine, attend our prayers,
and make this house thy home;
descend with all thy gracious powers;
O come, great Spirit, come!

2 Come as the light: to us reveal
our emptiness and woe;
and lead us in those paths of life
where all the righteous go.

3 Come as the fire, and purge our hearts
like sacrificial flame;
let our whole soul an offering be
to our Redeemer’s name.

4 Come as the Dove, and spread thy wings,
the wings of perfect love;
and let thy church on earth become
blest as the church above.

5 Spirit divine, attend our prayers;
make a lost world thy home;
descend with all thy gracious powers;
O come, great Spirit, come!

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

Psalm 78 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/uq2kpk3)

1  Hear my law, O my people *
 incline your ears unto the words of my mouth.
2  I will open my mouth in a parable *
 I will declare hard sentences of old;
3  Which we have heard and known *
 and such as our fathers have told us;
4  That we should not hide them
from the children of the generations to come *
 but to shew the honour of the Lord,
his mighty and wonderful works that he hath done.
5  He made a covenant with Jacob, and gave Israel a law *
 which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children;
6  That their posterity might know it *
 and the children which were yet unborn;
7  To the intent that when they came up *
 they might shew their children the same;
8  That they might put their trust in God *
 and not to forget the works of God, but to keep his commandments;
9  And not to be as their forefathers, a faithless and stubborn generation *
 a generation that set not their heart aright,
and whose spirit cleaveth not stedfastly unto God;
10  Like as the children of Ephraim *
 who being harnessed, and carrying bows,
turned themselves back in the day of battle.
11  They kept not the covenant of God *
 and would not walk in his law;
12  But forgat what he had done *
 and the wonderful works that he had shewed for them.
13  Marvellous things did he in the sight of our forefathers, in the land of Egypt *
 even in the field of Zoan.
14  He divided the sea, and let them go through *
 he made the waters to stand on an heap.
15  In the day-time also he led them with a cloud *
 and all the night through with a light of fire.
16  He clave the hard rocks in the wilderness *
 and gave them drink thereof, as it had been out of the great depth.
17  He brought waters out of the stony rock *
 so that it gushed out like the rivers.
18  Yet for all this they sinned more against him *
 and provoked the most Highest in the wilderness.
19  They tempted God in their hearts *
 and required meat for their lust.
20  They spake against God also, saying *
 Shall God prepare a table in the wilderness?
21  He smote the stony rock indeed,
that the water gushed out, and the streams flowed withal *
 but can he give bread also, or provide flesh for his people?
22  When the Lord heard this, he was wroth *
 so the fire was kindled in Jacob,
and there came up heavy displeasure against Israel;
23  Because they believed not in God *
 and put not their trust in his help.
24  So he commanded the clouds above *
 and opened the doors of heaven.
25  He rained down manna also upon them for to eat *
 and gave them food from heaven.
26  So man did eat angels’ food *
 for he sent them meat enough.
27  He caused the east-wind to blow under heaven *
 and through his power he brought in the south-west-wind.
28  He rained flesh upon them as thick as dust *
 and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea.
29  He let it fall among their tents *
 even round about their habitation.
30  So they did eat, and were well filled; for he gave them their own desire *
 they were not disappointed of their lust.
31  But while the meat was yet in their mouths,
the heavy wrath of God came upon them, and slew the wealthiest of them *
 yea, and smote down the chosen men that were in Israel.
32  But for all this they sinned yet more *
 and believed not his wondrous works.
33  Therefore their days did he consume in vanity *
 and their years in trouble.
34  When he slew them, they sought him *
 and turned them early, and enquired after God.
35  And they remembered that God was their strength *
 and that the high God was their redeemer.
36  Nevertheless, they did but flatter him with their mouth *
 and dissembled with him in their tongue.
37  For their heart was not whole with him *
 neither continued they stedfast in his covenant.
38  But he was so merciful, that he forgave their misdeeds *
 and destroyed them not.
39  Yea, many a time turned he his wrath away *
 and would not suffer his whole displeasure to arise.
40  For he considered that they were but flesh *
 and that they were even a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
41  Many a time did they provoke him in the wilderness *
 and grieved him in the desert.
42  They turned back, and tempted God *
 and moved the Holy One in Israel.
43  They thought not of his hand *
 and of the day when he delivered them from the hand of the enemy;
44  How he had wrought his miracles in Egypt *
 and his wonders in the field of Zoan.
45  He turned their waters into blood *
 so that they might not drink of the rivers.
46  He sent lice among them, and devoured them up *
 and frogs to destroy them.
47  He gave their fruit unto the caterpillar *
 and their labour unto the grasshopper.
48  He destroyed their vines with hail-stones *
 and their mulberry-trees with the frost.
49  He smote their cattle also with hail-stones *
 and their flocks with hot thunderbolts.
50  He cast upon them the furiousness of his wrath,
anger, displeasure, and trouble *
 and sent evil angels among them.
51  He made a way to his indignation, and spared not their soul from death *
 but gave their life over to the pestilence;
52  And smote all the first-born in Egypt *
 the most principal and mightiest in the dwellings of Ham.
53  But as for his own people, he led them forth like sheep *
 and carried them in the wilderness like a flock.
54  He brought them out safely, that they should not fear *
 and overwhelmed their enemies with the sea.
55  And brought them within the borders of his sanctuary *
 even to his mountain which he purchased with his right hand.
56  He cast out the heathen also before them *
 caused their land to be divided among them for an heritage,
and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
57  So they tempted, and displeased the most high God *
 and kept not his testimonies;
58  But turned their backs, and fell away like their forefathers *
 starting aside like a broken bow.
59  For they grieved him with their hill altars *
 and provoked him to displeasure with their images.
60  When God heard this, he was wroth *
 and took sore displeasure at Israel.
61  So that he forsook the tabernacle in Silo *
 even the tent that he had pitched among men.
62  He delivered their power into captivity *
 and their beauty into the enemy’s hand.
63  He gave his people over also unto the sword *
 and was wroth with his inheritance.
64  The fire consumed their young men *
 and their maidens were not given to marriage.
65  Their priests were slain with the sword *
 and there were no widows to make lamentation.
66  So the Lord awaked as one out of sleep *
 and like a giant refreshed with wine.
67  He smote his enemies in the hinder parts *
 and put them to a perpetual shame.
68  He refused the tabernacle of Joseph *
 and chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
69  But chose the tribe of Judah *
 even the hill of Sion which he loved.
70  And there he built his temple on high *
 and laid the foundation of it like the ground which he hath made continually.
71  He chose David also his servant *
 and took him away from the sheep-folds.
72  As he was following the ewes great with young ones he took him *
 that he might feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
73  So he fed them with a faithful and true heart *
 and ruled them prudently with all his power.
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 of pilgrims,
strengthen our faith, we pray.
Guide us through the uncertainties of our journey,
and hold before us the vision of your eternal kingdom,
made known to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Malachi 3:1-5

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

Then I will draw near to you for judgement; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

HYMN: Graham Kendrick ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/y3yjrrpz

1 Restore, O Lord, the honour of your name!
In works of sovereign power
come shake the earth again,
that all may see, and come with reverent fear
to the living God,
whose kingdom shall outlast the years.

2 Restore, O Lord, in all the earth your fame,
and in our time revive
the church that bears your name,
and in your anger, Lord, remember mercy,
O living God,
whose mercy shall outlast the years.

3 Bend us, O Lord, where we are hard and cold,
in your refiner’s fire;
come purify the gold:
though suffering comes, and evil crouches near,
still our living God
is reigning, he is reigning here.

4 Restore, O Lord, the honour of your name!
In works of sovereign power
come shake the earth again,
that all may see, and come with reverent fear
to the living God,
whose kingdom shall outlast the years.

Reading: 2 Peter 1:12-21

Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.

So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

HYMN: John Brownlie
Music: St Stephen https://tinyurl.com/y6shktos

1 The King shall come when morning dawns
and light triumphant breaks;
when beauty gilds the eastern hills
and life to joy awakes.

2 Not, as of old, a little child,
to bear, and fight, and die,
but crowned with glory like the sun
that lights the morning sky.

3 The King shall come when morning dawns
and earth’s dark night is past;
O haste the rising of that morn,
the day that e’er shall last;

4 and let the endless bliss begin,
by weary saints foretold,
when right shall triumph over wrong,
and truth shall be extolled.

5 The King shall come when morning dawns
and light and beauty brings:
Hail, Christ the Lord! Thy people pray,
come quickly, King of kings.

Reading: Mark 13:21-23

Jesus continued, ‘And if anyone says to you at that time, “Look! Here is the Messiah!” or “Look! There he is!”—do not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be alert; I have already told you everything.’

CANTICLE Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)
(Andrew Rottner: https://tinyurl.com/ybqv7yxk)

He who is mighty, has shown great strength to me
And his mercy is for those who fear his holy name
And he has shown strength with his arm and his law
And he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He who is mighty has brought the wicked shame
And his anger is for those who curse his holy name
And he has shown rage with the mighty in their thrones
And he has lifted the low into his glorious home

O my soul magnifies the Lord,
Yes my soul magnifies the Lord.

He who is mighty has not forgotten me
And his helping is for those to serve his holy name
He has shown remembrance with his servant Israel
And he spoke the promise from which all my doubts dispel

O my soul magnifies the Lord,
Yes my soul magnifies the Lord.
O my soul magnifies the Lord,
Yes my soul magnifies the Lord.

THE PRAYERS ^CCP

Watchful at all times,
let us pray for strength to stand with confidence
before our Maker and Redeemer.

That God may bring in his kingdom with judgement and mercy,
let us pray to the Lord:
Come in your might, Lord Jesus.

That God may establish among the nations
his sceptre of righteousness, let us pray to the Lord:
Come in your might, Lord Jesus.

That the Church may seek him in the scriptures
and recognise him in the breaking of the bread,
let us pray to the Lord:
Come in your might, Lord Jesus.

That God may bind up the broken‑hearted,
restore the sick and raise up all who have fallen,
let us pray to the Lord:
Come in your might, Lord Jesus.

That the light of God’s coming may dawn
on all who live in darkness and in the shadow of death,
let us pray to the Lord:
Come in your might, Lord Jesus.

That with all the saints in light,
we may shine forth as lights of the world,
let us pray to the Lord:
Come in your might, Lord Jesus.

(Karin Simmons: https://tinyurl.com/y7vwp7dd)

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread;
and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
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.

O God of all the prophets,
you herald the coming of the Son of Man
by wondrous signs in the heavens and on the earth.
Guard our hearts from despair so that we,
in the company of the faithful
and by the power of your Holy Spirit,
may be found ready to raise our heads
at the coming near of our redemption,
the day of Jesus Christ. 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

---

^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.

^CCP Celebrating Common Prayer © 1993 Society of St Francis

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.