Oremus for Monday, January 4, 2021

Antiphon¹

Ant. Sing to the Lord a new song, alleluia; *
for the Lord has accomplished wondrous deeds, alleluia;
he has revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles,
alleluia, alleluia.
V. His right hand and his holy arm *
have brought salvation.
He has remembered his merciful love *
and his truth for the house of Israel. Psalm 98

Almighty God,
you wonderfully created,
and yet more wonderfully restored,
the dignity of human nature.
In your mercy,
let us share the divine life of Jesus Christ
who came to share our humanity,
and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen. ^BCW

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: Margaret Clarkson ©
Tune: Darwall https://tinyurl.com/y9ho38qd

1 We come, O Christ, to you, 
true Son of God and man, 
by whom all things consist, 
in whom all life began. 
In you alone we live and move 
and have our being in your love. 

2 You are the way to God, 
your blood our ransom paid; 
in you we face our Judge 
and Maker unafraid. 
Before the throne absolved we stand; 
your love has met your law’s demand. 

3 You are the living truth; 
all wisdom dwells in you, 
the source of every skill, 
the one eternal True! 
O great I AM! in you we rest, 
sure answer to our every quest. 

4 You only are true life 
to know you is to live 
the more abundant life 
that earth can never give. 
O risen Lord! we live in you: 
in us each day your life renew! 

5 We worship you, Lord Christ, 
our Savior and our King; 
to you our youth and strength 
adoringly we bring: 
so fill our hearts that all may view 
your life in us and turn to you! 

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

Psalm 19 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yd7jfjmy)

1  The heavens declare the glory of God *
 and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2  One day telleth another *
 and one night certifieth another.
3  There is neither speech nor language *
 but their voices are heard among them.
4  Their sound is gone out into all lands *
 and their words into the ends of the world.
5  In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun *
 which cometh forth as a bridegroom out of his chamber,
and rejoiceth as a giant to run his course.
6  It goeth forth from the uttermost part of the heaven,
and runneth about unto the end of it again *
 and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7  The law of the Lord is an undefiled law, converting the soul *
 the testimony of the Lord is sure, and giveth wisdom unto the simple.
8  The statutes of the Lord are right, and rejoice the heart *
 the commandment of the Lord is pure, and giveth light unto the eyes.
9  The fear of the Lord is clean, and endureth for ever *
 the judgements of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
10  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold *
 sweeter also than honey, and the honey-comb.
11  Moreover, by them is thy servant taught *
 and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12  Who can tell how oft he offendeth *
 O cleanse thou me from my secret faults.
13  Keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins,
lest they get the dominion over me *
 so shall I be undefiled, and innocent from the great offence.
14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart *
 be alway acceptable in thy sight,
15  O Lord *
 my strength, and my redeemer.
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 20 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ydbb8hr9)

1  The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble *
 the Name of the God of Jacob defend thee ;
2  Send thee help from the sanctuary *
 and strengthen thee out of Sion;
3  Remember all thy offerings *
 and accept thy burnt-sacrifice;
4  Grant thee thy heart’s desire *
 and fulfil all thy mind.
5  We will rejoice in thy salvation,
and triumph in the Name of the Lord our God *
 the Lord perform all thy petitions.
6  Now know I, that the Lord helpeth his Anointed,
and will hear him from his holy heaven *
 even with the wholesome strength of his right hand.
7  Some put their trust in chariots, and some in horses *
 but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God.
8  They are brought down, and fallen *
 but we are risen, and stand upright.
9  Save, Lord, and hear us, O King of heaven *
 when we call upon thee.
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 21 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yccrfx9l)

1  The King shall rejoice in thy strength, O Lord *
 exceeding glad shall he be of thy salvation.
2  Thou hast given him his heart’s desire *
 and hast not denied him the request of his lips.
3  For thou shalt prevent him with the blessings of goodness *
 and shalt set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
4  He asked life of thee, and thou gavest him a long life *
 even for ever and ever.
5  His honour is great in thy salvation *
 glory and great worship shalt thou lay upon him.
6  For thou shalt give him everlasting felicity *
 and make him glad with the joy of thy countenance.
7  And why? because the King putteth his trust in the Lord *
 and in the mercy of the most Highest he shall not miscarry.
8  All thine enemies shall feel thine hand *
 thy right hand shall find out them that hate thee.
9  Thou shalt make them like a fiery oven in time of thy wrath *
 the Lord shall destroy them in his displeasure,
and the fire shall consume them.
10  Their fruit shalt thou root out of the earth *
 and their seed from among the children of men.
11  For they intended mischief against thee *
 and imagined such a device as they are not able to perform.
12  Therefore shalt thou put them to flight *
 and the strings of thy bow shalt thou make ready against the face of them.
13  Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength *
 so will we sing, and praise thy 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

Faithful God,
you sent us your Word as the sun of truth and justice
to shine upon all the world.
Open our eyes to see your glory in all your works,
that, rejoicing in your whole creation,
we may learn to serve you with gladness,
for the sake of him through whom all things were made,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Proverbs 3:1-12

My child, do not forget my teaching,
   but let your heart keep my commandments;
for length of days and years of life
   and abundant welfare they will give you.

Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;
   bind them round your neck,
   write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favour and good repute
   in the sight of God and of people.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
   and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
   and he will make straight your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
   fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be a healing for your flesh
   and a refreshment for your body.

Honour the Lord with your substance
   and with the first fruits of all your produce;
then your barns will be filled with plenty,
   and your vats will be bursting with wine.

My child, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
   or be weary of his reproof,
for the Lord reproves the one he loves,
   as a father the son in whom he delights.

HYMN: Carl P Daw, Jr ©
Tune: Lux Prima https://tinyurl.com/y5hdrf92

1 Faith begins by letting go,
giving up what had seemed sure,
taking risks and pressing on,
though the way feels less secure:
pilgrimage both right and odd,
trusting all our life to God.

2 Faith endures by holding on,
keeping mem’ry’s roots alive
so that hope may bear its fruit;
promise-fed, our souls will thrive,
not through merit we possess
but by God’s great faithfulness.

3 Faith matures by reaching out,
stretching minds, enlarging hearts,
sharing struggles, living prayer,
binding up the broken parts;
till we find the commonplace
ripe with witness to God’s grace.

Reading: Colossians 3:1-11

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

HYMN: John Oxenham
Tune: McKee https://tinyurl.com/u6tgnf7

1 In Christ there is no east or west,
in him no south or north,
but one great fellowship of love
throughout the whole wide earth.

2 In him shall true hearts ev’rywhere
their high communion find;
his service is the golden cord
close binding humankind.

3 Join hands, disciples of the faith,
whate’er your race may be!
Who serves my Father as his child
is surely kin to me.

4 In Christ now meet both east and west;
in him meet south and north;
all Christly souls are one in him
throughout the whole wide earth.

Reading: John 14:1-7

Jesus said, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’

CANTICLE Colossians 1:12-20
(Chant by John Michael Talbot https://tinyurl.com/ya95yzto)

Ant. He is the first born of all creation,
in every way the primacy is his.

Let us give thanks to the Father
for having made you worthy
to share the lot of the saints in light.
He rescued us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Through him we have redemption,
the forgiveness of our sins.
He is the image of the invisible God,
the first-born of all creatures.
In him everything in heaven and on earth was created,
things visible and invisible.
All were created through him; all were created for him.
He is before all else that is.
In him everything continues in being.
It is he who is head of the body, the church!
He who is the beginning, the first-born of the dead,
so that primacy may be his in everything.
It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in him
and, by means of him, to reconcile everything in his person,
both on earth and in the heavens,
making peace through the blood of his cross.
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.

PRAYER ^OSL

With each new day, O God of love and light,
we catch fresh glimpses of your presence with us,
and rejoice that you are Emmanuel, God-with-us,
even when we do not sense your presence.

As we recall again the story of this season,
we pray for all who receive you in surprising ways…
Incarnate God of peace
hear our prayer.

For those who prepare a place for you,
even in the mangers of this life…
Incarnate God of peace
hear our prayer.

For those whose lives are too full
to bid you welcome…
Incarnate God of peace
hear our prayer.

For those who hear good tidings of great joy
and hasten to share the good news…
Incarnate God of peace
hear our prayer.

(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.

We bless you, Abba, Father,
for you have visited your people
in one like us in all things but sin,
and in human fragility you have revealed
the face of divinity.
Gather into your arms
all the peoples of the world,
so that in your embrace
we may find blessing, peace,
and the fullness of our inheritance
as your daughters and sons. 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.

^RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.

^OSL The intercession is adapted from prayers reprinted from THE DAILY OFFICE: A Book of Hours of Daily Prayer after the Use of the Order of Saint Luke, © 1997 by The Order of Saint Luke.

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

The intercession is from Chalice Worship, © Chalice Press, 1997.

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.