Oremus for Thursday, January 7, 2021

Antiphon¹

Ant. All you who are thirsty, *
come to the waters, says the Lord,
and you who have no money,
come, drink in gladness.
V. Give ear, my people, to my teaching; *
incline your ear to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable *
and utter hidden lessons of the past. cf. Isaiah 55; Psalm 78

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: Anonymous
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/y3gof523

1 Peace is flowing like a river,
Flowing out through you and me;
Flowing out into the desert,
Setting all the captives free.

2 Joy is flowing like a river, 
Flowing out through you and me;
Flowing out into the desert,
Setting all the captives free.

3 Faith is flowing like a river,
Flowing out through you and me;
Flowing out into the desert,
Setting all the captives free.

4 Hope is flowing like a river,
Flowing out through you and me;
Flowing out into the desert,
Setting all the captives free.

5 Love is flowing like a river,
Flowing out through you and me;
Flowing out into the desert,
Setting all the captives free.

6 Alleluia, alleluia,
Alleluia, alleluia,
Alleluia, alleluia,
Allelu, alleluia.

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

Psalm 35 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y8onefhr)

1  Plead thou my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me *
 and fight thou against them that fight against me.
2  Lay hand upon the shield and buckler *
 and stand up to help me.
3  Bring forth the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me *
 say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
4  Let them be confounded, and put to shame, that seek after my soul *
 let them be turned back, and brought to confusion,
that imagine mischief for me.
5  Let them be as the dust before the wind *
 and the angel of the Lord scattering them.
6  Let their way be dark and slippery *
 and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.
7  For they have privily laid their net to destroy me without a cause *
 yea, even without a cause have they made a pit for my soul.
8  Let a sudden destruction come upon him unawares,
and his net, that he hath laid privily, catch himself *
 that he may fall into his own mischief.
9  And, my soul, be joyful in the Lord *
 it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10  All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee,
who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him *
 yea, the poor, and him that is in misery, from him that spoileth him?
11  False witnesses did rise up *
 they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
12  They rewarded me evil for good *
 to the great discomfort of my soul.
13  Nevertheless, when they were sick, I put on sackcloth,
and humbled my soul with fasting *
 and my prayer shall turn into mine own bosom.
14  I behaved myself as though it had been my friend, or my brother *
 I went heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
15  But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together *
 yea, the very abjects came together against me unawares,
making mouths at me, and ceased not.
16  With the flatterers were busy mockers *
 who gnashed upon me with their teeth.
17  Lord, how long wilt thou look upon this *
 O deliver my soul from the calamities which they bring on me,
and my darling from the lions.
18  So will I give thee thanks in the great congregation *
 I will praise thee among much people.
19  O let not them that are mine enemies triumph over me ungodly *
 neither let them wink with their eyes that hate me without a cause.
20  And why? their communing is not for peace *
 but they imagine deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.
21  They gaped upon me with their mouths, and said *
 Fie on thee, fie on thee, we saw it with our eyes.
22  This thou hast seen, O Lord *
 hold not thy tongue then, go not far from me, O Lord.
23  Awake, and stand up to judge my quarrel *
 avenge thou my cause, my God, and my Lord.
24  Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness *
 and let them not triumph over me.
25  Let them not say in their hearts, There, there, so would we have it *
 neither let them say, We have devoured him.
26  Let them be put to confusion and shame together,
that rejoice at my trouble *
 let them be clothed with rebuke and dishonour,
that boast themselves against me.
27  Let them be glad and rejoice, that favour my righteous dealing *
 yea, let them say alway, Blessed be the Lord,
who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
28  And as for my tongue, it shall be talking of thy righteousness *
 and of thy praise all the day long.
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 36 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y82f3wv5)

1  My heart sheweth me the wickedness of the ungodly *
 that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2  For he flattereth himself in his own sight *
 until his abominable sin be found out.
3  The words of his mouth are unrighteous, and full of deceit *
 he hath left off to behave himself wisely, and to do good.
4  He imagineth mischief upon his bed, and hath set himself in no good way *
 neither doth he abhor any thing that is evil.
5  Thy mercy, O Lord, reacheth unto the heavens *
 and thy faithfulness unto the clouds.
6  Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains *
 thy judgements are like the great deep.
7  Thou, Lord, shalt save both man and beast;
How excellent is thy mercy, O God *
 and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8  They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house *
 and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures, as out of the river.
9  For with thee is the well of life *
 and in thy light shall we see light.
10  O continue forth thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee *
 and thy righteousness unto them that are true of heart.
11  O let not the foot of pride come against me *
 and let not the hand of the ungodly cast me down.
12  There are they fallen, all that work wickedness *
 they are cast down, and shall not be able to stand.
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

Eternal God,
you satisfy our hunger
by feeding us with the bread of life,
and you quench our thirst for righteousness
by your mighty acts.
Nourish us always by your Spirit,
that we may grow into the stature of Jesus Christ. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Exodus 1:22 — 2:10

After Pharaoh had commanded all his people, ‘Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live,’ a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him for three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him. ‘This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,’ she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?’ Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Yes.’ So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.’ So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, ‘because’, she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’

HYMN: William Williams; trans. Peter Williams
Tune: Cwm Rhondda https://tinyurl.com/y4yup4ks

1 Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand;
bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore,
feed me now and evermore.

2 Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through;
strong deliverer, strong deliverer.
be thou still my strength and shield,
be thou still my strength and shield.

3 When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death, and hell’s destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side;
songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee,
I will ever give to thee.

Reading: Colossians 3:12-17

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

HYMN: George Herbert
Tune: Luckington (Harwood) https://tinyurl.com/y4fdnpc8
Tune: Herbert (Monk)

1 Let all the world in every corner sing,
my God and King.
The heavens are not too high,
his praise may thither fly:
the earth is not too low,
his praises there may grow.
Let all the world in every corner sing,
my God and King.

2 Let all the world in every corner sing,
my God and King.
The church with psalms must shout,
no door can keep them out;
but above all the heart
must bear the longest part.
Let all the world in every corner sing,
my God and King.

Reading: John 7:37-38

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” ’

CANTICLE Isaiah 12:2-6
(Uptown Worship Band: https://tinyurl.com/y8q877og)

Refrain:
Surely, it is God who saves;
I will and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my sure defense,
and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water
and rejoice from the salvation spring.
On that day you shall say,
give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name. Refrain

Make his deeds known among the people;
they remember his Name on high.
Sing praise to the Lord, for he has done great things,
and this is known in all the world. Refrain

Cry aloud, O Zion, ring out your joy,
for the great one in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

THE PRAYERS ^WS2

God of light,
we praise you as the one who shows your glory
to the nations in the coming of Jesus Christ!
We thank you for reflections of your glory
in our world and in our community:
for your work in creation, especially . . .
for your work in the world, especially . . .
for your work in the church and local community . . .
Help us to see these signs of glory as signs of your coming kingdom.
We long for the fullness of that kingdom. Come, Lord Jesus.

In light of your love, we offer our petitions to you now,
coming to you in the name and power of Jesus Christ.
Today, we pray for
the creation and its care, especially . . .
the nations of the world, especially . . .
our nation and its leaders, especially . . .
our community and those who govern, especially . . .
the church universal, its mission, and those who minister, especially . . .
our local congregation and its ministry, especially . . .
people with particular needs, especially . . .
We offer these prayers in the strong name of Jesus Christ,
our light and our salvation. Amen.

Setting by Eric Wyse:²

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.
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, your voice moves over the waters.
Immerse us in your grace,
mark us with your images,
and raise us to live our baptismal vows
empowered by the Holy Spirit
and the example of Christ our Lord,
in whose name we pray. 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.

^WS2 The Worship Sourcebook, 2nd edition, © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources

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

2 Eric Wyse, Lord’s Prayer, ©; audio from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_a40ME7aVk

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.