Antiphon1
Ant. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God;
blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God;
blessed are those who suffer persecution
for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
V. When the Lord brought back the exiles of Sion, *
we thought we were dreaming.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter; *
on our tongues, songs of joy. Matthew 5; Psalm 126
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: sts. 1-2 Thomas Moore; st. 3 Thomas Hastings
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/y8k5cktv
1 Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish,
come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.
Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish.
Earth has no sorrows that Heav’n cannot heal.
2 Joy of the desolate, light of the straying,
hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure!
Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying,
“Earth has no sorrows that Heav’n cannot cure.”
3 Here see the Bread of life; see waters flowing
forth from the throne of God, pure from above.
Come to the feast of love, come, ever knowing
earth has no sorrows but Heav’n can remove.
PSALMS
For psalms in contemporary language, https://tinyurl.com/y9tjh7rk
Psalm 75 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/w8cy5dn)
1 Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks *
yea, unto thee do we give thanks.
2 Thy Name also is so nigh *
and that do thy wondrous works declare.
3 When I receive the congregation *
I shall judge according unto right.
4 The earth is weak, and all the inhabiters thereof *
I bear up the pillars of it.
5 I said unto the fools, Deal not so madly *
and to the ungodly, Set not up your horn.
6 Set not up your horn on high *
and speak not with a stiff neck.
7 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west *
nor yet from the south.
8 And why? God is the Judge *
he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
9 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red *
it is full mixed, and he poureth out of the same.
10 As for the dregs thereof *
all the ungodly of the earth shall drink them, and suck them out.
11 But I will talk of the God of Jacob *
and praise him for ever.
12 All the horns of the ungodly also will I break *
and the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
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 76 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/r9ym7fd)
1 In Jewry is God known *
his Name is great in Israel.
2 At Salem is his tabernacle *
and his dwelling in Sion.
3 There brake he the arrows of the bow *
the shield, the sword, and the battle.
4 Thou art of more honour and might *
than the hills of the robbers.
5 The proud are robbed, they have slept their sleep *
and all the men whose hands were mighty have found nothing.
6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob *
both the chariot and horse are fallen.
7 Thou, even thou art to be feared *
and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry?
8 Thou didst cause thy judgement to be heard from heaven *
the earth trembled, and was still,
9 When God arose to judgement *
and to help all the meek upon earth.
10 The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise *
and the fierceness of them shalt thou refrain.
11 Promise unto the Lord your God, and keep it, all ye that are round about him *
bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
12 He shall refrain the spirit of princes *
and is wonderful among the kings of the earth.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,*
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 77 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vmyxazc)
1 I will cry unto God with my voice *
even unto God will I cry with my voice, and he shall hearken unto me.
2 In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord *
my sore ran, and ceased not in the night-season; my soul refused comfort.
3 When I am in heaviness, I will think upon God *
when my heart is vexed, I will complain.
4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking *
I am so feeble, that I cannot speak.
5 I have considered the days of old *
and the years that are past.
6 I call to remembrance my song *
and in the night I commune with mine own heart, and search out my spirits.
7 Will the Lord absent himself for ever *
and will he be no more intreated?
8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever *
and is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore?
9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious *
and will he shut up his loving-kindness in displeasure?
10 And I said, It is mine own infirmity *
but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most Highest.
11 I will remember the works of the Lord *
and call to mind thy wonders of old time.
12 I will think also of all thy works *
and my talking shall be of thy doings.
13 Thy way, O God, is holy *
who is so great a God as our God?
14 Thou art the God that doeth wonders *
and hast declared thy power among the people.
15 Thou hast mightily delivered thy people *
even the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
16 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee, and were afraid *
the depths also were troubled.
17 The clouds poured out water, the air thundered *
and thine arrows went abroad.
18 The voice of thy thunder was heard round about *
the lightnings shone upon the ground; the earth was moved, and shook withal.
19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in the great waters *
and thy footsteps are not known.
20 Thou leddest thy people like sheep *
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,*
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 the ages,
by signs and wonders you established your ancient covenant,
and through the sacrifice of your Son
you confirmed the new covenant yet more wondrously.
Guide your church to the land of promise,
that there we may celebrate your name with lasting praise
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
Reading: Isaiah 46:1-13
Bel bows down, Nebo stoops,
their idols are on beasts and cattle;
these things you carry are loaded
as burdens on weary animals.
They stoop, they bow down together;
they cannot save the burden,
but themselves go into captivity.
Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been borne by me from your birth,
carried from the womb;
even to your old age I am he,
even when you turn grey I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.
To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
and compare me, as though we were alike?
Those who lavish gold from the purse,
and weigh out silver in the scales—
they hire a goldsmith, who makes it into a god;
then they fall down and worship!
They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,
they set it in its place, and it stands there;
it cannot move from its place.
If one cries out to it, it does not answer
or save anyone from trouble.
Remember this and consider,
recall it to mind, you transgressors,
remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like me,
declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My purpose shall stand,
and I will fulfil my intention’,
calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man for my purpose from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have planned, and I will do it.
Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,
you who are far from deliverance:
I bring near my deliverance, it is not far off,
and my salvation will not tarry;
I will put salvation in Zion,
for Israel my glory.
HYMN: Reginald Heber
Tune: Belmont https://tinyurl.com/y24vt77k
1 By cool Siloam’s shady rill
how sweet the lily grows!
How sweet the breath beneath the hill
of Sharon’s dewy rose!
2 Lo! such the child whose early feet
the paths of peace have trod,
whose secret heart with influence sweet
is upward drawn to God.
3 By cool Siloam’s shady rill
the lily must decay,
the rose that blooms beneath the hill
must shortly fade away;
4 And soon, too soon, the wintry hour
of life’s maturer age
will shake the soul with sorrow’s power
and stormy passion’s rage.
5 O thou, whose infant feet were found
within thy Father’s shrine,
whose years, with changeless virtue crowned,
were all alike divine,
6 Dependent on thy bounteous breath
we seek thy grace alone,
through every stage of life, and death,
to keep us still thine own.
Reading: Romans 3:1-20
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much, in every way. For in the first place the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Although everyone is a liar, let God be proved true, as it is written,
‘So that you may be justified in your words,
and prevail in your judging.’
But if our injustice serves to confirm the justice of God, what should we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my falsehood God’s truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not say (as some people slander us by saying that we say), ‘Let us do evil so that good may come’? Their condemnation is deserved!
What then? Are we any better off? No, not at all; for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, as it is written:
‘There is no one who is righteous, not even one;
there is no one who has understanding,
there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned aside, together they have become worthless;
there is no one who shows kindness,
there is not even one.’
‘Their throats are opened graves;
they use their tongues to deceive.’
‘The venom of vipers is under their lips.’
‘Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.’
‘Their feet are swift to shed blood;
ruin and misery are in their paths,
and the way of peace they have not known.’
‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’
Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For ‘no human being will be justified in his sight’ by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
HYMN: Psalm 130; para. Robert J Swets
Tune: Genevan 130th
1 Out of the depths I cry, LORD.
O Lord, please hear my call.
Let your ears be attentive;
I beg for mercy, LORD.
If you marked our offenses,
O Lord, who then could stand?
But you grant us forgiveness;
therefore we stand in awe.
2 My hope is in the LORD’s word,
and for the Lord I wait
more eagerly than watchmen
yearn for the morning light.
Hope in the LORD, O people,
in his unfailing love.
With him is full redemption;
he will redeem his own.
Reading: Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
CANTICLE Jonah 2:2-9
(Patrick Schlabs: https://tinyurl.com/yy9zwfv6)
You cast me out into the deep
And there your floods surround
I sank beneath the raging sea
As billows crashed around
I was thrown out from your sight
And I was driven away
I know I will see with my eyes
Again your holy place
Refrain:
I called to God in my distress
He has heard my voice
I cried to him out of the depths
He answered my call, he answered my call
The waters closed in over me
They came to bring me death
I was covered up by the deep
Weeds choked out my breath
I sank down to the mountain roots
The earth had locked me in
Just as the grave sealed up its gates
You saved me from the pit Refrain
As my life fainted away
I remembered you my God
All those who hope in idols vain
Forsake their hope of loveI called to God in my distress
He has heard my voice
I cried to him out of the depths
He answered my call
So with my voice I will give thanks
A sacrifice to you
What I have vowed I now will pay
Salvation comes from you
Salvation comes from you
Salvation comes from you
THE PRAYERS BCW
Eternal God, we praise you for your mighty love given in Christ’s sacrifice on the
cross, and the new life we have received by his resurrection.
Especially we thank you for
the presence of Christ in our weakness and suffering . . .
the ministry of Word and Sacrament . . .
all who work to help and heal . . .
sacrifices made for our benefit . . .
opportunities for our generous giving. . . .
God of grace, let our concern for others reflect Christ’s self-giving love, not only
in our prayers, but also in our practice.
Especially we pray for
those subjected to tyranny and oppression . . .
wounded and injured people . . .
those who face death . . .
those who may be our enemies . . .
the church in Latin America. . . .
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 deliverer,
you walk with the meek and the poor,
the compassionate and those who mourn,
and you call us to walk humbly with you.
When we are foolish, be our wisdom;
when we are weak, be our strength;
that, as we learn to do justice
and to love mercy,
your rule may come as blessing. 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
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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.
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.
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