Oremus for Sunday, January 17, 2021

For another form of worship in the home based on today’s lessons in the Revised Common Lectionary, go to https://blogs.elca.org/worship/3253/

Antiphon¹

Ant. Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
shout with joy to God, all the earth;
sing a psalm in honor of his name;
come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell you what great things
the Lord has done for my soul, alleluia.
V. Burnt offering I bring to your house; *
to you I will pay my vows,
the vows which my lips have uttered, *
which my mouth declared in my distress. Psalm 66

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: William Young Fullerton
Tune: Londonderry Air https://tinyurl.com/y25u6dnl

1 I cannot tell why he, whom angels worship,
should set his love upon the sons of men,
or why, as Shepherd, he should seek the wanderers,
to bring them back, they know not how or when.
But this I know, that he was born of Mary
when Bethl’em’s manger was his only home,
and that he lived at Nazareth and laboured,
and so the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is come.

2 I cannot tell how silently he suffered,
as with his peace he graced this place of tears,
or how his heart upon the cross was broken,
the crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, he heals the broken-hearted
and stays our sin and calms our lurking fear
and lifts the burden from the heavy laden;
for still the Saviour, Saviour of the world is here.

3 I cannot tell how he will win the nations,
how he will claim his earthly heritage,
how satisfy the needs and aspirations
of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see his glory,
and he shall reap the harvest he has sown,
and some glad day his sun will shine in splendour
when he the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is known.

4 I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
when at his bidding every storm is stilled,
or who can say how great the jubilation
when every heart with love and joy is filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
and myriad myriad human voices sing,
and earth to heav’n, and heav’n to earth, will answer,
‘at last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King!’

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

Psalm 86 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vmvol2r)

1  Bow down thine ear, O Lord, and hear me *
 for I am poor, and in misery.
2  Preserve thou my soul, for I am holy *
 my God, save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee.
3  Be merciful unto me, O Lord *
 for I will call daily upon thee.
4  Comfort the soul of thy servant *
 for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5  For thou, Lord, art good and gracious *
 and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
6  Give ear, Lord, unto my prayer *
 and ponder the voice of my humble desires.
7  In the time of my trouble I will call upon thee *
 for thou hearest me.
8  Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord *
 there is not one that can do as thou doest.
9  All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship thee, O Lord *
 and shall glorify thy Name.
10  For thou art great, and doest wondrous things *
 thou art God alone.
11  Teach me thy way, O Lord, and I will walk in thy truth *
 O knit my heart unto thee, that I may fear thy Name.
12  I will thank thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart *
 and will praise thy Name for evermore.
13  For great is thy mercy toward me *
 and thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell.
14  O God, the proud are risen against me *
 and the congregations of naughty men
have sought after my soul, and have not set thee before their eyes.
15  But thou, O Lord God, art full of compassion and mercy *
 long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and truth.
16  O turn thee then unto me, and have mercy upon me *
 give thy strength unto thy servant, and help the son of thine handmaid.
17  Shew some token upon me for good,
that they who hate me may see it, and be ashamed *
 because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.
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 87 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/sjg229z)

1  Her foundations are upon the holy hills *
 the Lord loveth the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
2  Very excellent things are spoken of thee *
 thou city of God.
3  I will think upon Rahab and Babylon *
 with them that know me.
4  Behold ye the Philistines also *
 and they of Tyre, with the Morians; lo, there was he born.
5  And of Sion it shall be reported that he was born in her *
 and the most High shall stablish her.
6  The Lord shall rehearse it when he writeth up the people *
 that he was born there.
7  The singers also and trumpeters shall he rehearse *
 All my fresh springs shall be in 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 88 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tl4xkf)

1  O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee *
 O let my prayer enter into thy presence, incline thine ear unto my calling.
2  For my soul is full of trouble *
 and my life draweth nigh unto hell.
3  I am counted as one of them that go down into the pit *
 and I have been even as a man that hath no strength.
4  Free among the dead, like unto them that are wounded, and lie in the grave *
 who are out of remembrance, and are cut away from thy hand.
5  Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit *
 in a place of darkness, and in the deep.
6  Thine indignation lieth hard upon me *
 and thou hast vexed me with all thy storms.
7  Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me *
 and made me to be abhorred of them.
8  I am so fast in prison *
 that I cannot get forth.
9  My sight faileth for very trouble *
 Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched forth my hands unto thee.
10  Dost thou shew wonders among the dead *
 or shall the dead rise up again, and praise thee?
11  Shall thy loving-kindness be shewed in the grave *
 or thy faithfulness in destruction?
12  Shall thy wondrous works be known in the dark *
 and thy righteousness in the land where all things are forgotten?
13  Unto thee have I cried, O Lord *
 and early shall my prayer come before thee.
14  Lord, why abhorrest thou my soul *
 and hidest thou thy face from me?
15  I am in misery, and like unto him that is at the point to die *
 even from my youth up thy terrors have I suffered with a troubled mind.
16  Thy wrathful displeasure goeth over me *
 and the fear of thee hath undone me.
17  They came round about me daily like water *
 and compassed me together on every side.
18  My lovers and friends hast thou put away from me *
 and hid mine acquaintance out of my sight.
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

O Lord,
where we are plunged into the darkness of despair,
make known to us the wonders of your grace,
for you alone are God
and from you comes all our help and strength.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-20

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” ’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ Then the Lord said to Samuel, ‘See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. On that day I will fulfil against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to punish his house for ever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering for ever.’

Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, ‘Samuel, my son.’ He said, ‘Here I am.’ Eli said, ‘What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.’ So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, ‘It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.’

As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.

HYMN: Daniel Schutte ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/y45msrdy

1 I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in deepest sin
my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make the darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Refrain:
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

2 I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain. 
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send? [Refrain]

3 I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will call the poor by name.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send? [Refrain]

Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:12-30

‘All things are lawful for me’, but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful for me’, but I will not be dominated by anything. ‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’, and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, ‘The two shall be one flesh.’ But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

HYMN: Charles Wesley
Tune: St Bernard https://tinyurl.com/y6tan3o5

1 Let Him to whom we now belong
His sovereign right assert,
And take up every thankful song,
And every loving heart.

2 He justly claims us for His own,
Who bought us with a price;
The Christian lives to Christ alone,
To Christ alone he dies.

3 Jesus, Thine own at last receive,
Fulfil our hearts’ desire,
And let us to Thy glory live,
And in Thy cause expire.

4 Our souls and bodies we resign;
With joy we render Thee
Our all, no longer ours, but Thine
To all eternity.

Reading: John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’

CANTICLE Exodus 15
(John Schiavone: https://tinyurl.com/ybknobsb)

Ant. I will sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

I will sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously triumphant;
horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
He is my God, I praise him;
the God of my father, I extol him. Ant.

The Lord is a warrior, LORD is his name!
Pharaoh’s chariots and army he hurled into the sea;
the elite of his officers were submerged in the Red Sea. Ant.

The flood waters covered them,
they sank into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O Lord, magnificent in power,
your right hand, O Lord, has shattered the enemy. Ant.

You brought in the people you redeemed
and planted them on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place where you made your seat, O Lord,
the sanctuary, Lord, which your hands established.
The Lord shall reign forever and ever. Ant.

THE PRAYERS ^{Joe Milner}

For the Church: that we may introduce others to Christ through virtuous lives, loving deeds, and truthful words

For the grace of recognition: that we may quiet our hearts and minds so that we may perceive God’s presence and invitations through the words of scripture and our daily experiences

For the transformation of our attitudes: that we may always remember that we belong to Christ and use our minds to seek the truth, our hearts to love, and our physical abilities to serve others

For all who are discerning their life’s calling: that they, like Samuel, may say: “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” and offer their gifts and talents for the glory of God and the service of others

For Christian Unity: that we who are the Temple of God and Body of Christ may grow in our understanding of each other and cooperate in announcing God’s love and forgiveness as we work to overcome evil and injustice

For the healing of the human family: that the Spirit of God will heal the wounds of prejudice and racism, and build communities of trust and justice

For greater respect for human life: that God will bring forth a greater appreciation of the gift of human life within all hearts and give wisdom to those facing difficult decisions

For Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris: that as they assume their offices, God will guide them in leading the nation and in promoting the values of freedom, justice, and human dignity

For a spirit of stewardship: that we may care for and maintain God’s creation so that God may be honored by its beauty and the uses of its resources

For students as they begin a new semester: that God will inspire them in making good decisions and being dedicated to their studies so that they can enrich the human community

For a successful vaccination program: that God will make effective the available vaccines, guide those distributing and administering them, open pathways for their distribution in poor communities and nations

For all who are suffering: that God will heal the sick, guide those seeking employment, protect the homeless, and comfort the grieving

For all who are bound by addictions: that God will free them from the drugs, alcohol, pornography, or violence which holds them and guide them into the freedom that comes with being a child of God

For healing of our nation: that God will heal the divisions in our country, guide all elected officials in fulfilling their duties, and help them to work selflessly for the common good

For all who have died, particularly those who had the COVID virus: that God will call their names and welcome them into eternal joy and peace

(Traditional chant: https://tinyurl.com/ydzx5jdp)

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And 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.]

Almighty God,
your Son our Savior Jesus Christ
is the light of the world.

May your people,
illumined by your Word and Sacraments,
shine with the radiance of his glory,
that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed
to the ends of the earth;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen. ^BCW

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.

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

The intercessions are by Joe Milner, http://liturgy.slu.edu

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.