Oremus for Friday, January 22, 2021

Antiphon¹

Ant. The Lord is my light and my salvation, *
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the protector of my life,
of whom shall I be afraid?
My enemies who trouble me
have themselves grown weak and have fallen.
V. Though an army encamp against me, *
my heart would not fear.
Though war break out against me, *
even then would I trust. Psalm 27

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: Laura Story & Jesse Reeves
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/y2e2sq2q

1 From the highest of heights 
To the depths of the sea 
Creation’s revealing Your majesty; 
From the colors of fall 
To the fragrance of spring, 
Every creature unique
In the song that it sings.
All exclaiming, 

Chorus:
“Indescribable, uncontainable, 
You placed the stars in the sky 
And You know them by name; 
You are amazing, God.” 
All powerful, untamable; 
Awe struck we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim,
“You are amazing, God.”

2 Who has told ev’ry lightning bolt
Where it should go, 
Or seen heavenly storehouses 
Laden with snow? 
Who imagined the sun 
And gives source to its light 
Yet conceals it to bring us
The coolness of night? 
None can fathom: 

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

Psalm 107 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/sp6nct3)

1  O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious *
 and his mercy endureth for ever.
2  Let them give thanks whom the Lord hath redeemed *
 and delivered from the hand of the enemy;
3  And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west *
 from the north, and from the south.
4  They went astray in the wilderness out of the way *
 and found no city to dwell in;
5  Hungry and thirsty *
 their soul fainted in them.
6  So they cried unto the Lord in their trouble *
 and he delivered them from their distress.
7  He led them forth by the right way *
 that they might go to the city where they dwelt.
8  O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
 and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!
9  For he satisfieth the empty soul *
 and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
10  Such as sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death *
 being fast bound in misery and iron;
11  Because they rebelled against the words of the Lord *
 and lightly regarded the counsel of the most Highest;
12  He also brought down their heart through heaviness *
 they fell down, and there was none to help them.
13  So when they cried unto the Lord in their trouble *
 he delivered them out of their distress.
14  For he brought them out of darkness, and out of the shadow of death *
 and brake their bonds in sunder.
15  O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
 and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men !
16  For he hath broken the gates of brass *
 and smitten the bars of iron in sunder.
17  Foolish men are plagued for their offence *
 and because of their wickedness.
18  Their soul abhorred all manner of meat *
 and they were even hard at death’s door.
19  So when they cried unto the Lord in their trouble *
 he delivered them out of their distress.
20  He sent his word, and healed them *
 and they were saved from their destruction.
21  O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
 and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!
22  That they would offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
 and tell out his works with gladness!
23  They that go down to the sea in ships *
 and occupy their business in great waters;
24  These men see the works of the Lord *
 and his wonders in the deep.
25  For at his word the stormy wind ariseth *
 which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26  They are carried up to the heaven, and down again to the deep *
 their soul melteth away because of the trouble.
27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man *
 and are at their wit’s end.
28  So when they cry unto the Lord in their trouble *
 he delivereth them out of their distress.
29  For he maketh the storm to cease *
 so that the waves thereof are still.
30  Then are they glad, because they are at rest *
 and so he bringeth them unto the haven where they would be.
31  O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
 and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!
32  That they would exalt him also in the congregation of the people *
 and praise him in the seat of the elders!
33  Who turneth the floods into a wilderness *
 and drieth up the water-springs.
34  A fruitful land maketh he barren *
 for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35  Again, he maketh the wilderness a standing water *
 and water-springs of a dry ground.
36  And there he setteth the hungry *
 that they may build them a city to dwell in;
37  That they may sow their land, and plant vineyards *
 to yield them fruits of increase.
38  He blesseth them, so that they multiply exceedingly *
 and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39  And again, when they are minished, and brought low *
 through oppression, through any plague, or trouble;
40  Though he suffer them to be evil intreated through tyrants *
 and let them wander out of the way in the wilderness;
41  Yet helpeth he the poor out of misery *
 and maketh him households like a flock of sheep.
42  The righteous will consider this, and rejoice *
 and the mouth of all wickedness shall be stopped.
43  Whoso is wise will ponder these things *
 and they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.
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;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

PRAYER

O God,
you are light to the lost,
bread to the hungry,
deliverance to the captive,
healing to the sick, eternal vision to the dying,
and harbor to every soul in peril.
Gather the wanderers from every corner of the world
into the community of your mercy and grace,
that we may eternally praise you
for our salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Jonah 2:1-10

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying,
‘I called to the Lord out of my distress,
   and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
   and you heard my voice.
You cast me into the deep,
   into the heart of the seas,
   and the flood surrounded me;
all your waves and your billows
   passed over me.
Then I said, “I am driven away
   from your sight;
how shall I look again
   upon your holy temple?”
The waters closed in over me;
   the deep surrounded me;
weeds were wrapped around my head
   at the roots of the mountains.
I went down to the land
   whose bars closed upon me for ever;
yet you brought up my life from the Pit,
   O Lord my God.
As my life was ebbing away,
   I remembered the Lord;
and my prayer came to you,
   into your holy temple.
Those who worship vain idols
   forsake their true loyalty.
But I with the voice of thanksgiving
   will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
   Deliverance belongs to the Lord!’
Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land.

HYMN: Jonah 2; para. Calvin Seerveld ©
Tune: Eifionydd

1 In the fish for three days buried, 
I kept calling, “Save me, LORD! 
Keep me from the hellish graveyard, 
lost at sea, by you ignored.” 
Tossed and turned beneath rough waters, 
choking in your whirlpool sea, 
I cried out, “My life is finished!” 
But, O LORD, you answered me. 

2 Down to death the waves had pulled me, 
down, entombed where none survive. 
Seaweed round my head was tangled; 
water swallowed me alive. 
“Is God’s face now gone forever? 
Have I forfeited God’s care?” 
No! You saved me from destruction, 
raised me, LORD, and heard my prayer. 

3 In despair, afraid of dying, 
I implored you anxiously. 
Unlike those who shirk their promise, 
I bring offerings thankfully. 
Take my life I vowed to give you; 
bless my joy, and make it known. 
Let all know that sure deliverance 
comes from God the LORD alone. 

4 In the tomb for three days buried, 
Christ had gone to face the worst. 
Just as God took care of Jonah, 
God raised Jesus as the first. 
All who know the Holy Spirit 
shall defeat the grip of sin. 
Christ has conquered death and Satan: 
let the jubilee begin! 

Reading: Romans 6:1-11 

What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

HYMN: Johann Jakob Rambach; trans. Catherine Winkworth
Tune: Wer nur den lieben Gott (Neumark) https://tinyurl.com/y4kjn79z

1 Baptized into Thy name most holy,
O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
I claim a place, though weak and lowly,
Among Thy seed, Thy chosen host.
Buried with Christ and dead to sin,
Thy Spirit now shall live within.

2 My loving Father, Thou dost take me
To be henceforth Thy child and heir;
My faithful Savior, Thou dost make me
The fruit of all Thy sorrows share;
Thou, Holy Ghost, wilt comfort me
When darkest clouds around I see.

3 My faithful God, Thou failest never,
Thy cov’nant surely will abide;
Oh, cast me not away forever
Should I transgress it on my side!
Tho’ I have oft my soul defiled,
Do Thou forgive, restore, Thy child.

4 Yea, all I am and love most dearly
I offer now, O Lord, to Thee.
Oh, let me make my vows sincerely
And help me Thine own child to be!
Let naught within me, naught I own,
Serve any will but Thine alone.

Reading: Matthew 6:19-23

Jesus said, ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!’

CANTICLE Philippians 2:6-11
(Chant by John Michael Talbot: https://tinyurl.com/y8ljx8y7)

Though he was in the form of God,
Jesus did not deem equality with God
something to be grasped at.
Rather, he emptied himself
and took the form of a slave,
being born in the likeness of men.
He was known to be of human estate
and it was thus that he humbled himself,
obediently accepting even death,
death on a cross!
Because of this,
God highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
above every other name,  
So that at Jesus’ name
every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth,
and under the earth,
and every tongue proclaim
to the glory of God the Father:  
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!
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.

THE PRAYERS ^BCW

Merciful God, we praise you that you give strength for every weakness, forgiveness
for our failures, and new beginnings in Jesus Christ.
Especially we thank you for
the guidance of your spirit through this day . . .
signs of new life and hope . . .
people who have helped us . . .
those who struggle for justice . . .
expressions of love unexpected or undeserved. . . .

Almighty God, you know all needs before we speak our prayers, yet you welcome
our concerns for others in Jesus Christ. Especially we pray for
those who keep watch over the sick and dying . . .
those who weep with the grieving . . .
those who are without faith and cannot accept your love . . .
the aged who are lonely, distressed or weak . . .
Reformed, Presbyterian, and Lutheran churches. . . .

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 of tender care,
like a mother you never forget your children,
but comfort and quiet those who are restless and fearful;
like a father you know already what we need.
In all our anxiety, give us the spirit of trust;
in all our worry, give us faithful hearts;
that in confidence and calm
we may seek the kingdom of Christ
where your holy will of peace and justice
has been made known. 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.

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.