Oremus for Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Antiphon¹

Ant. Come, let us worship God *
and bow down before the Lord;
let us shed tears before the Lord who made us,
for he is the Lord our God.
V. Come, let us ring out our joy to the Lord; *
hail the rock who saves us.
Let us come into his presence, giving thanks; *
let us hail him with a song of praise. Psalm 95

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/ufxekitx

God, come to my assistance.
Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory 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.

HYMN: Frederick William Foster
Tune: Moravian

1 The springs of salvation from Christ, the Rock, bursting
and flowing throughout all the world’s wilderness
bring life and salvation to those who are thirsting
to drink from this spring of salvation by grace;
as streams through the desert refresh the ground
and make land once barren with green abound,
the pow’r of his Spirit, our cold hearts o’erflowing,
renews us for service with lives bright and glowing.

2 “I’ll bless you, and you shall be set for a blessing!”
Thus said God, the Lord, to his servant of old;
O may we, in grace and in number increasing,
through work show our faith and in service be bold;
upon your truth founded, we shall not move,
let us ever follow, and fearless prove;
so shall we in doctrine, in word and behavior,
to ev’ryone witness that Christ is our Savior.

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

Psalm 79 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ssjuezl)

1  O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance *
 thy holy temple have they defiled,
and made Jerusalem an heap of stones.
2  The dead bodies of thy servants have they given
to be meat unto the fowls of the air *
 and the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the land.
3  Their blood have they shed like water on every side of Jerusalem *
 and there was no man to bury them.
4  We are become an open shame to our enemies *
 a very scorn and derision unto them that are round about us.
5  Lord, how long wilt thou be angry *
 shall thy jealousy burn like fire for ever?
6  Pour out thine indignation upon the heathen that have not known thee *
 and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy Name.
7  For they have devoured Jacob *
 and laid waste his dwelling-place.
8  O remember not our old sins, but have mercy upon us, and that soon *
 for we are come to great misery.
9  Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy Name *
 O deliver us, and be merciful unto our sins, for thy Name’s sake.
10  Wherefore do the heathen say *
 Where is now their God?
11  O let the vengeance of thy servants’ blood that is shed *
 be openly shewed upon the heathen in our sight.
12  O let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before thee *
 according to the greatness of thy power,
preserve thou those that are appointed to die.
13  And for the blasphemy wherewith our neighbours have blasphemed thee *
 reward thou them, O Lord, seven-fold into their bosom.
14  So we, that are thy people, and sheep of thy pasture,
shall give thee thanks for ever *
 and will alway be shewing forth thy praise from generation to generation.
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 80 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ry2whon)

1  Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep *
 shew thyself also, thou that sittest upon the cherubims.
2  Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses *
 stir up thy strength, and come, and help us.
3  Turn us again, O God *
 shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
4  O Lord God of hosts *
 how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that prayeth?
5  Thou feedest them with the bread of tears *
 and givest them plenteousness of tears to drink.
6  Thou hast made us a very strife unto our neighbours *
 and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7  Turn us again, thou God of hosts *
 shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
8  Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt *
 thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
9  Thou madest room for it *
 and when it had taken root it filled the land.
10  The hills were covered with the shadow of it *
 and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedar-trees.
11  She stretched out her branches unto the sea *
 and her boughs unto the river.
12  Why hast thou then broken down her hedge *
 that all they that go by pluck off her grapes?
13  The wild boar out of the wood doth root it up *
 and the wild beasts of the field devour it.
14  Turn thee again, thou God of hosts, look down from heaven *
 behold, and visit this vine;
15  And the place of the vineyard that thy right hand hath planted *
 and the branch that thou madest so strong for thyself.
16  It is burnt with fire, and cut down *
 and they shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
17  Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand *
 and upon the son of man, whom thou madest so strong for thine own self.
18  And so will not we go back from thee *
 O let us live, and we shall call upon thy Name.
19  Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts *
 shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
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 81 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tl45xkf)

1  Sing we merrily unto God our strength *
 make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2  Take the psalm, bring hither the tabret *
 the merry harp with the lute.
3  Blow up the trumpet in the new-moon *
 even in the time appointed, and upon our solemn feast-day.
4  For this was made a statute for Israel *
 and a law of the God of Jacob.
5  This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony *
 when he came out of the land of Egypt, and had heard a strange language.
6  I eased his shoulder from the burden *
 and his hands were delivered from making the pots.
7  Thou calledst upon me in troubles, and I delivered thee *
 and heard thee what time as the storm fell upon thee.
8  I proved thee also *
 at the waters of strife.
9  Hear, O my people, and I will assure thee, O Israel *
 if thou wilt hearken unto me,
10  There shall no strange god be in thee *
 neither shalt thou worship any other god.
11  I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt *
 open thy mouth wide, and I shall fill it.
12  But my people would not hear my voice *
 and Israel would not obey me.
13  So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lusts *
 and let them follow their own imaginations.
14  O that my people would have hearkened unto me *
 for if Israel had walked in my ways,
15  I should soon have put down their enemies *
 and turned my hand against their adversaries.
16  The haters of the Lord should have been found liars *
 but their time should have endured for ever.
17  He should have fed them also with the finest wheat-flour *
 and with honey out of the stony rock should I have satisfied 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.

PRAYER

Strength of the weak,
defender of the needy,
rescuer of the poor,
deliver us from the power of wickedness,
that we may rejoice in your justice now and forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Numbers 20:1-13

The Israelites, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died there, and was buried there.

Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and against Aaron. The people quarrelled with Moses and said, ‘Would that we had died when our kindred died before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to bring us to this wretched place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; and there is no water to drink.’ Then Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting; they fell on their faces, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and your brother Aaron, and command the rock before their eyes to yield its water. Thus you shall bring water out of the rock for them; thus you shall provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.

So Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he had commanded him. Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?’ Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me, to show my holiness before the eyes of the Israelites, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.’ These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarrelled with the Lord, and by which he showed his holiness.

HYMN: Marty Haugen ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/57fzuuew

Refrain:
For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; 
truly my hope is in you.

1 O Lord of Light, our only hope of glory, 
your radiance shines in all who look to you; 
come, light the hearts of all in dark and shadow. [Refrain]

2 O Spring of Joy, rain down upon our spirits; 
our thirsty hearts are yearning for your Word; 
come, make us whole, be comfort to our hearts. [Refrain]

3 O Root of Life, implant your seed within us, 
and in your advent draw us all to you, 
our hope reborn in dying and in rising. [Refrain]

4 O Key of Knowledge, guide us in our pilgrimage; 
we ever seek, yet unfulfilled remain; 
open to us the pathway of your peace. [Refrain]

Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:6-13

Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.’ We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

HYMN: Augustus Toplady
Music: Toplady https://tinyurl.com/35u32sd5

1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me, 
let me hide myself in thee; 
let the water and the blood, 
from thy wounded side which flowed, 
be of sin the double cure; 
save from wrath and make me pure. 

2 Not the labors of my hands 
can fulfill thy law’s demands; 
could my zeal no respite know, 
could my tears forever flow, 
all for sin could not atone; 
thou must save, and thou alone. 

3 Nothing in my hand I bring, 
simply to the cross I cling; 
naked, come to thee for dress; 
helpless, look to thee for grace; 
foul, I to the fountain fly; 
wash me, Savior, or I die. 

4 While I draw this fleeting breath, 
when mine eyes shall close in death, 
when I soar to worlds unknown, 
see thee on thy judgment throne, 
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, 
let me hide myself in thee. 

Reading: Matthew 23:13-22

Jesus said, ‘But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

‘Woe to you, blind guides, who say, “Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.” You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? And you say, “Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.” How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.’

CANTICLE Isaiah 55:6-11
(Setting by Gregory Wilbur: https://tinyurl.com/yawmg8fp)

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found,
Call ye upon him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

And let him return unto the Lord,
and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
My ways and thoughts are higher than yours.

And let him return unto the Lord,
and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

For as the rain cometh down, and snow from heaven,
And maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to sow,
that it may give bread to eat.

So shall my world be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
It shall not return unto me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please it shall prosper
in the thing whereunto I sent it.

THE PRAYERS ^WS2

God of our salvation,
we praise you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ,
to suffer for our sins so we may be redeemed.
We are thankful for the reminders of that redemption visible in creation . . .
the nations of the world when they . . .
our nation and those who govern as they . . .
our own community as it . . .
the church universal as it seeks to . . .
our local church as it . . .
the lives of those near to us . . .
our own life as we experience your saving grace . . .

We also ask that
as the source of the world’s hope and redemption
you hear our prayers on behalf of
all creation . . .
the nations of the world . . .
our nation and those in authority . . .
the community and those who govern . . .
the church universal, its mission, and those who minister . . .
our church and its ministry . . .
those with particular needs . . .

(Karin Simmons: https://tinyurl.com/y7vwp7dd)

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.
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.

Creator God,
you prepare a new way in the wilderness
and water the desert.
Help us to recognize your hand
working miracles beyond our imagining.
Open our hearts to be transformed
by the new thing you are doing,
so that our lives may proclaim
the extravagance of your love for all,
and its presence in Jesus Christ. 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

^EH Exciting Holiness, Ed. Brother Tristram SSF © European Province of the Society of Saint Francis, 1997

^HWHM Holy Women, Holy Men © Church Publishing, Inc.

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.