Oremus for Monday, March 22, 2021

Antiphon¹

Ant. The Lord will bestow his loving kindness,
and our land will yield its fruit.
V. O Lord, you have favored your land, *
and brought back the captives of Jacob.
You forgave the guilt of your people, *
and covered all their sins.
You averted all your rage; *
you turned back the heat of your anger. Psalm 85

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: St Stephen of Mar Sabbas; trans. John Mason Neale
Tune: Stephanos https://tinyurl.com/m2jzurw6

1 Art thou weary, art thou languid,
Art thou sore distrest?
“Come to me,” saith One, “and coming,
Be at rest.”

2 Hath He marks to lead me to Him
If He be my guide?
“In His Feet and Hands are wound-prints,
And His Side.”

3 Is there diadem, as monarch,
That His Brow adorns?
“Yea, a Crown, in very surety,
But of thorns.”

4 If I find Him, if I follow,
What His guerdon here?
“Many a sorrow, many a labor,
Many a tear.”

5 If I still hold closely to Him,
What hath He at last?
“Sorrow vanquished, labor ended,
Jordan past!”

6 If I ask Him to receive me,
Will He say me nay?
“Not till earth, and not till heaven
Pass away.”

7 Finding, following, keeping, struggling,
Is He sure to bless?
Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs,
Answer, “Yes.”

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: Isaiah 43:8-13

Bring forth the people who are blind, yet have eyes,
   who are deaf, yet have ears!
Let all the nations gather together,
   and let the peoples assemble.
Who among them declared this,
   and foretold to us the former things?
Let them bring their witnesses to justify them,
   and let them hear and say, ‘It is true.’
You are my witnesses, says the Lord,
   and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
   and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
   nor shall there be any after me.
I, I am the Lord,
   and besides me there is no saviour.
I declared and saved and proclaimed,
   when there was no strange god among you;
   and you are my witnesses, says the Lord.
I am God, and also henceforth I am He;
   there is no one who can deliver from my hand;
   I work and who can hinder it?

HYMN: Coni Huisman ©
Tune: Comfort

1 Lord God Almighty, Savior, Redeemer,
only true God to be worshiped and praised:
How can we tell you how much we love you?
Take now our lives, Lord, and teach us to love.
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.
You are mine, by name I have called you.
When you walk through the waters,
I will be there with you.
You are my witnesses,
created for my glory.
Tell the nations I am the Savior. Tell them I am the Lord.”

2 Lord God Almighty, Savior, Redeemer,
only true God to be worshiped and praised:
How can we tell you how much we love you?
Take now our lives, Lord, and teach us to love.
Shout for joy, O heavens,
and rejoice, O earth!
Into joyful shouting let the mountains break forth!
For the Lord will comfort his people,
show compassion to those afflicted.
He will not leave to shame those who trust in his Word.

3 Father, we praise you; Jesus, we love you;
Spirit, we thank you for the gifts of new life.
How can we tell you how much we love you?
Take now our lives, Lord, and teach us to love.

Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ towards God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Now if the ministry of death, chiselled in letters on stone tablets, came in glory so that the people of Israel could not gaze at Moses’ face because of the glory of his face, a glory now set aside, how much more will the ministry of the Spirit come in glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, much more does the ministry of justification abound in glory! Indeed, what once had glory has lost its glory because of the greater glory; for if what was set aside came through glory, much more has the permanent come in glory!

HYMN: Margaret Clarkson ©
Tune: Blaenwern https://tinyurl.com/yhztdd4n

1 Lord, we hear your Word with gladness:
you have spoken – we rejoice:
words of love and life and freedom
help us make their truth our choice!
Now in holy celebration
for your Word we worship you;
spoken, written, known in Jesus,
ours today to prove anew.

2 May we hear with understanding,
by your Spirit taught and led.
May the springs of all our being
by your living Word be fed.
May our hearts accept with meekness
all the grace your light makes known.
May obedience mark our footsteps
till we make each word our own.

3 You have spoken; yours the fullness,
ours the wealth of this, your Word.
Debtors, then, as living letters,
we must make your gospel heard!
By your Spirit’s power transform us;
shed your saving light abroad
till our lives by love in action
show our world the truth of God!

Reading: Matthew 24:29-35

Then Jesus continued,
‘Immediately after the suffering of those days
the sun will be darkened,
   and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from heaven,
   and the powers of heaven will be shaken.
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see “the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven” with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.’

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 word 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 ^BCW

In penitence and faith let us make our prayer to the Father
and ask for his mercy and grace.

For your holy people,
that they may triumph over evil and grow in grace:
We pray to you, O Lord.

For candidates for baptism and confirmation,
that they may live by every word that proceeds from your mouth:
We pray to you, O Lord.

For the leaders of the nations,
that you will guide them in the ways of mercy and truth:
We pray to you, O Lord.

For the needy,
that they may not be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor be taken away:
We pray to you, O Lord.

For the sick in body, mind and spirit,
that they may know your power to heal:
We pray to you, O Lord.

For the poor in spirit,
that they may inherit the kingdom of heaven
and see you face to face: :
We pray to you, O Lord.

Let us commend the world, for which Christ suffered,
to the mercy and protection of God. Amen.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is 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.

O God of all the prophets,
you herald the coming of the Son of Man
by wondrous signs in the heavens and on the earth.
Guard our hearts from despair so that we,
in the company of the faithful
and by the power of your Holy Spirit,
may be found ready to raise our heads
at the coming near of our redemption,
the day of 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.

^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.

^DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.

^CW:DP Common Worship: Daily Prayer, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2005 and published by Church House Publishing.

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

The 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.