Oremus for Friday, September 24, 2021

The Transfiguration, Armenian manuscript

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/ksjwy4t9

Of you my heart has spoken: Seek his face.
It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not your face from me. 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: David Evans ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/k2vxwr3f

1 Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
the Holy One, is here.
Come, bow before him now, with reverence and fear.
In him no sin is found;
we stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
the Holy One, is here.

2 Be still, for the glory of the Lord 
is shining all around.
He burns with holy fire;
with splendor he is crowned.
How awesome is the sight,
our radiant King of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around.

3 Be still, for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place.
He comes to cleanse and heal,
to minister his grace.
No work too hard for him;
in faith receive from him.
Be still,
for the power of the Lord 
is moving in this place.

PSALMS

Psalm 116 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/r9c5ke7)
1  I am well pleased *
 that the Lord hath heard the voice of my prayer;
2  That he hath inclined his ear unto me *
 therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
3  The snares of death compassed me round about *
 and the pains of hell gat hold upon me.
4  I shall find trouble and heaviness, and I will call upon the Name of the Lord *
 O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
5  Gracious is the Lord, and righteous *
 yea, our God is merciful.
6  The Lord preserveth the simple *
 I was in misery, and he helped me.
7  Turn again then unto thy rest, O my soul *
 for the Lord hath rewarded thee.
8  And why? thou hast delivered my soul from death *
 mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
9  I will walk before the Lord *
 in the land of the living.
10  I believed, and therefore will I speak; but I was sore troubled *
 I said in my haste, All men are liars.
11  What reward shall I give unto the Lord *
 for all the benefits that he hath done unto me?
12  I will receive the cup of salvation *
 and call upon the Name of the Lord.
13  I will pay my vows now in the presence of all his people *
 right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
14  Behold, O Lord, how that I am thy servant *
 I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid;
thou hast broken my bonds in sunder.
15  I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
 and will call upon the Name of the Lord.
16  I will pay my vows unto the Lord, in the sight of all his people *
 in the courts of the Lord’s house,
even in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.
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 116 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-116.mp3)
1 I love the LORD, because he has heard the voice of
 my supplication, *
because he has inclined his ear to me whenever
 I called upon him.
2 The cords of death entangled me;
the grip of the grave took hold of me; *
I came to grief and sorrow.
3 Then I called upon the Name of the LORD: *
“O LORD, I pray you, save my life.”
4 Gracious is the LORD and righteous; *
our God is full of compassion.
5 The LORD watches over the innocent; *
I was brought very low, and he helped me.
6 Turn again to your rest, O my soul, *
for the LORD has treated you well.
7 For you have rescued my life from death, *
my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.
8 I will walk in the presence of the LORD *
in the land of the living.
9 I believed, even when I said,
“I have been brought very low.” *
In my distress I said, “No one can be trusted.”
10 How shall I repay the LORD *
for all the good things he has done for me?
11 I will lift up the cup of salvation *
and call upon the Name of the LORD.
12 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD *
in the presence of all his people.
13 Precious in the sight of the LORD *
is the death of his servants.
14 O LORD, I am your servant; *
I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.
15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and call upon the Name of the LORD.
16 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD *
in the presence of all his people,
17 In the courts of the LORD’S house, *
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Hallelujah!

Psalm 117 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/rxgv7mn)
1  O praise the Lord, all ye heathen *
 praise him, all ye nations.
2  For his merciful kindness is ever more and more towards us *
 and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise the Lord.
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 117 (LSB Tone A: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-117-LSB.mp3)
1 Praise the LORD, all nations!*
 Extol him, all peoples!
2 For great is his steadfast love toward us,*
 and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
 Praise the 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.

Psalm 118 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tkh65hw)
1  O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious *
 because his mercy endureth for ever.
2  Let Israel now confess, that he is gracious *
 and that his mercy endureth for ever.
3  Let the house of Aaron now confess *
 that his mercy endureth for ever.
4  Yea, let them now that fear the Lord confess *
 that his mercy endureth for ever.
5  I called upon the Lord in trouble *
 and the Lord heard me at large.
6  The Lord is on my side *
 I will not fear what man doeth unto me.
7  The Lord taketh my part with them that help me *
 therefore shall I see my desire upon mine enemies.
8  It is better to trust in the Lord *
 than to put any confidence in man.
9  It is better to trust in the Lord *
 than to put any confidence in princes.
10  All nations compassed me round about *
 but in the Name of the Lord will I destroy them.
11  They kept me in on every side, they kept me in, I say, on every side *
 but in the Name of the Lord will I destroy them.
12  They came about me like bees,
and are extinct even as the fire among the thorns *
 for in the Name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13  Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall *
 but the Lord was my help.
14  The Lord is my strength, and my song *
 and is become my salvation.
15  The voice of joy and health is in the dwellings of the righteous *
 the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.
16  The right hand of the Lord hath the pre-eminence *
 the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.
17  I shall not die, but live *
 and declare the works of the Lord.
18  The Lord hath chastened and corrected me *
 but he hath not given me over unto death.
19  Open me the gates of righteousness *
 that I may go into them, and give thanks unto the Lord.
20  This is the gate of the Lord *
 the righteous shall enter into it.
21  I will thank thee, for thou hast heard me *
 and art become my salvation.
22  The same stone which the builders refused *
 is become the head-stone in the corner.
23  This is the Lord’s doing *
 and it is marvellous in our eyes.
24  This is the day which the Lord hath made *
 we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25  Help me now, O Lord *
 O Lord, send us now prosperity.
26  Blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the Lord *
 we have wished you good luck, ye that are of the house of the Lord.
27  God is the Lord who hath shewed us light *
 bind the sacrifice with cords, yea, even unto the horns of the altar.
28  Thou art my God, and I will thank thee *
 thou art my God, and I will praise thee.
29  O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious *
 and his mercy endureth for ever.
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 118 (LSB Tone I: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-118-LSB.mp3)
1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;*
 for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say,*
 “His steadfast love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say,*
 “His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the LORD say,*
 “His steadfast love endures forever.”
5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD;*
 the LORD answered me and set me free.
6The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.*
 What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is on my side as my helper;*
 I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD*
 than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD*
 than to trust in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me;*
 in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;*
 in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees;
they went out like a fire among thorns;*
 in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,*
 but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song;*
 he has become my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous:*
 “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
16 the right hand of the LORD exalts,*
 the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live,*
 and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has disciplined me severely,*
 but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,*
 that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD;*
 the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me*
 and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected*
 has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing;*
 it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made;*
 let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we pray, O LORD!*
 O LORD, we pray, give us success!
26 Blessèd is he who comes in the name of the LORD!*
 We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27The LORD is God,
and he has made his light to shine upon us.*
 Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
 up to the horns of the altar!
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;*
 you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;*
 for his steadfast love endures forever!
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.

PRAYER

Holy and mighty God,
your Son’s triumph over sin and death
has opened to us the gate of eternal life.
Purify our hearts
that we may follow him
and share in the radiance of his glory.
We ask this for the sake of our risen Lord. Amen. BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Haggai 1:7-14

Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honoured, says the Lord. You have looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because my house lies in ruins, while all of you hurry off to your own houses. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the soil produces, on human beings and animals, and on all their labours.

Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of the prophet Haggai, as the Lord their God had sent him; and the people feared the Lord. Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, saying, I am with you, says the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month.

HYMN: Michael Hewlitt ©
Tune: Julion

https://oremusdotblog.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/julion-by-david-hurd.mp3

1 Praise the Spirit in creation,
Breath of God, life’s origin:
Spirit moving on the waters
Quick’ning worlds to life within,
Source of breath to all things breathing,
Life in whom all lives begin.

2 Praise the Spirit, close companion
Of our inmost thoughts and ways;
Who, in showing us God’s wonders,
Is himself the pow’r to gaze;
And God’s will, to those who listen,
By a still, small voice conveys.

3 Praise the Spirit, who enlightened
Priests and prophets with the word;
His the truth behind the wisdoms
Which as yet know not our Lord;
By whose love and pow’r, in Jesus, 
God himself was seen and heard.

4 Tell of how the ascended Jesus
Armed a people for his own;
How a hundred men and women
Turned the known world upside down,
To its dark and furthest corners
By the wind of heaven blown.

5 Pray we then, O Lord the Spirit,
On our lives descend in might;
Let your flame break out within us,
Fire our hearts and clear our sight,
Till, white-hot in your possession,
We, too, set the world alight.

Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:13—3:5

But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you, and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

HYMN: Tom Colvin ©
Tune: Natomah

1 God sends us his Spirit to befriend and help us.
Recreate and guide us, Spirit-Friend.
Spirit who enlivens, sanctifies, enlightens,
Sets us free, is now our Spirit-Friend.

Refrain:
Spirit of our Father, Spirit-Friend.
Spirit of our Jesu, Spirit-Friend.
Spirit of God’s people, Spirit-Friend.

2 Darkened roads are clearer, heavy burdens lighter,
When we’re walking with our Spirit-Friend.
Now we need not fear the powers of the darkness.
None can overcome our Spirit-Friend. [Refrain]

3 Now we are God’s people, bonded by God’s presence,
Agents of God’s purpose, Spirit-Friend.
Lead us forward ever, slipping backward never,
To your remade world, our Spirit-Friend. [Refrain]

Reading: Luke 9:28-36

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

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. . . .

(Plainsong Mode 2: https://tinyurl.com/yctqq8cf)DL

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, you revealed your glory and presence
in your beloved Son, Jesus the Christ.
In receiving our prayers,
reveal the glory and presence of your Spirit
alive in the world today,
free us from all doubts,
and empower us to act as a transfigured people. 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.

DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.

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 traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language version of Psalm 116 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. Psalms 117 and 118 are in the version used in Lutheran Service Book: Pew Edition Concordia Publishing House, and are from the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg.

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 © 2021 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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