Antiphon
Ant. Guide my footsteps, O Lord, according to your word,*
so that no iniquity may ever gain the upper hand, O Lord.
V. Blessed are those whose way is blameless, *
who walk in the law of the Lord!
Blessed are those who keep his decrees! *
With all their hearts they seek him.
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.
HYMN: Kenneth Lorne Cober ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/yu7hujax
1 Renew your church, our ministries restore:
both to serve and adore.
Make us again as salt throughout the land,
and as light from a stand.
‘Mid somber shadows of the night,
where greed and hatreds spread their blight,
O send us forth with power endued,
help us, Lord, be renewed.
2 Teach us your Word, reveal its truth divine,
on our path let it shine;
tell of your works, your mighty acts of grace,
from each page show your face.
As you have loved us, sent your Son,
and our salvation now is won,
O let our hearts with love be stirred,
help us, Lord, know your Word.
3 Teach us to pray, for you are ever near,
your still voice let us hear.
Our souls are restless till they rest in you,
this the goal we pursue.
Before your presence keep us still
that we may find for us your will,
and seek your guidance every day,
teach us, Lord, how to pray.
4 Teach us to love, with strength of heart and mind,
each and all, humankind;
break down old walls of prejudice and hate,
leave us not to our fate.
As you have loved and given your life
to end hostility and strife,
O share your grace from heaven above,
teach us, Lord, how to love.
PSALMS
Psalm 147 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/w8ysftd)
1 Praise the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God *
yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful.
2 The Lord doth build up Jerusalem *
and gather together the out-casts of Israel.
3 He healeth those that are broken in heart *
and giveth medicine to heal their sickness.
4 He telleth the number of the stars *
and calleth them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and great is his power *
yea, and his wisdom is infinite.
6 The Lord setteth up the meek *
and bringeth the ungodly down to the ground.
7 O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving *
sing praises upon the harp unto our God;
8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds,
and prepareth rain for the earth *
and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains,
and herb for the use of men;
9 Who giveth fodder unto the cattle *
and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him.
10 He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse *
neither delighteth he in any man’s legs.
11 But the Lord’s delight is in them that fear him *
and put their trust in his mercy.
12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem *
praise thy God, O Sion.
13 For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates *
and hath blessed thy children within thee.
14 He maketh peace in thy borders *
and filleth thee with the flour of wheat.
15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth *
and his word runneth very swiftly.
16 He giveth snow like wool *
and scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels *
who is able to abide his frost?
18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them *
he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow.
19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob *
his statutes and ordinances unto Israel.
20 He hath not dealt so with any nation *
neither have the heathen knowledge of his laws.
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 147 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-147-Lukan.mp3)
Ant. Sing to our God with thanksgiving;*
Zion, praise your God!*
1 Alleluia! How good it is to praise our God!*
How pleasant and how fitting to sing God’s praise!
2 ADONAI rebuilds Jerusalem and gathers Israel’s exiles.*
3 God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
4 God knows the number of the stars*
and calls each one by name.
5 Great is ADONAI, and mighty in power;*
there is no limit to God’s wisdom.
6 ADONAI lifts up the oppressed,*
and casts the corrupt to the ground.
7 Sing to our God with thanksgiving;*
sing praise with the harp to our God –
8 who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth,*
who makes grass sprout on the mountains
and herbs for the service of the people,
9 who gives food to the cattle,*
and to the young ravens when they cry.
10 God does not thrill to the strength of the horse,*
or revel in the fleetness of humans.
11 ADONAI delights in those who worship with reverence,*
and put their hope in God’s steadfast love.
12 Jerusalem, give glory to ADONAI!*
Zion, praise your God!
13 For God strengthens the bars of your gates,*
and blesses your children within you.
14 God has granted peace within your borders,*
and fills you with the finest wheat.
15 God sends forth a command to the earth – swiftly runs the word!*
16 God spreads snow like wool and scatters frost like ashes.
17 God hurls hail like pebbles –*
who can stand before God’s freezing winds?
18 Then God sends a word and melts them;*
God lets the breeze blow and the waters run again.
19 God’s words have been revealed to the chosen people,*
God’s decrees and laws to Israel.
20 God has not done this with any other nation;*
they do not know God’s law. Alleluia!
Glory to you, O Trinity, most holy and blessed;*
One God, now and forever. Amen.
Ant. Sing to our God with thanksgiving;*
Zion, praise your God!
Psalm 148 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vjv42mh)
1 O praise the Lord of heaven *
praise him in the height.
2 Praise him, all ye angels of his *
praise him, all his host.
3 Praise him, sun and moon *
praise him, all ye stars and light.
4 Praise him, all ye heavens *
and ye waters that are above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the Name of the Lord *
for he spake the word, and they were made;
he commanded, and they were created.
6 He hath made them fast for ever and ever *
he hath given them a law which shall not be broken.
7 Praise the Lord upon earth *
ye dragons, and all deeps;
8 Fire and hail, snow and vapours *
wind and storm, fulfilling his word;
9 Mountains and all hills *
fruitful trees and all cedars;
10 Beasts and all cattle *
worms and feathered fowls;
11 Kings of the earth and all people *
princes and all judges of the world;
12 Young men and maidens, old men and children,
praise the Name of the Lord *
for his Name only is excellent,
and his praise above heaven and earth.
13 He shall exalt the horn of his people;
all his saints shall praise him *
even the children of Israel,
even the people that serveth him.
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 148
(Temple tone: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-148-Victor.mp3)
1 Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise him in the heights.
2 Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his host.
3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, shining stars.
4 Praise him, highest heavens
and the waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord.
He commanded: they were made.
6 He fixed them for ever,
gave a law which shall not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
sea creatures and all oceans,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy winds that obey his word;
9 all mountains and hills,
all fruit trees and cedars,
10 beasts, wild and tame,
reptiles and birds on the wing;
11 all earth’s kings and peoples,
earth’s princes and rulers,
12 young men and maidens,
the old men together with children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord
for he alone is exalted.
The splendor of his name
reaches beyond heaven and earth.
14 He exalts the strength of his people.
He is the praise of all his saints,
of the sons of Israel,
of the people to whom he comes close.
Psalm 149 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/rpojt8q)
1 O sing unto the Lord a new song *
let the congregation of saints praise him.
2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him *
and let the children of Sion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his Name in the dance *
let them sing praises unto him with tabret and harp.
4 For the Lord hath pleasure in his people *
and helpeth the meek-hearted.
5 Let the saints be joyful with glory *
let them rejoice in their beds.
6 Let the praises of God be in their mouth *
and a two-edged sword in their hands;
7 To be avenged of the heathen *
and to rebuke the people;
8 To bind their kings in chains *
and their nobles with links of iron.
9 That they may be avenged of them, as it is written *
Such honour have all his saints.
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 149 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-149.mp3)
1 Hallelujah!
Sing to the LORD a new song; *
sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
2 Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *
let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his Name in the dance; *
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people *
and adorns the poor with victory.
5 Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *
let them be joyful on their beds.
6 Let the praises of God be in their throat *
and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7 To wreak vengeance on the nations *
and punishment on the peoples;
8 To bind their kings in chains *
and their nobles with links of iron;
9 To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *
this is glory for all his faithful people.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 150 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vm5vf4z)
1 O praise God in his holiness *
praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him in his noble acts *
praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him in the sound of the trumpet *
praise him upon the lute and harp.
4 Praise him in the cymbals and dances *
praise him upon the strings and pipe.
5 Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals *
praise him upon the loud cymbals.
6 Let every thing that hath breath *
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 150 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-150-KH.mp3)
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
Praise him in his mighty firmament!
Praise him for his awesome deeds;
Praise him with exceeding greatness!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
Praise him with harp and lute!
Praise him with timbrel and dance;
Praise him with strings and pipe!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
Praise him with crashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes,
Praise the LORD!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
PRAYER
God our Maker,
you crown the humble with honor
and exalt the faithful who gather in your name.
Because you have favored us with life,
we dance before you in our joy
and praise you with unending song
for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
Reading: Deuteronomy 5:1; 6:1-9
Moses convened all Israel, and said to them: Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the ordinances—that the Lord your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, so that you and your children and your children’s children may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
HYMN: Horatius Bonar
Tune: Ellacombe https://tinyurl.com/fogbtp8h
1 Fill thou my life, O Lord my God,
in ev’ry part with praise,
that my whole being may proclaim
thy being and thy ways.
Not for the lip of praise alone,
nor e’en the praising heart,
I ask, but for a life made up
of praise in ev’ry part:
2 Praise in the common words I speak,
life’s common looks and tones,
in fellowship enjoyed at home
with my beloved ones,
enduring wrong, reproach, or loss
with sweet and steadfast will,
forgiving freely those who hate,
returning good for ill.
3 So shall each fear, each fret, each care
be turned into a song,
and ev’ry winding of the way
the echo shall prolong.
So shall no part of day or night
from sacredness be free,
but all my life, in ev’ry step,
be fellowship with thee.
Reading: Hebrews 9:11-14
But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!
HYMN: Dietrich Bonhoeffer; para. Church Hymnary, 4th edition
Tune: Eventide https://tinyurl.com/5c8cs5pp
1 We turn to God when we are sorely pressed;
we pray for help, and ask for peace and bread;
we seek release from illness, guilt, and death:
all people do, in faith or unbelief.
2 We turn to God when he is sorely pressed,
and find him poor, scorned, without roof and bread,
bowed under weight of weakness, sin, and death:
faith stands by God in his dark hour of grief.
3 God turns to us when we are sorely pressed,
and feeds our souls and bodies with his bread;
for one and all Christ gives himself in death:
through his forgiveness sin will find relief.
Reading: Mark 12:28-34
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked Jesus, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ He answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.
CANTICLE Revelation 11:17-18; 12:10b-12a
(Chant by John Michael Talbot: https://tinyurl.com/ycrn2d4f)
Ant. The Father has given Christ all power, honor, and kingship,
All people will obey him.
We praise you, the Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was.
You have assumed your great power,
you have begun your reign.
the nations have raged in anger,
but then came your day of wrath
and the moment to judge the dead:
the time to reward your servants the prophets
and the holy ones who revere you,
the great and the small alike.
Now have salvation and power come,
the reign of our god and the authority
of his anointed one,
for the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
who night and day accused them before God.
They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.
So rejoice, you heavens,
and you that dwell therein!
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 Joe Milner
For the Church: that we may sincerely seek to love both God and others so that the reign of God may draw near
For continuing conversion of heart: that we may reverence God as the sole center of our life and forsake all idols and allurements that entice us away from God
For all who are seeking God: that they may experience a deep and loving relationship with God and come to know that they are a beloved child of God
For all disciples: that the Spirit will guide and empower us to pour our lives out in loving service to others, particularly those with whom we find it hard to relate
For bishops and priests: that those who share in the ministerial priesthood may faithfully lead others to union with God through celebrating the Eucharist and nurturing community life
For the poor, the sick, and the homebound: that we may generously assist them and offer encouragement and support to them
For all who care for the sick and homebound: that God will help them to provide their assistance with love and ever renew their strength
For all new and expectant parents: that God will give them the wisdom to be good parents who nurture their children with love and faith
For all who are discerning their direction in life: that God will inspire all who are making vocational decisions and give them the courage to follow God’s invitation
For all who are suffering: that God will guide those living in areas of war to safety, open the channels of food for those in famine, and send your healing Spirit to all who have been tortured or abused
For the gift of Peace: that God will inspire dialogue that will reduce arms races and bring an end to conflicts and terrorism
For all who are grieving: that they may know God’s life-giving presence with them today
For safety: that God will protect all young people who participate in Halloween activities and help them remember the holy ones whom they are celebrating
For all who are held unjustly, particularly missionaries: that God will free them, help them to give faithful witness to Christ, and reunite them with their families
For all who have died, particularly our family and friends who have recently died: that they may live in the light and peace of God’s presence forever
Setting by Eric Wyse:2
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.
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,
from whom all holy desires,
all good counsels, and all just works proceed:
Give to your servants that peace
which the world cannot give;
that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments,
and that free from the fear of our enemies
we may pass our time in trust and quietness;
through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior,
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.
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 reading from John is © Common English Bible, 2012.
The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language versions of Psalms 147 is from The Lukan Psalter, Order of St Luke and the chant is from the Lyrical Levites YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC91Z14N9hR9n4Xooq25-Czg/featured). Psalm 148 is from The Grail Psalter and the chant is from the Victor and the Psalter YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkcvDyQp5xxU50I2JN5NgPQ/featured). Psalm 149 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is chanted by Ryland Angel. Psalm 150 is in the version sung by Karl Kohlhase http://www.k4communications.com/karl/index.html.
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.
Oremus 