Óscar Romero
Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez was born in a small village in El Salvador in 1917. Ordained priest, he was known as a quiet and unassuming pastor. By 1977, amidst the political and social turmoil suffered by his country, he was therefore seen as a neutral choice to be its Archbishop. Courageously, however, he began to speak out against violence and his homilies supported the demands of the poor for economic and social justice. He refused to be silenced and continued to preach even under threat of assassination. On this day in 1980, whilst presiding at Mass, Archbishop Romero was assassinated by a gunman. He has since been widely regarded as a martyr for the faith and was canonized by the Catholic Church in 2018. EH
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,
you love us, but we have not loved you.
You call, but we have not listened.
We walk away from neighbors in need,
wrapped in our own concerns.
We condone evil, prejudice, warfare, and greed.
God of grace, help us to admit our sin,
so that as you come to us in mercy,
we may repent, turn to you, and receive forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. BCW
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: Guillermo Cuéllar (Misa Popular Salvadoreño, commissioned by Romero);
tr. Bret Hesla and William Dexheimer Pharris ©
Tune
Estribillo:
Vamos todos al banquete,
a la mesa de la creación;
cada cual, con su taburete,
tiene un puesto y una misión.
1 Hoy me levanto muy temprano,
ya me espera la comunidad.
Voy subiendo alegre la cuesta,
voy en busca de tu amistad. [Estribillo]
2 Dios invita a todos los pobres
a esta mesa común por la fe,
donde no hay acaparadores,
donde todos puedan comer. [Estribillo]
3 Dios nos manda a hacer de este mundo
una mesa donde haya igualdad;
trabajando y luchando juntos,
compartiendo la propiedad. [Estribillo]
Refrain:
Let us go now to the banquet,
to the feast of the universe.
The table’s set and a place is waiting;
come, ev’ryone, with your gifts to share.
1 I will rise in the early morning.
The community’s waiting for me.
With a spring in my step I’m walking
with my friends and my family. [Refrain]
2 God invites all the poor and hungry
to the banquet of justice and good,
where the harvest will not be hoarded,
so that no one will lack for food. [Refrain]
3 May we build such a place among us
where all people are equal in love.
God has called us to work together
and to share ev’rything we have. [Refrain]
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: Genesis 46:1-7,28-34
When Israel set out on his journey with all that he had and came to Beer-sheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph’s own hand shall close your eyes.’
Then Jacob set out from Beer-sheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. They also took their livestock and the goods that they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and they came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters; all his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.
Israel sent Judah ahead to Joseph to lead the way before him into Goshen. When they came to the land of Goshen, Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. He presented himself to him, fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. Israel said to Joseph, ‘I can die now, having seen for myself that you are still alive.’ Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, ‘I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, “My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. The men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.” When Pharaoh calls you, and says, “What is your occupation?” you shall say, “Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our ancestors”—in order that you may settle in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians.’
HYMN: Charles Wesley
Tune: Dennis https://tinyurl.com/yc69rtt2
1 And are we yet alive,
And see each other’s face?
Glory and praise to Jesus give
For His redeeming grace.
2 Preserved by power divine
To full salvation here,
Again in Jesus’ praise we join,
And in His sight appear.
3 What troubles have we seen,
What conflicts have we passed,
Fightings without, and fears within,
Since we assembled last.
4 But out of all the Lord
Hath brought us by His love;
And still He doth His help afford,
And hides our life above.
5 Then let us make our boast
Of His redeeming power,
Which saves us to the uttermost,
Till we can sin no more.
6 Let us take up the cross
Till we the crown obtain;
And gladly reckon all things loss,
So we may Jesus gain.
Reading: Romans 8:12-27
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
HYMN: John R MacDuff
Tune: Unser Herrscher https://tinyurl.com/2hcpb46h
1 Christ is coming! Let creation
from her groans and travail cease;
let the glorious proclamation
hope restore and faith increase:
Christ is coming! Christ is coming!
Come, thou blessed Prince of Peace.
2 Earth can now but tell the story
of thy bitter cross and pain;
she shall yet behold thy glory,
when thou comest back to reign:
Christ is coming! Christ is coming!
Let each heart repeat the strain.
3 Long thine exiles have been pining,
far from rest, and home, and thee:
but, in heav’nly vestures shining,
they their loving Lord shall see:
Christ is coming! Christ is coming!
Haste the joyous jubilee.
4 With that blessed hope before us,
let no harp remain unstrung;
let the mighty advent chorus
onward roll from tongue to tongue:
“Christ is coming! Christ is coming!
Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!”
Reading: Mark 11:27-33
Again they came to Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.’ They argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say, “Why then did you not believe him?” But shall we say, “Of human origin”?’—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’
CANTICLE Prayer of Manasseh
(Setting by Joe Cox https://tinyurl.com/4hqmx4jh)
Ant. Your merciful promise is beyond all measure; *
it surpasses all that our minds can fathom.
O Lord and Ruler of the hosts of heaven, *
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
and of all their righteous offspring:
You made the heavens and the earth, *
with all their vast array.
All things quake with fear at your presence; *
they tremble because of your power.
But your merciful promise is beyond all measure; *
it surpasses all that our minds can fathom.
O Lord, you are full of compassion, *
long-suffering, and abounding in mercy.
You hold back your hand; *
you do not punish as we deserve.
In your great goodness, Lord,
you have promised forgiveness to sinners, *
that they may repent of their sin and be saved.
And now, O Lord, I bend the knee of my heart, *
and make my appeal, sure of your gracious goodness.
I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, *
and I know my wickedness only too well.
Therefore I make this prayer to you: *
Forgive me, Lord, forgive me.
Do not let me perish in my sin, *
nor condemn me to the depths of the earth.
For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent, *
and in me you will show forth your goodness.
Unworthy as I am, you will save me,
in accordance with your great mercy, *
and I will praise you without ceasing all the days of my life.
For all the powers of heaven sing your praises, *
and yours is the glory to ages of ages. Amen.
THE PRAYERS WS2
God of new birth,
we praise you for being the giver of life and the victor over death,
for the evidence of new life we see in creation . . .
for our baptism, a sign of our union with Christ
in his death and resurrection . . .
for the promise of the coming kingdom . . .
God of new birth,
we acknowledge that all of life is sustained by you, so we pray
for creation and its care . . .
for the nations of the world, especially . . .
for our nation and those in authority . . .
for this community and its leaders . . .
for the church universal, its mission, and those who minister . . .
for our local church and its ministry . . .
for persons with particular needs . . .
We pray all these things in the name of the triune God,
the giver and sustainer of life. Amen.
(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.
Almighty God,
you called your servant Óscar Romero
to be a voice for the voiceless poor,
and to give his life as a seed of freedom and a sign of hope:
Grant that, inspired by his sacrifice
and the example of the martyrs of El Salvador,
we may without fear or favor witness to your Word who abides,
your Word who is Life, even Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be praise and glory now and for ever. Amen. HWHM
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
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BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.
DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.
EH Exciting Holiness, Ed. Brother Tristram SSF © European Province of the Society of Saint Francis, 1997
HWHM Holy Women, Holy Men © 2010 The Church Pension Fund.
WS2 The Worship Sourcebook, 2nd edition, © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources
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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