Oremus for Saturday, April 23, 2022

*Cesar Chavez delivers a speech to the supporters of the United Farmworkers Union (July 26, 1975), Camp Roberts*, Mimi Plumb

Cesar Chavez
Cesar Chavez (March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993) was an American labor leader and civil rights activist. Along with Dolores Huerta, he co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), which later merged with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) to become the United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union. Ideologically, his world-view combined leftist politics with Catholic social teachings. ^Wikipedia
Deeply rooted in his Catholic faith and its social teachings, everything Cesar did was underpinned by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every major initiative by the United Farmworkers Organizing Committee began with prayer, often an outdoor Mass celebrated on an irrigation ditch on some farm or ranch. Images of Our Lady of Guadalupe preceded every march or boycott demonstration. For Cesar Chavez, faith and prayer were at the heart of his 1960s efforts to organize farm workers into an effective labor union–an effort attempted several times earlier in the century, but never successfully. Cesar really believed that God was with him and his pioneering organizers. His message to the workers was simple and powerful: God did not intend for them and their families to live and work as human robots, devoid of the dignity and wages and benefits most U.S. workers took for granted.¹

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/msvp3e5j

The Good Shepherd has risen,
who laid down his life for his sheep
and willingly died for his flock, alleluia.

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/mb6h9xfa

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
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.
Alleluia, alleluia!

HYMN: Guillermo Cuéllar; trans. Bret Hesla and William Dexheimer-Pharris ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/5dfxtkd6

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 114 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tbxne5c)
1  When Israel came out of Egypt *
and the house of Jacob from among the strange people,
2  Judah was his sanctuary *
and Israel his dominion.
3  The sea saw that, and fled *
Jordan was driven back.
4  The mountains skipped like rams *
and the little hills like young sheep.
5  What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest *
and thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
6  Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams *
and ye little hills, like young sheep?
7  Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord *
at the presence of the God of Jacob;
8  Who turned the hard rock into a standing water *
and the flint-stone into a springing well.
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 114 (LSB Tone G: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-114-LSB.mp3)
1 When Israel went out from Egypt,*
the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
2 Judah became his sanctuary,*
Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled;*
Jordan turned back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams,*
the hills like lambs.
5 What ails you, O sea, that you flee?*
O Jordan, that you turn back?
6 O mountains, that you skip like rams?*
O hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,*
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turns the rock into a pool of water,*
the flint into a spring of water.
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 115 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yaw43w93)
1  Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give the praise *
for thy loving mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.
2  Wherefore shall the heathen say *
Where is now their God?
3  As for our God, he is in heaven *
he hath done whatsoever pleased him.
4  Their idols are silver and gold *
even the work of men’s hands.
5  They have mouths, and speak not *
eyes have they, and see not.
6  They have ears, and hear not *
noses have they, and smell not.
7  They have hands, and handle not; feet have they, and walk not *
neither speak they through their throat.
8  They that make them are like unto them *
and so are all such as put their trust in them.
9  But thou, house of Israel, trust thou in the Lord *
he is their succour and defence.
10  Ye house of Aaron, put your trust in the Lord *
he is their helper and defender.
11  Ye that fear the Lord, put your trust in the Lord *
he is their helper and defender.
12  The Lord hath been mindful of us, and he shall bless us *
even he shall bless the house of Israel,
he shall bless the house of Aaron.
13  He shall bless them that fear the Lord *
both small and great.
14  The Lord shall increase you more and more *
you and your children.
15  Ye are the blessed of the Lord *
who made heaven and earth.
16  All the whole heavens are the Lord’s *
the earth hath he given to the children of men.
17  The dead praise not thee, O Lord *
neither all they that go down into silence.
18  But we will praise the Lord *
from this time forth for evermore. 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 115 (LSB Tone G: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-115-LSB.mp3)
1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,*
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
2 Why should the nations say,*
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in the heavens;*
he does all that he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold,*
the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak;*
eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear;*
noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk;*
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them be-come like them;*
so do all who trust in them.
9 O Israel, trust in the LORD!*
He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD!*
He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!*
He is their help and their shield.
12 The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us;*
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
13 he will bless those who fear the LORD,*
both the small and the great.
14 May the LORD give you increase,*
you and your children!
15 May you be blessed by the LORD,*
who made heaven and earth!
16 The heavens are the LORD’s heavens,*
but the earth he has given to the children of man.
17 The dead do not praise the LORD,*
nor do any who go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the LORD*
from this time forth and forevermore. 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.

PRAYER

Sovereign God,
you subdue the arrogant
and raise the humble;
you feed the hungry
and reveal the poverty of wealth.
Help us to praise your name in all times and places,
that we may be faithful servants
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Exodus 14:5-22

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the minds of Pharaoh and his officials were changed towards the people, and they said, ‘What have we done, letting Israel leave our service?’ So he had his chariot made ready, and took his army with him; he took six hundred picked chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt and he pursued the Israelites, who were going out boldly. The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, his chariot drivers and his army; they overtook them camped by the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, ‘Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, “Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians”? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.’ But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.’

Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. But you lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground. Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and so I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained glory for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his chariot drivers.’

The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.

HYMN: Bernhard Severin Ingemann; trans. Sabine Baring-Gould
Tune: Marching https://tinyurl.com/2p8w3d4k

1 Through the night of doubt and sorrow
onward goes the pilgrim band,
singing songs of expectation,
marching to the promised land.

2 Clear before us through the darkness
gleams and burns the guiding light;
pilgrim clasps the hand of pilgrim,
stepping fearless through the night.

3 One the light of God’s own presence
o’er his ransomed people shed,
chasing far the gloom and terror,
brightening all the path we tread:

4 One the object of our journey,
one the faith which never tires,
one the earnest looking forward,
one the hope our God inspires:

5 One the strain that lips of thousands
lift as from the heart of one;
one the conflict, one the peril,
one the march in God begun:

6 One the gladness of rejoicing
on the far eternal shore,
where the one almighty Father
reigns in love for evermore.

7 Onward, therefore, Christian pilgrims,
onward with the cross our aid;
bear its shame, and fight its battle,
till we rest beneath its shade.

8 Soon shall come the great awaking,
soon the rending of the tomb;
then the scattering of all shadows,
and the end of toil and gloom.

Reading: Revelation 2:12-17

‘And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword:

‘I know where you are living, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding fast to my name, and you did not deny your faith in me even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan lives. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling-block before the people of Israel, so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practise fornication. So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and make war against them with the sword of my mouth. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

HYMN: Rusty Edwards ©
Tune: Jefferson

THE PRAYERS ^BCW18

Almighty God,
who taught us to pray not only for ourselves
but for people everywhere,
hear us as we in the name of Jesus Christ.

For the leaders of the world,
that they may put aside their differences
and seek the peace of Christ, we pray:
Have mercy on us.

For the Church,
that we serve one another with a humility
which sets aside hierarchies of power, we pray:
Have mercy on us.

Release us from the curse of stigma
and labels that cast out the unacceptable, we pray:
Have mercy on us.

That we may long for the day
when all may feast at the table of our Lord,
when no one will be an outsider,
and all will be loved, we pray:
Have mercy on us

1 Praise the one who breaks the darkness
with a liberating light;
praise the one who frees the pris’ners,
turning blindness into sight.
Praise the one who preached the gospel,
healing ev’ry dread disease,
calming storms and feeding thousands
with the Father’s word of peace.

2 Praise the one who blessed the children
with a strong yet gentle word;
praise the one who drove out demons
with a piercing, two-edged sword.
Praise the one who brings cool water
to the desert’s burning sand;
from this well comes living water,
quenching thirst in ev’ry land.

3 Let us praise the Word incarnate,
Christ, who suffered in our place;
Jesus died and rose victorious
that we may know God by grace.
Let us sing for joy and gladness,
seeing what our God has done;
let us praise the true Redeemer,
praise the one who makes us one.

Reading: Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’

CANTICLE Luke 1:46-55
(Brian Moss: https://tinyurl.com/339zmc65)

Who am I to receive this gift?
A child of heaven and earth
How can I give him my kiss?
I have been blessed and I give praise
To him whose song is age to age

Sing out my soul, sing out my soul
I will rejoice in you, my God, the Mighty One
Sing out my soul, sing out my soul
All glory be to you, Immanuel, the Son of Man

Kings will bow to the least of these
The humble lift – ed up
The poor are filled with good things
Mercy extends to those who fear
The Lord, our God, drawing us near

Sing out my soul, sing out my soul
I will rejoice in you, my God, the Mighty One
Sing out my soul, sing out my soul
All glory be to you, Immanuel, the Son of God

Holy is his name. Holy, holy, holy is his name.
Holy is his name. Holy, holy, holy is his name.
Holy is his name.

Sing out my soul, sing out my soul
I will rejoice in you, my God, the Mighty One
Sing out my soul, sing out my soul
All glory be to you, Immanuel, the Son
All glory be to you, Immanuel, the Son of God with us

THE PRAYERS ^BCW18

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.

Creator God, you have planted your word in our hearts that you might gather the harvest of justice. Root us like Cesar Chavez so firmly in your love that we may always flourish, yielding the fruits of the Spirit from youth to old age; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.^{BCW18, alt.}

https://tinyurl.com/rkxkpmc
Go in peace, alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia!

Glory to God whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine:
Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church,
and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21

Donation to Support This Ministry

Since 1993, Oremus has been done on a volunteer basis. If you are able, please consider supporting this work at the PayPal link below. For software reasons, I’ve set the value at $10.00, but feel free to change it. Thank you.

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^BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.

¹ Roger Mahony, 1993, LA Times. https://tinyurl.com/5bwuhsjk

^BCW18 The intercession is adapted from Book of Common Worship (2018), Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.

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 from the Common English Bible © 2011 Common English Bible.

The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language versions of Psalms 114 and 115 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 © 2022 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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