Oremus for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/9hw8j2m

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life. John 8

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: Albert F Bayly ©
Tune: Highwood https://tinyurl.com/2p9bex4a

1 O Lord of every shining constellation
that wheels in splendour through the midnight sky,
grant us your Spirit’s true illumination
to read the secrets of your work on high.

2 You, Lord, have made the atom’s hidden forces,
your laws its mighty energies fulfil;
teach us, to whom you give such rich resources,
in all we use, to serve your holy will.

3 O Life, awaking life in cell and tissue,
from flower to bird, from beast to brain of man;
help us to trace, from birth to final issue,
the sure unfolding of your age-long plan.

4 You, Lord, have stamped your image on your creatures,
and, though they mar that image, love them still;
lift up our eyes to Christ, that in his features
we may discern the beauty of your will.

5 Great Lord of nature, shaping and renewing,
you made us more than nature’s sons to be;
you help us tread, with grace our souls enduing,
the road to life and immortality.

PSALMS

Psalm 68 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ybgjjxjc)
1  Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered *
 let them also that hate him flee before him.
2  Like as the smoke vanisheth, so shalt thou drive them away *
 and like as wax melteth at the fire,
so let the ungodly perish at the presence of God.
3  But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God *
 let them also be merry and joyful.
4  O sing unto God, and sing praises unto his Name *
 magnify him that rideth upon the heavens, as it were upon an horse;
praise him in his Name JAH, and rejoice before him.
5  He is a Father of the fatherless,
and defendeth the cause of the widows *
 even God in his holy habitation.
6  He is the God that maketh men to be of one mind in an house,
and bringeth the prisoners out of captivity *
 but letteth the runagates continue in scarceness.
7  O God, when thou wentest forth before the people *
 when thou wentest through the wilderness,
8  The earth shook, and the heavens dropped at the presence of God *
 even as Sinai also was moved at the presence of God,
who is the God of Israel.
9  Thou, O God, sentest a gracious rain upon thine inheritance *
 and refreshedst it when it was weary.
10  Thy congregation shall dwell therein *
 for thou, O God, hast of thy goodness prepared for the poor.
11  The Lord gave the word *
 great was the company of the preachers.
12  Kings with their armies did flee, and were discomfited *
 and they of the household divided the spoil.
13  Though ye have lien among the pots,
yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove *
 that is covered with silver wings, and her feathers like gold.
14  When the Almighty scattered kings for their sake *
 then were they as white as snow in Salmon.
15  As the hill of Basan, so is God’s hill *
 even an high hill, as the hill of Basan.
16  Why hop ye so, ye high hills? this is God’s hill,
in the which it pleaseth him to dwell *
 yea, the Lord will abide in it for ever.
17  The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels *
 and the Lord is among them, as in the holy place of Sinai.
18  Thou art gone up on high, thou hast led captivity captive,
and received gifts for men *
 yea, even for thine enemies,
that the Lord God might dwell among them.
19  Praised be the Lord daily *
 even the God who helpeth us, and poureth his benefits upon us.
20  He is our God, even the God of whom cometh salvation *
 God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.
21  God shall wound the head of his enemies *
 and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his wickedness.
22  The Lord hath said,
I will bring my people again, as I did from Basan *
 mine own will I bring again, as I did sometime from the deep of the sea.
23  That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies *
 and that the tongue of thy dogs may be red through the same.
24  It is well seen, O God, how thou goest *
 how thou, my God and King, goest in the sanctuary.
25  The singers go before, the minstrels follow after *
 in the midst are the damsels playing with the timbrels.
26  Give thanks, O Israel, unto God the Lord in the congregations *
 from the ground of the heart.
27  There is little Benjamin their ruler,
and the princes of Judah their counsel *
 the princes of Zabulon, and the princes of Nephthali.
28  Thy God hath sent forth strength for thee *
 stablish the thing, O God, that thou hast wrought in us,
29  For thy temple’s sake at Jerusalem *
 so shall kings bring presents unto thee.
30  When the company of the spear-men,
and multitude of the mighty are scattered abroad
among the beasts of the people,
so that they humbly bring pieces of silver *
 and when he hath scattered the people that delight in war;
31  Then shall the princes come out of Egypt *
 the Morians’ land shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
32  Sing unto God, O ye kingdoms of the earth *
 O sing praises unto the Lord;
33  Who sitteth in the heavens over all from the beginning *
 lo, he doth send out his voice, yea, and that a mighty voice.
34  Ascribe ye the power to God over Israel *
 his worship, and strength is in the clouds.
35  O God, wonderful art thou in thy holy places *
 even the God of Israel;
he will give strength and power unto his people;
blessed be God.
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 68 (LSB Tone K: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-68-LSB.mp3)
1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;*
 and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;*
 as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God;*
 they shall be jubilant with joy!
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;*
 lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
 his name is the LORD; exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows*
 is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,*
 but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people,*
 when you marched through the wilderness,
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,*
 before God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;*
 you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it;*
 in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11 The Lord gives the word;*
 the women who announce the news are a great host:
12 “The kings of the armies— they flee, they flee!”*
 The women at home divide the spoil—
13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds—*
 the wings of a dove covered with silver,
 its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,*
 let snow fall on Zalmon.
15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;*
 O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,*
 at the mount that God desired for his abode,
 yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;*
 the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts among men,*
 even among the rebellious,
 that the LORD God may dwell there.
19 Blessèd be the Lord, who daily bears us up;*
 God is our salvation.
20 Our God is a God of salvation,*
 and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies,*
 the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan,*
 I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may strike your feet in their blood,*
 that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”
24 Your procession is seen, O God,*
 the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last,*
 between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation,*
 the LORD, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
the princes of Judah in their throng,*
 the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Summon your power, O God,*
 the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem*
 kings shall bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.*
 Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;
 scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Nobles shall come from Egypt;*
 Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.
32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;*
 sing praises to the Lord,
33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;*
 behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God,*
 whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary;*
 the God of Israel—
 he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
 Blessèd be God!
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

Lord Jesus,
you came to us in our bondage,
and led us to freedom by the cross and resurrection.
May our lives praise you,
and our lips proclaim your mighty power to all people
that they may find their hope in you,
and live to your honor and glory,
now and forever. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Amos 5:1-9

Hear this word that I take up over you in lamentation, O house of Israel:
Fallen, no more to rise,
   is maiden Israel;
forsaken on her land,
   with no one to raise her up.

For thus says the Lord God:
The city that marched out a thousand
   shall have a hundred left,
and that which marched out a hundred
   shall have ten left.

For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel:
Seek me and live;
   but do not seek Bethel,
and do not enter into Gilgal
   or cross over to Beer-sheba;
for Gilgal shall surely go into exile,
   and Bethel shall come to nothing.

Seek the Lord and live,
   or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire,
   and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it.
Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood,
   and bring righteousness to the ground!

The one who made the Pleiades and Orion,
   and turns deep darkness into the morning,
   and darkens the day into night,
who calls for the waters of the sea,
   and pours them out on the surface of the earth,
the Lord is his name,
who makes destruction flash out against the strong,
   so that destruction comes upon the fortress.

HYMN: Laurence Housman
Tune: Old 124th https://tinyurl.com/5ejnzhsu

1 Father eternal, Ruler of creation,
Spirit of life, which moved ere form was made;
Through the thick darkness covering every nation,
Light to man’s blindness, O be Thou our aid:
Thy Kingdom come, O Lord, Thy will be done.

2 Races and peoples, lo! we stand divided,
And sharing not our griefs, no joy can share;
By wars and tumults Love is mocked, derided,
His conquering cross no kingdom wills to bear:
Thy Kingdom come, O Lord, Thy will be done.

3 Envious of heart, blind-eyed, with tongues confounded,
Nation by nation still goes unforgiven;
In wrath and fear, by jealousies surrounded,
Building proud towers which shall not reach to heaven:
Thy Kingdom come, O Lord, Thy will be done.

4 How shall we love Thee, holy, hidden Being,
If we love not the world which Thou hast made?
O give us brother love for better seeing
Thy Word made flesh, and in a manger laid:
Thy Kingdom come, O Lord, Thy will be done.

Reading: Philippians 1:21-30

For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.

Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well— since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

HYMN: Richard Baxter
Tune: St Hugh https://tinyurl.com/4ak744zb

1 Lord, it belongs not to my care
whether I die or live:
to love and serve thee is my share,
and this thy grace must give.

2 Christ leads me through no darker rooms
than he went through before;
he that into God’s kingdom comes
must enter by this door.

3 Come, Lord, when grace hath made me meet
thy blessed face to see;
for if thy work on earth be sweet,
what will thy glory be!

4 Then shall I end my sad complaints
and weary, sinful days,
and join with the triumphant saints
that sing my Saviour’s praise.

5 My knowledge of that life is small,
the eye of faith is dim;
but ’tis enough that Christ knows all,
and I shall be with him.

Reading: John 14:15-20

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will send another Companion, who will be with you forever. This Companion is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world can’t receive because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be with you.

“I won’t leave you as orphans. I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you.”

CANTICLE Rory Cooney; based on Luke 1:46-55
(Performed by The Gentle Wolves https://tinyurl.com/ybox4ctg)

1. My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
And my spirit sings of the wondrous things
that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight,
and my weakness you did not spurn,
So from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn?

2. Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me,
And your mercy will last from the depths of the past
to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame,
and to those who would for you yearn,
You will show your might, put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn.

3. From the halls of power to the fortress tower,
not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears
ev’ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
for the food they can never earn;
There are tables spread, ev’ry mouth be fed,
for the world is about to turn.

4. Though the nations rage from age to age,
we remember who holds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard
is the promise which holds us bound,
‘Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God,
who is turning the world around.

THE PRAYERS ^PWC

Teach us, O Lord, the way of your statutes;
and lead us in the path of your commandments.
Keep our nation under your care;
and guide us in justice and truth.
Deal graciously with your servants;
teach us discernment and knowledge.
Let not those in need be forgotten;
nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Guide the meek in judgement;
and teach your ways to the gentle.
Remember your people;
whom you have redeemed of old.

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.

Living and gracious God,
through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
you have brought us out to a spacious place
where we are called to live as those redeemed.
Empower us by your spirit to keep your commandments,
that we may show forth your love
with gentle word and reverent deed
to all your people. Amen. ^RCLP

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.

^RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.

^{PWC PRAY WITHOUT CEASING Morning and Evening Prayer for Ordinary Time Prepared by the Ven. Dr. Richard Geoffrey Leggett on behalf of the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee of the Anglican Church of Canada Authorized by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada July 2019}

2 Eric Wyse, Lord’s Prayer, ©; audio from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_a40ME7aVk

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 traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language version of Psalms 8 and 15 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and are sung by Ryland Angel. Psalm 21 is from The Grail Psalter and are from the Manual Hopper YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/manualhopper/featured.

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.