Oremus for Sunday, July 24, 2022

Antiphon¹

Ant. Ask, and you will receive; *
seek, and you shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened to you;
for all who ask, receive,
he who seeks, finds,
and to him who knocks it shall be opened, alleluia.
V. In you, O Lord, I take refuge. *
Let me never be put to shame.
In your justice, set me free; *
incline your ear to me, and speedily rescue me. Luke 11; Psalm 31

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: Philip Doddridge
Tune: Dundee https://tinyurl.com/2p88ws4y

1 O God of Bethel, by whose hand
thy people still are fed,
who through this weary pilgrimage
hast all our fathers led;

2 Our vows, our prayers, we now present
before thy throne of grace;
God of our fathers, be the God
of their succeeding race.

3 Through each perplexing path of life
our wandering footsteps guide;
give us each day our daily bread,
and raiment fit provide.

4 O spread thy covering wings around
till all our wanderings cease,
and at our Father’s loved abode
our souls arrive in peace.

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 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 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 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 (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 (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 18:16-32

The men got up from there and went over to look down on Sodom. Abraham was walking along with them to send them off when the Lord said, “Will I keep from Abraham what I’m about to do? Abraham will certainly become a great populous nation, and all the earth’s nations will be blessed because of him. I have formed a relationship with him so that he will instruct his children and his household after him. And they will keep to the Lord’s path, being moral and just so that the Lord can do for Abraham everything he said he would.” Then the Lord said, “The cries of injustice from Sodom and Gomorrah are countless, and their sin is very serious! I will go down now to examine the cries of injustice that have reached me. Have they really done all this? If not, I want to know.”

The men turned away and walked toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing in front of the Lord. Abraham approached and said, “Will you really sweep away the innocent with the guilty? What if there are fifty innocent people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not save the place for the sake of the fifty innocent people in it? It’s not like you to do this, killing the innocent with the guilty as if there were no difference. It’s not like you! Will the judge of all the earth not act justly?”

The Lord said, “If I find fifty innocent people in the city of Sodom, I will save it because of them.” Abraham responded, “Since I’ve already decided to speak with my Lord, even though I’m just soil and ash, what if there are five fewer innocent people than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city over just five?” The Lord said, “If I find forty-five there, I won’t destroy it.” Once again Abraham spoke, “What if forty are there?” The Lord said, “For the sake of forty, I will do nothing.”

He said, “Don’t be angry with me, my Lord, but let me speak. What if thirty are there?” The Lord said, “I won’t do it if I find thirty there.” Abraham said, “Since I’ve already decided to speak with my Lord, what if twenty are there?” The Lord said, “I won’t do it, for the sake of twenty.” Abraham said, “Don’t be angry with me, my Lord, but let me speak just once more. What if there are ten?” And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it because of those ten.” When the Lord finished speaking with Abraham, he left; but Abraham stayed there in that place.

HYMN: Psalm 138; para. Stanley Wiersma ©
Tune: Genevan 138 https://tinyurl.com/2z5syttw

1 With all my heart I thank you, LORD.
I worship you with song and praising.
Before the “gods” I bless your name
and praise you for your love unfailing.
Your steadfast love, your faithfulness,
your name, your word are high exalted.
The day I cried, you answered me.
Your strength has made my soul undaunted.

2 The kings of earth shall praise you, LORD.
They all have heard your wondrous story.
Now they will sing what they have heard:
“Great is the LORD and great his glory.”
The LORD is high in majesty,
yet he respects the meek and lowly.
The LORD is high in majesty;
he keeps his distance from the haughty.

3 When I must walk a troubled way,
when I am weak, O LORD, revive me.
Stretch out your hand against all hate.
From sin and all things harmful save me.
Your right hand gives me victory.
Work in my life your full intention.
Your steadfast love can never die.
Bring what you started to perfection.

Reading: Colossians 2:1-19

I want you to know how much I struggle for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who haven’t known me personally. My goal is that their hearts would be encouraged and united together in love so that they might have all the riches of assurance that come with understanding, so that they might have the knowledge of the secret plan of God, namely Christ. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in him. I’m telling you this so that no one deceives you with convincing arguments, because even though I am absent physically, I’m with you in spirit. I’m happy to see the discipline and stability of your faith in Christ.

So live in Christ Jesus the Lord in the same way as you received him. Be rooted and built up in him, be established in faith, and overflow with thanksgiving just as you were taught. See to it that nobody enslaves you with philosophy and foolish deception, which conform to human traditions and the way the world thinks and acts rather than Christ. All the fullness of deity lives in Christ’s body. And you have been filled by him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by human hands. The circumcision of Christ is realized in the stripping away of the whole self dominated by sin. You were buried with him through baptism and raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead because of the things you had done wrong and because your body wasn’t circumcised, God made you alive with Christ and forgave all the things you had done wrong. He destroyed the record of the debt we owed, with its requirements that worked against us. He canceled it by nailing it to the cross. When he disarmed the rulers and authorities, he exposed them to public disgrace by leading them in a triumphal parade.

So don’t let anyone judge you about eating or drinking or about a festival, a new moon observance, or sabbaths. These religious practices are only a shadow of what was coming—the body that cast the shadow is Christ. Don’t let anyone who wants to practice harsh self-denial and worship angels rob you of the prize. They go into detail about what they have seen in visions and have become unjustifiably arrogant by their selfish way of thinking. They don’t stay connected to the head. The head nourishes and supports the whole body through the joints and ligaments, so the body grows with a growth that is from God.

If you died with Christ to the way the world thinks and acts, why do you submit to rules and regulations as though you were living in the world? “Don’t handle!” “Don’t taste!” “Don’t touch!” All these things cease to exist when they are used. Such rules are human commandments and teachings. They look like they are wise with this self-made religion and their self-denial by the harsh treatment of the body, but they are no help against indulging in selfish immoral behavior.

HYMN: Joachim Neander; trans. Robert Bridges
Tune: Michael https://tinyurl.com/2p8myhcv

1 All my hope on God is founded;
he doth still my trust renew.
Me through change and chance he guideth,
only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone
calls my heart to be his own.

2 Human pride and earthly glory,
sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil he buildeth,
tower and temple, fall to dust.
But God’s power,
hour by hour,
is my temple and my tower.

3 God’s great goodness aye endureth,
deep his wisdom, passing thought:
splendour, light, and life attend him,
beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
from his store
new-born worlds rise and adore.

4 Daily doth th’ Almighty giver
bounteous gifts on us bestow;
his desire our soul delighteth,
pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand
at his hand;
joy doth wait on his command.

5 Still from earth to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ his Son.
Christ doth call
one and all:
ye who follow shall not fall.

Reading: Luke 11:1-13

Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

Jesus told them, “When you pray, say:

He also said to them, “Imagine that one of you has a friend and you go to that friend in the middle of the night. Imagine saying, ‘Friend, loan me three loaves of bread because a friend of mine on a journey has arrived and I have nothing to set before him.’ Imagine further that he answers from within the house, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ I assure you, even if he wouldn’t get up and help because of his friendship, he will get up and give his friend whatever he needs because of his friend’s brashness. And I tell you: Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. To everyone who knocks, the door is opened.

“Which father among you would give a snake to your child if the child asked for a fish? If a child asked for an egg, what father would give the child a scorpion? If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

CANTICLE Micah 6:6-8
(Tune: Sharpthorne https://tinyurl.com/yafplab4)

What does the Lord require
for praise and offering?
What sacrifice, desire,
or tribute bid you bring?
Do justly,
love mercy,
walk humbly with your God.

Rulers of earth, give ear!
Should you not justice know?
Will God your pleading hear
while crime and cruelty grow?
Do justly,
love mercy,
walk humbly with your God.

Still down the ages ring
the prophet’s stern commands;
to merchant, worker, king
he brings God’s high commands:
do justly,
love mercy,
walk humbly with your God.

How shall our life fulfill
God’s law so hard and high?
Let Christ endue our will
with grace to fortify.
Then justly,
in mercy,
we’ll humbly walk with God.

THE PRAYERS ^{Joe Milner}

For the Church: that, like Abraham, we may grow in our friendship with God and honestly present our needs to God each day

For the grace to be ministers of reconciliation: that we may witness to God’s mercy by offering forgiveness to one another and by seeking forgiveness when we have injured someone

For persistence in prayer: that the Spirit will teach us how to authentically express our deepest needs to God in prayer and give us strength never to grow tired of calling upon God for assistance

For a deeper appreciation of our baptism: that we may recognize the great gift of our new life in Christ and faithfully live as daughters and sons of God

For a renewal of the Holy Spirit in our lives: that God will refresh and deepen the gift of the Spirit who has been poured out into our hearts so that we may be dynamic instruments of God’s love

For all who are facing trial and difficulty: that God’s Spirit will strengthen the hearts of all Christians who are imprisoned or persecuted for their faith and fill them with courage

For each of us: that we may make the Reign of God a priority in our lives and open our hearts to seeking God’s will first in all our activities

For all who need daily bread: that God will open new opportunities for them to access food and touch the hearts of all who have an abundance to share more freely

For all who are burdened with guilt: that God’s love will free them and bring them to the confidence that they are loved and all their sins are forgiven

For all who strive to help the poor and the forgotten of society: that God will strengthen them as they plead and call for justice for God’s children

For all who are fleeing violence: that God will lead them on their journey, protect them from harm and help them find a new home where they can grow and contribute to the common good

For healing of racism and prejudice: that all people may look upon one another as sisters and brothers and work for the betterment of one another

For government leaders: that God will guide them in addressing the issues of inflation, violence, and the care of creation so that all may live in safety, find housing, and have food

For health and healing: that God will curtail the new Coronavirus variants, heal those who are ill, and protect the elderly and very young from the virus

For peace: that God turn hearts away from violence, bring an end to warfare in Ukraine and Syria, and protect the vulnerable from harm

(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.

Lord of gifts,
share with us a hunger for the bread of your kingdom;
give to us a yearning impatience with injustice;
free us from clinging to debts gone bad;
teach us to pray with honesty
in words filled with earth and lit by desire;
through Jesus Christ, our Jubilee. Amen. ^PIC

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.

^PIC Prayers for An Inclusive Church. Steven Shakespeare © 2008 Canterbury Press.

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 © 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.