Oremus for Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/2yy584sc

Within your will, O Lord, all things are established,
and there is none that can resist your will.
For you have made all things, the heaven and the earth,
and all that is held within the circle of heaven;
you are the Lord of all. Esther 4

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: Nikolai Grundtvig; trans. Carl Døving
Tune: Kirken den er et gammelt hus https://tinyurl.com/236btyje

1 Built on the Rock the Church shall stand
even when steeples are falling.
Crumbled have spires in ev’ry land;
bells still are chiming and calling,
calling the young and old to rest,
but above all the soul distressed,
longing for rest everlasting.

2 Surely in temples made with hands
God, the Most High, is not dwelling;
high above earth his temple stands,
all earthly temples excelling.
Yet he who dwells in heav’n above
chooses to live with us in love,
making our bodies his temple.

3 We are God’s house of living stones,
built for his own habitation.
He through baptismal grace us owns
heirs of his wondrous salvation.
Were we but two his name to tell,
yet he would deign with us to dwell
with all his grace and his favor.

4 Here stands the font before our eyes,
telling how God has received us.
Th’altar recalls Christ’s sacrifice
and what the sacrament gives us.
Here sound the Scriptures that proclaim
Christ yesterday, today, the same,
And evermore, our Redeemer.

5 Grant, then, O God, your will be done,
that, when the church bells are ringing,
many in saving faith may come
where Christ his message is bringing:
“I know my own; my own know me.
You, not the world, my face shall see.
My peace I leave with you. Amen.”

PSALMS

Psalm 120 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/wmagrmt)
1  When I was in trouble I called upon the Lord *
 and he heard me.
2  Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips *
 and from a deceitful tongue.
3  What reward shall be given or done unto thee, thou false tongue *
 even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning coals.
4  Woe is me, that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech *
 and to have my habitation among the tents of Kedar.
5  My soul hath long dwelt among them *
 that are enemies unto peace.
6  I labour for peace, but when I speak unto them thereof *
 they make them ready to battle.
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 121 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/wlpcmlp)
1  I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills *
 from whence cometh my help.
2  My help cometh even from the Lord *
 who hath made heaven and earth.
3  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved *
 and he that keepeth thee will not sleep.
4  Behold, he that keepeth Israel *
 shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5  The Lord himself is thy keeper *
 the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand;
6  So that the sun shall not burn thee by day *
 neither the moon by night.
7  The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil *
 yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.
8  The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in *
 from this time forth for evermore.
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 122 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/uwbt7e3)
1  I was glad when they said unto me *
 We will go into the house of the Lord.
2  Our feet shall stand in thy gates *
 O Jerusalem.
3  Jerusalem is built as a city *
 that is at unity in itself.
4  For thither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord *
 to testify unto Israel, to give thanks unto the Name of the Lord.
5  For there is the seat of judgement *
 even the seat of the house of David.
6  O pray for the peace of Jerusalem *
 they shall prosper that love thee.
7  Peace be within thy walls *
 and plenteousness within thy palaces.
8  For my brethren and companions’ sakes *
 I will wish thee prosperity.
9  Yea, because of the house of the Lord our God *
 I will seek to do thee good.
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 123 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vqr5s45)
1  Unto thee lift I up mine eyes *
 O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
2  Behold, even as the eyes of servants look
unto the hand of their masters,
and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress *
 even so our eyes wait upon the Lord Our God,
until he have mercy upon us.
3  Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us *
 for we are utterly despised.
4  Our soul is filled with the scornful reproof of the wealthy *
 and with the despitefulness of the proud.
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 124 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/w9ocmm5)
1  If the Lord himself had not been on our side, now may Israel say *
 if the Lord himself had not been on our side,
when men rose up against us;
2  They had swallowed us up quick *
 when they were so wrathfully displeased at us.
3  Yea, the waters had drowned us *
 and the stream had gone over our soul.
4  The deep waters of the proud *
 had gone even over our soul.
5  But praised be the Lord *
 who hath not given us over for a prey unto their teeth.
6  Our soul is escaped even as a bird out of the snare of the fowler *
 the snare is broken, and we are delivered.
7  Our help standeth in the Name of the Lord *
 who hath made heaven and earth.
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 125 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/s7phzdz)
1  They that put their trust in the Lord shall be even as the mount Sion *
 which may not be removed, but standeth fast for ever.
2  The hills stand about Jerusalem *
 even so standeth the Lord round about his people,
from this time forth for evermore.
3  For the rod of the ungodly cometh not into the lot of the righteous *
 lest the righteous put their hand unto wickedness.
4  Do well, O Lord *
 unto those that are good and true of heart.
5  As for such as turn back unto their own wickedness *
 the Lord shall lead them forth with the evil-doers;
but peace shall be upon Israel.
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 120 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-120.mp3)
1 When I was in trouble, I called to the LORD; *
I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
2 Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips *
and from the deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be done to you, and what more besides, *
O you deceitful tongue?
4 The sharpened arrows of a warrior, *
along with hot glowing coals.
5 How hateful it is that I must lodge in Meshech *
and dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I had to live *
among the enemies of peace.
7 I am on the side of peace, *
but when I speak of it, they are for war

Psalm 121 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-121.mp3)
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; *
from where is my help to come?
2 My help comes from the LORD, *
the maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved *
and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.
4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel *
shall neither slumber nor sleep;
5 The LORD himself watches over you; *
the LORD is your shade at your right hand,
6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day, *
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; *
it is he who shall keep you safe.
8 The LORD shall watch over your going out and
 your coming in, *
from this time forth for evermore.

Psalm 122 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-122.mp3)
1 I was glad when they said to me, *
“Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
2 Now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built as a city *
that is at unity with itself;
4 To which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD, *
the assembly of Israel,
to praise the Name of the LORD.
5 For there are the thrones of judgment, *
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
“May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls *
and quietness within your towers.
8 For my brethren and companions’ sake, *
I pray for your prosperity.
9 Because of the house of the LORD our God, *
I will seek to do you good.”

Psalm 123 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-123.mp3)
1 To you I lift up my eyes, *
to you enthroned in the heavens.
2 As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, *
and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
3 So our eyes look to the LORD our God, *
until he show us his mercy.
4 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy, *
for we have had more than enough of contempt,
5 Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich, *
and of the derision of the proud.

Psalm 124 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-124.mp3)
1 If the LORD had not been on our side, *
let Israel now say;
2 If the LORD had not been on our side, *
when enemies rose up against us;
3 Then would they have swallowed us up alive *
in their fierce anger toward us;
4 Then would the waters have overwhelmed us *
and the torrent gone over us;
5 Then would the raging waters *
have gone right over us.
6 Blessed be the LORD! *
he has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; *
the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the Name of the LORD, *
the maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 125 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-125.mp3)
1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, *
which cannot be moved, but stands fast for ever.
2 The hills stand about Jerusalem; *
so does the LORD stand round about his people,
from this time forth for evermore.
3 The scepter of the wicked shall not hold sway over the
 land allotted to the just, *
so that the just shall not put their hands to evil.
4 Show your goodness, O LORD, to those who are good *
and to those who are true of heart.
5 As for those who turn aside to crooked ways,
the LORD will lead them away with the evildoers; *
but peace be upon Israel.

PRAYER

God, our helper,
you are strength greater than the mountains;
you look to our needs and watch over us day and night.
Teach us to hold confidently to your grace
that in times of fear and danger
we may know you are near and depend on you,
our sure deliverer. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Hosea 4:11b-19

Wine and new wine
        destroy understanding.
My people take advice from a piece of wood,
    and their divining rod gives them predictions.
        A spirit of prostitution has led them astray;
        they have left God to follow other gods.
They offer sacrifices on mountaintops,
        and make entirely burned offerings on hills;
    they offer sacrifices under various green trees,
        because their shade is pleasant.
    Therefore, your daughters act like prostitutes,
        and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
I will not punish your daughters because they act like prostitutes,
        nor your daughters-in-law because they commit adultery;
    for the men themselves visit prostitutes,
        and offer sacrifices with consecrated workers at temples;
    so now the people without sense must come to ruin.
Israel, even though you act like a prostitute,
        don’t let Judah become guilty.
    Don’t enter into Gilgal,
        or go up to Beth-aven,
        and don’t swear, “As the Lord lives.”
Like a stubborn cow Israel is stubborn.
Now the Lord will tend them,
        as the Lord tends a lamb in a pasture.
Ephraim is associated with idols—
        let him alone!
Though they have stopped drinking,
        they continue to behave like prostitutes;
        indeed, they “love”; shame is their pride.
The wind has wrapped her in its wings;
        they will be ashamed of their sacrifices.

HYMN: Johann Franck; trans. Catherine Winkworth
Tune: Schmücke dich 

1 Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness,
leave the gloomy haunts of sadness;
come into the daylight’s splendour,
there with joy thy praises render
unto him whose grace unbounded
hath this wondrous banquet founded:
high o’er all the heavens he reigneth,
yet to dwell with thee he deigneth.

2 Now I sink before thee lowly,
filled with joy most deep and holy,
as with trembling awe and wonder
on thy mighty works I ponder:
how, by mystery surrounded,
depth no mortal ever sounded,
none may dare to pierce unbidden
secrets that with thee are hidden.

3 Sun, who all my life dost brighten,
light, who dost my soul enlighten,
joy, the sweetest heart e’er knoweth,
fount, whence all my being floweth,
at thy feet I cry, my Maker,
let me be a fit partaker
of this blessed food from heaven,
for our good, thy glory, given.

4 Jesus, Bread of Life, I pray thee,
let me gladly here obey thee;
never to my hurt invited,
be thy love with love requited:
from this banquet let me measure,
Lord, how vast and deep its treasure;
through the gifts thou here dost give me,
as thy guest in heaven receive me.

Reading: 1 Peter 2:1-10

Therefore, get rid of all ill will and all deceit, pretense, envy, and slander. Instead, like a newborn baby, desire the pure milk of the word. Nourished by it, you will grow into salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Now you are coming to him as to a living stone. Even though this stone was rejected by humans, from God’s perspective it is chosen, valuable. You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple. You are being made into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Thus it is written in scripture, Look! I am laying a cornerstone in Zion, chosen, valuable. The person who believes in him will never be shamed. So God honors you who believe. For those who refuse to believe, though, the stone the builders tossed aside has become the capstone. This is a stone that makes people stumble and a rock that makes them fall. Because they refuse to believe in the word, they stumble. Indeed, this is the end to which they were appointed. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession. You have become this people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light. Once you weren’t a people, but now you are God’s people. Once you hadn’t received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

HYMN: Bernard of Clairvaux; trans. Edward Caswall
Tune: St Botolph

1 O Jesus, King most wonderful;
thou conqueror renowned,
thou sweetness most ineffable,
in whom all joys are found!

2 When once thou visitest the heart,
then truth begins to shine,
then earthly vanities depart,
then kindles love divine.

3 O Jesus, light of all below!
Thou fount of living fire,
surpassing all the joys we know,
and all we can desire:

4 Jesus, may all confess thy name,
thy wondrous love adore;
and, seeking thee, themselves inflame
to seek thee more and more.

5 Thee may our tongues for ever bless,
thee may we love alone,
and ever in our lives express
the image of thine own.

6 Abide with us, and let thy light
shine, Lord, on every heart;
dispel the darkness of our night,
and joy to all impart.

7 Jesus, our love and joy, to thee,
the Father’s only Son,
all might, and praise, and glory be,
while endless ages run.

Reading: John 16:25-28

Jesus said, “I’ve been using figures of speech with you. The time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in such analogies. Instead, I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I’m not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. The Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and believed that I came from God. I left the Father and came into the world. I tell you again: I am leaving the world and returning to the Father.”

CANTICLE Colossians 1:12-20
(Chant by John Michael Talbot https://tinyurl.com/ya95yzto)

Ant. He is the first born of all creation,
in every way the primacy is his.

Let us give thanks to the Father
for having made you worthy
to share the lot of the saints in light.
He rescued us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Through him we have redemption,
the forgiveness of our sins.
He is the image of the invisible God,
the first-born of all creatures.
In him everything in heaven and on earth was created,
things visible and invisible.
All were created through him; all were created for him.
He is before all else that is.
In him everything continues in being.
It is he who is head of the body, the church!
He who is the beginning, the first-born of the dead,
so that primacy may be his in everything.
It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in him
and, by means of him, to reconcile everything in his person,
both on earth and in the heavens,
making peace through the blood of his cross.
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 ^BCW

Eternal God, we rejoice today in the gift of life, which we have received
by your grace, and the new life you give in Jesus Christ.
Especially we thank you for
the love of our families . . .
the affection of our friends . . .
strength and abilities to serve your purpose today . . .
this community in which we live . . .
opportunities to give as we have received. . . .

God of grace, we offer our prayers for the needs of others and commit ourselves
to serve them even as we have been served in Jesus Christ. Especially we pray for
those closest to us, families, friends, neighbors . . .
refugees and homeless men, women and children . . .
the outcast and persecuted . . .
those from whom we are estranged . . .
the church in Africa. . . .

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.

Almighty God,
you built your church
on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
with Jesus Christ himself as the cornerstone.
Gather your church in unity, by your Holy Spirit,
that it may manifest your power among all peoples
to the glory of your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
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.

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

The three main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible

The traditional-language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern versions of the psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and are sung by Ryland Angel.

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.