Oremus for Wedesday, August 31, 2022

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/5fmvry9k

To you I call, for you will surely heed me, O God;
turn your ear to me; hear my words. Psalm 17

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: Frederick Lucian Hosmer
Tune: Irish https://tinyurl.com/4a6u26zh

1 Thy kingdom come! On bended knee
the passing ages pray;
and faithful souls have yearned to see
on earth that kingdom’s day.

2 But the slow watches of the night
not less to God belong;
and for the everlasting right
the silent stars are strong.

3 And lo, already on the hills
the flags of dawn appear;
gird up your loins, ye prophet souls,
proclaim the day is near:

4 The day in whose clear-shining light
all wrong shall stand revealed,
when justice shall be throned in might,
and every hurt be healed;

5 When knowledge, hand in hand with peace,
shall walk the earth abroad:
the day of perfect righteousness,
the promised day of God.

PSALMS

Psalm 147 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/w8ysftd)
1  Praise the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God *
 yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful.
2  The Lord doth build up Jerusalem *
 and gather together the out-casts of Israel.
3  He healeth those that are broken in heart *
 and giveth medicine to heal their sickness.
4  He telleth the number of the stars *
 and calleth them all by their names.
5  Great is our Lord, and great is his power *
 yea, and his wisdom is infinite.
6  The Lord setteth up the meek *
 and bringeth the ungodly down to the ground.
7  O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving *
 sing praises upon the harp unto our God;
8  Who covereth the heaven with clouds,
and prepareth rain for the earth *
 and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains,
and herb for the use of men;
9  Who giveth fodder unto the cattle *
 and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him.
10  He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse *
 neither delighteth he in any man’s legs.
11  But the Lord’s delight is in them that fear him *
 and put their trust in his mercy.
12  Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem *
 praise thy God, O Sion.
13  For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates *
 and hath blessed thy children within thee.
14  He maketh peace in thy borders *
 and filleth thee with the flour of wheat.
15  He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth *
 and his word runneth very swiftly.
16  He giveth snow like wool *
 and scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
17  He casteth forth his ice like morsels *
 who is able to abide his frost?
18  He sendeth out his word, and melteth them *
 he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow.
19  He sheweth his word unto Jacob *
 his statutes and ordinances unto Israel.
20  He hath not dealt so with any nation *
 neither have the heathen knowledge of his laws.
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 148 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vjv42mh)
1  O praise the Lord of heaven *
 praise him in the height.
2  Praise him, all ye angels of his *
 praise him, all his host.
3  Praise him, sun and moon *
 praise him, all ye stars and light.
4  Praise him, all ye heavens *
 and ye waters that are above the heavens.
5  Let them praise the Name of the Lord *
 for he spake the word, and they were made;
he commanded, and they were created.
6  He hath made them fast for ever and ever *
 he hath given them a law which shall not be broken.
7  Praise the Lord upon earth *
 ye dragons, and all deeps;
8  Fire and hail, snow and vapours *
 wind and storm, fulfilling his word;
9  Mountains and all hills *
 fruitful trees and all cedars;
10  Beasts and all cattle *
 worms and feathered fowls;
11  Kings of the earth and all people *
 princes and all judges of the world;
12  Young men and maidens, old men and children,
praise the Name of the Lord *
 for his Name only is excellent,
and his praise above heaven and earth.
13  He shall exalt the horn of his people;
all his saints shall praise him *
 even the children of Israel,
even the people that serveth him.
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 149 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/rpojt8q)
1  O sing unto the Lord a new song *
 let the congregation of saints praise him.
2  Let Israel rejoice in him that made him *
 and let the children of Sion be joyful in their King.
3  Let them praise his Name in the dance *
 let them sing praises unto him with tabret and harp.
4  For the Lord hath pleasure in his people *
 and helpeth the meek-hearted.
5  Let the saints be joyful with glory *
 let them rejoice in their beds.
6  Let the praises of God be in their mouth *
 and a two-edged sword in their hands;
7  To be avenged of the heathen *
 and to rebuke the people;
8  To bind their kings in chains *
 and their nobles with links of iron.
9  That they may be avenged of them, as it is written *
 Such honour have all his saints.
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 150 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vm5vf4z)
1  O praise God in his holiness *
 praise him in the firmament of his power.
2  Praise him in his noble acts *
 praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3  Praise him in the sound of the trumpet *
 praise him upon the lute and harp.
4  Praise him in the cymbals and dances *
 praise him upon the strings and pipe.
5  Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals *
 praise him upon the loud cymbals.
6  Let every thing that hath breath *
 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 147 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-147-Lukan.mp3)
Ant. Sing to our God with thanksgiving;*
 Zion, praise your God!*

1 Alleluia! How good it is to praise our God!*
 How pleasant and how fitting to sing God’s praise!
2 ADONAI rebuilds Jerusalem and gathers Israel’s exiles.*
 3 God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
4 God knows the number of the stars*
 and calls each one by name.
5 Great is ADONAI, and mighty in power;*
 there is no limit to God’s wisdom.
6 ADONAI lifts up the oppressed,*
 and casts the corrupt to the ground.
7 Sing to our God with thanksgiving;*
 sing praise with the harp to our God –
8 who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth,*
 who makes grass sprout on the mountains
and herbs for the service of the people,
9 who gives food to the cattle,*
 and to the young ravens when they cry.
10 God does not thrill to the strength of the horse,*
 or revel in the fleetness of humans.
11 ADONAI delights in those who worship with reverence,*
 and put their hope in God’s steadfast love.
12 Jerusalem, give glory to ADONAI!*
 Zion, praise your God!
13 For God strengthens the bars of your gates,*
 and blesses your children within you.
14 God has granted peace within your borders,*
 and fills you with the finest wheat.
15 God sends forth a command to the earth – swiftly runs the word!*
 16 God spreads snow like wool and scatters frost like ashes.
17 God hurls hail like pebbles –*
 who can stand before God’s freezing winds?
18 Then God sends a word and melts them;*
 God lets the breeze blow and the waters run again.
19 God’s words have been revealed to the chosen people,*
 God’s decrees and laws to Israel.
20 God has not done this with any other nation;*
 they do not know God’s law. Alleluia!
Glory to you, O Trinity, most holy and blessed;*
One God, now and forever. Amen.

Ant. Sing to our God with thanksgiving;*
 Zion, praise your God!

Psalm 148
(Temple tone: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-148-Victor.mp3)
1 Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise him in the heights.
2 Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his host.
3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, shining stars.
4 Praise him, highest heavens
and the waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord.
He commanded: they were made.
6 He fixed them for ever,
gave a law which shall not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
sea creatures and all oceans,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy winds that obey his word;
9 all mountains and hills,
all fruit trees and cedars,
10 beasts, wild and tame,
reptiles and birds on the wing;
11 all earth’s kings and peoples,
earth’s princes and rulers,
12 young men and maidens,
the old men together with children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord
for he alone is exalted.
The splendor of his name
reaches beyond heaven and earth.
14 He exalts the strength of his people.
He is the praise of all his saints,
of the sons of Israel,
of the people to whom he comes close.

Psalm 149 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-149.mp3)
1 Hallelujah!
Sing to the LORD a new song; *
sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
2 Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *
let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his Name in the dance; *
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people *
and adorns the poor with victory.
5 Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *
let them be joyful on their beds.
6 Let the praises of God be in their throat *
and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7 To wreak vengeance on the nations *
and punishment on the peoples;
8 To bind their kings in chains *
and their nobles with links of iron;
9 To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *
this is glory for all his faithful people.
Hallelujah!

Psalm 150 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-150-KH.mp3)
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Praise God in his sanctuary;
Praise him in his mighty firmament!
Praise him for his awesome deeds;
Praise him with exceeding greatness!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Praise him with trumpet sound;
Praise him with harp and lute!
Praise him with timbrel and dance;
Praise him with strings and pipe!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Praise him with sounding cymbals;
Praise him with crashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes,
Praise the LORD!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

PRAYER

God our Maker,
you crown the humble with honor
and exalt the faithful who gather in your name.
Because you have favored us with life,
we dance before you in our joy
and praise you with unending song
for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: 2 Kings 23:15-20

Josiah also tore down the altar that was in Bethel. That was the shrine made by Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, who caused Israel to sin. Josiah tore down that altar and its shrine. He burned the shrine, grinding it into dust. Then he burned its sacred pole. When Josiah turned around, he noticed tombs up on the hillside. So he ordered the bones to be taken out of the tombs. He then burned them on the altar, desecrating it. (This was in agreement with the word that the Lord announced by the man of God when Jeroboam stood by the altar at the festival.) Josiah then turned and saw the tomb of the man of God who had predicted these things. “What’s this gravestone I see?” Josiah asked.

The people of the city replied, “That tomb belongs to the man of God who came from Judah and announced what you would do to the altar of Bethel.”

“Let it be,” Josiah said. “No one should disturb his bones.” So they left his bones untouched, along with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.

Moreover, Josiah removed all the shrines on the high hills that the Israelite kings had constructed throughout the cities of Samaria. These had made the Lord angry. Josiah did to them just what he did at Bethel. He actually slaughtered on those altars all the priests of the shrines who were there, and he burned human bones on them. Then Josiah returned to Jerusalem.

HYMN: Charles Wesley
Tune: Beecher https://tinyurl.com/4sje6mah

1 Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heav’n, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art.
Visit us with thy salvation;
enter ev’ry trembling heart.

2 Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into ev’ry troubled breast.
Let us all in thee inherit,
let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be.
End of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.

3 Come, Almighty, to deliver,
let us all thy life receive.
Suddenly return, and never,
nevermore they temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

4 Finish, then, thy new creation;
true and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heav’n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love and praise.

Reading: 1 Timothy 5:17-25

Elders who lead well should be paid double, especially those who work with public speaking and teaching. The scripture says, Don’t put a muzzle on an ox while it treads grain, and Workers deserve their pay. Don’t accept an accusation made against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. Discipline those who are sinning in front of everyone so that all the others will be afraid. I charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to follow these practices without bias, and without playing favorites. Don’t rush to commission anyone to leadership, and don’t participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself morally pure.

Don’t drink water anymore, but use a little wine because of your stomach problems and your frequent illnesses. The sins of some people are obvious, and the sins are judged before the people must face judgment, but the sins of other people show up later. In the same way, the good that people do is also obvious and can’t be hidden.

HYMN: Jeffrey W Rowthorn
Tune: Abbot’s Leigh https://tinyurl.com/bdetncnu

1 Lord, you give the great commission:
“Heal the sick and preach the word.”
Lest the church neglect its mission,
and the gospel go unheard,
help us witness to your purpose
with renewed integrity:

Refrain:
With the Spirit’s gifts empow’r us
for the work of ministry.

2 Lord, you call us to your service:
“In my name, baptize and teach.”
That the world may trust your promise,
life abundant meant for each,
give us all new fervor, draw us
closer in community: [Refrain]

3 Lord, you make the common holy:
“This my body, this my blood.”
Let us all, for earth’s true glory,
daily lift life heavenward,
asking that the world around us
share your children’s liberty: [Refrain]

4 Lord, you show us love’s true measure:
“Father, what they do, forgive.”
Yet we hoard as private treasure
all that you so freely give.
May your care and mercy lead us
to a just society: [Refrain]

5 Lord, you bless with words assuring:
“I am with you to the end.”
Faith and hope and love restoring,
may we serve as you intend
and, amid the cares that claim us,
hold in mind eternity: [Refrain]

Reading: Matthew 6:5-12

Jesus said, “When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners so that people will see them. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get. But when you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you.

“When you pray, don’t pour out a flood of empty words, as the Gentiles do. They think that by saying many words they’ll be heard. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask. Pray like this:

CANTICLE Isaiah 12:2-6
(Uptown Worship Band: https://tinyurl.com/y8q877og)

Refrain:
Surely, it is God who saves;
I will and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my sure defense,
and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water
and rejoice from the salvation spring.
On that day you shall say,
give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name. Refrain

Make his deeds known among the people;
they remember his Name on high.
Sing praise to the Lord, for he has done great things,
and this is known in all the world. Refrain

Cry aloud, O Zion, ring out your joy,
for the great one in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

THE PRAYERS ^BCW

Eternal God, we thank you for being with us today, and for every sign of your
truth and love in Jesus Christ. Especially we thank you for
the gift of peace in Christ . . .
reconciliation in our relationships . . .
each new insight into your love . . .
energy and courage to share your love . . .
the ministries of the church. . . .

Gracious God, we remember in our own hearts the needs of others, that we may
reach up to claim your love for them, and reach out to give your love in the name
of Christ. Especially we pray for
racial harmony and justice . . .
those imprisoned . . .
strangers we have met today . . .
friends who are bereaved . . .
Orthodox and Coptic churches. . . .

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 God, you raise us to fullness of being
in sharing the Christ-life together.
Teach us to pray
and grant us hopeful persistence
in seeking your will and your way,
that by the power of the Spirit,
love and faithfulness may meet
to disarm the powers of the world. Amen. ^RCLP

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.

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

The three main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.

The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language versions of Psalms 147 is from The Lukan Psalter, Order of St Luke and the chant is from the Lyrical Levites YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC91Z14N9hR9n4Xooq25-Czg/featured). Psalm 148 is from The Grail Psalter and the chant is from the Victor and the Psalter YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkcvDyQp5xxU50I2JN5NgPQ/featured). Psalm 149 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is chanted by Ryland Angel. Psalm 150 is in the version sung by Karl Kohlhase http://www.k4communications.com/karl/index.html.

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.