Oremus for Thursday, September 1, 2022

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/tnz5zenv

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; whom should I dread?
When those who do evil draw near, they stumble and fall. Psalm 27

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: Dietrich Bonhoeffer; tr. Church Hymnary, 4th ed. ©
Tune: Eventide https://tinyurl.com/yc6an8sn

1 We turn to God when we are sorely pressed;
we pray for help, and ask for peace and bread;
we seek release from illness, guilt, and death:
all people do, in faith or unbelief.

2 We turn to God when he is sorely pressed,
and find him poor, scorned, without roof and bread,
bowed under weight of weakness, sin, and death:
faith stands by God in his dark hour of grief.

3 God turns to us when we are sorely pressed,
and feeds our souls and bodies with his bread;
for one and all Christ gives himself in death:
through his forgiveness sin will find relief.

PSALMS

Psalm 1 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yaev8zrk)
1  Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor stood in the way of sinners *
 and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful.
2  But his delight is in the law of the Lord *
 and in his law will he exercise himself day and night.
3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-side *
 that will bring forth his fruit in due season.
4  His leaf also shall not wither *
 and look, whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper.
5  As for the ungodly, it is not so with them *
 but they are like the chaff, which the wind
scattereth away from the face of the earth.
6  Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgement *
 neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
7  But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous *
 and the way of the ungodly shall perish.
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 2 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ya85zg8v)
1  Why do the heathen so furiously rage together *
 and why do the people imagine a vain thing?
2  The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together *
 against the Lord, and against his Anointed.
3  Let us break their bonds asunder *
 and cast away their cords from us.
4  He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn *
 the Lord shall have them in derision.
5  Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath *
 and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6  Yet have I set my King *
 upon my holy hill of Sion.
7  I will preach the law, whereof the Lord hath said unto me *
 Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
8  Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance *
 and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9  Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron *
 and break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10  Be wise now therefore, O ye kings *
 be learned, ye that are judges of the earth.
11  Serve the Lord in fear *
 and rejoice unto him with reverence.
12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and so ye perish from the right way *
 if his wrath be kindled, (yea, but a little,)
blessed are all they that put their trust in 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 3 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yabg6jbn)
1  Lord, how are they increased that trouble me *
 many are they that rise against me.
2  Many one there be that say of my soul *
 There is no help for him in his God.
3  But thou, O Lord, art my defender *
 thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head.
4  I did call upon the Lord with my voice *
 and he heard me out of his holy hill.
5  I laid me down and slept, and rose up again *
 for the Lord sustained me.
6  I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people *
 that have set themselves against me round about.
7  Up, Lord, and help me, O my God *
 for thou smitest all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone;
thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8  Salvation belongeth unto the Lord *
 and thy blessing is upon thy people.
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 4 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y7jpb9m3)
1  Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness *
 thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble;
have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.
2  O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour *
 and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing?
3  Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to himself
the man that is godly *
 when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
4  Stand in awe, and sin not *
 commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be still.
5  Offer the sacrifice of righteousness *
 and put your trust in the Lord.
6  There be many that say *
 Who will shew us any good?
7  Lord, lift thou up *
 the light of thy countenance upon us.
8  Thou hast put gladness in my heart *
 since the time that their corn, and wine, and oil, increased.
9  I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest *
 for it is thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.
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 5 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yd4gge8p)
1  Ponder my words, O Lord *
 consider my meditation.
2  O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my God *
 for unto thee will I make my prayer.
3  My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O Lord *
 early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
4  For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness *
 neither shall any evil dwell with thee.
5  Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight *
 for thou hatest all them that work vanity.
6  Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing *
 the Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.
7  But as for me, I will come into thine house,
even upon the multitude of thy mercy *
 and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
8  Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies *
 make thy way plain before my face.
9  For there is no faithfulness in his mouth *
 their inward parts are very wickedness.
10  Their throat is an open sepulchre *
 they flatter with their tongue.
11  Destroy thou them, O God;
let them perish through their own imaginations *
 cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness;
for they have rebelled against thee.
12  And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice *
 they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them;
they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee;
13  For thou, Lord, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous *
 and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield.
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 1 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-1.mp3)
1 Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of  the wicked, *
nor lingered in the way of sinners,
nor sat in the seats of the scornful!
2 Their delight is in the law of the LORD, *
and they meditate on his law day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *
everything they do shall prosper.
4 It is not so with the wicked; *
 they are like chaff which the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when
  judgment comes, *
nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, *
but the way of the wicked is doomed.

Psalm 2 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-2.mp3)
1 Why are the nations in an uproar? *
Why do the peoples mutter empty threats?
2 Why do the kings of the earth rise up in revolt,
and the princes plot together, *
against the LORD and against his Anointed?
3 “Let us break their yoke,” they say; *
“let us cast off their bonds from us.”
4 He whose throne is in heaven is laughing; *
the Lord has them in derision.
5 Then he speaks to them in his wrath, *
and his rage fills them with terror.
6 “I myself have set my king *
   upon my holy hill of Zion.”
7 Let me announce the decree of the LORD: *
he said to me, “You are my Son;
this day have I begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for  your inheritance *
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
9 You shall crush them with an iron rod *
   and shatter them like a piece of pottery.”
10 And now, you kings, be wise; *
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Submit to the LORD with fear, *
and with trembling bow before him;
12 Lest he be angry and you perish; *
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
13 Happy are they all *
who take refuge in him!

Psalm 3 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-3.mp3)
1 LORD, how many adversaries I have! *
how many there are who rise up against me!
2 How many there are who say of me, *
 “There is no help for him in his God.”
3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me; *
you are my glory, the one who lifts up my head.
4 I call aloud upon the LORD, *
and he answers me from his holy hill;
5 I lie down and go to sleep; *
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
6 I do not fear the multitudes of people *
who set themselves against me all around.
7 Rise up, O LORD; set me free, O my God; *
surely, you will strike all my enemies across the face,
you will break the teeth of the wicked.
8 Deliverance belongs to the LORD. *
Your blessing be upon your people!

Psalm 4 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-4.mp3)
1 Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; *
you set me free when I am hard-pressed;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 “You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; *
how long will you worship dumb idols
and run after false gods?”
3 Know that the LORD does wonders for the faithful; *
when I call upon the LORD, he will hear me.
4 Tremble, then, and do not sin; *
speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.
5 Offer the appointed sacrifices *
and put your trust in the LORD.
6 Many are saying,
“Oh, that we might see better times!” *
Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.
7 You have put gladness in my heart, *
more than when grain and wine and oil increase.
8 I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; *
for only you, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 5 (LSB Tone A: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-5-LSB.mp3)
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD;*
 consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God,*
 for to you do I pray.
3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;*
 in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;*
 evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;*
 you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;*
the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.*
 I will bow down  toward your holy temple in the fear of you.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies;*
 make your way straight before me.
9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;*
 their throat is an open grave;
 they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;*
 because of the abundance of their transgressions
 cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,*
 and spread your protection over them,
 that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD;*
 you cover him with favor as with a shield.
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

You alone, O God, are holy and righteous,
and we praise you for protecting us in times of trial.
Keep us safe from all evil
and lead us in paths of justice
that we may know the joy of trusting Jesus Christ
our shield and defender. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: 2 Kings 23:21-30

The king commanded all the people, “Celebrate a Passover to the Lord your God following what is instructed in this scroll containing the covenant.” A Passover like this hadn’t been celebrated since the days when the judges judged Israel; neither had it been celebrated during all the days of the Israelite and Judean kings. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah’s rule, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem.

Josiah burned those who consulted dead spirits and the mediums, the household gods and the worthless idols—all the monstrous things that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. In this way Josiah fulfilled the words of the Instruction written in the scroll that the priest Hilkiah found in the Lord’s temple. There’s never been a king like Josiah, whether before or after him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, all his being, and all his strength, in agreement with everything in the Instruction from Moses.

Even so, the Lord didn’t turn away from the great rage that burned against Judah on account of all that Manasseh had done to make him angry. The Lord said, “I will remove Judah from my presence just as I removed Israel. I will reject this city, Jerusalem, which I chose, and this temple where I promised my name would reside.”

The rest of Josiah’s deeds and all that he accomplished, aren’t they written in the official records of Judah’s kings? In his days, the Egyptian king Pharaoh Neco marched against the Assyrian king at the Euphrates River. King Josiah marched out to intercept him. But when Neco encountered Josiah in Megiddo, he killed the king. Josiah’s servants took his body from Megiddo in a chariot. They brought him to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. The people of the land took Jehoahaz, Josiah’s son, anointed him, and made him king after his father.

HYMN: George Croly
Tune: Morecambe https://tinyurl.com/yckzwxhh

1 Spirit of God, who dwells within my heart,
wean it from sin, through all its pulses move.
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as you are,
and make me love you as I ought to love.

2 I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
no sudden rending of the veil of clay,
no angel visitant, no opening skies;
but take the dimness of my soul away.

3 Did you not bid us love you, God and King,
love you with all our heart and strength and mind?
I see the cross there teach my heart to cling.
O let me seek you and O let me find!

4 Teach me to feel that you are always nigh;
teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,
to check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
teach me the patience of unceasing prayer.

5 Teach me to love you as your angels love,
one holy passion filling all my frame:
the fullness of the heaven-descended Dove;
my heart an altar, and your love the flame.

Reading: 1 Timothy 6:3-10

If anyone teaches anything different and doesn’t agree with sound teaching about our Lord Jesus Christ and teaching that is consistent with godliness, that person is conceited. They don’t understand anything but have a sick obsession with debates and arguments. This creates jealousy, conflict, verbal abuse, and evil suspicions. There is constant bickering between people whose minds are ruined and who have been robbed of the truth. They think that godliness is a way to make money! Actually, godliness is a great source of profit when it is combined with being happy with what you already have. We didn’t bring anything into the world and so we can’t take anything out of it: we’ll be happy with food and clothing. But people who are trying to get rich fall into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful passions that plunge people into ruin and destruction. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some have wandered away from the faith and have impaled themselves with a lot of pain because they made money their goal.

HYMN: Harry Emerson Fosdick
Tune: Cwm Rhondda https://tinyurl.com/sk6bzy68

1 God of grace and God of glory,
on thy people pour thy pow’r.
Crown thine ancient church’s story,
bring its bud to glorious flow’r.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour.

2 Lo! the hosts of evil round us
scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!
From the fears that long have bound us,
free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.

3 Cure thy children’s warring madness;
bend our pride to thy control;
shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal,
lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal.

4 Save us from weak resignation
to the evils we deplore.
Let the search for thy salvation
be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
serving thee whom we adore,
serving thee whom we adore.

Reading: Matthew 6:13-18

Jesus said, “If you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your sins.

“And when you fast, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They distort their faces so people will know they are fasting. I assure you that they have their reward. When you fast, brush your hair and wash your face. Then you won’t look like you are fasting to people, but only to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

CANTICLE Ephesians 1:3-10
(John Michael Talbot https://tinyurl.com/ya8y3kqs)

Ant. God chose us in his Son to be his beloved children.
Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, *
who bestowed on us in Christ every spiritual blessing in the heavens.

God chose us in him before the world began, *
to be holy and blameless in his sight.
He predestined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ, *
such was his will and pleasure,
that all might praise the glorious favor
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.

In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed, *
and our sins forgiven, so immeasurably generous is God’s favor to us.
God has given us the wisdom to understand fully the mystery, *
the plan he was pleased to decree in Christ.

A plan to be carried out in Christ, in the fullness of time, *
to bring all things into one in him, in the heavens and on the earth
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

Give us your peace, O God, that we may rejoice in your goodness to us and to all
your children, and be thankful for your love revealed in Jesus Christ. Especially
we thank you for
people who reveal your truth and righteousness . . .
courage to be bold disciples . . .
those who show hospitality . . .
surprises that have blessed us . . .
the unity of the church of Jesus Christ. . . .

Give us your peace, O God, that we may be confident of your care for us and all
your children, as we remember the needs of others. Especially we pray for
friends and relatives who are far away . . .
neighbors in special need . . .
those who suffer hunger and thirst . . .
those who work at night while others sleep . . .
Episcopal and Methodist churches. . . .

(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 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.

Righteous God,
in humility and repentance
we bring our failures in caring, helping, and loving,
we bring the pain we have caused other,
we bring the injustice in society of which we are a part,
to the transforming power of your grace.
Grant us the courage to accept the healing you offer
and to turn again toward the sunrise of your reign,
that we may walk with you in the promise of peace
you have willed for all the children of the earth,
and have made known to us in Christ Jesus. 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.

The 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 1-4 are from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and are sung by Ryland Angel. Psalm 5 is from Lutheran Service Book and is 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.