Oremus for Friday, September 2, 2022

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/hs9fh5jk

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all within me, his holy name. Psalm 103

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: David Mowbray ©
Tune: Ryburn https://tinyurl.com/ypyty3cd

1 Father of all, whose laws have stood
as signposts for our earthly good;
whose Son has come with truth and grace,
your likeness shining in his face:

Refrain:
Give us Christ’s love, its depth and length,
its heart and soul and mind and strength.

2 The first and finest day is yours
to consecrate all other hours;
all other lords may we disown
and worship bring to you alone: [Refrain]

3 Surround our homes with joy and peace,
with loyalty and cheerfulness;
let partners live without pretence
and children grow in confidence: [Refrain]

4 May bitter hearts fresh mercy feel
and thieving hands no longer steal;
none damn their neighbour with a lie,
nor stoke the first of jealousy: [Refrain]

5 Father of all, whose laws have stood
as signposts for our earthly good;
whose Son has come with truth and grace,
your likeness shining in his face: [Refrain]

PSALMS

Psalm 9 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yczh7vnk)
1  I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart *
 I will speak of all thy marvellous works.
2  I will be glad and rejoice in thee *
 yea, my songs will I make of thy Name, O thou most Highest.
3  While mine enemies are driven back *
 they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
4  For thou hast maintained my right and my cause *
 thou art set in the throne that judgest right.
5  Thou hast rebuked the heathen, and destroyed the ungodly *
 thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
6  O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end *
 even as the cities which thou hast destroyed;
their memorial is perished with them.
7  But the Lord shall endure for ever *
 he hath also prepared his seat for judgement.
8  For he shall judge the world in righteousness *
 and minister true judgement unto the people.
9  The Lord also will be a defence for the oppressed *
 even a refuge in due time of trouble.
10  And they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee *
 for thou, Lord, hast never failed them that seek thee.
11  O praise the Lord which dwelleth in Sion *
 shew the people of his doings.
12  For, when he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them *
 and forgetteth not the complaint of the poor.
13  Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider the trouble
which I suffer of them that hate me *
 thou that liftest me up from the gates of death.
14  That I may shew all thy praises
within the ports of the daughter of Sion *
 I will rejoice in thy salvation.
15  The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made *
 in the same net which they hid privily, is their foot taken.
16  The Lord is known to execute judgement *
 the ungodly is trapped in the work of his own hands.
17  The wicked shall be turned into hell *
 and all the people that forget God.
18  For the poor shall not alway be forgotten *
 the patient abiding of the meek shall not perish for ever.
19  Up, Lord, and let not man have the upper hand *
 let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
20  Put them in fear, O Lord *
 that the heathen may know themselves to be but men.
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 10 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yakosuxg)
1  Why standest thou so far off, O Lord *
 and hidest thy face in the needful time of trouble?
2  The ungodly for his own lust doth persecute the poor *
 let them be taken in the crafty wiliness that they have imagined.
3  For the ungodly hath made boast of his own heart’s desire *
 and speaketh good of the covetous, whom God abhorreth.
4  The ungodly is so proud, that he careth not for God *
 neither is God in all his thoughts.
5  His ways are alway grievous *
 thy judgements are far above out of his sight,
and therefore defieth he all his enemies.
6  For he hath said in his heart, Tush, I shall never be cast down *
 there shall no harm happen unto me.
7  His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and fraud *
 under his tongue is ungodliness and vanity.
8  He sitteth lurking in the thievish corners of the streets *
 and privily in his lurking dens doth he murder the innocent;
his eyes are set against the poor.
9  For he lieth waiting secretly, even as a lion lurketh he in his den *
 that he may ravish the poor.
10  He doth ravish the poor *
 when he getteth him into his net.
11  He falleth down, and humbleth himself *
 that the congregation of the poor may fall into the hands of his captains.
12  He hath said in his heart, Tush, God hath forgotten *
 he hideth away his face, and he will never see it.
13  Arise, O Lord God, and lift up thine hand *
 forget not the poor.
14  Wherefore should the wicked blaspheme God *
 while he doth say in his heart, Tush, thou God carest not for it.
15  Surely thou hast seen it *
 for thou beholdest ungodliness and wrong.
16  That thou mayest take the matter into thine hand *
 the poor committeth himself unto thee;
for thou art the helper of the friendless.
17  Break thou the power of the ungodly and malicious *
 take away his ungodliness, and thou shalt find none.
18  The Lord is King for ever and ever *
 and the heathen are perished out of the land.
19  Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the poor *
 thou preparest their heart, and thine ear hearkeneth thereto;
20  To help the fatherless and poor unto their right *
 that the man of the earth be no more exalted against them.
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 11 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yboxkznx)
1  In the Lord put I my trust *
 how say ye then to my soul,
that she should flee as a bird unto the hill?
2  For lo, the ungodly bend their bow,
and make ready their arrows within the quiver *
 that they may privily shoot at them which are true of heart.
3  For the foundations will be cast down *
 and what hath the righteous done?
4  The Lord is in his holy temple *
 the Lord’s seat is in heaven.
5  His eyes consider the poor *
 and his eye-lids try the children of men.
6  The Lord alloweth the righteous *
 but the ungodly, and him that delighteth in wickedness
doth his soul abhor.
7  Upon the ungodly he shall rain snares,
fire and brimstone, storm and tempest *
 this shall be their portion to drink.
8  For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness *
 his countenance will behold the thing that is just.
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.

Psalms 9&10 (sung as one)
(Mode I Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-9-10-MH.mp3)
2 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will recount all your wonders.
3 I will rejoice in you and be glad,
and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.
4 See how my enemies turn back,
how they stumble and perish before you.
5 You upheld the justice of my cause;
you sat enthroned, judging with justice.
6 You have checked the nations, destroyed the wicked;
you have wiped out their name for ever and ever.
7 The foe is destroyed, eternally ruined.
You uprooted their cities; their memory has perished.
8 But the Lord sits enthroned for ever.
He has set up his throne for judgment;
9 he will judge the world with justice,
he will judge the peoples with his truth.
10 For the oppressed let the Lord be a stronghold,
a stronghold in times of distress.
11 Those who know your name will trust you;
you will never forsake those who seek you.
12 Sing psalms to the Lord who dwells in Zion.
Proclaim his mighty works among the peoples,
13 for the Avenger of blood has remembered them,
has not forgotten the cry of the poor.
14 Have pity on me, Lord, see my sufferings,
you who save me from the gates of death;
15 that I may recount all your praise
at the gates of the city of Zion
and rejoice in your saving help.
16 The nations have fallen in the pit which they made,
their feet caught in the snare they laid.
17 The Lord has revealed himself, and given judgment.
The wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.
18 Let the wicked go down among the dead,
all the nations forgetful of God;
19 for the needy shall not always be forgotten
nor the hopes of the poor be in vain.
20 Arise, Lord, let men not prevail!
Let the nations be judged before you.
21 Lord, strike them with terror,
let the nations know they are but men.

Psalm 10 (continued)
1 Lord, why do you stand afar off
and hide yourself in times of distress?
2 The poor man is devoured by the pride of the wicked:
he is caught in the schemes that others have made.
3 For the wicked man boasts of his heart’s desires;
the covetous blasphemes and spurns the Lord.
4 In his pride the wicked says: “He will not punish.
There is no God.” Such are his thoughts.
5 His path is ever untroubled;
your judgment is far from his mind.
His enemies he regards with contempt.
6 He thinks: “Never shall I falter:
misfortune shall never be my lot.”
7 His mouth is full of cursing, guile, oppression;
mischief and deceit are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait among the reeds;
the innocent he murders in secret.
His eyes are on the watch for the helpless man.
9 He lurks in hiding like a lion in his lair;
he lurks in hiding to seize the poor;
he seizes the poor man and drags him away.
10 He crouches, preparing to spring,
and the helpless fall beneath such strength.
11 He thinks in his heart: “God forgets,
he hides his face, he does not see.”
12 Arise then, Lord, lift up your hand!
O God, do not forget the poor!
13 Why should the wicked spurn the Lord
and think in his heart: “God will not punish”?
14 But you have seen the trouble and sorrow,
you note it, you take it in hand.
The helpless trusts himself to you;
for you are the helper of the orphan.
15 Break the power of the wicked and the sinner!
Punish their wickedness till nothing remains!
16 The Lord is king for ever and ever.
The heathen shall perish from the land he rules.
17 Lord, you hear the prayer of the poor;
you strengthen their hearts; you turn your ear
18 to protect the rights of the orphan and oppressed:
so that mortal man may strike terror no more.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 11 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-11.mp3)
1 In the LORD have I taken refuge; *
how then can you say to me,
“Fly away like a bird to the hilltop;
2 For see how the wicked bend the bow
and fit their arrows to the string, *
to shoot from ambush at the true of heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed, *
what can the righteous do?”
4 The LORD is in his holy temple; *
the LORD’S throne is in heaven.
5 His eyes behold the inhabited world; *
his piercing eye weighs our worth.
6 The LORD weighs the righteous as well as the wicked, *
but those who delight in violence he abhors.
7 Upon the wicked he shall rain coals of fire and
 burning sulphur; *
 a scorching wind shall be their lot.
8 For the LORD is righteous;
he delights in righteous deeds; *
and the just shall see his face.

PRAYER

God Most High,
in Jesus Christ you rule the world with righteousness
and judge the nations with equity.
Cast down the haughty and lift up the lowly.
Make us compassionate to the needy
that we may be close to Jesus Christ,
our servant Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Jeremiah 25:1-14

Jeremiah received the Lord’s word concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Judah’s King Jehoiakim, Josiah’s son. This was the first year of Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar. The prophet Jeremiah addressed all the people of Judah and all those living in Jerusalem. From the thirteenth year of Judah’s King Josiah, Amon’s son, to this very day—twenty-three years—the Lord’s word has come to me. I have delivered it to you repeatedly, although you wouldn’t listen. In fact, the Lord has tirelessly sent you all his servants, the prophets, but you wouldn’t listen or pay attention. They said, “Each one of you, turn from your evil ways and deeds and live in the fertile land that the Lord gave you and your ancestors for all time. Don’t follow or worship other gods and don’t anger me by what you make with your hands. Then I won’t bring disaster upon you.” But you wouldn’t listen to me, making me angry by what you do and bringing disaster upon yourselves, declares the Lord.

Therefore, this is what the Lord of heavenly forces says: Because you haven’t listened to my words, I am going to muster all the tribes of the north and my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, declares the Lord, and I will bring them against this country and its residents as well as against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them and will make them an object of horror, shock, and ruins for all time. I will silence the sounds of joy and laughter and the voices of the bride and the bridegroom. Yes, I will silence the millstones and snuff out the lamplight. This whole country will be reduced to a wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. When the seventy years are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation for their wrongdoing, declares the Lord. I will reduce the land of the Babylonians to a wasteland for all time. I will unleash upon that land everything I decreed, all that is written in this scroll, which Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations. Yes, many great nations and powerful kings will enslave them, and I will pay them back in full for what they have done and made with their hands.

HYMN: Charles Wesley
Tune: Boylstonhttps://tinyurl.com/2p9fw7j4 

1 A charge to keep I have,
a God to glorify,
a never-dying soul to save,
and fit it for the sky.

2 To serve the present age,
my calling to fulfill,
O may it all my powers engage
to do my Master’s will!

3 Arm me with watchful care
as in thy sight to live,
and now thy servant, Lord,
prepare a strict account to give!

4 Help me to watch and pray,
and still on thee rely,
O let me not my trust betray,
but press to realms on high.

Reading: 1 Timothy 6:11-16

But as for you, man of God, run away from all these things. Instead, pursue righteousness, holy living, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. Compete in the good fight of faith. Grab hold of eternal life—you were called to it, and you made a good confession of it in the presence of many witnesses. I command you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and Christ Jesus, who made the good confession when testifying before Pontius Pilate. Obey this order without fault or failure until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. The timing of this appearance is revealed by God alone, who is the blessed and only master, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He alone has immortality and lives in light that no one can come near. No human being has ever seen or is able to see him. Honor and eternal power belong to him. Amen.

HYMN: Karen Lafferty ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/3d9e8bca

1 Seek ye first the kingdom of God
and its righteousness,
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Allelu, alleluia!

2 Ask, and it shall be given unto you;
seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and the door shall be opened unto you.
Allelu, alleluia!

Reading: Matthew 6:22-24

Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. Therefore, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how terrible that darkness will be! No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

CANTICLE Deuteronomy 32:1-12
(Luke Brawner https://tinyurl.com/ybe98e62)

Give ear, O Heaven, and I will speak
Let the earth hear the words of my mouth
May my song fall soft like gentle rains
Upon the tender grass

Refrain:
(I will) proclaim the name of the Lord
(I will) ascribe greatness to our God
(I will) proclaim the name of the Lord
(I will) ascribe greatness to our God, greatness to our God

His work is perfect, his ways are just
without iniquity.
The Rock, a God of faithfulness
upright and just is he. Refrain
Rejoice with him, O heavens
Bow down to him, all gods
for he alone is worthy of your praise.
Rejoice with him, O heavens
Bow down to him, all gods
for he alone is worthy of your praise
for he alone is worthy of your praise.

Proclaim the name of the Lord.
O ascribe greatness to our God.
Proclaim the name of the Lord.
Ascribe greatness to our God, greatness to our God.

THE PRAYERS ^BCW

We give you our praise and thanks, O God, for all gifts of love we have received
from you, and for your persistent mercy in Jesus Christ.
Especially we thank you for
work we have accomplished pleasing to you . . .
the faithful witness of Christian people . . .
the example of righteousness we see in parents and teachers . . .
the innocence and openness we see in children . . .
all works of Christian compassion. . . .

We give you our cares and concerns, O God, because we know you are kind and
care for your children in every circumstance. Especially we pray for
those who struggle with doubt and despair . . .
people afflicted with disease . . .
those called to special ministries . . .
people neglected or abused . . .
Baptist, Disciples of Christ, and other free churches. . . .

(Traditional chant: http://oremus.org/chant/LP-1940.mp3)

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy God,
you reach out in love through Jesus Christ to save us
so that we may live as faithful servants of you alone.
Unchain us from our desire for wealth and power
so that we may, in turn, release others
from the prisons of poverty, hunger, and oppression. 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 Lord’s Prayer is the traditional chant as set in The Hymnal 1940 and sung by Kathryn Mannyng https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsJ2TB9pLbU

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 version of Psalm 9-10 is from The Grail Psalter and is from the Manual Hopper YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA7dFvm3xGcnay-IeuplWww. Psalm 11 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is 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.