Oremus for Thursday, September 8, 2022

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/4a5jdna4

As for me, in justice I shall behold your face;
I shall be filled with the vision of your glory. 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: Marty Haugen ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/47ta35cu

1 You are salt for the earth, O people,
salt for the kingdom of God!
Share the flavor of life, O people:
life in the kingdom of God!

Refrain:
Bring forth the kingdom of mercy,
bring forth the kingdom of peace.
Bring forth the kingdom of justice,
bring forth the city of God!

2 You are a light on the hill, O people,
light for the city of God!
Shine so holy and bright, O people:
shine for the kingdom of God! [Refrain]

3 “You are a seed of the Word, O people,
bring forth the kingdom of God!
Seeds of mercy and seeds of justice,
grow in the kingdom of God! [Refrain]

4 We are a bless’d and a pilgrim people,
bound for the kingdom of God!
Love our journey and love our homeland:
love is the kingdom of God! [Refrain]

PSALMS

Psalm 38 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y8u2a6mz)
1  Put me not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine anger *
 neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure.
2  For thine arrows stick fast in me *
 and thy hand presseth me sore.
3  There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure *
 neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin.
4  For my wickednesses are gone over my head *
 and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear.
5  My wounds stink, and are corrupt *
 through my foolishness.
6  I am brought into so great trouble and misery *
 that I go mourning all the day long.
7  For my loins are filled with a sore disease *
 and there is no whole part in my body.
8  I am feeble, and sore smitten *
 I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart.
9  Lord, thou knowest all my desire *
 and my groaning is not hid from thee.
10  My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me *
 and the sight of mine eyes is gone from me.
11  My lovers and my neighbours did stand looking upon my trouble *
 and my kinsmen stood afar off.
12  They also that sought after my life laid snares for me *
 and they that went about to do me evil talked of wickedness,
and imagined deceit all the day long.
13  As for me, I was like a deaf man, and heard not *
 and as one that is dumb, who doth not open his mouth.
14  I became even as a man that heareth not *
 and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
15  For in thee, O Lord, have I put my trust *
 thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God.
16  I have required that they, even mine enemies,
should not triumph over me *
 for when my foot slipped, they rejoiced greatly against me.
17  And I, truly, am set in the plague *
 and my heaviness is ever in my sight.
18  For I will confess my wickedness *
 and be sorry for my sin.
19  But mine enemies live, and are mighty *
 and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number.
20  They also that reward evil for good are against me *
 because I follow the thing that good is.
21  Forsake me not, O Lord my God *
 be not thou far from me.
22  Haste thee to help me *
 O Lord God of my salvation.
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 39 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y9dmgm3b)
1  I said, I will take heed to my ways *
 that I offend not in my tongue.
2  I will keep my mouth as it were with a bridle *
 while the ungodly is in my sight.
3  I held my tongue, and spake nothing *
 I kept silence, yea, even from good words;
but it was pain and grief to me.
4  My heart was hot within me,
and while I was thus musing the fire kindled *
 and at the last I spake with my tongue;
5  Lord, let me know mine end, and the number of my days *
 that I may be certified how long I have to live.
6  Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long *
 and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee;
and verily every man living is altogether vanity.
7  For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain *
 he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.
8  And now, Lord, what is my hope *
 truly my hope is even in thee.
9  Deliver me from all mine offences *
 and make me not a rebuke unto the foolish.
10  I became dumb, and opened not my mouth *
 for it was thy doing.
11  Take thy plague away from me *
 I am even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand.
12  When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin,
thou makest his beauty to consume away,
like as it were a moth fretting a garment *
 every man therefore is but vanity.
13  Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine ears consider my calling *
 hold not thy peace at my tears.
14  For I am a stranger with thee *
 and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
15  O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength *
 before I go hence, and be no more seen.
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 40 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ybregq8q)
1  I waited patiently for the Lord *
 and he inclined unto me, and heard my calling.
2  He brought me also out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay *
 and set my feet upon the rock, and ordered my goings.
3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth *
 even a thanksgiving unto our God.
4  Many shall see it, and fear *
 and shall put their trust in the Lord.
5  Blessed is the man that hath set his hope in the Lord *
 and turned not unto the proud, and to such as go about with lies.
6  O Lord my God, great are the wondrous works which thou hast done,
like as be also thy thoughts which are to us-ward *
 and yet there is no man that ordereth them unto thee.
7  If I should declare them, and speak of them *
 they should be more than I am able to express.
8  Sacrifice, and meat-offering, thou wouldest not *
 but mine ears hast thou opened.
9  Burnt-offerings, and sacrifice for sin, hast thou not required *
 then said I, Lo, I come,
10  In the volume of the book it is written of me, that I should fulfil thy will, O my God *
 I am content to do it; yea, thy law is within my heart.
11  I have declared thy righteousness in the great congregation *
 lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Lord, and that thou knowest.
12  I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart *
 my talk hath been of thy truth, and of thy salvation.
13  I have not kept back thy loving mercy and truth *
 from the great congregation.
14  Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me, O Lord *
 let thy loving-kindness and thy truth alway preserve me.
15  For innumerable troubles are come about me;
my sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up *
 yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head,
and my heart hath failed me.
16  O Lord, let it be thy pleasure to deliver me *
 make haste, O Lord, to help me.
17  Let them be ashamed, and confounded together,
that seek after my soul to destroy it *
 let them be driven backward, and put to rebuke, that wish me evil.
18  Let them be desolate, and rewarded with shame *
 that say unto me, Fie upon thee, fie upon thee.
19  Let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee *
 and let such as love thy salvation say alway, The Lord be praised.
20  As for me, I am poor and needy *
 but the Lord careth for me.
21  Thou art my helper and redeemer *
 make no long tarrying, O my God.
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 38 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-38-MH.mp3)
2 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger;
do not punish me, Lord, in your rage.
3 Your arrows have sunk deep in me;
your hand has come down upon me.
4 Through your anger all my body is sick:
through my sin, there is no health in my limbs.
5 My guilt towers higher than my head;
it is a weight too heavy to bear.
6 My wounds are foul and festering,
the result of my own folly.
7 I am bowed and brought to my knees.
I go mourning all the day long.
8 All my frame burns with fever;
all my body is sick.
9 Spent and utterly crushed,
I cry aloud in anguish of heart.
10 O Lord, you know all my longing:
my groans are not hidden from you.
11 My heart throbs, my strength is spent;
the very light has gone from my eyes.
12 My friends avoid me like a leper;
those closest to me stand afar off.
13 Those who plot against my life lay snares;
those who seek my ruin speak of harm,
planning treachery all the day long.
14 But I am like the deaf who cannot hear,
like the dumb unable to speak.
15 I am like a man who hears nothing
in whose mouth is no defense.
16 I count on you, O Lord:
it is you, Lord God, who will answer.
17 I pray: “Do not let them mock me,
those who triumph if my foot should slip.”
18 For I am on the point of falling
and my pain is always before me.
19 I confess that I am guilty
and my sin fills me with dismay.
20 My wanton enemies are numberless
and my lying foes are many.
21 They repay me evil for good
and attack me for seeking what is right.
22 O Lord, do not forsake me!
My God, do not stay afar off!
23 Make haste and come to my help,
O Lord, my God, my savior!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Spiritt;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 39 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-39-MH.mp3)
2 I said: “I will be watchful of my ways
for fear I should sin with my tongue.
I will put a curb on my lips
when the wicked man stands before me.”
3 I was dumb, silent and still.
His prosperity stirred my grief.
4 My heart was burning within me.
At the thought of it, the fire blazed up
and my tongue burst into speech:
5 “O Lord, you have shown me my end,
how short is the length of my days.
Now I know how fleeting is my life.
6 You have given me a short span of days;
my life is as nothing in your sight.
A mere breath, the man who stood so firm,
7 a mere shadow, the man passing by;
a mere breath the riches he hoards,
not knowing who will have them.”
8 And now, Lord, what is there to wait for?
In you rests all my hope.
9 Set me free from all my sins,
do not make me the taunt of the fool.
10 I was silent, not opening my lips,
because this was all your doing.
11 Take away your scourge from me.
I am crushed by the blows of your hand.
12 You punish man’s sins and correct him;
like the moth you devour all he treasures.
Mortal man is no more than a breath;
13 O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, turn your ear to my cry.
Do not be deaf to my tears.
In your house I am a passing guest,
a pilgrim, like all my fathers.
14 Look away that I may breathe again
before I depart to be 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 40 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-40.mp3)
1 I waited patiently upon the LORD; *
he stooped to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay; *
he set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God; *
many shall see, and stand in awe,
and put their trust in the LORD.
4 Happy are they who trust in the LORD! *
they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.
5 Great things are they that you have done, O LORD my God!
how great your wonders and your plans for us! *
there is none who can be compared with you.
6 Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! *
but they are more than I can count.
7 In sacrifice and offering you take no pleasure *
(you have given me ears to hear you);
8 Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required, *
and so I said, “Behold, I come.
9 In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: *
‘I love to do your will, O my God;
your law is deep in my heart.’”
10 I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation; *
behold, I did not restrain my lips;
and that, O LORD, you know.
11 Your righteousness have I not hidden in my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your deliverance; *
I have not concealed your love and faithfulness from the
 great congregation.
12 You are the LORD;
do not withhold your compassion from me; *
let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever,
13 For innumerable troubles have crowded upon me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see; *
they are more in number than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails me.
14 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; *
O LORD, make haste to help me.
15 Let them be ashamed and altogether dismayed
who seek after my life to destroy it; *
let them draw back and be disgraced
who take pleasure in my misfortune.
16 Let those who say “Aha!” and gloat over me be confounded, *
because they are ashamed.
17 Let all who seek you rejoice in you and be glad; *
let those who love your salvation continually say,
Great is the LORD!”
18 Though I am poor and afflicted, *
the Lord will have regard for me.
19 You are my helper and my deliverer; *
do not tarry, O my God.

PRAYER

O God,
none can compare with you,
for your wondrous deeds for our salvation are without number.
Make us bold witnesses to your faithfulness
that all the earth may rejoice in your love toward us
in Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Jeremiah 27:12-22

I delivered the same message to Judah’s King Zedekiah: If you want to live, put your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him and his people. Why should you and your people die by sword, famine, and disease, as the Lord pronounced against any nation that won’t serve the king of Babylon? Pay no attention to the words of the prophets who encourage you not to serve the king of Babylon, for they are lying to you. I haven’t sent these prophets, declares the Lord; they are prophesying falsely in my name. If you listen to them, I will drive you out, and you will perish, both you and your prophets!

Then I spoke to the priests and all this people: This is what the Lord says: Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you, “In a short while, the temple equipment will be brought back from Babylon.” They are prophesying a lie to you. Don’t listen to them; serve the king of Babylon and live. Otherwise, this city will be reduced to ruin. If they are really prophets and have the Lord’s word, let them intercede with the Lord of heavenly forces not to let the equipment left in the Lord’s temple and in the royal palace of Judah and Jerusalem be carted off to Babylon.

This is what the Lord of heavenly forces proclaims about the pillars, the Sea, the stands, and the rest of the equipment left in this city, which Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar didn’t plunder when he deported Jeconiah the son of Judah’s King Jehoiakim from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with all the officials of Judah and Jerusalem. Yes, this is what the Lord of heavenly forces, the God of Israel, proclaims about the equipment that is left in the Lord’s temple and in the royal palace in Judah, and in Jerusalem: They will be carted off to Babylon where they will remain until the day I come looking for them, declares the Lord; then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.

HYMN: Psalm 34; para. Tate & Brady
Tune: Wiltshire https://tinyurl.com/5n8nefsx

1 Through all the changing scenes of life,
in trouble and in joy,
the praises of my God shall still
my heart and tongue employ.

2 O magnify the Lord with me,
with me exalt his name;
when in distress to him I called,
he to my rescue came.

3 The hosts of God encamp around
the dwellings of the just;
deliverance he affords to all
who on his succour trust.

4 O make but trial of his love,
experience will decide
how blest are they, and only they,
who in his truth confide!

5 Fear him, ye saints, and you will then
have nothing else to fear;
make you his service your delight,
your wants shall be his care.

6 To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
the God whom we adore,
be glory, as it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.

Reading: 2 Timothy 3:1-16

Understand that the last days will be dangerous times. People will be selfish and love money. They will be the kind of people who brag and who are proud. They will slander others, and they will be disobedient to their parents. They will be ungrateful, unholy, unloving, contrary, and critical. They will be without self-control and brutal, and they won’t love what is good. They will be people who are disloyal, reckless, and conceited. They will love pleasure instead of loving God. They will look like they are religious but deny God’s power. Avoid people like this. Some will slither into households and control immature women who are burdened with sins and driven by all kinds of desires. These women are always learning, but they can never arrive at an understanding of the truth. These people oppose the truth in the same way that Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. Their minds are corrupt and their faith is counterfeit. But they won’t get very far. Their foolishness will become obvious to everyone like those others.

But you have paid attention to my teaching, conduct, purpose, faithfulness, patience, love, and endurance. You have seen me experience physical abuse and ordeals in places such as Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I put up with all sorts of abuse, and the Lord rescued me from it all! In fact, anyone who wants to live a holy life in Christ Jesus will be harassed. But evil people and swindlers will grow even worse, as they deceive others while being deceived themselves.

But you must continue with the things you have learned and found convincing. You know who taught you. Since childhood you have known the holy scriptures that help you to be wise in a way that leads to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus. Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character.

HYMN: Georg Neumark; trans. Catherine Winkworth
Tune: Neumark https://tinyurl.com/y7zb8rds

1 If thou but suffer God to guide thee,
and hope in him through all your ways,
he’ll give thee strength, whate’er betide thee,
and bear thee through the evil days:
who trusts in God’s unchanging love
builds on the Rock that naught can move.

2 What can these anxious cares avail thee,
these never ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help, if thou bewail thee
o’er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
the heavier for our bitterness.

3 Only be still, and wait his leisure
in cheerful hope, with heart content
to take whate’er thy Father’s pleasure
and all-discerning love hath sent;
nor doubt our inmost wants are known
to him who chose us for his own.

4 All are alike before the Highest;
’tis easy to our God, we know,
to raise thee up, though low thou liest,
to make the rich man poor and low;
true wonders still by him are wrought,
who setteth up and brings to naught.

5 Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving,
so do thine own part faithfully,
and trust his Word–though undeserving,
thou yet shalt find it true for thee;
God never yet forsook at need
the soul that trusted him indeed.

Reading: Matthew 7:21-29

Jesus said, “Not everybody who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter. On the Judgment Day, many people will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name and expel demons in your name and do lots of miracles in your name?’ Then I’ll tell them, ‘I’ve never known you. Get away from me, you people who do wrong.’

“Everybody who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who built a house on bedrock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It didn’t fall because it was firmly set on bedrock. But everybody who hears these words of mine and doesn’t put them into practice will be like a fool who built a house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It fell and was completely destroyed.”

When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were amazed at his teaching because he was teaching them like someone with authority and not like their legal experts.

CANTICLE Song of the Three Young Men 29-34
(Setting by Timothy R. Smith: https://tinyurl.com/ycrdhlqc)

Refrain:
Glory and praise, glory and praise, glory and praise for ever!

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
and blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all ages. Refrain

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Refrain

Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Refrain

Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Refrain

THE PRAYERS ^PWC

Creator of all, open a path for your Word
to declare the mystery of Christ.
Turn now, O God of hosts;
behold and tend the vine you have planted.
May your people rejoice and sing,
and your ministers be clothed with salvation.
May they stand and feed your flock
in the strength of your name.
Keep from trouble all those who trust in you
and forget not the poor for ever.
Have mercy upon us,
as we have put our hope in you.

(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.

O Lord, faithful God,
you are our rock and our refuge.
Help us to hear your word as truth
and to act on it in faith,
that all may come to know your love. 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.

^PWC PRAY WITHOUT CEASING: Morning and Evening Prayer for the Seasons of the Church Year Prepared by The Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett on behalf of The Liturgy Task Force of the Anglican Church of Canada, May 2016.

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 Psalm 38 and 39 are from The Grail Psalter and are from the Manual Hopper YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/manualhopper/featured. Psalm 40 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.