Oremus for Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/pdbx9vkb

Your merciful love, O God,
we have received in the midst of your temple.
Your praise, O God, like your name,
reaches the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with saving justice. Psalm 48

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: George Hugh Borne
Tune: Bryn Calfaria https://tinyurl.com/ubfubsnx

1 Lord, enthroned in heav’nly splendor,
first-begotten from the dead,
Thou alone, our strong Defender,
liftest up Thy people’s head.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Jesus, true and living Bread!

2 Prince of Life, for us Thou livest,
by Thy body souls are healed;
Prince of Peace, Thy peace Thou givest,
by Thy blood is pardon sealed.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Word of God in flesh revealed.

3 Paschal Lamb! Thine off’ring finished
once for all when Thou wast slain,
in its fullness undiminished
shall forevermore remain.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Cleansing souls from ev’ry stain.

4 Great High Priest of our profession,
through the oil Thou ent’redst in;
by Thy mighty intercession
grace and mercy Thou dost win.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Only sacrifice for sin.

5 Life-imparting heav’nly Manna,
stricken Rock, with streaming side,
heav’n and earth with loud hosanna
worship Thee, the Lamb who died.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Ris’n, ascended, glorified!

PSALMS

Psalm 6 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yxx3vdzs)
1  O Lord, rebuke me not in thine indignation *
 neither chasten me in thy displeasure.
2  Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak *
 O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed.
3  My soul also is sore troubled *
 but, Lord, how long wilt thou punish me?
4  Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul *
 O save me for thy mercy’s sake.
5  For in death no man remembereth thee *
 and who will give thee thanks in the pit?
6  I am weary of my groaning; every night wash I my bed *
 and water my couch with my tears.
7  My beauty is gone for very trouble *
 and worn away because of all mine enemies.
8  Away from me, all ye that work vanity *
 for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.
9  The Lord hath heard my petition *
 the Lord will receive my prayer.
10  All mine enemies shall be confounded, and sore vexed *
 they shall be turned back, and put to shame suddenly.
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 7 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/u4vua9c)
1  O Lord my God, in thee have I put my trust *
 save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me;
2  Lest he devour my soul, like a lion, and tear it in pieces *
 while there is none to help.
3  O Lord my God, if I have done any such thing *
 or if there be any wickedness in my hands;
4  If I have rewarded evil unto him that dealt friendly with me *
 yea, I have delivered him that without any cause is mine enemy;
5  Then let mine enemy persecute my soul, and take me *
 yea, let him tread my life down upon the earth,
and lay mine honour in the dust.
6  Stand up, O Lord, in thy wrath, and lift up thyself,
because of the indignation of mine enemies *
 arise up for me in the judgement that thou hast commanded.
7  And so shall the congregation of the people come about thee *
 for their sakes therefore lift up thyself again.
8  The Lord shall judge the people; give sentence with me, O Lord *
 according to my righteousness,
and according to the innocency that is in me.
9  O let the wickedness of the ungodly come to an end *
 but guide thou the just.
10  For the righteous God *
 trieth the very hearts and reins.
11  My help cometh of God *
 who preserveth them that are true of heart.
12  God is a righteous Judge, strong, and patient *
 and God is provoked every day.
13  If a man will not turn, he will whet his sword *
 he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
14  He hath prepared for him the instruments of death *
 he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
15  Behold, he travaileth with mischief *
 he hath conceived sorrow, and brought forth ungodliness.
16  He hath graven and digged up a pit *
 and is fallen himself into the destruction that he made for other.
17  For his travail shall come upon his own head *
 and his wickedness shall fall on his own pate.
18  I will give thanks unto the Lord, according to his righteousness *
 and I will praise the Name of the Lord most High.
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 8 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vtzy6pg)
1  O Lord our Governor, how excellent is thy Name in all the world *
 thou that has set thy glory above the heavens!
2  Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings
hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies *
 that thou mightest still the enemy, and the avenger.
3  For I will consider thy heavens, even the works of thy fingers *
 the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained.
4  What is man, that thou art mindful of him *
 and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5  Thou madest him lower than the angels *
 to crown him with glory and worship.
6  Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands *
 and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet;
7  All sheep and oxen *
 yea, and the beasts of the field;
8  The fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea *
 and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the seas.
9  O Lord our Governor *
 how excellent is thy Name in all the world!
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 6 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-6.mp3)
2 Lord, do not reprove me in your anger;
punish me not in your rage.
3 Have mercy on me, Lord, I have no strength;
Lord, heal me, my body is racked;
4 my soul is racked with pain.
But you, O Lord… how long?
5 Return, Lord, rescue my soul.
Save me in your merciful love;
6 for in death no one remembers you;
from the grave, who can give you praise?
7 I am exhausted with my groaning;
every night I drench my pillow with tears;
I bedew my bed with weeping.
8 My eye wastes away with grief;
I have grown old surrounded by my foes.
9 Leave me, all you who do evil;
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
10 The Lord has heard my plea;
The Lord will accept my prayer.
11 All my foes will retire in confusion,
foiled and suddenly confounded.
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 7 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-7.mp3)
1 O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; *
save and deliver me from all who pursue me;
2 Lest like a lion they tear me in pieces *
and snatch me away with none to deliver me.
3 O LORD my God, if I have done these things: *
if there is any wickedness in my hands,
4 If I have repaid my friend with evil, *
or plundered him who without cause is my enemy;
5 Then let my enemy pursue and overtake me, *
trample my life into the ground,
and lay my honor in the dust.
6 Stand up, O LORD, in your wrath; *
rise up against the fury of my enemies.
7 Awake, O my God, decree justice; *
let the assembly of the peoples gather round you.
8 Be seated on your lofty throne, O Most High; *
O LORD, judge the nations.
9 Give judgment for me according to my
righteousness, O LORD, *
and according to my innocence, O Most High.
10 Let the malice of the wicked come to an end,
but establish the righteous; *
for you test the mind and heart, O righteous God.
11 God is my shield and defense; *
he is the savior of the true in heart.
12 God is a righteous judge; *
God sits in judgment every day.
13 If they will not repent, God will whet his sword; *
he will bend his bow and make it ready.
14 He has prepared his weapons of death; *
he makes his arrows shafts of fire.
15 Look at those who are in labor with wickedness, *
who conceive evil, and give birth to a lie.
16 They dig a pit and make it deep *
and fall into the hole that they have made.
17 Their malice turns back upon their own head; *
their violence falls on their own scalp.
18 I will bear witness that the LORD is righteous; *
I will praise the Name of the LORD Most High.

Psalm 8 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-8.mp3)
1 O LORD our Governor, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!
2 Out of the mouths of infants and children *
your majesty is praised above the heavens.
3 You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries, *
to quell the enemy and the avenger.
4 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, *
the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,
5 What is man that you should be mindful of him? *
the son of man that you should seek him out?
6 You have made him but little lower than the angels; *
you adorn him with glory and honor;
7 You give him mastery over the works of your hands; *
you put all things under his feet:
8 All sheep and oxen, *
even the wild beasts of the field,
9 The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *
and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.
10 O LORD our Governor, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!

PRAYER

O God, our judge and redeemer,
by the light of your truth
let the righteous know your goodness
and sinners know your mercy,
that together they may give you grateful praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Nehemiah 6:1-19

Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that there were no gaps left in it (although I hadn’t yet hung the doors in the gates), Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let’s meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they wanted to harm me, so I sent messengers to tell them, “I’m doing important work, so I can’t come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to come down to you?” They sent me a message like this four times, and every time I gave them a similar reply. But the fifth time, Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way, except that now he carried an open letter. It stated:

Later I went to see Shemaiah, Delaiah’s son and Mehetabel’s grandson, who was confined to his house, and he said:

But I replied, “Should someone like me run away? Who like me would go into the temple to save his life? I won’t go in!” Then I realized that God hadn’t sent him at all but that he spoke this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He was hired to frighten me and to make me sin by acting in this way. Then they could give me a bad name and discredit me. My God, remember these deeds of Tobiah and Sanballat! Also remember Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to frighten me.

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul. It took fifty-two days. When our enemies heard about this, all of the nations around us were afraid and their confidence was greatly shaken. They knew that this work was completed with the help of our God.

In addition, in those days the officials of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters were coming to them. Many in Judah were bound to him by solemn pledge because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah, Arah’s son, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam, Berechiah’s son. They also kept talking about his good deeds in my presence and then reported back to him what I said. In addition, Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

HYMN: John Ernest Bode
Tune: Wolvercote https://tinyurl.com/2p8wkrpp

1 O Jesus, I have promised
to serve thee to the end;
be thou forever near me,
my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
if thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway
if thou wilt be my guide.

2 O Jesus, thou hast promised
to all who follow thee,
that where thou art in glory
there shall thy servant be;
and, Jesus, I have promised
to serve thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
my Master and my Friend.

3 O let me feel thee near me!
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
the tempting sounds I hear;
my foes are ever near me,
around me and within;
but Jesus, draw thou nearer,
and shield my soul from sin.

4 O let me hear thee speaking
in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion,
the murmurs of self will.
O speak to reassure me,
to hasten or control;
O speak and make me listen,
thou guardian of my soul.

Reading: Hebrews 11:13-22

All these people died in faith without receiving the promises, but they saw the promises from a distance and welcomed them. They confessed that they were strangers and immigrants on earth. People who say this kind of thing make it clear that they are looking for a homeland. If they had been thinking about the country that they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return to it. But at this point in time, they are longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God isn’t ashamed to be called their God—he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham offered Isaac when he was tested. The one who received the promises was offering his only son. He had been told concerning him, Your legitimate descendants will come from Isaac. He figured that God could even raise him from the dead. So in a way he did receive him back from the dead. By faith Isaac also blessed Jacob and Esau concerning their future. By faith Jacob blessed each of Joseph’s sons as he was dying and bowed in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph recalled the exodus of the Israelites at the end of his life, and gave instructions about burying his bones.

HYMN: Fred Pratt Green ©
Tune: Repton https://tinyurl.com/yckjy6kk

1 How clear is our vocation, Lord,
when once we heed your call:
to live according to your Word,
and daily learn, refreshed, restored,
that you are Lord of all
and will not let us fall.

2 But if, forgetful, we should find
your yoke is hard to bear;
if worldly pressures fray the mind,
and love itself cannot unwind
its tangled skein of care:
our inward life repair.

3 We marvel how your saints become
in hindrances more sure,
whose joyful virtues put to shame
the casual way we wear your name
and by our faults obscure
your pow’r to cleanse and cure.

4 In what you give us, Lord, to do,
together or alone,
in old routines and ventures new,
may we not cease to look to you,
the cross you hung upon—
all you endeavored done.

Reading: John 6:44-51

Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless they are drawn to me by the Father who sent me, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets, And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to the Father and learned from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father. I assure you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that whoever eats from it will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

CANTICLE Isaiah 60:1-19
(Jered McKenna https://tinyurl.com/y7ccoep2)

Arise shine for your light has come and the glory of God is on you
Arise see when the earth grows dark that the Lord will arise upon you
The Lord will arise upon you

Nations will come to your light lift up your eyes and see
We’ll gather together and come to you
And your love will be all that we know
Your love will be all that we know
The sun will not shine cause you’ll be all the light that we need
and violence will end all the wars that we wage will cease

We will glorify your name
We will glorify your name.

Arise come to the open gates for the Father is welcoming you
Fear not for the Lord brings peace and redemption to all who believe
Redemption to all who believe

Nations will come to your light lift up your eyes and see
We’ll gather together and come to you
And your love will be all that we know
Your love will be all that we know
The sun will not shine cause you’ll be all the light that we need
and violence will end all the wars that we wage will cease

We will glorify your name
We will glorify your name.

THE PRAYERS ^PWC

God of Jacob, may all who call themselves Christians
become a priestly people to the praise of Christ Jesus our Saviour.
God of compassion, teach us your ways.
May all bishops and other ministers
remain faithful to their calling and rightly proclaim the word of truth.
God of compassion, teach us your ways.
May the leaders of the nations and all in authority
lead their peoples into quiet and peaceable lives.
God of compassion, teach us your ways.
Show your good will to all who live in this city, the poor and the rich,
the elderly and the young, men and women.
God of compassion, teach us your ways.
Help and defend the victims of our society
and those who minister to them.
God of compassion, teach us your ways.
Strengthen the faith of those who are preparing for baptism
and for those who have been recently baptized.
God of compassion, teach us your ways.
Count us among all your faithful witnesses:
all the saints who have found favour in your sight from earliest times,
prophets, apostles, martyrs and those whose names are known to you alone.
God of compassion, teach us your ways.

(Karin Simmons: https://tinyurl.com/y7vwp7dd)

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.
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.

Gracious God,
although we once were strangers,
you receive us as friends
and draw us home to you.
Set your living bread before us
that, feasting around your table,
we may be strengthened to continue the work
to which your Son commissioned us. 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.

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

The traditional version of the psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language versions of Psalm 7 and 8 are from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and are sung by Ryland Angel. Psalm 6 is from The Grail Psalter and is from the Manual Hopper YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/manualhopper/featured

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 © 2023 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.