Oremus for Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/ypfm8yec

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be consoled.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall have their fill. Matthew 5

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: John Newton
Tune: Pleyel’s Hymn https://tinyurl.com/2s37mmcb

1 Now may He who from the dead
Brought the Shepherd of the sheep,
Jesus Christ, our King and Head,
All our souls in safety keep!

2 May He teach us to fulfill
What is pleasing in His sight;
Perfect us all in His will,
And preserve us day and night!

3 To that dear Redeemer’s praise,
Who the cov’nant sealed with blood,
Let our hearts and voices raise
Loud thanksgivings to our God.

PSALMS

Psalm 41 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/urktsqu)
1  Blessed is he that considereth the poor and needy *
 the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble.
2  The Lord preserve him, and keep him alive,
that he may be blessed upon earth *
 and deliver not thou him into the will of his enemies.
3  The Lord comfort him, when he lieth sick upon his bed *
 make thou all his bed in his sickness.
4  I said, Lord, be merciful unto me *
 heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.
5  Mine enemies speak evil of me *
 When shall he die, and his name perish?
6  And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity *
 and his heart conceiveth falsehood within himself,
and when he cometh forth he telleth it.
7  All mine enemies whisper together against me *
 even against me do they imagine this evil.
8  Let the sentence of guiltiness proceed against him *
 and now that he lieth, let him rise up no more.
9  Yea, even mine own familiar friend, whom I trusted *
 who did also eat of my bread, hath laid great wait for me.
10  But be thou merciful unto me, O Lord *
 raise thou me up again, and I shall reward them.
11  By this I know thou favourest me *
 that mine enemy doth not triumph against me.
12  And when I am in my health, thou upholdest me *
 and shalt set me before thy face for ever.
13  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel *
 world without end. Amen.
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 42 and 43 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/wxrfhr8)
sung as the one psalm they originally were
1  Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks *
 so longeth my soul after thee, O God.
2  My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God *
 when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?
3  My tears have been my meat day and night *
 while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy God?
4  Now when I think thereupon, I pour out my heart by myself *
 for I went with the multitude,
and brought them forth into the house of God;
5  In the voice of praise and thanksgiving *
 among such as keep holy-day.
6  Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul *
 and why art thou so disquieted within me?
7  Put thy trust in God *
 for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his countenance.
8  My God, my soul is vexed within me *
 therefore will I remember thee concerning the land of Jordan,
and the little hill of Hermon.
9  One deep calleth another, because of the noise of the water-pipes *
 all thy waves and storms are gone over me.
10  The Lord hath granted his loving-kindness in the day-time *
 and in the night-season did I sing of him,
and made my prayer unto the God of my life.
11  I will say unto the God of my strength, Why hast thou forgotten me *
 why go I thus heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?
12  My bones are smitten asunder as with a sword *
 while mine enemies that trouble me cast me in the teeth;
13  Namely, while they say daily unto me *
 Where is now thy God?
14  Why art thou so vexed, O my soul *
 and why art thou so disquieted within me?
15  O put thy trust in God *
 for I will yet thank him,
which is the help of my countenance, and my God.
1  Give sentence with me, O God,
and defend my cause against the ungodly people *
 O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man.
2  For thou art the God of my strength, why hast thou put me from thee *
 and why go I so heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?
3  O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me *
 and bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling.
4  And that I may go unto the altar of God,
even unto the God of my joy and gladness *
 and upon the harp will I give thanks unto thee, O God, my God.
5  Why art thou so heavy, O my soul *
 and why art thou so disquieted within me?
6  O put thy trust in God *
 for I will yet give him thanks,
which is the help of my countenance, and 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 41 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-41.mp3)
1 Happy are they who consider the poor and needy! *
the LORD will deliver them in the time of trouble.
2 The LORD preserves them and keeps them alive,
so that they may be happy in the land; *
he does not hand them over to the will of their enemies.
3 The LORD sustains them on their sickbed *
and ministers to them in their illness.
4 I said, “LORD, be merciful to me; *
heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
5 My enemies are saying wicked things about me: *
When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 Even if they come to see me, they speak empty words; *
their heart collects false rumors;
they go outside and spread them.
7 All my enemies whisper together about me *
and devise evil against me.
8 “A deadly thing,” they say, “has fastened on him; *
he has taken to his bed and will never get up again.”
9 Even my best friend, whom I trusted,
who broke bread with me, *
has lifted up his heel and turned against me.
10 But you, O LORD, be merciful to me and raise me up, *
and I shall repay them.
11 By this I know you are pleased with me, *
that my enemy does not triumph over me.
12 In my integrity you hold me fast, *
and shall set me before your face for ever.
13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, *
from age to age. Amen. Amen.

Psalms 42 and 43
(Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-42-43-MH.mp3
2 Like the deer that yearns for running streams,
so my soul is yearning for you, my God.
3 My soul is thirsting for God, the God of my life;
when can I enter and see the face of God?
4 My tears have become my bread, by night, by day,
as I hear it said all the day long: “Where is your God?”
5 These things will I remember as I pour out my soul:
how I would lead the rejoicing crowd
into the house of God,
amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving,
the throng wild with joy.
6 Why are you cast down, my soul,
why groan within me?
Hope in God;
I will praise him still, my savior and my God.
7 My soul is cast down within me as I think of you,
from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon,
from the Hill of Mizar.
8 Deep is calling on deep, in the roar of waters;
your torrents and all your waves swept over me.
9 By day the Lord will send his loving kindness;
by night I will sing to him,
praise the God of my life.
10 I will say to God, my rock: “Why have your forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning oppressed by the foe?”
11 With cries that pierce me to the heart,
my enemies revile me, saying to me all day long:
“Where is your God?”
12 Why are you cast down, my soul,
why groan within me?
Hope in God;
I will praise him still, my savior and my God.
1 Defend me, O God,
and plead my cause against a godless nation.
From deceitful and cunning men
rescue me, O God.
2 Since you, O God, are my stronghold,
why have you rejected me?
Why do I go mourning oppressed by the foe?
3 O send forth your light and your truth;
let these be my guide.
Let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
4 And I will come to the altar of God,
the God of my joy.
My redeemer, I will thank you on the harp, O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down my soul,
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still,
my savior and my God.
Glory 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.

PRAYER

Eternal God, source of everlasting light,
send forth your truth into our hearts,
and bring us into your presence with joy and gladness
in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Nehemiah 7:73b-8:3,5-12

So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel settled in their towns.

When the seventh month came and the people of Israel were settled in their towns, all the people gathered together in the area in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Instruction scroll from Moses, according to which the Lord had instructed Israel.

So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Instruction before the assembly. This assembly was made up of both men and women and anyone who could understand what they heard. Facing the area in front of the Water Gate, he read it aloud, from early morning until the middle of the day. He read it in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand, and everyone listened attentively to the Instruction scroll.

Standing above all of the people, Ezra the scribe opened the scroll in the sight of all of the people. And as he opened it, all of the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all of the people answered, “Amen! Amen!” while raising their hands. Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—helped the people to understand the Instruction while the people remained in their places. They read aloud from the scroll, the Instruction from God, explaining and interpreting it so the people could understand what they heard.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all of the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Don’t mourn or weep.” They said this because all the people wept when they heard the words of the Instruction.

“Go, eat rich food, and drink something sweet,” he said to them, “and send portions of this to any who have nothing ready! This day is holy to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy from the Lord is your strength!”

The Levites also calmed all of the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy. Don’t be sad!” Then all of the people went to eat and to drink, to send portions, and to have a great celebration, because they understood what had been said to them.

HYMN: Angelus Silesius; trans. John Wesley
Tune: Surrey https://tinyurl.com/2kz7na4e

1 Thee will I love, my strength, my tower;
thee will I love, my joy, my crown;
thee will I love with all my power,
in all thy works, and thee alone:
thee will I love, till sacred fire
fill my whole soul with pure desire.

2 I thank thee, uncreated Sun,
that thy bright beams on me have shined;
I thank thee, who hast overthrown
my foes, and healed my wounded mind;
I thank thee, whose enlivening voice
bids my freed heart in thee rejoice.

3 Uphold me in the doubtful race,
nor suffer me again to stray;
strengthen my feet, with steady pace
still to press forward in thy way;
that all my powers, with all their might,
in thy sole glory may unite.

4 Thee will I love, my joy, my crown;
thee will I love, my Lord, my God;
thee will I love, beneath thy frown
or smile — thy sceptre or thy rod;
what though my flesh and heart decay,
thee shall I love in endless day.

Reading: Hebrews 13:17-21

Rely on your leaders and defer to them, because they watch over your whole being as people who are going to be held responsible for you. They need to be able to do this with pleasure and not with complaints about you, because that wouldn’t help you. Pray for us. We’re sure that we have a good conscience, and we want to do the right thing in every way. I’m particularly asking you to do this so that I can be returned to you quickly.

Reading: John 7:25-30

Some people from Jerusalem said, “Isn’t he the one they want to kill? Here he is, speaking in public, yet they aren’t saying anything to him. Could it be that our leaders actually think he is the Christ? We know where he is from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”

While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he exclaimed, “You know me and where I am from. I haven’t come on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. I know him because I am from him and he sent me.” So they wanted to seize Jesus, but they couldn’t because his time hadn’t yet come.

CANTICLE Colossians 1:12-20
(Chant by John Michael Talbot https://tinyurl.com/ya95yzto)

Ant. He is the first born of all creation,
in every way the primacy is his.

Let us give thanks to the Father
for having made you worthy
to share the lot of the saints in light.
He rescued us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Through him we have redemption,
the forgiveness of our sins.
He is the image of the invisible God,
the first-born of all creatures.
In him everything in heaven and on earth was created,
things visible and invisible.
All were created through him; all were created for him.
He is before all else that is.
In him everything continues in being.
It is he who is head of the body, the church!
He who is the beginning, the first-born of the dead,
so that primacy may be his in everything.
It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in him
and, by means of him, to reconcile everything in his person,
both on earth and in the heavens,
making peace through the blood of his cross.
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

Eternal God, we rejoice today in the gift of life, which we have received
by your grace, and the new life you give in Jesus Christ.
Especially we thank you for
the love of our families . . .
the affection of our friends . . .
strength and abilities to serve your purpose today . . .
this community in which we live . . .
opportunities to give as we have received. . . .

God of grace, we offer our prayers for the needs of others and commit ourselves
to serve them even as we have been served in Jesus Christ. Especially we pray for
those closest to us, families, friends, neighbors . . .
refugees and homeless men, women and children . . .
the outcast and persecuted . . .
those from whom we are estranged . . .
the church in Africa. . . .

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.

Loving God,
you want us to give thanks for all things,
to fear nothing except losing you,
and to lay all our cares on you,
knowing that you care for us.
Protect us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties,
and grant that no clouds in this mortal life
may hide from us the light of your immortal love
shown to us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

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.

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 41 is from the The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. Psalms 42 and 43 are from The Grail Psalter and are from the manualhopper YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwov5_qdAhY

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.