Janani Luwum
Janani Luwum was born in 1922 and became Bishop of Northern Uganda in 1969 and Archbishop of the Church of Uganda in 1974. He was murdered on the orders of President Idi Amin on 16 Febru-ary 1977. His death was a direct result of protests made by the Ugandan bishops about the abuse of human rights under Amin’s re-gime. With great courage he had carried a personal protest to the president on behalf of the Church of Uganda, knowing that in doing so he was probably signing his own death warrant. FATS
Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/2p9cmfae
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed the man who seeks refuge in him. Psalm 34
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: William Cowper
Tune: Beatitudo https://tinyurl.com/mrxb848d
1 O for a closer walk with God,
a calm and heav’nly frame,
a light to shine upon the road
that leads me to the Lamb!
2 Where is the blessedness I knew
when first I sought the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
of Jesus and His Word?
3 What peaceful hours I then enjoyed!
How sweet their mem’ry still!
But they have left an aching void
the world can never fill.
4 Return, O holy Dove, return,
sweet messenger of rest;
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn,
and drove Thee from my breast.
5 The dearest idol I have known,
whate’er that idol be,
help me to tear it from Thy throne
and worship only Thee.
6 So shall my walk be close with God,
calm and serene my frame;
so purer light shall mark the road
that leads me to the Lamb.
PSALMS
Psalm 89 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ydygwbyj)
1 My song shall be alway of the loving kindness of the Lord *
with my mouth will I ever be shewing thy truth
from one generation to another.
2 For I have said, Mercy shall be set up for ever *
thy truth shalt thou stablish in the heavens.
3 I have made a covenant with my chosen *
I have sworn unto David my servant;
4 Thy seed will I stablish for ever *
and set up thy throne from one generation to another.
5 O Lord, the very heavens shall praise thy wondrous works *
and thy truth in the congregation of the saints.
6 For who is he among the clouds *
that shall be compared unto the Lord?
7 And what is he among the gods *
that shall be like unto the Lord?
8 God is very greatly to be feared in the council of the saints *
and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about him.
9 O Lord God of hosts, who is like unto thee *
thy truth, most mighty Lord, is on every side.
10 Thou rulest the raging of the sea *
thou stillest the waves thereof when they arise.
11 Thou hast subdued Egypt, and destroyed it *
thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arm.
12 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine *
thou hast laid the foundation of the round world, and all that therein is.
13 Thou hast made the north and the south *
Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy Name.
14 Thou hast a mighty arm *
strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
15 Righteousness and equity are the habitation of thy seat *
mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
16 Blessed is the people, O Lord, that can rejoice in thee *
they shall walk in the light of thy countenance.
17 Their delight shall be daily in thy Name *
and in thy righteousness shall they make their boast.
18 For thou art the glory of their strength *
and in thy loving-kindness thou shalt lift up our horns.
19 For the Lord is our defence *
the Holy One of Israel is our King.
20 Thou spakest sometime in visions unto thy saints, and saidst *
I have laid help upon one that is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
21 I have found David my servant *
with my holy oil have I anointed him.
22 My hand shall hold him fast *
and my arm shall strengthen him.
23 The enemy shall not be able to do him violence *
the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.
24 I will smite down his foes before his face *
and plague them that hate him.
25 My truth also and my mercy shall be with him *
and in my Name shall his horn be exalted.
26 I will set his dominion also in the sea *
and his right hand in the floods.
27 He shall call me, Thou art my Father *
my God, and my strong salvation.
28 And I will make him my first-born *
higher than the kings of the earth.
29 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore *
and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
30 His seed also will I make to endure for ever *
and his throne as the days of heaven.
31 But if his children forsake my law *
and walk not in my judgements;
32 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments *
I will visit their offences with the rod, and their sin with scourges.
33 Nevertheless, my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him *
nor suffer my truth to fail.
34 My covenant will I not break,
nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips *
I have sworn once by my holiness, that I will not fail David.
35 His seed shall endure for ever *
and his seat is like as the sun before me.
36 He shall stand fast for evermore as the moon *
and as the faithful witness in heaven.
37 But thou hast abhorred and forsaken thine Anointed *
and art displeased at him.
38 Thou hast broken the covenant of thy servant *
and cast his crown to the ground.
39 Thou hast overthrown all his hedges *
and broken down his strong holds.
40 All they that go by spoil him *
and he is become a reproach to his neighbours.
41 Thou hast set up the right hand of his enemies *
and made all his adversaries to rejoice.
42 Thou hast taken away the edge of his sword *
and givest him not victory in the battle.
43 Thou hast put out his glory *
and cast his throne down to the ground.
44 The days of his youth hast thou shortened *
and covered him with dishonour.
45 Lord, how long wilt thou hide thyself, for ever *
and shall thy wrath burn like fire?
46 O remember how short my time is *
wherefore hast thou made all men for nought?
47 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death *
and shall he deliver his soul from the hand of hell?
48 Lord, where are thy old loving-kindnesses *
which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?
49 Remember, Lord, the rebuke that thy servants have *
and how I do bear in my bosom the rebukes of many people;
50 Wherewith thine enemies have blasphemed thee,
and slandered the footsteps of thine Anointed *
Praised be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and 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.
Psalm 89 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-89-KH.mp3)
I will sing of the LORD’s love forever,
tell your faithfulness to all generations.
Say “His love is established forever,
and his faithfulness set in the heavens.”
With my chosen one I made a covenant;
I have sworn to David My servant,
“I’ll establish your seed forever,
build your throne to all generations.”
I will establish his children forever,
and his throne like the days of heaven
LORD, the heavens will praise your wonders;
in the holy assembly Your faithfulness.
Who is like the LORD in the skies?
Or among the sons of the mighty?
A God greatly feared in the holy court,
and awesome above all around him?
O LORD God of hosts, who is like you?
Mighty LORD, surrounded by faithfulness.
You master the sea in its swelling,
when its waves rise up You still them;
Crushing Rahab like one who is slain;
with your strong arm scatter your foes
The heavens are yours, the earth also,
the world and all it contains,
Creating both north and south,
Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.
I will establish his children forever,
and his throne like the days of heaven
Your arm is strong, your hand mighty,
and your right hand is exalted.
Right and just the foundation of your throne;
love and truth proceed before you.
Blessed are they who know joyful shouting!
LORD, they walk by the light of your face.
In your name they’ll rejoice all day,
by your righteousness they are lifted.
For you are the glory of our strength,
by your favor our horn is exalted.
For our shield belongs to the LORD,
and our king to the Holy One of Israel.
Saying once to your saints in a vision,
“I will help a mighty one;
From the people I’ll lift up a chosen one;
then I found my servant, David.”
I will establish his children forever,
and his throne like the days of heaven
I anointed him with my holy oil,
my hand was set, and my arm gave strength.
His foe will not deceive him,
nor the son of wickedness hurt him;
I will crush his foes before him,
and strike all those who hate him.
Faithfulness and love will be with him;
in My name his horn will be lifted.
I will set his hand on the sea,
and his right hand on the rivers.
He will cry to me, ‘You are my Father;
my God, my rock of salvation.’
I will make him as my firstborn,
the highest of kings on the earth.
I will bear my love for him always,
my covenant shall be confirmed.
I will establish his children forever,
and his throne like the days of heaven
If his sons forsake my law,
not walking in my judgments;
If they violate my statutes,
not keeping my commandments,
I will punish their sins with the rod,
their iniquity with stripes;
but I will not break off my love,
nor will I betray my faithfulness.
I will not break off my covenant,
change the utterance of my lips
Once I have sworn by my holiness,
unto David I will not lie
His descendants shall last forever,
his throne like the sun before Me.
Like the moon established forever,
and the witness in the sky is faithful.
I will establish his children forever,
and his throne like the days of heaven
But you cast off and reject him,
full of wrath against your anointed.
You have spurned your servant’s covenant,
and profaned his crown in the dust.
You have broken down all his walls;
you have brought his strongholds to ruin.
All who pass his way now plunder him;
he’s become a reproach to his neighbors.
You exalt the hand of his enemies;
you have made his foes rejoice.
You turn back the edge of his sword,
and have not let him stand in the battle.
You have made his glory to cease,
and have cast his throne to the ground.
You have shortened the days of his youth;
you have covered him over with shame.
How long, O LORD will you hide yourself?
Will your anger burn like fire?
Remember the span of my life;
you create sons of men for such vanity
What man can live and not see death?
Spare his soul from Sheol’s power?
Lord, where are your former graces,
which you swore to David in faithfulness?
I will establish his children forever,
and his throne like the days of heaven
Lord, remember your servant’s reproach;
my heart bears from the nations,
with which your foes reproach, O LORD,
the steps of your anointed.
I will establish his children forever,
and his throne like the days of heaven
Blessed be the LORD, forever! Amen and Amen.
PRAYER
Remember us, gracious God,
when we cannot see your way and purpose,
and renew in us the joy of your kingdom of light and life.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
Reading: Sirach 6:5-17
Pleasant speech gains more friends for itself,
and a sweet-speaking tongue
will multiply pleasant exchanges.
Let those who are at peace with you
be many,
but let only one in a thousand
be your advisor.
If you make friends, test them thoroughly
and don’t trust them quickly.
Some are friends when it is convenient,
but they won’t stay around
during hard times.
There are friends who turn into enemies,
and they will reveal
your disgraceful arguments.
There are friends who are companions
at your table,
but they won’t stay during hard times.
They will act as if your belongings
are theirs,
and they will be bold
toward your household slaves.
If you are brought low,
they will be against you,
and they will abandon you.
Stay away from your enemies,
and be careful with your friends.
Trustworthy friends are a strong shelter;
whoever finds one
has found a treasure.
Trustworthy friends have no price,
and no one can estimate their worth.
Trustworthy friends are life’s medicine,
and those who fear the Lord
will find them.
Those who fear the Lord
will direct their friendships well,
because they will associate with people
of like mind.
HYMN: John Fawcett
Tune: Dennis https://tinyurl.com/sz6bzt7s
1 Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
2 Before our Father’s throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.
3 We share our mutual woes,
our mutual burdens bear,
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
4 When we are called to part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.
5 This glorious hope revives
our courage by the way;
while each in expectation lives
and waits to see the day.
6 From sorrow, toil, and pain,
and sin, we shall be free;
and perfect love and friendship reign
through all eternity.
Reading: James 2:8-13
You do well when you really fulfill the royal law found in scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself. But when you show favoritism, you are committing a sin, and by that same law you are exposed as a lawbreaker. Anyone who tries to keep all of the Law but fails at one point is guilty of failing to keep all of it. The one who said, Don’t commit adultery, also said, Don’t commit murder. So if you don’t commit adultery but do commit murder, you are a lawbreaker. In every way, then, speak and act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom. There will be no mercy in judgment for anyone who hasn’t shown mercy. Mercy overrules judgment.
HYMN: Thomas H Troeger ©
Tune: Marion https://tinyurl.com/9s3v7zty
1 O praise the gracious power That tumbles walls of fear
And gathers in one house of faith All strangers far and near:
We praise You, Christ! Your cross has made us one!
2 O praise persistent truth That opens fisted minds
And eases from their anxious clutch The prejudice that blinds:
We praise You, Christ! Your cross has made us one!
3 O praise inclusive love, Encircling every race,
Oblivious to gender, wealth, To social rank or place:
We praise You, Christ! Your cross has made us one!
4 O praise the word of faith That claims us as God’s own,
A living temple built on Christ, Our rock and cornerstone:
We praise You, Christ! Your cross has made us one!
5 O praise the tide of grace That laps at every shore
With visions of a world at peace, No longer bled by war:
We praise You, Christ! Your cross has made us one!
6 O praise the power, the truth, The love, the word, the tide.
Yet more than these, O praise their source, Praise Christ the crucified:
We praise You, Christ! Your cross has made us one!
7 O praise the lving Christ With faith’s bright songful voice!
Announce the gospel to the world And with these words rejoice;
We praise You, Christ! Your cross has made us one!
Reading: Luke 3:21-22
When everyone was being baptized, Jesus also was baptized. While he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit came down on him in bodily form like a dove. And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”
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 . . .
Anabaptist, Disciples of Christ, and other free 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.
Everliving God,
you gave to Janani Luwum
an infectious enthusiasm for your gospel
and courage to proclaim a prophet’s word
at the cost of his life;
give us zeal in your service
and hope in the face of adversity;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. FATS
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
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BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.
FATS For All the Saints, © The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, 2014
The 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 89 is by Karl Kohlhase http://www.k4communications.com/karl/index.html
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.
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