Oremus for Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/jfctmt5j

See, I have God for my help.
The Lord sustains my soul.
I will sacrifice to you with willing heart,
and praise your name, O Lord, for it is good. Psalm 54

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: Richard Leach ©
Tune: Lewis-Town https://tinyurl.com/2s3ruztp

1 O carpenter, why leave the bench
where wood yields to your art,
and take instead to try your skill,
the stony human heart?

2 O carpenter, why leave the tools
to carry out your plans,
and go instead to do God’s work
with empty, open hands?

3 O carpenter, why leave the world
of table, bed, and house,
to face the empire’s carpentry,
to lift a Roman cross?

4 O carpenter, why leave repairs
with wood and clamp and glue,
and rise from death to seek instead
to make the whole world new?

5 O carpenter, who else could do
the work that you have done?
What can we do but sing your praise,
O Savior, Mary’s son!

PSALMS

Psalm 106 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yd2cn3x8)
1  O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious *
 and his mercy endureth for ever.
2  Who can express the noble acts of the Lord *
 or shew forth all his praise?
3  Blessed are they that alway keep judgement *
 and do righteousness.
4  Remember me, O Lord, according to the favour
that thou bearest unto thy people *
 O visit me with thy salvation;
5  That I may see the felicity of thy chosen *
 and rejoice in the gladness of thy people,
and give thanks with thine inheritance.
6  We have sinned with our fathers *
 we have done amiss, and dealt wickedly.
7  Our fathers regarded not thy wonders in Egypt,
neither kept they thy great goodness in remembrance *
 but were disobedient at the sea, even at the Red sea.
8  Nevertheless, he helped them for his Name’s sake *
 that he might make his power to be known.
9  He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up *
 so he led them through the deep, as through a wilderness.
10  And he saved them from the adversary’s hand *
 and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.
11  As for those that troubled them, the waters overwhelmed them *
 there was not one of them left.
12  Then believed they his words *
 and sang praise unto him.
13  But within a while they forgat his works *
 and would not abide his counsel.
14  But lust came upon them in the wilderness *
 and they tempted God in the desert.
15  And he gave them their desire *
 and sent leanness withal into their soul.
16  They angered Moses also in the tents *
 and Aaron the saint of the Lord.
17  So the earth opened, and swallowed up Dathan *
 and covered the congregation of Abiram.
18  And the fire was kindled in their company *
 the flame burnt up the ungodly.
19  They made a calf in Horeb *
 and worshipped the molten image.
20  Thus they turned their glory *
 into the similitude of a calf that eateth hay.
21  And they forgat God their Saviour *
 who had done so great things in Egypt;
22  Wondrous works in the land of Ham *
 and fearful things by the Red sea.
23  So he said, he would have destroyed them,
had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the gap *
 to turn away his wrathful indignation, lest he should destroy them.
24  Yea, they thought scorn of that pleasant land *
 and gave no credence unto his word;
25  But murmured in their tents *
 and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.
26  Then lift he up his hand against them *
 to overthrow them in the wilderness;
27  To cast out their seed among the nations *
 and to scatter them in the lands.
28  They joined themselves unto Baalpeor *
 and ate the offerings of the dead.
29  Thus they provoked him to anger with their own inventions *
 and the plague was great among them.
30  Then stood up Phinees and prayed *
 and so the plague ceased.
31  And that was counted unto him for righteousness *
 among all posterities for evermore.
32  They angered him also at the waters of strife *
 so that he punished Moses for their sakes;
33  Because they provoked his spirit *
 so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
34  Neither destroyed they the heathen *
 as the Lord commanded them;
35  But were mingled among the heathen *
 and learned their works.
36  Insomuch that they worshipped their idols,
which turned to their own decay *
 yea, they offered their sons and their daughters unto devils;
37  And shed innocent blood,
even the blood of their sons and of their daughters *
 whom they offered unto the idols of Canaan;
and the land was defiled with blood.
38  Thus were they stained with their own works *
 and went a whoring with their own inventions.
39  Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people *
 insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
40  And he gave them over into the hand of the heathen *
 and they that hated them were lords over them.
41  Their enemies oppressed them *
 and had them in subjection.
42  Many a time did he deliver them *
 but they rebelled against him with their own inventions,
and were brought down in their wickedness.
43  Nevertheless, when he saw their adversity *
 he heard their complaint.
44  He thought upon his covenant, and pitied them,
according unto the multitude of his mercies *
 yea, he made all those that led them away captive to pity them.
45  Deliver us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen *
 that we may give thanks unto thy holy Name, and make our boast of thy praise.
46  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and world without end *
 and let all the people say, 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 106 (Kohlhase: https://tinyurl.com/2nshc92b)
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love is everlasting.
Who’ll tell of the power of the LORD,
or show forth all of his praise?
How blessed are those who keep justice,
and righteousness at all times!
Remember me, LORD, in your favor;
and visit me with your salvation.
Let me see your chosen ones prosper,
and glory with your inheritance.
We’ve erred like our fathers, committing sin;
so poorly we have behaved.
In Egypt they misunderstood your signs;
your graces they scorned at the sea.
But for your name’s sake you saved them,
to make your power known.
Rebuking the Red Sea he dried it up,
led through the deep as a wilderness.
Saved them from the hand of hostile ones,
redeemed from the hand of their foe.
The waters returned to drown their foes;
not one among them was left.
Therefore they trusted his words;
and they sang out his praise.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

However, they quickly forgot his works;
they did not wait for his counsel,
their cravings were strong in the wilderness,
they tested their God in the desert.
He gave to them as they desired,
along with a wasting disease.
The camp envied Moses and Aaron,
the holy ones of the LORD.
Earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,
engulfing the clan of Abiram.
A fire broke out in their company;
the flame consumed the wicked.
They then made a calf in Horeb,
and worshiped a molten image.
So they exchanged their glory,
for the image of an ox that eats grass.
Forgetting their God and Savior,
who did great things in Egypt;
his signs in the land of Ham,
and marvels at the Red Sea.
He said that he would destroy them,
had Moses not stood in the gap,
to turn away his anger, from destroying them.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Then they despised the pleasant land;
they did not trust in his word,
but grumbled there within their tents,
not heeding the voice of the LORD.
Therefore he swore unto them,
he’d cast them down in the desert,
and cast their seed among nations,
to scatter them throughout the lands.
They joined themselves to Baal-peor,
and ate what was offered the dead.
Provoking his anger by their deeds,
a plague broke out among them.
Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
thereby the plague was stopped.
Reckoned to him as righteousness,
to all generations forever.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

At Meribah’s waters they angered him,
thus making it hard for Moses;
for when they rejected the Spirit,
he rashly spoke with his lips.
They did not destroy the nations,
as ordered by the LORD,
but with the nations they mingled,
and learned of all their ways.
They started to serve their idols,
becoming a snare unto them.
For even their sons they sacrificed,
and gave their daughters to demons.
They shed the innocent blood,
of their daughters and of their sons;
gave them to the idols of Canaan.
polluting the land with their blood.
Becoming unclean in their dealings,
in deed they played the harlot.
The LORD’s anger burned at his people,
detesting his own inheritance.
He gave them into the nations’ hands,
those hating them became their rulers.
Their enemies also oppressed them,
subduing them under their power.
He often would save and counsel them;
rebellious they sank in their sin;
but he still considered their troubles,
whenever he heard their cry;
for them he remembered his covenant,
he turned from the depths of his love.
He made them as objects of pity,
in the presence of their captors.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Save us, O LORD our God,
regather us from all the nations;
to give thanks to your holy name,
and glory in your praise.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
forever and forever;
let the people say, “Amen.”
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

PRAYER

Merciful God,
remembering your covenant,
you graciously pardoned those who rebelled against you.
Grant that, where sin abounds,
grace may abound more;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Sirach 35:1-12

Whoever keeps the Law
gives many offerings;
    whoever obeys the commandments
    makes a sacrifice of well-being.
Whoever repays a kindness
offers the finest flour,
    and whoever does an act of charity
    makes a sacrifice of praise.
Staying away from wickedness
pleases the Lord,
    and keeping away from injustice
    means reconciliation.
Don’t come into the Lord’s presence
empty-handed,
    since fulfilling the commandments
    means making offerings.
The righteous person’s offering
enriches the altar,
    and its pleasing odor comes
    before the Most High.
A righteous person’s offering
is acceptable,
    and its memory will last forever.
Honor the Lord generously,
    and don’t skimp
    on the early produce you present.
Every time you give, have a cheerful face,
    and dedicate your tithe gladly.
Give to the Most High as he has given,
    and give with generosity
    from what you have.

HYMN: Ernest Sands ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/27jadkzu

1 Sing of the Lord’s goodness, Father of all wisdom,
come to him and bless his name.
Mercy he has shown us, his love is forever,
faithful to the end of days.

Refrain:
Come, then, all you nations, sing of your Lord’s goodness,
melodies of praise and thanks to God.
Ring out the Lord’s glory, praise him with your music,
worship him and bless his name.

2 Power he has wielded, honor is his garment,
risen from the snares of death.
His word he has spoken, one bread he has broken,
new life he now gives to all. [Refrain]

3 Courage in our darkness, comfort in our sorrow,
Spirit of our God most high;
solace for the weary, pardon for the sinner,
splendor of the living God. [Refrain]

4 Praise him with your singing, praise him with the trumpet,
praise God with the lute and harp;
praise him with the cymbals, praise him with your dancing,
praise God till the end of days. [Refrain]

Reading: James 3:13-18

Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom. However, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, then stop bragging and living in ways that deny the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is from the earth, natural and demonic. Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and everything that is evil. What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine. Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts.

HYMN: John Cawood
Tune: Belmont https://tinyurl.com/tcp3mpyf

1 Almighty God, your Word is cast
like seed into the ground;
now let the dew of heav’n descend
and righteous fruits abound.

2 Let not the foe of Christ and man
this holy seed remove,
but give it root in ev’ry heart
to bring forth fruits of love.

3 Let not the world’s deceitful cares
the rising plant destroy,
but let it yield a hundredfold
the fruits of peace and joy.

4 Whene’er the precious seed is sown,
life-giving grace bestow
that all whose souls the truth receive
its saving pow’r may know.

Reading: Luke 4:22-30

Everyone was raving about Jesus, so impressed were they by the gracious words flowing from his lips. They said, “This is Joseph’s son, isn’t it?”

Then Jesus said to them, “Undoubtedly, you will quote this saying to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself. Do here in your hometown what we’ve heard you did in Capernaum.’” He said, “I assure you that no prophet is welcome in the prophet’s hometown. And I can assure you that there were many widows in Israel during Elijah’s time, when it didn’t rain for three and a half years and there was a great food shortage in the land. Yet Elijah was sent to none of them but only to a widow in the city of Zarephath in the region of Sidon. There were also many persons with skin diseases in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha, but none of them were cleansed. Instead, Naaman the Syrian was cleansed.”

When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was filled with anger. They rose up and ran him out of town. They led him to the crest of the hill on which their town had been built so that they could throw him off the cliff. But he passed through the crowd and went on his way.

CANTICLE Isaiah 60
(Uptown Worship Band: https://tinyurl.com/yb6c8bhv)

Arise and shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.
For behold, darkness covers the land;
and deep gloom enshrouds the people.
But over you the Lord will rise,
and his glory will appear upon you.
Nations will stream to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawning.
Your gates will always be open;
by day or night they’ll never be closed.
They will call you the City of the Lord,
the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
And violence will be no more,
no need for the sun or the moonlight,
the Lord will be your light,
and your God will be your glory.
Glory to the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

THE PRAYERS ^{PWC, alt.}

Show us your mercy, O God;
and grant us your salvation.
Ruler of all, guide our leaders;
and teach their counsellors wisdom.
Let your bishops, priests and deacons be clothed with righteousness;
let your faithful people sing with joy.
Let your ways be known upon earth;
your saving health among all nations.
Give your people the blessing of peace;
and may all the earth be filled with your glory.
Create in us clean hearts, O God,
and renew a right spirit within us.

(Plainsong: https://tinyurl.com/ahnrtv59)^ELW

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.

Provoking God,
calling us through the face of the Other:
free our fickle hearts
from our need to divide and exclude
the foreign and the misfit;
lead us through the storms of rage
to a clear and new beginning;
through Jesus Christ, whom hatred cannot touch. Amen. ^PIC

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.

^ELW The Lord’s Prayer is from Setting Five in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.

^PIC Prayers for An Inclusive Church. Steven Shakespeare © 2008 Canterbury Press.

^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 © Common English Bible.

The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language psalms are in the version sung 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.