Oremus for Saturday, February 25, 2023

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/5b96mpza

Of you my heart has spoken: Seek his face.
It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not your face from me. Psalm 27

O Lord our God,
you call us to work for a world
where all will be fed and have dignity,
but we find ourselves distracted by our own desires.
You call us to seek justice and peace,
but we are satisfied with injustice and discord.
You call us to bring liberty to the oppressed,
but we do not insist on freedom for all.
Forgive us, O Lord.
Turn us to your will by the power of your Spirit,
so that all may know your justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior. Amen. ^BCW2018

Music: https://tinyurl.com/ufxekitx

God, come to my assistance.
Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory 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.

HYMN: Erik Routley ©
Tune: Rendez à Dieu https://tinyurl.com/29s29a5s

1 New songs of celebration render
To God who has great wonders done;
Love sits enthroned in ageless splendor;
Come and adore the Mighty One.
God has made known the great salvation
Which all the saints with joy confess.
God has revealed to ev’ry nation
Truth and unending righteousness.

2 Joyfully, heartily resounding,
Let ev’ry instrument and voice
Peal out the praise of grace abounding,
Calling the whole world to rejoice.
Trumpets and organs, set in motion
Such sounds as make the heavens ring;
All things that live in earth and ocean,
Sound forth the song, your praises bring.

3 Rivers and seas and torrents roaring,
Honor the Lord with wild acclaim;
Mountains and stones, look up adoring,
And find a voice to praise God’s name.
Righteous, commanding, ever glorious,
Praises be sung that never cease;
Just is our God, whose truth victorious
Establishes the world in peace.

PSALMS

Psalm 119: 73-104 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y8qj25yx)

73  Thy hands have made me and fashioned me *
 O give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
74  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me *
 because I have put my trust in thy word.
75  I know, O Lord, that thy judgements are right *
 and that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled.
76  O let thy merciful kindness be my comfort *
 according to thy word unto thy servant.
77  O let thy loving mercies come unto me, that I may live *
 for thy law is my delight.
78  Let the proud be confounded,
for they go wickedly about to destroy me *
 but I will be occupied in thy commandments.
79  Let such as fear thee, and have known thy testimonies *
 be turned unto me.
80  O let my heart be sound in thy statutes *
 that I be not ashamed.

81  My soul hath longed for thy salvation *
 and I have a good hope because of thy word.
82  Mine eyes long sore for thy word *
 saying, O when wilt thou comfort me?
83  For I am become like a bottle in the smoke *
 yet do I not forget thy statutes.
84  How many are the days of thy servant *
 when wilt thou be avenged of them that persecute me?
85  The proud have digged pits for me *
 which are not after thy law.
86  All thy commandments are true *
 they persecute me falsely; O be thou my help.
87  They had almost made an end of me upon earth *
 but I forsook not thy commandments.
88  O quicken me after thy loving-kindness *
 and so shall I keep the testimonies of thy mouth.

89  O Lord, thy word *
 endureth for ever in heaven.
90  Thy truth also remaineth from one generation to another *
 thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.
91  They continue this day according to thine ordinance *
 for all things serve thee.
92  If my delight had not been in thy law *
 I should have perished in my trouble.
93  I will never forget thy commandments *
 for with them thou hast quickened me.
94  I am thine, O save me *
 for I have sought thy commandments.
95  The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me *
 but I will consider thy testimonies.
96  I see that all things come to an end *
 but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

97  Lord, what love have I unto thy law *
 all the day long is my study in it.
98  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies *
 for they are ever with me.
99  I have more understanding than my teachers *
 for thy testimonies are my study.
100  I am wiser than the aged *
 because I keep thy commandments.
101  I have refrained my feet from every evil way *
 that I may keep thy word.
102  I have not shrunk from thy judgements *
 for thou teachest me.
103  O how sweet are thy words unto my throat *
 yea, sweeter than honey unto my mouth.
104  Through thy commandments I get understanding *
 therefore I hate all evil ways.
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 119:73-104 (Karl Kohlhase:
http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-119-73-104-KH.mp3)

Your hands made me and fashioned me;
help me understand your commandments.
May the fearful see and be glad,
because I wait for your word.
O LORD, I know your judgments are righteous,
and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
May your love become my comfort,
by your word unto your servant.
May your mercy come so I’ll live,
your law is my delight.
May the proud be ashamed of their lies;
while I meditate on your precepts.
May the fearful turn unto me,
even those who know your teachings.
May my heart become blameless in your laws,
so I will not be ashamed.

My soul longs for your salvation;
I wait upon your word.
My eyes go out for your word,
“When will you comfort me?”
Though a wineskin in the smoke,
I will not forget your laws.
How long are the days of your servant?
When will you judge those who hurt me?
For the proud have dug pits for me,
who are not in accord with your law.
All your commandments are faithful;
help me when I’m hurt by their lies!
They have almost destroyed me on earth,
but I’ll not forsake your precepts.
Revive me according to your love,
so I’ll keep the word of your mouth.

Forever, O LORD, your word is settled in heaven.
Your faithfulness is for all ages;
you set the earth firm, and it stands.
They stand to this day by your ordinances,
all things are for your servants.
If your law not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you revived me.
I am yours, please rescue me;
for I have sought your precepts.
Though the wicked looked out for my harm;
yet I discerned your teachings.
Saw the limit of all perfection;
your command is exceedingly broad.

O how I love your law!
My meditation all through the day.
Your commands make me wiser than my foes,
for they are ever mine.
I have insight beyond all my teachers,
for your teachings are my meditation.
Understanding more than the aged,
because your precepts I keep.
I’ve restrained my feet from all evil,
that I may keep your word.
I’ve not turned aside from your rulings,
for you yourself have taught me.
O how sweet are your words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
From your precepts I get understanding;
so I hate every false way.

PRAYER

God of all creation,
open our hearts
that Christ, the King of glory, may enter and rule our lives.
Give us clean hands and pure hearts,
that we may stand in your presence and receive your blessing
through the same, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Daniel 9:20-25a

While I was still speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sins of my people Israel—while I was still praying my prayer for help to the Lord my God about my God’s holy mountain— while I was still speaking this prayer, the man Gabriel approached me at the time of the evening offering. This was the same Gabriel I had seen in my earlier vision. He was weary with exhaustion.

He explained as he spoke with me: “Daniel, here’s why I’ve come: to give you insight and understanding. When you began making your requests, a word went out, and I’ve come to tell it to you because you are greatly treasured. So now understand this word and grasp the meaning of this vision! Seventy weeks are appointed for your people and for your holy city to complete the rebellion, to end sins, to cover over wrongdoing, to bring eternal righteousness, to seal up prophetic vision, and to anoint the most holy place.

“So you must know and gain wisdom about this: There will be seven weeks from the moment the word went out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until a leader is anointed. And for sixty-two weeks the city will be rebuilt with a courtyard and a moat.”

HYMN: Charles Kingsley
Tune: Belgrave https://tinyurl.com/tppe9afy

1 From thee all skill and science flow,
all pity, care, and love,
all calm and courage, faith and hope:
O pour them from above.

2 Impart them, Lord, to each and all,
as each and all shall need,
to rise, like incense, each to thee,
in noble thought and deed.

3 And hasten, Lord, that perfect day
when pain and death shall cease,
and thy just rule shall fill the earth
with health and light and peace.

Reading: Romans 13:8-14

Don’t be in debt to anyone, except for the obligation to love each other. Whoever loves another person has fulfilled the Law. The commandments, Don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t desire what others have, and any other commandments, are all summed up in one word: You must love your neighbor as yourself. Love doesn’t do anything wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is what fulfills the Law.

As you do all this, you know what time it is. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your sleep. Now our salvation is nearer than when we first had faith. The night is almost over, and the day is near. So let’s get rid of the actions that belong to the darkness and put on the weapons of light. Let’s behave appropriately as people who live in the day, not in partying and getting drunk, not in sleeping around and obscene behavior, not in fighting and obsession. Instead, dress yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t plan to indulge your selfish desires.

HYMN: John Ellerton
Tune: St Clement  https://tinyurl.com/5n9a93bu

1 The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
the darkness falls at thy behest;
to thee our morning hymns ascended,
thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

2 We thank thee that thy Church unsleeping,
while earth rolls onward into light,
through all the world her watch is keeping,
and rests not now by day or night.

3 As o’er each continent and island
the dawn leads on another day,
the voice of prayer is never silent,
nor dies the strain of praise away.

4 The sun that bids us rest is waking
our brethren ‘neath the western sky,
and hour by hour fresh lips are making
thy wondrous doings heard on high.

5 So be it, Lord: thy throne shall never,
like earth’s proud empires, pass away;
thy kingdom stands, and grows for ever,
till all thy creatures own thy sway.

Reading: Luke 9:57-62

As Jesus and his disciples traveled along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Human One has no place to lay his head.” Then Jesus said to someone else, “Follow me.” He replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. But you go and spread the news of God’s kingdom.” Someone else said to Jesus, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say good-bye to those in my house.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand on the plow and looks back is fit for God’s kingdom.”

CANTICLE Jonah 2:2-9
(Patrick Schlabs: https://tinyurl.com/yy9zwfv6)

You cast me out into the deep
And there your floods surround
I sank beneath the raging sea
As billows crashed around
I was thrown out from your sight
And I was driven away
I know I will see with my eyes
Again your holy place
Refrain:
I called to God in my distress
He has heard my voice
I cried to him out of the depths
He answered my call, he answered my call

The waters closed in over me
They came to bring me death
I was covered up by the deep
Weeds choked out my breath
I sank down to the mountain roots
The earth had locked me in
Just as the grave sealed up its gates
You saved me from the pit Refrain

As my life fainted away
I remembered you my God
All those who hope in idols vain
Forsake their hope of loveI called to God in my distress
He has heard my voice
I cried to him out of the depths
He answered my call

So with my voice I will give thanks
A sacrifice to you
What I have vowed I now will pay
Salvation comes from you
Salvation comes from you
Salvation comes from you

THE PRAYERS ^CCP

Send forth your strength, O God,
Establish what you have wrought in us.

Uphold all those who fall
And raise up those who are bowed down.

Open the eyes of the blind
And set the prisoners free.

Sustain the orphan and widow
And give food to those who hunger.

Grant them the joy of your help again
And sustain them with your Spirit.

O Lord, judge the peoples
And take all nations for your own.

(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.

God, you call us to go where Christ leads.
Turn us from the ways of the world;
guide us to fullness of joy in the Spirit,
where bodies and souls rest secure;
and grant us strength
to follow the way of the cross,
which frees us to love one another
for the sake of all creation. 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.

^BCW2018Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 2018.

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

^CCP Celebrating Common Prayer, © The European Province of the Society of Saint Francis 1992

^RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.

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 119 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.