Antiphon
Ant. The sparrow has found herself a home, *
and the turtledove a nest in which to lay her young:
at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God!
Blessed are they who dwell in your house,
they shall praise you for ever and e ver.
V. How lovely is your dwelling place, *
O Lord of hosts.
My soul is longing and yearning *
for the courts of the Lord. Psalm 84
Merciful God,
you pardon all who truly repent and turn to you.
We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy.
We have not loved you with a pure heart,
nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves.
We have not done justice, loved kindness,
or walked humbly with you, our God.
Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness.
In your great compassion,
cleanse us from our sin.
Create in us a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within us.
Do not cast us from your presence,
or take your Holy Spirit from us.
Restore to us the joy of your salvation
and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit. Amen. BCW
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: Matt Redman ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/tjuc5mrc
1 I will offer up my life in spirit and truth,
pouring out the oil of love as my worship to you.
in surrender I must give my every part;
Lord, receive the sacrifice of a broken heart.
[REFRAIN:]
Jesus, what can I give,
what can I bring
to so faithful a friend,
to so loving a king?
Saviour, what can be said?
What can be sung
as a praise of your name
for the things you have done?
Oh, my words could not tell,
not even in part
of the debt of love that is owed
by this thankful heart
2 You deserve my every breath, for you’ve paid the great cost;
giving up your life to death, even death on a cross.
You took all my shame away, there defeated my sin,
opened up the gates of heaven and have beckoned me in.
PSALMS
Psalm 62 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y9slywgl)
1 My soul truly waiteth still upon God *
for of him cometh my salvation.
2 He verily is my strength and my salvation *
he is my defence, so that I shall not greatly fall.
3 How long will ye imagine mischief against every man *
ye shall be slain all the sort of you;
yea, as a tottering wall shall ye be, and like a broken hedge.
4 Their device is only how to put him out whom God will exalt *
their delight is in lies; they give good words with their mouth,
but curse with their heart.
5 Nevertheless, my soul, wait thou still upon God *
for my hope is in him.
6 He truly is my strength and my salvation *
he is my defence, so that I shall not fall.
7 In God is my health, and my glory *
the rock of my might, and in God is my trust.
8 O put your trust in him alway, ye people *
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our hope.
9 As for the children of men, they are but vanity *
the children of men are deceitful upon the weights,
they are altogether lighter than vanity itself.
10 O trust not in wrong and robbery, give not yourselves unto vanity *
if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11 God spake once, and twice I have also heard the same *
that power belongeth unto God;
12 And that thou, Lord, art merciful *
for thou rewardest every man according to his work.
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 63 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y7dmyzy2)
1 O God, thou art my God *
early will I seek thee.
2 My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh also longeth after thee *
in a barren and dry land where no water is.
3 Thus have I looked for thee in holiness *
that I might behold thy power and glory.
4 For thy loving-kindness is better than the life itself *
my lips shall praise thee.
5 As long as I live will I magnify thee on this manner *
and lift up my hands in thy Name.
6 My soul shall be satisfied, even as it were with marrow and fatness *
when my mouth praiseth thee with joyful lips.
7 Have I not remembered thee in my bed *
and thought upon thee when I was waking?
8 Because thou hast been my helper *
therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
9 My soul hangeth upon thee *
thy right hand hath upholden me.
10 These also that seek the hurt of my soul *
they shall go under the earth.
11 Let them fall upon the edge of the sword *
that they may be a portion for foxes.
12 But the King shall rejoice in God;
all they also that swear by him shall be commended *
for the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
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 64 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ydc4zq6h)
1 Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer *
preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the gathering together of the froward *
and from the insurrection of wicked doers;
3 Who have whet their tongue like a sword *
and shoot out their arrows, even bitter words;
4 That they may privily shoot at him that is perfect *
suddenly do they hit him, and fear not.
5 They encourage themselves in mischief *
and commune among themselves how they may lay snares,
and say, that no man shall see them.
6 They imagine wickedness, and practise it *
that they keep secret among themselves,
every man in the deep of his heart.
7 But God shall suddenly shoot at them with a swift arrow *
that they shall be wounded.
8 Yea, their own tongues shall make them fall *
insomuch that whoso seeth them shall laugh them to scorn.
9 And all men that see it shall say, This hath God done *
for they shall perceive that it is his work.
10 The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord, and put his trust in him *
and all they that are true of heart shall be glad.
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 62 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-62.mp3)
1 For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly shaken.
3 How long will you assail me to crush me,
all of you together, *
as if you were a leaning fence, a toppling wall?
4 They seek only to bring me down from my place of honor; *
lies are their chief delight.
5 They bless with their lips, *
but in their hearts they curse.
6 For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
truly, my hope is in him.
7 He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.
8 In God is my safety and my honor; *
God is my strong rock and my refuge.
9 Put your trust in him always, O people, *
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.
10 Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath, *
even those of low estate cannot be trusted.
11 On the scales they are lighter than a breath, *
all of them together.
12 Put no trust in extortion;
in robbery take no empty pride; *
though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.
13 God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, *
that power belongs to God.
14 Steadfast love is yours, O Lord, *
for you repay everyone according to his deeds.
Psalm 63 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-63-MH.mp3)
2 O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
3 So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
4 For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
5 So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
6 My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
7 On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
8 for your have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
9 My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.
10 Those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down to the depths of the earth.
11 They shall be put into the power of the sword
and left as the prey of the jackals.
12 But the king shall rejoice in God;
(all that swear by him shall be blessed,)
for the mouth of liars shall be silenced.
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 64 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-64-MH.mp3)
2 Hear my voice, O God, as I complain,
guard my life from dread of the foe.
3 Hide me from the band of the wicked,
from the throng of those who do evil.
4 They sharpen their tongues like swords;
they aim bitter words like arrows
5 to shoot at the innocent from ambush,
shooting suddenly and recklessly.
6 They scheme their evil course;
they conspire to lay secret snares.
They say: “Who will see us?
7 Who can search out our crimes?”
He will search who searches the mind
and knows the depths of the heart.
8 God has shot them with his arrow
and dealt them sudden wounds.
9 Their own tongue has brought them to ruin
and all who see them mock.
10 Then will all men fear;
they will tell what God has done.
They will understand God’s deeds.
11 The just will rejoice in the Lord
and fly to him for refuge.
All the upright hearts will glory.
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.
PRAYER
God of might and mercy,
you bring us to new life each day,
and nurture us in your tender love.
Keep us far from all sinfulness,
that our lives may be a blessing to you;
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
Reading: Exodus 17:1-7
The whole Israelite community broke camp and set out from the Sin desert to continue their journey, as the Lord commanded. They set up their camp at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people argued with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why are you arguing with me? Why are you testing the Lord?”
But the people were very thirsty for water there, and they complained to Moses, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do with this people? They are getting ready to stone me.”
The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of Israel’s elders with you. Take in your hand the shepherd’s rod that you used to strike the Nile River, and go. I’ll be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Hit the rock. Water will come out of it, and the people will be able to drink.” Moses did so while Israel’s elders watched. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites argued with and tested the Lord, asking, “Is the Lord really with us or not?”
HYMN: John S.B. Monsell
Tune: Beweley https://tinyurl.com/4b4adtce
1 I hunger and I thirst:
Jesu, my manna be;
ye living waters, burst
out of the rock for me.
2 Thou bruised and broken Bread,
my life-long wants supply;
as living souls are fed,
O feed me, or I die.
3 Thou true life-giving Vine,
let me thy sweetness prove;
renew my life with thine,
refresh my soul with love.
4 Rough paths my feet have trod
since first their course began:
feed me, thou Bread of God;
help me, thou Son of Man.
5 For still the desert lies
my thirsting soul before:
O living waters, rise
within me evermore.
Reading: Romans 5:1-11
Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his faithfulness, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand through him, and we boast in the hope of God’s glory. But not only that! We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. This hope doesn’t put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
While we were still weak, at the right moment, Christ died for ungodly people. It isn’t often that someone will die for a righteous person, though maybe someone might dare to die for a good person. But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us. So, now that we have been made righteous by his blood, we can be even more certain that we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. If we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son while we were still enemies, now that we have been reconciled, how much more certain is it that we will be saved by his life? And not only that: we even take pride in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the one through whom we now have a restored relationship with God.
HYMN: Charles Wesley
Tune: Sagina https://tinyurl.com/3tn5wvru
1 And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
Refrain:
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
2 ‘Tis mystery all! Th’Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
‘Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more. [Refrain]
3 He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race;
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me. [Refrain]
4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee. [Refrain]
5 No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. [Refrain]
Reading: John 4:5-42
He came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, which was near the land Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus was tired from his journey, so he sat down at the well. It was about noon.
A Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me some water to drink.” His disciples had gone into the city to buy him some food. The Samaritan woman asked, “Why do you, a Jewish man, ask for something to drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (Jews and Samaritans didn’t associate with each other.) Jesus responded, “If you recognized God’s gift and who is saying to you, ‘Give me some water to drink,’ you would be asking him and he would give you living water.”
The woman said to him, “Sir, you don’t have a bucket and the well is deep. Where would you get this living water? You aren’t greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave this well to us, and he drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks from the water that I will give will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will never be thirsty and will never need to come here to draw water!”
Jesus said to her, “Go, get your husband, and come back here.” The woman replied, “I don’t have a husband.” “You are right to say, ‘I don’t have a husband,’” Jesus answered. “You’ve had five husbands, and the man you are with now isn’t your husband. You’ve spoken the truth.”
The woman said, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you and your people say that it is necessary to worship in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you and your people will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You and your people worship what you don’t know; we worship what we know because salvation is from the Jews. But the time is coming—and is here!—when true worshippers will worship in spirit and truth. The Father looks for those who worship him this way. God is spirit, and it is necessary to worship God in spirit and truth.”
The woman said, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one who is called the Christ. When he comes, he will teach everything to us.” Jesus said to her, “I Am—the one who speaks with you.”
Just then, Jesus’ disciples arrived and were shocked that he was talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” The woman put down her water jar and went into the city. She said to the people, “Come and see a man who has told me everything I’ve done! Could this man be the Christ?” They left the city and were on their way to see Jesus.
In the meantime the disciples spoke to Jesus, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” Jesus said to them, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.” The disciples asked each other, “Has someone brought him food?”
Jesus said to them, “I am fed by doing the will of the one who sent me and by completing his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘Four more months and then it’s time for harvest’? Look, I tell you: open your eyes and notice that the fields are already ripe for the harvest. Those who harvest are receiving their pay and gathering fruit for eternal life so that those who sow and those who harvest can celebrate together. This is a true saying, that one sows and another harvests. I have sent you to harvest what you didn’t work hard for; others worked hard, and you will share in their hard work.”
Many Samaritans in that city believed in Jesus because of the woman’s word when she testified, “He told me everything I’ve ever done.” So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. Many more believed because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this one is truly the savior of the world.”
CANTICLE Revelation 11:17-18; 12:10b-12a
(Chant by John Michael Talbot: https://tinyurl.com/ycrn2d4f)
Ant. The Father has given Christ all power, honor, and kingship,
All people will obey him.
We praise you, the Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was.
You have assumed your great power,
you have begun your reign.
the nations have raged in anger,
but then came your day of wrath
and the moment to judge the dead:
the time to reward your servants the prophets
and the holy ones who revere you,
the great and the small alike.
Now have salvation and power come,
the reign of our god and the authority
of his anointed one,
for the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
who night and day accused them before God.
They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.
So rejoice, you heavens,
and you that dwell therein!
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 Joe Milner
For the Church, that we may be a source of living water for all who thirst for meaning and purpose in their lives
For the grace of courage: that through our encounters with Christ, we may be strengthened, freed from fear, and emboldened to share our experience of knowing Christ
For a greater openness to the Word of God: that we may carefully listen to the scriptures, ponder them in our heart, and be nourished by them
For a deepening of hope: that the Spirit of God will help us experience the length and depth of God‘s love for us and renew our trust in God’s faithfulness as we face our daily challenges
For fulfillment of our hungers and thirsts: that we may daily seek Christ who fulfills our deepest longings and never be seduced by superficial satisfactions nor empty pleasures
For all who are preparing to celebrate the sacrament of penance: that like the woman at the well, they may honestly examine their life, seek counsel in changing their direction, and find healing and strength in the sacrament
For all who face prejudice and discrimination: that God will heal their wounds and help them to continue to share their gifts for the good of others
For all who thirst every day: that God will assist all who have limited access to water, guide all who are searching for new sources of water, and raise our awareness of the importance of protecting clean water
For all the Elect: that they may grow in their desire for waters of new birth and surrender to God more fully this Lent
For all in irregular marriage situations: that they may know God’s love for them and God’s desire to bring them to wholeness
For greater recognition of the ministry of women: that we may be open to and encouraging of the ministerial gifts of women who bring the Good News to our communities and to those who never come to Church
For all who are ill: that God’s healing love will touch them, relieve their suffering, and restore them to wholeness
For Pope Francis: that as he celebrates ten years as the Bishop of Rome, God will gift him with health in mind and body, continue to bless his efforts to show God’s mercy and compassion to all, and inspire him as he leads the Church to greater unity and deeper love
For all who are suffering: that God will give strength to those recovering from accidents, natural disasters, droughts, or who are grieving the death of loved ones
For college students who are on spring break: that God will preserve them from harm, help them to make wise decisions, and protect them as they travel
For an end to violence: that God will end the bloodshed in Ukraine, city streets, schools, and families, and turn human hearts toward forgiveness and cooperation
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.
Enduring Presence,
goal and guide,
you go before and await our coming.
Only our thirst compels us
beyond complaint to conversation,
beyond rejection to relationship.
Pour your love into our hearts,
that, refreshed and renewed,
we may invite others to the living water
given to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. 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
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BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.
RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.
The three main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.
The intercession is by Joe Milner, http://liturgy.slu.edu
The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern version of Psalm 62 is from Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. Psalms 63 and 64 are from The Grail Psalter and are 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.
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