Oremus for Friday, March 31, 2023

John Donne, Isaac Oliver, 1622

John Donne
John Donne was born in about the year 1571 and brought up as a Roman Catholic. He was a great-great nephew of Thomas More, although this seems to have had little influence on him, as he led a somewhat debauched youth and was extremely sceptical about all religion. He went up to Oxford when he was fourteen, studied further at Cambridge and perhaps on the Continent, and eventually discovered his Christian faith in the Church of England. After much heart-searching, he accepted ordination and later the post of Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral. Much of his cynicism dissolved and he became a strong advocate for the discerning of Christian vocation, and in particular affirming his own vocation as a priest, loving and loved by the crucified Christ. The people of London flocked to his sermons. He died on this day in the year 1631. His love-poetry and religious poems took on a renewed life in the twentieth century and his place both as a patristic scholar and as a moral theologian are confirmed by his prolific writings and the publication of his sermons. EH

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

God of mercy,
you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost.
We confess that we have strayed from you
and turned aside from your way.
We are misled by pride,
for we see ourselves pure when we are stained,
and great when we are small.
We have failed in love,
neglected justice,
and ignored your truth.
Have mercy, O God, and forgive our sin.
Return us to paths of righteousness
through Jesus Christ, our Savior. 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: John Donne
Tune: Donne https://tinyurl.com/4zkufes4

1. Wilt thou forgive that sin, where I begun,
which is my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt thou forgive those sins through which I run,
and do run still, though still I do deplore?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
for I have more.

2. Wilt thou forgive that sin, by which I won
others to sin, and made my sin their door?
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I did shun
a year or two, but wallowed in a score?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
for I have more.

3. I have a sin of fear that when I’ve spun
my last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
swear by thyself, that at my death thy Son
shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore.
And having done that, thou hast done,
I fear no more.

PSALMS

Psalm 147 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/w8ysftd)
1  Praise the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God *
 yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful.
2  The Lord doth build up Jerusalem *
 and gather together the out-casts of Israel.
3  He healeth those that are broken in heart *
 and giveth medicine to heal their sickness.
4  He telleth the number of the stars *
 and calleth them all by their names.
5  Great is our Lord, and great is his power *
 yea, and his wisdom is infinite.
6  The Lord setteth up the meek *
 and bringeth the ungodly down to the ground.
7  O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving *
 sing praises upon the harp unto our God;
8  Who covereth the heaven with clouds,
and prepareth rain for the earth *
 and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains,
and herb for the use of men;
9  Who giveth fodder unto the cattle *
 and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him.
10  He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse *
 neither delighteth he in any man’s legs.
11  But the Lord’s delight is in them that fear him *
 and put their trust in his mercy.
12  Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem *
 praise thy God, O Sion.
13  For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates *
 and hath blessed thy children within thee.
14  He maketh peace in thy borders *
 and filleth thee with the flour of wheat.
15  He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth *
 and his word runneth very swiftly.
16  He giveth snow like wool *
 and scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
17  He casteth forth his ice like morsels *
 who is able to abide his frost?
18  He sendeth out his word, and melteth them *
 he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow.
19  He sheweth his word unto Jacob *
 his statutes and ordinances unto Israel.
20  He hath not dealt so with any nation *
 neither have the heathen knowledge of his laws.
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 148 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vjv42mh)
1  O praise the Lord of heaven *
 praise him in the height.
2  Praise him, all ye angels of his *
 praise him, all his host.
3  Praise him, sun and moon *
 praise him, all ye stars and light.
4  Praise him, all ye heavens *
 and ye waters that are above the heavens.
5  Let them praise the Name of the Lord *
 for he spake the word, and they were made;
he commanded, and they were created.
6  He hath made them fast for ever and ever *
 he hath given them a law which shall not be broken.
7  Praise the Lord upon earth *
 ye dragons, and all deeps;
8  Fire and hail, snow and vapours *
 wind and storm, fulfilling his word;
9  Mountains and all hills *
 fruitful trees and all cedars;
10  Beasts and all cattle *
 worms and feathered fowls;
11  Kings of the earth and all people *
 princes and all judges of the world;
12  Young men and maidens, old men and children,
praise the Name of the Lord *
 for his Name only is excellent,
and his praise above heaven and earth.
13  He shall exalt the horn of his people;
all his saints shall praise him *
 even the children of Israel,
even the people that serveth him.
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 149 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/rpojt8q)
1  O sing unto the Lord a new song *
 let the congregation of saints praise him.
2  Let Israel rejoice in him that made him *
 and let the children of Sion be joyful in their King.
3  Let them praise his Name in the dance *
 let them sing praises unto him with tabret and harp.
4  For the Lord hath pleasure in his people *
 and helpeth the meek-hearted.
5  Let the saints be joyful with glory *
 let them rejoice in their beds.
6  Let the praises of God be in their mouth *
 and a two-edged sword in their hands;
7  To be avenged of the heathen *
 and to rebuke the people;
8  To bind their kings in chains *
 and their nobles with links of iron.
9  That they may be avenged of them, as it is written *
 Such honour have all his saints.
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 150 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vm5vf4z)
1  O praise God in his holiness *
 praise him in the firmament of his power.
2  Praise him in his noble acts *
 praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3  Praise him in the sound of the trumpet *
 praise him upon the lute and harp.
4  Praise him in the cymbals and dances *
 praise him upon the strings and pipe.
5  Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals *
 praise him upon the loud cymbals.
6  Let every thing that hath breath *
 praise the Lord.
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 147 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-147-Lukan.mp3)
Ant. Sing to our God with thanksgiving;*
 Zion, praise your God!*

1 Alleluia! How good it is to praise our God!*
 How pleasant and how fitting to sing God’s praise!
2 ADONAI rebuilds Jerusalem and gathers Israel’s exiles.*
 3 God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
4 God knows the number of the stars*
 and calls each one by name.
5 Great is ADONAI, and mighty in power;*
 there is no limit to God’s wisdom.
6 ADONAI lifts up the oppressed,*
 and casts the corrupt to the ground.
7 Sing to our God with thanksgiving;*
 sing praise with the harp to our God –
8 who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth,*
 who makes grass sprout on the mountains
and herbs for the service of the people,
9 who gives food to the cattle,*
 and to the young ravens when they cry.
10 God does not thrill to the strength of the horse,*
 or revel in the fleetness of humans.
11 ADONAI delights in those who worship with reverence,*
 and put their hope in God’s steadfast love.
12 Jerusalem, give glory to ADONAI!*
 Zion, praise your God!
13 For God strengthens the bars of your gates,*
 and blesses your children within you.
14 God has granted peace within your borders,*
 and fills you with the finest wheat.
15 God sends forth a command to the earth – swiftly runs the word!*
 16 God spreads snow like wool and scatters frost like ashes.
17 God hurls hail like pebbles –*
 who can stand before God’s freezing winds?
18 Then God sends a word and melts them;*
 God lets the breeze blow and the waters run again.
19 God’s words have been revealed to the chosen people,*
 God’s decrees and laws to Israel.
20 God has not done this with any other nation;*
 they do not know God’s law. Alleluia!
Glory to you, O Trinity, most holy and blessed;*
One God, now and forever. Amen.

Ant. Sing to our God with thanksgiving;*
 Zion, praise your God!

Psalm 148
(Temple tone: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-148-Victor.mp3)
1 Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise him in the heights.
2 Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his host.
3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, shining stars.
4 Praise him, highest heavens
and the waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord.
He commanded: they were made.
6 He fixed them for ever,
gave a law which shall not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
sea creatures and all oceans,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy winds that obey his word;
9 all mountains and hills,
all fruit trees and cedars,
10 beasts, wild and tame,
reptiles and birds on the wing;
11 all earth’s kings and peoples,
earth’s princes and rulers,
12 young men and maidens,
the old men together with children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord
for he alone is exalted.
The splendor of his name
reaches beyond heaven and earth.
14 He exalts the strength of his people.
He is the praise of all his saints,
of the sons of Israel,
of the people to whom he comes close.

Psalm 149 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-149.mp3)
1 Hallelujah!
Sing to the LORD a new song; *
sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
2 Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *
let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his Name in the dance; *
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people *
and adorns the poor with victory.
5 Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *
let them be joyful on their beds.
6 Let the praises of God be in their throat *
and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7 To wreak vengeance on the nations *
and punishment on the peoples;
8 To bind their kings in chains *
and their nobles with links of iron;
9 To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *
this is glory for all his faithful people.
Hallelujah!

Psalm 150 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-150-KH.mp3)
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Praise God in his sanctuary;
Praise him in his mighty firmament!
Praise him for his awesome deeds;
Praise him with exceeding greatness!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Praise him with trumpet sound;
Praise him with harp and lute!
Praise him with timbrel and dance;
Praise him with strings and pipe!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Praise him with sounding cymbals;
Praise him with crashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes,
Praise the LORD!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Psalm 147 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/w8ysftd)
1  Praise the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God *
 yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful.
2  The Lord doth build up Jerusalem *
 and gather together the out-casts of Israel.
3  He healeth those that are broken in heart *
 and giveth medicine to heal their sickness.
4  He telleth the number of the stars *
 and calleth them all by their names.
5  Great is our Lord, and great is his power *
 yea, and his wisdom is infinite.
6  The Lord setteth up the meek *
 and bringeth the ungodly down to the ground.
7  O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving *
 sing praises upon the harp unto our God;
8  Who covereth the heaven with clouds,
and prepareth rain for the earth *
 and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains,
and herb for the use of men;
9  Who giveth fodder unto the cattle *
 and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him.
10  He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse *
 neither delighteth he in any man’s legs.
11  But the Lord’s delight is in them that fear him *
 and put their trust in his mercy.
12  Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem *
 praise thy God, O Sion.
13  For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates *
 and hath blessed thy children within thee.
14  He maketh peace in thy borders *
 and filleth thee with the flour of wheat.
15  He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth *
 and his word runneth very swiftly.
16  He giveth snow like wool *
 and scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
17  He casteth forth his ice like morsels *
 who is able to abide his frost?
18  He sendeth out his word, and melteth them *
 he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow.
19  He sheweth his word unto Jacob *
 his statutes and ordinances unto Israel.
20  He hath not dealt so with any nation *
 neither have the heathen knowledge of his laws.
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 148 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vjv42mh)
1  O praise the Lord of heaven *
 praise him in the height.
2  Praise him, all ye angels of his *
 praise him, all his host.
3  Praise him, sun and moon *
 praise him, all ye stars and light.
4  Praise him, all ye heavens *
 and ye waters that are above the heavens.
5  Let them praise the Name of the Lord *
 for he spake the word, and they were made;
he commanded, and they were created.
6  He hath made them fast for ever and ever *
 he hath given them a law which shall not be broken.
7  Praise the Lord upon earth *
 ye dragons, and all deeps;
8  Fire and hail, snow and vapours *
 wind and storm, fulfilling his word;
9  Mountains and all hills *
 fruitful trees and all cedars;
10  Beasts and all cattle *
 worms and feathered fowls;
11  Kings of the earth and all people *
 princes and all judges of the world;
12  Young men and maidens, old men and children,
praise the Name of the Lord *
 for his Name only is excellent,
and his praise above heaven and earth.
13  He shall exalt the horn of his people;
all his saints shall praise him *
 even the children of Israel,
even the people that serveth him.
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 149 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/rpojt8q)
1  O sing unto the Lord a new song *
 let the congregation of saints praise him.
2  Let Israel rejoice in him that made him *
 and let the children of Sion be joyful in their King.
3  Let them praise his Name in the dance *
 let them sing praises unto him with tabret and harp.
4  For the Lord hath pleasure in his people *
 and helpeth the meek-hearted.
5  Let the saints be joyful with glory *
 let them rejoice in their beds.
6  Let the praises of God be in their mouth *
 and a two-edged sword in their hands;
7  To be avenged of the heathen *
 and to rebuke the people;
8  To bind their kings in chains *
 and their nobles with links of iron.
9  That they may be avenged of them, as it is written *
 Such honour have all his saints.
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 150 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vm5vf4z)
1  O praise God in his holiness *
 praise him in the firmament of his power.
2  Praise him in his noble acts *
 praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3  Praise him in the sound of the trumpet *
 praise him upon the lute and harp.
4  Praise him in the cymbals and dances *
 praise him upon the strings and pipe.
5  Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals *
 praise him upon the loud cymbals.
6  Let every thing that hath breath *
 praise the Lord.
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 147 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-147-Lukan.mp3)
Ant. Sing to our God with thanksgiving;*
 Zion, praise your God!*

1 Alleluia! How good it is to praise our God!*
 How pleasant and how fitting to sing God’s praise!
2 ADONAI rebuilds Jerusalem and gathers Israel’s exiles.*
 3 God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
4 God knows the number of the stars*
 and calls each one by name.
5 Great is ADONAI, and mighty in power;*
 there is no limit to God’s wisdom.
6 ADONAI lifts up the oppressed,*
 and casts the corrupt to the ground.
7 Sing to our God with thanksgiving;*
 sing praise with the harp to our God –
8 who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth,*
 who makes grass sprout on the mountains
and herbs for the service of the people,
9 who gives food to the cattle,*
 and to the young ravens when they cry.
10 God does not thrill to the strength of the horse,*
 or revel in the fleetness of humans.
11 ADONAI delights in those who worship with reverence,*
 and put their hope in God’s steadfast love.
12 Jerusalem, give glory to ADONAI!*
 Zion, praise your God!
13 For God strengthens the bars of your gates,*
 and blesses your children within you.
14 God has granted peace within your borders,*
 and fills you with the finest wheat.
15 God sends forth a command to the earth – swiftly runs the word!*
 16 God spreads snow like wool and scatters frost like ashes.
17 God hurls hail like pebbles –*
 who can stand before God’s freezing winds?
18 Then God sends a word and melts them;*
 God lets the breeze blow and the waters run again.
19 God’s words have been revealed to the chosen people,*
 God’s decrees and laws to Israel.
20 God has not done this with any other nation;*
 they do not know God’s law. Alleluia!
Glory to you, O Trinity, most holy and blessed;*
One God, now and forever. Amen.

Ant. Sing to our God with thanksgiving;*
 Zion, praise your God!

Psalm 148
(Temple tone: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-148-Victor.mp3)
1 Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise him in the heights.
2 Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his host.
3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, shining stars.
4 Praise him, highest heavens
and the waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord.
He commanded: they were made.
6 He fixed them for ever,
gave a law which shall not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
sea creatures and all oceans,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy winds that obey his word;
9 all mountains and hills,
all fruit trees and cedars,
10 beasts, wild and tame,
reptiles and birds on the wing;
11 all earth’s kings and peoples,
earth’s princes and rulers,
12 young men and maidens,
the old men together with children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord
for he alone is exalted.
The splendor of his name
reaches beyond heaven and earth.
14 He exalts the strength of his people.
He is the praise of all his saints,
of the sons of Israel,
of the people to whom he comes close.

Psalm 149 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-149.mp3)
1 Hallelujah!
Sing to the LORD a new song; *
sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
2 Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *
let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his Name in the dance; *
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people *
and adorns the poor with victory.
5 Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *
let them be joyful on their beds.
6 Let the praises of God be in their throat *
and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7 To wreak vengeance on the nations *
and punishment on the peoples;
8 To bind their kings in chains *
and their nobles with links of iron;
9 To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *
this is glory for all his faithful people.
Hallelujah!

Psalm 150 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-150-KH.mp3)
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Praise God in his sanctuary;
Praise him in his mighty firmament!
Praise him for his awesome deeds;
Praise him with exceeding greatness!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Praise him with trumpet sound;
Praise him with harp and lute!
Praise him with timbrel and dance;
Praise him with strings and pipe!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Praise him with sounding cymbals;
Praise him with crashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes,
Praise the LORD!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

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: Job 42:1-17

Job answered the Lord:

I know you can do anything;
    no plan of yours can be opposed successfully.
You said, “Who is this darkening counsel without knowledge?”
    I have indeed spoken about things I didn’t understand,
    wonders beyond my comprehension.
You said, “Listen and I will speak;
    I will question you and you will inform me.”
My ears had heard about you,
    but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore, I relent and find comfort
    on dust and ashes.

After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, he said to Eliphaz from Teman, “I’m angry at you and your two friends because you haven’t spoken about me correctly as did my servant Job. So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to my servant Job, and prepare an entirely burned offering for yourselves. Job my servant will pray for you, and I will act favorably by not making fools of you because you didn’t speak correctly, as did my servant Job.”

Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuah, and Zophar from Naamah did what the Lord told them; and the Lord acted favorably toward Job. Then the Lord changed Job’s fortune when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord doubled all Job’s earlier possessions. All his brothers, sisters, and acquaintances came to him and ate food with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him concerning all the disaster the Lord had brought on him, and each one gave him a qesitah and a gold ring. Then the Lord blessed Job’s latter days more than his former ones. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named one Jemimah, a second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. No women in all the land were as beautiful as Job’s daughters; and their father gave an inheritance to them along with their brothers. After this, Job lived 140 years and saw four generations of his children. Then Job died, old and satisfied.

HYMN: Ken Medema ©
Tune: 

1 All my life I’ve sung a jealous song.
All my life I’ve sung a jealous song.
All my life I’ve sung a jealous song.
The evil people flourish,
and the good folks suffer wrong.

2 All my life I’ve walked the way of God.
All my life I’ve walked the way of God.
All my life I’ve walked the way of God.
But walking got me nowhere,
and I thought it never would.

3 All my life I’ve watched the wicked rule.
All my life I’ve watched the wicked rule.
All my life I’ve watched the wicked rule.
They look down on the godly,
and they call us silly fools.

4 All my life I’ve tried to reason why.
All my life I’ve tried to reason why.
All my life I’ve tried to reason why.
I could not find the answers
and I lost the will to try.

5 Now my song is altogether new.
Now my song is altogether new.
Now my song is altogether new.
For God has changed my vision,
as only God could do.

Reading: 1 Corinthians 14:36-40

Did the word of God originate with you? Has it come only to you? If anyone thinks that they are prophets or “spiritual people,” then let them recognize that what I’m writing to you is the Lord’s command. If someone doesn’t recognize this, they aren’t recognized. So then, brothers and sisters, use your ambition to try to get the gift of prophecy, but don’t prevent speaking in tongues. Everything should be done with dignity and in proper order.

HYMN: Somerset Corry Lowry
Tune: Everton https://tinyurl.com/2p9bftem

1 Son of God, eternal Saviour,
source of life and truth and grace,
Son of Man, whose birth incarnate
hallows all our human race,
thou, our Head, who, throned in glory,
for thine own dost ever plead,
fill us with thy love and pity;
heal our wrongs, and help our need.

2 As thou, Lord, hast lived for others,
so may we for others live;
freely have thy gifts been granted,
freely may thy servants give:
thine the gold and thine the silver,
thine the wealth of land and sea,
we but stewards of thy bounty,
held in solemn trust for thee.

3 Come, O Christ, and reign among us,
King of love, and Prince of peace;
hush the storm of strife and passion,
bid its cruel discords cease;
by thy patient years of toiling,
by thy silent hours of pain,
quench our fevered thirst of pleasure,
shame our selfish greed of gain.

4 Son of God, eternal Saviour,
source of life and truth and grace,
Son of Man, whose birth incarnate
hallows all our human race,
thou who prayedst, thou who willest,
that thy people should be one,
grant, O grant our hope’s fruition:
here on earth thy will be done.

Reading: John 17:20-23

Jesus continued, “I’m not praying only for them but also for those who believe in me because of their word. I pray they will be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. I pray that they also will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. I’ve given them the glory that you gave me so that they can be one just as we are one. I’m in them and you are in me so that they will be made perfectly one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you have loved them just as you loved me.”

CANTICLE Philippians 2:6-11
(Chant by John Michael Talbot: https://tinyurl.com/y8ljx8y7)

Though he was in the form of God,
Jesus did not deem equality with God
something to be grasped at.
Rather, he emptied himself
and took the form of a slave,
being born in the likeness of men.
He was known to be of human estate
and it was thus that he humbled himself,
obediently accepting even death,
death on a cross!
Because of this,
God highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
above every other name,  
So that at Jesus’ name
every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth,
and under the earth,
and every tongue proclaim
to the glory of God the Father:  
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!
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 WS2

Giver of life, we wait with you to offer the hope
that comes from the cross to earth’s darkest places.
Where pain is deep and affection is denied:
let love break through.
Where justice is destroyed,
let sensitivity to right spring up.
Where hope is crucified,
let faith persist.
Where peace has no chance,
let passion live on.
Where truth is trampled underfoot,
let the struggle continue.
Where fear paralyzes,
let forgiveness break through.
Eternal God, reach into the silent darkness of our souls
with the radiance of the cross.
O you who are the bearer of all pain,
have mercy on us.
Giver of life,
have mercy on us.
Merciful God,
have mercy on us. Amen.

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.

Almighty God, the root and fountain of all being: Open our eyes to see, with your servant John Donne, that whatever has any being is a mirror in which we may behold you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. HWHM

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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Since 1993, Oremus has been done on a volunteer basis. If you are able, please consider supporting this work at the PayPal link below. For software reasons, I’ve set the value at $10.00, but feel free to change it. Thank you.

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BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.

WS2 The Worship Sourcebook, 2nd edition, © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources

EH Exciting Holiness, Ed. Brother Tristram SSF © European Province of the Society of Saint Francis, 1997

HWHM Holy Women, Holy Men © 2010 The Church Pension Fund.

The three main scripture readings are from the The New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Edition, The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language versions of the Psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1979). Psalms 147, 148, and 150 are set to tones in Book of Common Worship and are from the PCUSA website https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/worship/service-lords-day/service-lords-day-psalm/chant-psalms/. Psalm 149 is chanted by Ryland Angel.

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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