Oremus for Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Antiphon ¹

Ant. O Lord, I have placed my trust in your merciful love; *
my heart has rejoiced in your salvation.
I will sing unto the Lord who has dealt bountifully with me.
V. How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? *
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I bear grief in my soul, †
have sorrow in my heart all day long? *
How long shall my enemy prevail over me? Psalm 13

Gracious God,
our sins are too heavy to carry,
too real to hide,
and too deep to undo.
Forgive what our lips tremble to name,
what our hearts can no longer bear,
and what has become for us
a consuming fire of judgment.
Set us free from a past that we cannot change;
open to us a future in which we can be changed;
and grant us grace
to grow more and more in your likeness and image;
through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. 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: Johann Herrmann; trans. Robert Bridges
Tune: Herzliebster Jesu https://tinyurl.com/mr3kr7nj

1 Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended,
that we to judge thee have in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by thine own rejected,
O most afflicted!

2 Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee!
‘Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee;
I crucified thee.

3 Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered.
For our atonement, while we nothing heeded,
God interceded.

4 For me, kind Jesus, was thy incarnation,
thy mortal sorrow, and thy life’s oblation;
thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion,
for my salvation.

5 Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,
I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee,
think on thy pity and thy love unswerving,
not my deserving.

PSALMS

Psalm 27 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tlahhq6)
1  The Lord is my light, and my salvation; whom then shall I fear *
 the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
2  When the wicked, even mine enemies, and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh *
 they stumbled and fell.
3  Though an host of men were laid against me,
yet shall not my heart be afraid *
 and though there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him.
4  One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will require *
 even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to visit his temple.
5  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle *
 yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me,
and set me up upon a rock of stone.
6  And now shall he lift up mine head *
 above mine enemies round about me.
7  Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness *
 I will sing, and speak praises unto the Lord.
8  Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry unto thee *
 have mercy upon me, and hear me.
9  My heart hath talked of thee, Seek ye my face *
 Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
10  O hide not thou thy face from me *
 nor cast thy servant away in displeasure.
11  Thou hast been my succour *
 leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
12  When my father and my mother forsake me *
 the Lord taketh me up.
13  Teach me thy way, O Lord *
 and lead me in the right way, because of mine enemies.
14  Deliver me not over into the will of mine adversaries *
 for there are false witnesses risen up against me,
and such as speak wrong.
15  I should utterly have fainted *
 but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
16  O tarry thou the Lord’s leisure *
 be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart; and put thou thy trust in 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 28 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/uxqzzoa)
1  Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my strength *
 think no scorn of me; lest, if thou make as though thou hearest not,
I become like them that go down into the pit.
2  Hear the voice of my humble petitions, when I cry unto thee *
 when I hold up my hands towards the mercy-seat of thy holy temple.
3  O pluck me not away, neither destroy me
with the ungodly and wicked doers *
 which speak friendly to their neighbours,
but imagine mischief in their hearts.
4  Reward them according to their deeds *
 and according to the wickedness of their own inventions.
5  Recompense them after the work of their hands *
 pay them that they have deserved.
6  For they regard not in their mind the works of the Lord,
nor the operation of his hands *
 therefore shall he break them down, and not build them up.
7  Praised be the Lord *
 for he hath heard the voice of my humble petitions.
8  The Lord is my strength, and my shield;
my heart hath trusted in him, and I am helped *
 therefore my heart danceth for joy, and in my song will I praise him.
9  The Lord is my strength *
 and he is the wholesome defence of his Anointed.
10  O save thy people, and give thy blessing unto thine inheritance *
 feed them, and set them up for ever.
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 29 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/rxm2ar6)
1  Bring unto the Lord, O ye mighty,
bring young rams unto the Lord *
 ascribe unto the Lord worship and strength.
2  Give the Lord the honour due unto his Name *
 worship the Lord with holy worship.
3  It is the Lord, that commandeth the waters *
 it is the glorious God, that maketh the thunder.
4  It is the Lord, that ruleth the sea;
the voice of the Lord is mighty in operation *
 the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice.
5  The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedar-trees *
 yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Libanus.
6  He maketh them also to skip like a calf *
 Libanus also, and Sirion, like a young unicorn.
7  The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire;
the voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness *
 yea, the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Cades.
8  The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to bring forth young,
and discovereth the thick bushes *
 in his temple doth every man speak of his honour.
9  The Lord sitteth above the water-flood *
 and the Lord remaineth a King for ever.
10  The Lord shall give strength unto his people *
 the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.
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 27 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-27.mp3)
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? *
the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *
it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army should encamp against me, *
yet my heart shall not be afraid;
4 And though war should rise up against me, *
yet will I put my trust in him.
5 One thing have I asked of the LORD; one thing I seek; *
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days  of my life;
6 To behold the fair beauty of the LORD *
and to seek him in his temple. 
7 For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe  in his shelter; *
he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling
and set me high upon a rock.
8 Even now he lifts up my head *
above my enemies round about me.
9 Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation
with sounds of great gladness; *
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
10 Hearken to my voice, O LORD, when I call; *
have mercy on me and answer me.
11 You speak in my heart and say, “Seek my face.” *
Your face, LORD, will I seek.
12 Hide not your face from me, *
nor turn away your servant in displeasure.
13 You have been my helper; cast me not away; *
do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.
14 Though my father and my mother forsake me, *
the LORD will sustain me.
15 Show me your way, O LORD; *
lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.
16 Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, *
for false witnesses have risen up against me,
and also those who speak malice.
17 What if I had not believed
that I should see the goodness of the LORD *
in the land of the living! 
18 O tarry and await the LORD’S pleasure;
be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; *
wait patiently for the LORD.

Psalm 28 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-28.mp3)
1 O LORD, I call to you;
my Rock, do not be deaf to my cry; *
lest, if you do not hear me,
I become like those who go down to the Pit.
2 Hear the voice of my prayer when I cry out to you, *
when I lift up my hands to your holy of holies.
3 Do not snatch me away with the wicked or with the evildoers, *
who speak peaceably with their neighbors,
while strife is in their hearts.
4 Repay them according to their deeds, *
and according to the wickedness of their actions.
5 According to the work of their hands repay them, *
and give them their just deserts.
6 They have no understanding of the LORD’S doings,
nor of the works of his hands; *
therefore he will break them down and not  build them up.
7 Blessed is the LORD! *
for he has heard the voice of my prayer.
8 The LORD is my strength and my shield; *
my heart trusts in him, and I have been helped;
9 Therefore my heart dances for joy, *
and in my song will I praise him.
10 The LORD is the strength of his people, *
a safe refuge for his anointed.
11 Save your people and bless your inheritance; *
shepherd them and carry them for ever.

Psalm 29 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-29.mp3)
1 Ascribe to the LORD, you gods, *
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his Name; *
worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders; *
the LORD is upon the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice; *
the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendor.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedar trees; *
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *
and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD splits the flames of fire;
the voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; *
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
8 The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe *
and strips the forests bare.
9 And in the temple of the LORD *
all are crying, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned above the flood; *
the LORD sits enthroned as King for evermore.
11 The LORD shall give strength to his people; *
the LORD shall give his people the blessing of peace.

PRAYER

Blessed are you, God of hope;
you restore the fallen
and rebuild the broken walls.
Teach us the song of thanksgiving,
for you are the strength of your people;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Jeremiah 11:18-20, 12:1-13

The Lord informed me and I knew.
    Then he helped me see what they were up to.
I was like a young lamb led to the slaughter;
    I didn’t realize that they were planning
        their schemes against me:
“Let’s destroy the tree with its fruit;
    let’s cut him off from the land of the living
    so that even any knowledge of him will be wiped out.”
Lord of heavenly forces, righteous judge,
    who tests the heart and mind,
        let me see your revenge upon them,
        because I have committed my case to you.

Reading: Ephesians 2:11-18

So remember that once you were Gentiles by physical descent, who were called “uncircumcised” by Jews who are physically circumcised. At that time you were without Christ. You were aliens rather than citizens of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of God’s promise. In this world you had no hope and no God. But now, thanks to Christ Jesus, you who once were so far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Christ is our peace. He made both Jews and Gentiles into one group. With his body, he broke down the barrier of hatred that divided us. He canceled the detailed rules of the Law so that he could create one new person out of the two groups, making peace. He reconciled them both as one body to God by the cross, which ended the hostility to God.

When he came, he announced the good news of peace to you who were far away from God and to those who were near. We both have access to the Father through Christ by the one Spirit.

HYMN: Thomas Troeger ©
Tune: Christpraise Ray

1 O praise the gracious pow’r
that tumbles walls of fear,
and gathers in one house of faith
all strangers far and near:

Refrain:
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 binds: [Refrain]

3 O praise inclusive love,
encircling ev’ry race,
accepting all, without regard
to gender, wealth, or place. [Refrain]

4 O praise the word of faith
that claims us as God’s own,
a living temple built on Christ,
our rock and cornerstone: [Refrain]

5 O praise the tide of grace
that laps at ev’ry shore
with visions of a world at peace,
no longer bled by war: [Refrain]

6 O praise the pow’r, the truth,
the love, the word, the tide.
Yet more than these, O praise their source,
praise Christ the crucified: [Refrain]

7 O praise the living Christ
with faith’s bright songful voice!
Announce the gospel to the world
and with these words rejoice: [Refrain]

Reading: John 18:19-27

Meanwhile, the chief priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered, “I’ve spoken openly to the world. I’ve always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews gather. I’ve said nothing in private. Why ask me? Ask those who heard what I told them. They know what I said.” After Jesus spoke, one of the guards standing there slapped Jesus in the face. “Is that how you would answer the high priest?” he asked. Jesus replied, “If I speak wrongly, testify about what was wrong. But if I speak correctly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him, bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.

Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing with the guards, warming himself. They asked, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?” Peter denied it, saying, “I’m not.” A servant of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said to him, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.

CANTICLE 1 Peter 2:21-24; Isaiah 53:4-5
Setting by Stephen Dean https://tinyurl.com/69mp52v9

Refrain:
Ours were the griefs he bore,
ours were the pains he carried.
Ours were the sins he took on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

1. Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example
that you should follow in his steps.
He committed no sin, no guile was on his lips.
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. [Refrain]

2. When he suffered, he did not threaten
but he trusted to him who judges justly.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. [Refrain]

PRAYER ^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.

(Traditional chant: https://tinyurl.com/ydzx5jdp)

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
[For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.]

Holy God, we come to worship
in the gathering shadows of Jesus’ suffering and death.
We come with his friends,
the men and women who have followed him
in every place and generation,
to live once again this story of service and betrayal,
of weakness and courage.
We come to witness your love in action.
Be with us, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen. ^WS2

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.

¹ Adam Bartlett, Simple English Propers; audio from https://musicasacra.com/additional-publications/sep-practice-videos/ ©

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

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

The main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.

The traditional version of the psalms is from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern version of the psalms is from The Grail Psalter and the recordings are linked to 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.