Oremus for Saturday, April 15, 2023

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/msvp3e5j

The Good Shepherd has risen,
who laid down his life for his sheep
and willingly died for his flock, alleluia.

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/mb6h9xfa

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
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.
Alleluia, alleluia!

HYMN: St John of Damascus; trans. John Mason Neale
Tune: St Kevin https://tinyurl.com/33stxerv

1 Come, ye faithful, raise the strain
of triumphant gladness!
God hath brought his Israel
into joy from sadness;
loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke
Jacob’s sons and daughters;
led them with unmoistened foot
through the Red Sea waters.

2 ‘Tis the spring of souls to-day;
Christ hath burst his prison,
and from three days’ sleep in death
as a sun hath risen:
all the winter of our sins,
long and dark, is flying
from his light, to whom we give
laud and praise undying.

3 Now the queen of seasons, bright
with the day of splendour,
with the royal feast of feasts,
comes its joy to render;
comes to glad Jerusalem,
who with true affection
welcomes in unwearied strains
Jesu’s resurrection.

4 Alleluia now we cry
to our King immortal,
who triumphant burst the bars
of the tomb’s dark portal;
Alleluia, with the Son
God the Father praising;
Alleluia yet again
to the Spirit raising.

PSALMS

Psalm 78 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/uq2kpk3)
1  Hear my law, O my people *
 incline your ears unto the words of my mouth.
2  I will open my mouth in a parable *
 I will declare hard sentences of old;
3  Which we have heard and known *
 and such as our fathers have told us;
4  That we should not hide them
from the children of the generations to come *
but to shew the honour of the Lord,
his mighty and wonderful works that he hath done.
5  He made a covenant with Jacob, and gave Israel a law *
 which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children;
6  That their posterity might know it *
 and the children which were yet unborn;
7  To the intent that when they came up *
 they might shew their children the same;
8  That they might put their trust in God *
 and not to forget the works of God, but to keep his commandments;
9  And not to be as their forefathers,
a faithless and stubborn generation *
 a generation that set not their heart aright,
and whose spirit cleaveth not stedfastly unto God;
10  Like as the children of Ephraim *
 who being harnessed, and carrying bows,
turned themselves back in the day of battle.
11  They kept not the covenant of God *
 and would not walk in his law;
12  But forgat what he had done *
 and the wonderful works that he had shewed for them.
13  Marvellous things did he in the sight of our forefathers,
in the land of Egypt *
 even in the field of Zoan.
14  He divided the sea, and let them go through *
 he made the waters to stand on an heap.
15  In the day-time also he led them with a cloud *
 and all the night through with a light of fire.
16  He clave the hard rocks in the wilderness *
 and gave them drink thereof, as it had been out of the great depth.
17  He brought waters out of the stony rock *
 so that it gushed out like the rivers.
18  Yet for all this they sinned more against him *
 and provoked the most Highest in the wilderness.
19  They tempted God in their hearts *
 and required meat for their lust.
20  They spake against God also, saying *
 Shall God prepare a table in the wilderness?
21  He smote the stony rock indeed,
that the water gushed out, and the streams flowed withal *
 but can he give bread also, or provide flesh for his people?
22  When the Lord heard this, he was wroth *
 so the fire was kindled in Jacob,
and there came up heavy displeasure against Israel;
23  Because they believed not in God *
 and put not their trust in his help.
24  So he commanded the clouds above *
 and opened the doors of heaven.
25  He rained down manna also upon them for to eat *
 and gave them food from heaven.
26  So man did eat angels’ food *
 for he sent them meat enough.
27  He caused the east-wind to blow under heaven *
 and through his power he brought in the south-west-wind.
28  He rained flesh upon them as thick as dust *
 and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea.
29  He let it fall among their tents *
 even round about their habitation.
30  So they did eat, and were well filled;
for he gave them their own desire *
 they were not disappointed of their lust.
31  But while the meat was yet in their mouths,
the heavy wrath of God came upon them,
and slew the wealthiest of them *
 yea, and smote down the chosen men that were in Israel.
32  But for all this they sinned yet more *
 and believed not his wondrous works.
33  Therefore their days did he consume in vanity *
 and their years in trouble.
34  When he slew them, they sought him *
 and turned them early, and enquired after God.
35  And they remembered that God was their strength *
 and that the high God was their redeemer.
36  Nevertheless, they did but flatter him with their mouth *
 and dissembled with him in their tongue.
37  For their heart was not whole with him *
 neither continued they stedfast in his covenant.
38  But he was so merciful, that he forgave their misdeeds *
 and destroyed them not.
39  Yea, many a time turned he his wrath away *
 and would not suffer his whole displeasure to arise.
40  For he considered that they were but flesh *
 and that they were even a wind that passeth away,
and cometh not again.
41  Many a time did they provoke him in the wilderness *
 and grieved him in the desert.
42  They turned back, and tempted God *
 and moved the Holy One in Israel.
43  They thought not of his hand *
 and of the day when he delivered them from the hand of the enemy;
44  How he had wrought his miracles in Egypt *
 and his wonders in the field of Zoan.
45  He turned their waters into blood *
 so that they might not drink of the rivers.
46  He sent lice among them, and devoured them up *
 and frogs to destroy them.
47  He gave their fruit unto the caterpillar *
 and their labour unto the grasshopper.
48  He destroyed their vines with hail-stones *
 and their mulberry-trees with the frost.
49  He smote their cattle also with hail-stones *
 and their flocks with hot thunderbolts.
50  He cast upon them the furiousness of his wrath,
anger, displeasure, and trouble *
 and sent evil angels among them.
51  He made a way to his indignation,
and spared not their soul from death *
 but gave their life over to the pestilence;
52  And smote all the first-born in Egypt *
 the most principal and mightiest in the dwellings of Ham.
53  But as for his own people, he led them forth like sheep *
 and carried them in the wilderness like a flock.
54  He brought them out safely, that they should not fear *
 and overwhelmed their enemies with the sea.
55  And brought them within the borders of his sanctuary *
 even to his mountain which he purchased with his right hand.
56  He cast out the heathen also before them *
 caused their land to be divided among them for an heritage,
and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
57  So they tempted, and displeased the most high God *
 and kept not his testimonies;
58  But turned their backs, and fell away like their forefathers *
 starting aside like a broken bow.
59  For they grieved him with their hill altars *
 and provoked him to displeasure with their images.
60  When God heard this, he was wroth *
 and took sore displeasure at Israel.
61  So that he forsook the tabernacle in Silo *
 even the tent that he had pitched among men.
62  He delivered their power into captivity *
 and their beauty into the enemy’s hand.
63  He gave his people over also unto the sword *
 and was wroth with his inheritance.
64  The fire consumed their young men *
 and their maidens were not given to marriage.
65  Their priests were slain with the sword *
 and there were no widows to make lamentation.
66  So the Lord awaked as one out of sleep *
 and like a giant refreshed with wine.
67  He smote his enemies in the hinder parts *
 and put them to a perpetual shame.
68  He refused the tabernacle of Joseph *
 and chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
69  But chose the tribe of Judah *
 even the hill of Sion which he loved.
70  And there he built his temple on high *
 and laid the foundation of it like the ground
which he hath made continually.
71  He chose David also his servant *
 and took him away from the sheep-folds.
72  As he was following the ewes great with young ones he took him *
 that he might feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
73  So he fed them with a faithful and true heart *
 and ruled them prudently with all his power.
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 78 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-78-KH.mp3)
Listen, listen, listen, O my people

Listen, my people, to instruction;
give ear to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable,
and utter dark sayings of old,
Which we have heard and known,
our fathers passed on to us.
Not hiding them from their children,
but telling generations to come
The praise of the LORD and his strength,
the wonderful works he has done.
He established a witness in Jacob,
and appointed a law in Israel,
Which he commanded our fathers,
to teach them to their children,
that ages to come might know,
even children yet to be born,

Listen, listen, listen, O my people

They’d rise to tell their children,
to fix their hearts upon God
And not to forget the works of God,
but keep all his commands,
And not be like their fathers,
a stubborn rebellious age,
who would not prepare its heart,
with spirits unfaithful to God.
Ephraim’s sons were archers with bows,
but left in the day of battle.
Not keeping God’s covenant,
refusing to walk in his law;
forgetting about his deeds,
his miracles that he showed them.
His wonders before their fathers,
in Egypt and Zoan’s field.

Listen, listen, listen, O My people

Dividing the sea so they passed through,
making the waters stand in a heap.
Leading with cloud by day,
with a light of fire by night.
He split the rocks in the wilderness,
gave drink in full like the ocean depths.
He brought a stream from the rock,
made waters run down like rivers.
Yet they persisted in sin in the desert
against the Most high.
In their heart putting God to the test,
by asking for food they desired.
Against their God they grumbled,
in deserts will God set table?
He struck the rock so that waters,
gushed forth in flowing streams.

Listen, listen, listen, O My people

PRAYER

Sovereign God,
you subdue the arrogant
and raise the humble;
you feed the hungry
and reveal the poverty of wealth.
Help us to praise your name in all times and places,
that we may be faithful servants
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Isaiah 43:8-13

Bring out the blind people who have eyes,
    the deaf ones who have ears.
All the nations are gathered together;
    the peoples are assembled.
Which of them announced this?
    Who predicted to us the past events?
Let them bring their witnesses as a defense;
    let them hear and say, “It’s true!”
You are my witnesses, says the Lord,
    my servant, whom I chose,
    so that you would know and believe me
    and understand that I am the one.
Before me no god was formed;
    after me there has been no other.
I, I am the Lord,
    and there is no savior besides me.
I announced, I saved, I proclaimed,
not some stranger among you.
You are my witnesses, says the Lord,
    and I am God.
From the dawn of time, I am the one.
    No one can escape my power.
    I act, and who can undo it?

HYMN: George W Bethune
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/2p98buue

1 There is no name so sweet on earth,
no name so sweet in heaven,
the name before his wondrous birth
to Christ the Savior given.

Refrain:
We love to sing around our King,
and hail him blessed Jesus;
for there’s no word ear ever heard
so dear, so sweet as “Jesus.”

2 And when he hung upon the tree,
they wrote this name above him;
that all might see the reason we
forevermore must love him. [Refrain]

3 So now, upon his Father’s throne,
almighty to release us
from sin and pains, he gladly reigns,
the Prince and Savior Jesus. [Refrain]

4 To Jesus ev’ry knee shall bow,
and ev’ry tongue confess him,
and we unite with saints in light,
our only Lord to bless him. [Refrain]

5 O Jesus, by that matchless name,
your grace shall fail us never;
today as yesterday the same,
you art the same forever. [Refrain]

Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10

So we aren’t depressed. But even if our bodies are breaking down on the outside, the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day. Our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile of glory for us that is beyond all comparison. We don’t focus on the things that can be seen but on the things that can’t be seen. The things that can be seen don’t last, but the things that can’t be seen are eternal.

We know that if the tent that we live in on earth is torn down, we have a building from God. It’s a house that isn’t handmade, which is eternal and located in heaven. We groan while we live in this residence. We really want to dress ourselves with our building from heaven— since we assume that when we take off this tent, we won’t find out that we are naked. Yes, while we are in this tent we groan, because we are weighed down. We want to be dressed not undressed, so that what is dying can be swallowed up by life. Now the one who prepared us for this very thing is God, and God gave us the Spirit as a down payment for our home.

So we are always confident, because we know that while we are living in the body, we are away from our home with the Lord. We live by faith and not by sight. We are confident, and we would prefer to leave the body and to be at home with the Lord. So our goal is to be acceptable to him, whether we are at home or away from home. We all must appear before Christ in court so that each person can be paid back for the things that were done while in the body, whether they were good or bad.

HYMN: Alfred Tennyson, alt.
Tune: Song 5 https://tinyurl.com/2nshe572

1 Incarnate God, immortal Love,
whom we, that have not seen your face,
by faith, and faith alone, embrace,
Believing where we cannot prove;

2 You will not leave us in the dust;
you gave us life, we know not why.
We trust we were not made to die,
for you have made us, you are just.

3 In you meet human and divine,
the highest, holiest union known.
We falsely call our powers our own
until our wills with yours combine.

4 Our little systems have their day;
they have their day and cease to be;
They are but fleeting certainty,
and you, O Christ, are more than they.

5 We have but faith; we cannot know,
for knowledge is of things proved true;
And yet we trust it comes from you,
a sign of promise; let it grow.

6 Let knowledge grow from more to more,
but more of reverence in us dwell;
That mind and soul, according well,
may make one music as before.

Reading: Matthew 28:11-15

Now as the women were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. They met with the elders and decided to give a large sum of money to the soldiers. They told them, “Say that Jesus’ disciples came at night and stole his body while you were sleeping. And if the governor hears about this, we will take care of it with him so you will have nothing to worry about.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were told. And this report has spread throughout all Judea to this very day.

CANTICLE Luke 1:46-55
(Brian Moss: https://tinyurl.com/339zmc65)

Who am I to receive this gift?
A child of heaven and earth
How can I give him my kiss?
I have been blessed and I give praise
To him whose song is age to age

Sing out my soul, sing out my soul
I will rejoice in you, my God, the Mighty One
Sing out my soul, sing out my soul
All glory be to you, Immanuel, the Son of Man

Kings will bow to the least of these
The humble lift – ed up
The poor are filled with good things
Mercy extends to those who fear
The Lord, our God, drawing us near

Sing out my soul, sing out my soul
I will rejoice in you, my God, the Mighty One
Sing out my soul, sing out my soul
All glory be to you, Immanuel, the Son of God

Holy is his name. Holy, holy, holy is his name.
Holy is his name. Holy, holy, holy is his name.
Holy is his name.

Sing out my soul, sing out my soul
I will rejoice in you, my God, the Mighty One
Sing out my soul, sing out my soul
All glory be to you, Immanuel, the Son
All glory be to you, Immanuel, the Son of God with us

THE PRAYERS ^BCW18

Almighty God,
who taught us to pray not only for ourselves
but for people everywhere,
hear us as we in the name of Jesus Christ.

For the leaders of the world,
that they may put aside their differences
and seek the peace of Christ, we pray:
Have mercy on us.

For the Church,
that we serve one another with a humility
which sets aside hierarchies of power, we pray:
Have mercy on us.

Release us from the curse of stigma
and labels that cast out the unacceptable, we pray:
Have mercy on us.

That we may long for the day
when all may feast at the table of our Lord,
when no one will be an outsider,
and all will be loved, we pray:
Have mercy on us

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.

Brightness of God’s glory
and exact image of God’s person,
whom death could not conquer
nor the tomb imprison,
as you have shared our frailty in human flesh,
help us to share your immortality in the Spirit.
Let no shadow of the grave terrify us,
and no fear of darkness turn our hearts from you.
Reveal yourself to us this day and all our days,
as the first and the last,
the Living One,
our immortal Savior and Lord. Amen.^BCW

https://tinyurl.com/rkxkpmc
Go in peace, alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia!

Glory to God whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine:
Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church,
and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.    Ephesians 3:20,21

---

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

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

^BCW18 The intercession is adapted from Book of Common Worship (2018), Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.

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 78 is 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.