Oremus for Monday, April 17, 2023

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/7xjb8krr

Ant. I am the true vine, and you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in them, bears fruit in plenty. John 15

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: Carl P Daw ©
Tune: Rendez à Dieu https://tinyurl.com/29s29a5s

1 Mark how the Lamb of God’s self offering
our human sinfulness takes on
in the birth waters of the Jordan
as Jesus is baptized by John.
Hear how the voice from heaven thunders,
“Lo, this is my beloved Son.”
See how in dovelike form the Spirit
descends on God’s anointed one.

2 From this assurance of God’s favor
Jesus goes to the wilderness,
there to endure a time of testing
that readied him to teach and bless.
So we, by water and the Spirit
baptized into Christ’s ministry,
are often led to paths of service
through mazes of adversity.

3 Grant us, O God, the strength and courage
to live the faith our lips declare;
bless us in our baptismal calling;
Christ’s royal priesthood help us share.
Turn us from every false allegiance,
that we may trust in Christ alone:
raise up in us a chosen people
transformed by love to be your own.

PSALMS

Psalm 89 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ydygwbyj)
1  My song shall be alway of the loving kindness of the Lord *
 with my mouth will I ever be shewing thy truth
from one generation to another.
2  For I have said, Mercy shall be set up for ever *
 thy truth shalt thou stablish in the heavens.
3  I have made a covenant with my chosen *
 I have sworn unto David my servant;
4  Thy seed will I stablish for ever *
 and set up thy throne from one generation to another.
5  O Lord, the very heavens shall praise thy wondrous works *
 and thy truth in the congregation of the saints.
6  For who is he among the clouds *
 that shall be compared unto the Lord?
7  And what is he among the gods *
 that shall be like unto the Lord?
8  God is very greatly to be feared in the council of the saints *
 and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about him.
9  O Lord God of hosts, who is like unto thee *
 thy truth, most mighty Lord, is on every side.
10  Thou rulest the raging of the sea *
 thou stillest the waves thereof when they arise.
11  Thou hast subdued Egypt, and destroyed it *
 thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arm.
12  The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine *
 thou hast laid the foundation of the round world, and all that therein is.
13  Thou hast made the north and the south *
 Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy Name.
14  Thou hast a mighty arm *
 strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
15  Righteousness and equity are the habitation of thy seat *
 mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
16  Blessed is the people, O Lord, that can rejoice in thee *
 they shall walk in the light of thy countenance.
17  Their delight shall be daily in thy Name *
 and in thy righteousness shall they make their boast.
18  For thou art the glory of their strength *
 and in thy loving-kindness thou shalt lift up our horns.
19  For the Lord is our defence *
 the Holy One of Israel is our King.
20  Thou spakest sometime in visions unto thy saints, and saidst *
 I have laid help upon one that is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
21  I have found David my servant *
 with my holy oil have I anointed him.
22  My hand shall hold him fast *
 and my arm shall strengthen him.
23  The enemy shall not be able to do him violence *
 the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.
24  I will smite down his foes before his face *
 and plague them that hate him.
25  My truth also and my mercy shall be with him *
 and in my Name shall his horn be exalted.
26  I will set his dominion also in the sea *
 and his right hand in the floods.
27  He shall call me, Thou art my Father *
 my God, and my strong salvation.
28  And I will make him my first-born *
 higher than the kings of the earth.
29  My mercy will I keep for him for evermore *
 and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
30  His seed also will I make to endure for ever *
 and his throne as the days of heaven.
31  But if his children forsake my law *
 and walk not in my judgements;
32  If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments *
 I will visit their offences with the rod, and their sin with scourges.
33  Nevertheless, my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him *
 nor suffer my truth to fail.
34  My covenant will I not break,
nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips *
 I have sworn once by my holiness, that I will not fail David.
35  His seed shall endure for ever *
 and his seat is like as the sun before me.
36  He shall stand fast for evermore as the moon *
 and as the faithful witness in heaven.
37  But thou hast abhorred and forsaken thine Anointed *
 and art displeased at him.
38  Thou hast broken the covenant of thy servant *
 and cast his crown to the ground.
39  Thou hast overthrown all his hedges *
 and broken down his strong holds.
40  All they that go by spoil him *
 and he is become a reproach to his neighbours.
41  Thou hast set up the right hand of his enemies *
 and made all his adversaries to rejoice.
42  Thou hast taken away the edge of his sword *
 and givest him not victory in the battle.
43  Thou hast put out his glory *
 and cast his throne down to the ground.
44  The days of his youth hast thou shortened *
 and covered him with dishonour.
45  Lord, how long wilt thou hide thyself, for ever *
 and shall thy wrath burn like fire?
46  O remember how short my time is *
 wherefore hast thou made all men for nought?
47  What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death *
 and shall he deliver his soul from the hand of hell?
48  Lord, where are thy old loving-kindnesses *
 which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?
49  Remember, Lord, the rebuke that thy servants have *
 and how I do bear in my bosom the rebukes of many people;
50  Wherewith thine enemies have blasphemed thee,
and slandered the footsteps of thine Anointed *
 Praised be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen.
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 89 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-89-KH.mp3)
I will sing of the LORD’s love forever,
tell your faithfulness to all generations.
Say “His love is established forever,
and his faithfulness set in the heavens.”
With my chosen one I made a covenant;
I have sworn to David My servant,
“I’ll establish your seed forever,
build your throne to all generations.”

I will establish his children forever,
and his throne like the days of heaven

LORD, the heavens will praise your wonders;
in the holy assembly Your faithfulness.
Who is like the LORD in the skies?
Or among the sons of the mighty?
A God greatly feared in the holy court,
and awesome above all around him?
O LORD God of hosts, who is like you?
Mighty LORD, surrounded by faithfulness.

You master the sea in its swelling,
when its waves rise up You still them;
Crushing Rahab like one who is slain;
with your strong arm scatter your foes
The heavens are yours, the earth also,
the world and all it contains,
Creating both north and south,
Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.

I will establish his children forever,
and his throne like the days of heaven

Your arm is strong, your hand mighty,
and your right hand is exalted.
Right and just the foundation of your throne;
love and truth proceed before you.
Blessed are they who know joyful shouting!
LORD, they walk by the light of your face.
In your name they’ll rejoice all day,
by your righteousness they are lifted.

For you are the glory of our strength,
by your favor our horn is exalted.
For our shield belongs to the LORD,
and our king to the Holy One of Israel.
Saying once to your saints in a vision,
“I will help a mighty one;
From the people I’ll lift up a chosen one;
then I found my servant, David.”

I will establish his children forever,
and his throne like the days of heaven

I anointed him with my holy oil,
my hand was set, and my arm gave strength.
His foe will not deceive him,
nor the son of wickedness hurt him;
I will crush his foes before him,
and strike all those who hate him.
Faithfulness and love will be with him;
in My name his horn will be lifted.

I will set his hand on the sea,
and his right hand on the rivers.
He will cry to me, ‘You are my Father;
my God, my rock of salvation.’
I will make him as my firstborn,
the highest of kings on the earth.
I will bear my love for him always,
my covenant shall be confirmed.

I will establish his children forever,
and his throne like the days of heaven

If his sons forsake my law,
not walking in my judgments;
If they violate my statutes,
not keeping my commandments,
I will punish their sins with the rod,
their iniquity with stripes;
but I will not break off my love,
nor will I betray my faithfulness.

I will not break off my covenant,
change the utterance of my lips
Once I have sworn by my holiness,
unto David I will not lie
His descendants shall last forever,
his throne like the sun before Me.
Like the moon established forever,
and the witness in the sky is faithful.

I will establish his children forever,
and his throne like the days of heaven

But you cast off and reject him,
full of wrath against your anointed.
You have spurned your servant’s covenant,
and profaned his crown in the dust.
You have broken down all his walls;
you have brought his strongholds to ruin.
All who pass his way now plunder him;
he’s become a reproach to his neighbors.

You exalt the hand of his enemies;
you have made his foes rejoice.
You turn back the edge of his sword,
and have not let him stand in the battle.
You have made his glory to cease,
and have cast his throne to the ground.
You have shortened the days of his youth;
you have covered him over with shame.

How long, O LORD will you hide yourself?
Will your anger burn like fire?
Remember the span of my life;
you create sons of men for such vanity
What man can live and not see death?
Spare his soul from Sheol’s power?
Lord, where are your former graces,
which you swore to David in faithfulness?

I will establish his children forever,
and his throne like the days of heaven

Lord, remember your servant’s reproach;
my heart bears from the nations,
with which your foes reproach, O LORD,
the steps of your anointed.

I will establish his children forever,
and his throne like the days of heaven
Blessed be the LORD, forever! Amen and Amen.

PRAYER

God Most High,
in Jesus Christ you rule the world with righteousness
and judge the nations with equity.
Cast down the haughty and lift up the lowly.
Make us compassionate to the needy
that we may be close to Jesus Christ,
our servant Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Ezekiel 1:1-14

In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, I was with the exiles at the Chebar River when the heavens opened and I saw visions of God. (It happened on the fifth day of the month, in the fifth year after King Jehoiachin’s deportation. The Lord’s word burst in on the priest Ezekiel, Buzi’s son, in the land of Babylon at the Chebar River. There the Lord’s power overcame him.)

As I watched, suddenly a driving storm came out of the north, a great cloud flashing fire, with brightness all around. At its center, in the middle of the fire, there was something like gleaming amber. And inside that were forms of four living creatures. This was what they looked like: Each had the form of a human being, though each had four faces and four wings. Their feet looked like proper feet, but the soles of their feet were like calves’ hooves, and they shone like burnished bronze. Human hands were under their wings on all four sides. All four creatures had faces and wings, and their wings touched each other’s wings. When they moved, they each went straight ahead without turning. As for the form of their faces: each of the four had a human face, with a lion’s face on the right and a bull’s face on the left, and also an eagle’s face. The pairs of wings that stretched out overhead touched each other, while the other pairs covered their bodies. Each moved straight ahead wherever the wind propelled them; they moved without turning. Regarding the creatures’ forms: they looked like blazing coals, like torches. Fire darted about between the creatures and illuminated them, and lightning flashed from the fire. The creatures looked like lightning streaking back and forth.

HYMN: Richard Mant
Tune: Laus Deo https://tinyurl.com/3yjpnf97

1 Bright the vision that delighted
once the sight of Judah’s seer;
sweet the countless tongues united
to entrance the prophet’s ear.

2 Round the Lord in glory seated
cherubim and seraphim
filled his temple, and repeated
each to each the alternate hymn:

3 ‘Lord, thy glory fills the heaven;
earth is with its fullness stored;
unto thee be glory given,
holy, holy, holy, Lord.’

4 Heaven is still with glory ringing,
earth takes up the angels’ cry,
‘Holy, holy, holy,’ singing,
‘Lord of hosts, the Lord most high.’

5 With his seraph train before him,
with his holy church below,
thus unite we to adore him,
bid we thus our anthem flow:

6 ‘Lord, thy glory fills the heaven;
earth is with its fullness stored;
unto thee be glory given,
holy, holy, holy, Lord.’

Reading: 1 Peter 1:1-12

To God’s chosen strangers in the world of the diaspora, who live in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

God the Father chose you because of what he knew beforehand. He chose you through the Holy Spirit’s work of making you holy and because of the faithful obedience and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

May God’s grace and peace be multiplied to you.

May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! On account of his vast mercy, he has given us new birth. You have been born anew into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. You have a pure and enduring inheritance that cannot perish—an inheritance that is presently kept safe in heaven for you. Through his faithfulness, you are guarded by God’s power so that you can receive the salvation he is ready to reveal in the last time.

You now rejoice in this hope, even if it’s necessary for you to be distressed for a short time by various trials. This is necessary so that your faith may be found genuine. (Your faith is more valuable than gold, which will be destroyed even though it is itself tested by fire.) Your genuine faith will result in praise, glory, and honor for you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you’ve never seen him, you love him. Even though you don’t see him now, you trust him and so rejoice with a glorious joy that is too much for words. You are receiving the goal of your faith: your salvation.

The prophets, who long ago foretold the grace that you’ve received, searched and explored, inquiring carefully about this salvation. They wondered what the Spirit of Christ within them was saying when he bore witness beforehand about the suffering that would happen to Christ and the glory that would follow. They wondered what sort of person or what sort of time they were speaking about. It was revealed to them that in their search they were not serving themselves but you. These things, which even angels long to examine, have now been proclaimed to you by those who brought you the good news. They did this in the power of the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven.

HYMN: Samuel Medley
Tune: Duke Street  https://tinyurl.com/dfcufd6y

1 I know that my Redeemer lives!
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead;
he lives, my everliving head!

2 He lives triumphant from the grave;
he lives eternally to save;
he lives all-glorious in the sky;
he lives exalted there on high.

3 He lives to bless me with his love;
he lives to plead for me above;
he lives my hungry soul to feed;
he lives to help in time of need.

4 He lives to grant me rich supply;
he lives to guide me with his eye;
he lives to comfort me when faint;
he lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

5 He lives to silence all my fears;
he lives to wipe away my tears;
he lives to calm my troubled heart;
he lives all blessings to impart.

6 He lives, my kind, wise, heav’nly friend;
he lives and loves me to the end;
he lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing;
he lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

7 He lives and grants me daily breath;
he lives, and I shall conquer death;
he lives my mansion to prepare;
he lives to bring me safely there.

8 He lives, all glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives:
I know that my Redeemer lives!

Reading: Matthew 3:13-17

At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River so that John would baptize him. John tried to stop him and said, “I need to be baptized by you, yet you come to me?” Jesus answered, “Allow me to be baptized now. This is necessary to fulfill all righteousness.” So John agreed to baptize Jesus. When Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him. A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him.”

CANTICLE Song of the Three Young Men 35-65
(New Camaldoli chant: https://tinyurl.com/yawzzmsx)

All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Heavens and waters above the heavens, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Powers of the Lord, God be praised and exalted above all forever!
Sun and moon, bless the Lord!
All you stars of heaven, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

All rain and dew, bless the Lord!
And let every wind, bless the Lord!
Fire and heat, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Cold and warmth, bless the Lord!
Dew and snowstorm, bless the Lord!
Frost and cold, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Ice and snow, bless the Lord!
Nights and days, bless the Lord!
Light and darkness, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord!
Let the whole earth bless the Lord!
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Every plant that grows, bless the Lord!
Springs of water, bless the Lord!
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Everything that moves in the waters, bless the Lord!
And let every kind of bird bless the Lord!
All you beasts wild and tame, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Let the whole human race, bless the Lord!
O Israel, bless the Lord!
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

All you the Lord’s servants, bless the Lord!
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord!
Humble-hearted people, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

God has freed us from the underworld,
saved us from the hand of death
and drawn us from the heart of the flame:
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Give thanks to the Lord who is so good!
Bless the God of gods, all you who fear him.
Praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

THE PRAYERS ^WS2

O Christ, born of the Father before all ages,
you took upon yourself our humanity and you rose for us:
Glory to you, O Lord.

Son of God, source of life, we invoke your goodness
upon us and upon the entire human family.
Hear us, Lord of glory.

Allow us to live by your life
and to walk as children of light in the joy of Easter.
Hear us, Lord of glory.

Increase the faith of your church;
may it faithfully bear witness to your resurrection.
Hear us, Lord of glory.

Comfort all who are burdened
and engrave in their hearts your words of eternal life.
Hear us, Lord of glory.

Strengthen those who are weak in faith
and reveal yourself to doubting hearts.
Hear us, Lord of glory.

Give strength to the sick, support the elderly,
and reassure the dying by your saving presence.
Hear us, Lord of glory.

(Traditional chant: http://oremus.org/chant/LP-1940.mp3)

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.

God of freedom,
your beloved meets us where we are,
immersed in the flow of life:
by his humility and solidarity
raise us from fear and guilt;
may the arc of the Spirit’s flight
make us a people of peace;
through Jesus Christ, the Son of Righteousness. Amen. ^PIC

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.

The Lord’s Prayer is the traditional chant as set in The Hymnal 1940 and sung by Kathryn Mannyng https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsJ2TB9pLbU

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

^PIC Prayers for An Inclusive Church. Steven Shakespeare © 2008 Canterbury Press.

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 89 is by Karl Kohlhase http://www.k4communications.com/karl/index.html

Musical links are usually either to artists’ albums posted on Spotify or to recordings made available at smallchurchmusic.com. Audio stripped from YouTube videos is footnoted accordingly above.

Compilation © 2023 Stephen T. Benner. All links worked at the time they were created, but I cannot accept responsibility for their content or any damage resulting from their use. The linked content is under the control of the respective content creators and is subject to change at any time. Any copyright texts included in this compilation are provided for non-commercial purposes related to study or worship. Please contact the respective copyright holders for permission to use the texts in other contexts.