Oremus for Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/7e7juvyw

The Lord is the strength of his people,
a saving refuge for the one he has anointed.
Save your people, Lord, and bless your heritage,
and govern them for ever. Psalm 28

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: Te Deum; para. Christopher Idle ©
Tune: Rustington https://tinyurl.com/8744rzau

1 God, we praise you! God, we bless you!
God, we name you sov’reign Lord!
Mighty King whom angels worship,
Father, by your Church adored:
All creation shows your glory,
Heav’n and earth draw near your throne,
Singing “Holy, holy, holy,”
Lord of hosts, and God alone!

2 True apostles, faithful prophets,
Saints who set their world ablaze,
Martyrs, once unknown, unheeded,
Join one growing song of praise,
While your Church on earth confesses
One majestic Trinity:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
God, our hope eternally.

3 Jesus Christ, the King of glory,
Everlasting Son of God,
Humble was your virgin mother,
Hard the lonely path you trod:
By your cross is sin defeated,
Hell confronted face to face,
Heaven opened to believers,
Sinners justified by grace.

4 Christ, at God’s right hand victorious,
You will judge the world you made;
Lord, in mercy help your servants
For whose freedom you have paid:
Raise us up from dust to glory,
Guard us from all sin today;
King enthroned above all praises,
Save your people, God, we pray.

PSALMS

Psalm 93 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y7tg5urb)
1  The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel *
 the Lord hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength.
2  He hath made the round world so sure *
 that it cannot be moved.
3  Ever since the world began hath thy seat been prepared *
 thou art from everlasting.
4  The floods are risen, O Lord, the floods have lift up their voice *
 the floods lift up their waves.
5  The waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly *
 but yet the Lord, who dwelleth on high, is mightier.
6  Thy testimonies, O Lord, are very sure *
 holiness becometh thine house 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 94 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y8otscow)
1  O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth *
 thou God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
2  Arise, thou Judge of the world *
 and reward the proud after their deserving.
3  Lord, how long shall the ungodly *
 how long shall the ungodly triumph?
4  How long shall all wicked doers speak so disdainfully *
 and make such proud boasting?
5  They smite down thy people, O Lord *
 and trouble thine heritage.
6  They murder the widow, and the stranger *
 and put the fatherless to death.
7  And yet they say, Tush, the Lord shall not see *
 neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
8  Take heed, ye unwise among the people *
 O ye fools, when will ye understand?
9  He that planted the ear, shall he not hear *
 or he that made the eye, shall he not see?
10  Or he that nurtureth the heathen *
 it is he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he punish?
11  The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man *
 that they are but vain.
12  Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord *
 and teachest him in thy law;
13  That thou mayest give him patience in time of adversity *
 until the pit be digged up for the ungodly.
14  For the Lord will not fail his people *
 neither will he forsake his inheritance;
15  Until righteousness turn again unto judgement *
 all such as are true in heart shall follow it.
16  Who will rise up with me against the wicked *
 or who will take my part against the evil-doers?
17  If the Lord had not helped me *
 it had not failed but my soul had been put to silence.
18  But when I said, My foot hath slipt *
 thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.
19  In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart *
 thy comforts have refreshed my soul.
20  Wilt thou have any thing to do with the stool of wickedness *
 which imagineth mischief as a law?
21  They gather them together against the soul of the righteous *
 and condemn the innocent blood.
22  But the Lord is my refuge *
 and my God is the strength of my confidence.
23  He shall recompense them their wickedness, and destroy them in their own malice *
 yea, the Lord our God shall destroy them.
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 93 (LSB Tone A: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-93-LSB.mp3)
The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established;
it shall never be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
mightier than the waves of the sea,
the Lord on high is mighty.
Your decrees are very trustworthy;
holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.
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.

Psalm 94 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-94-KH.mp3)
O LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!

Rise up, O Judge of the earth,
give recompense to the proud.
How long shall the wicked, O LORD,
how long shall the wicked exult?
They pour forth words speaking proudly;
and all who do evil boast.
They crush your people, O LORD,
and afflict your inheritance.

O LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!

They slay the widow and stranger,
and even murder orphans.
They say, “The LORD does not see us,
nor does Jacob’s God pay heed.”
Pay heed, all fools of the nations;
when will you fools understand?
He who planted the ear, does he not hear?
he who formed the eye, not see?

O LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!

Will he not rebuke who strikes nations,
the One who teaches man knowledge?
The thoughts of man the LORD knows,
that they are merely a breath.
LORD, blessed is the man whom you chasten,
and whom you teach from Your law;
Relieved from days of trouble,
while a pit is dug for the wicked.

O LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!

For the LORD won’t abandon his people,
nor will he leave his inheritance.
For judgment will turn for the righteous,
all the upright in heart will follow.
Who will stand with me against evil?
With me against the wicked?
If the LORD had not been my help,
then my soul would soon become mute.

O LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!

If I say, “My foot is slipping,”
your love, O LORD, holds me up.
When alarming thoughts grow within me,
then your comfort delights my soul.
Can a throne of ruin be united,
which makes its laws out of mischief?
Set against the life of the righteous,
and condemning the pure to death.

O LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!

But the LORD has been my stronghold,
my God the rock of my refuge.
He returns their evil upon them,
they’re destroyed by their own wickedness

The LORD our God. will destroy them!

PRAYER

Eternal God,
give us insight to discern your will for us,
to give up what harms us,
and to seek the perfection we are promised
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^{CW: Additional Collects}

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Ezekiel 1:15-25

As I looked at the creatures, suddenly there was a wheel on the earth corresponding to all four faces of the creatures. The appearance and composition of the wheels were like sparkling topaz. There was one shape for all four of them, as if one wheel were inside another. When they moved in any of the four directions, they moved without swerving. Their rims were tall and terrifying, because all four of them were filled with eyes all around. When the creatures moved, the wheels moved next to them. Whenever the creatures rose above the earth, the wheels also rose up. Wherever the wind would appear to go, the wind would make them go there too. The wheels rose up beside them, because the spirit of the creatures was in the wheels. When they moved, the wheels moved; when they stood still, the wheels stood still; and when they rose above the earth, the wheels rose up along with them, because the spirit of the creatures was in the wheels.

The shape above the heads of the creatures was a dome; it was like glittering ice stretched out over their heads. Just below the dome, their outstretched wings touched each other. They each also had two wings to cover their bodies. Then I heard the sound of their wings when they moved forward. It was like the sound of mighty waters, like the sound of the Almighty, like the sound of tumult or the sound of an army camp. When they stood still, their wings came to rest. Then there was a sound from above the dome over their heads. They stood still, and their wings came to rest.

HYMN: Johann Franck; trans. Catherine Winkworth
Tune: Jesu, meine Freude https://tinyurl.com/ejk2m846

1 Jesus, priceless treasure,
source of purest pleasure,
truest friend to me,
long my heart hath panted,
till it wellnigh fainted,
thirsting after thee.
Thine I am, O spotless Lamb;
I will suffer naught to hide thee,
ask for naught beside thee.

2 In thine arm I rest me;
foes who have oppressed me
cannot reach me here.
Though the earth be shaking,
every heart be quaking,
Jesus calms my fear.
Sin and hell in conflict fell
with their heaviest storms assail me;
Jesus will not fail me.

3 Hence, all thoughts of sadness!
for the Lord of gladness,
Jesus, enters in.
Those who love the Savior,
though the storms may gather,
still have peace within.
Yea, whate’er we here must bear,
still in thee lies purest pleasure,
Jesus, priceless treasure!

Reading: 1 Peter 1:13-25

Therefore, once you have your minds ready for action and you are thinking clearly, place your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Don’t be conformed to your former desires, those that shaped you when you were ignorant. But, as obedient children, you must be holy in every aspect of your lives, just as the one who called you is holy. It is written, You will be holy, because I am holy. Since you call upon a Father who judges all people according to their actions without favoritism, you should conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your dwelling in a strange land. Live in this way, knowing that you were not liberated by perishable things like silver or gold from the empty lifestyle you inherited from your ancestors. Instead, you were liberated by the precious blood of Christ, like that of a flawless, spotless lamb. Christ was chosen before the creation of the world, but was only revealed at the end of time. This was done for you, who through Christ are faithful to the God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory. So now, your faith and hope should rest in God.

As you set yourselves apart by your obedience to the truth so that you might have genuine affection for your fellow believers, love each other deeply and earnestly. Do this because you have been given new birth—not from the type of seed that decays but from seed that doesn’t. This seed is God’s life-giving and enduring word. Thus,

This is the word that was proclaimed to you as good news.

HYMN: James Montgomery
Tune: St Agnes https://tinyurl.com/4kce67jf

1 Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless
thy chosen pilgrim flock
with manna in the wilderness,
with water from the rock.

2 We would not live by bread alone,
but by thy word of grace,
in strength of which we travel on
to our abiding-place.

3 Be known to us in breaking bread,
and do not then depart;
Saviour, abide with us, and spread
thy table in our heart.

4 Lord, sup with us in love divine,
thy Body and thy Blood,
that living bread, that heavenly wine,
be our immortal food.

Reading: Matthew 4:1-11

Then the Spirit led Jesus up into the wilderness so that the devil might tempt him. After Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights, he was starving. The tempter came to him and said, “Since you are God’s Son, command these stones to become bread.” Jesus replied, “It’s written, People won’t live only by bread, but by every word spoken by God.”

After that the devil brought him into the holy city and stood him at the highest point of the temple. He said to him, “Since you are God’s Son, throw yourself down; for it is written, I will command my angels concerning you, and they will take you up in their hands so that you won’t hit your foot on a stone.” Jesus replied, “Again it’s written, Don’t test the Lord your God.”

Then the devil brought him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He said, “I’ll give you all these if you bow down and worship me.” Jesus responded, “Go away, Satan, because it’s written,You will worship the Lord your God and serve only him.” The devil left him, and angels came and took care of him.

CANTICLE Revelation 4:11, 5:9-10, 13
(Chant by Joe Cox: https://tinyurl.com/y499lmmp)

Ant. Splendor and honor and kingly power *
are yours by right, O Lord our God,
For you created everything that is, *
and by your will they were created and have their being;
And yours by right, O Lamb that was slain, *
for with your blood you have redeemed for God,
From every family, language, people, and nation, *
a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
And so, to him who sits upon the throne, *
and to Christ the Lamb,
Be worship and praise, dominion and splendor, *
for ever and for evermore. Ant.

THE PRAYERS ^CW:TS

In joy and hope let us pray to the Father.
That our risen Saviour may fill us [and …] with the joy of his
glorious and life-giving resurrection …
Lord, hear our prayer.

That isolated and persecuted churches
may find fresh strength in the good news of Easter …
Lord, hear our prayer.

That God may grant us humility
to be subject to one another in Christian love …
Lord, hear our prayer.

That he may provide for those who lack food, work or shelter …
Lord, hear our prayer.

That by his power war and famine may cease through all the world …
Lord, hear our prayer.

That he may reveal the light of his presence to the sick,
the weak and the dying,
to comfort and strengthen them …
Lord, hear our prayer.

That, according to his promises,
all who have died in the faith of the resurrection
may be raised on the last day …
Lord, hear our prayer.

That he may send the fire of the
Holy Spirit upon his people,
so that we may bear faithful witness to his resurrection,
Lord, hear our prayer.

(Plainsong Mode 2: https://tinyurl.com/yctqq8cf)^DL

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today the bread of life;
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,
your Son came into the world
to free us all from sin and death.
Breathe upon us with the power of your Spirit,
that we may be raised to new life in Christ,
and serve you in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. 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.

^DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.

^CW:TS Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2006 and published by Church House Publishing.

The main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.

The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). Psalm 93 is in the version from Lutheran Service Book © Concordia Publishing House. Sung to LSB Tone A and sourced from here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doYQAH0xA6k. Psalms 94 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.