Oremus for Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Mark the Evangelist
John Mark’s mother lived in Jerusalem, and Mark was a companion of Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Paul and Barnabas parted company, and Mark went with Barnabas to Cyprus. The rift between Mark and Paul was not permanent, for we later hear of Mark as a companion of Paul, and after that we hear of him in Rome with Peter. He is the author of the earliest Gospel, which is based on Mark’s memories of Peter’s preaching of the gospel. ^FATS

Antiphon (Music: https://tinyurl.com/yaz32ome)

Well done, good and faithful servant.
Come, share your master’s joy. Matthew 25:21

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: Laurence Housman
Tune: Brockham https://tinyurl.com/2p9226np

1. The saint who first found grace to pen
The life which was the life of men,
And shed abroad the Gospel’s ray,
His fame we celebrate today.

2. Lo, drawn by Pentecostal fire,
His heart conceived its great desire,
When pure of mind, inspired, he heard
And with his hand set forth the Word.

3. Then, clearly writ, the Godhead shone
Serene and fair to look upon;
And through that record still comes power
To lighten souls in death’s dark hour.

4. O holy mind, for wisdom fit
Wherein that Life of lives stood writ,
May we through minds of like accord
Show forth the patterns of our Lord.

5. And so may all whose minds are dark
Be led to truth by good Saint Mark,
And after this our earthly strife
Stand written in the Book of Life.

6. Praise God who made the world so fair,
And sent His Son our Savior there,
And by His Holy Spirit wist
To teach the first evangelist.

PSALMS

Psalm 119: 73-104 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y8qj25yx)

73  Thy hands have made me and fashioned me *
 O give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
74  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me *
 because I have put my trust in thy word.
75  I know, O Lord, that thy judgements are right *
 and that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled.
76  O let thy merciful kindness be my comfort *
 according to thy word unto thy servant.
77  O let thy loving mercies come unto me, that I may live *
 for thy law is my delight.
78  Let the proud be confounded,
for they go wickedly about to destroy me *
 but I will be occupied in thy commandments.
79  Let such as fear thee, and have known thy testimonies *
 be turned unto me.
80  O let my heart be sound in thy statutes *
 that I be not ashamed.

81  My soul hath longed for thy salvation *
 and I have a good hope because of thy word.
82  Mine eyes long sore for thy word *
 saying, O when wilt thou comfort me?
83  For I am become like a bottle in the smoke *
 yet do I not forget thy statutes.
84  How many are the days of thy servant *
 when wilt thou be avenged of them that persecute me?
85  The proud have digged pits for me *
 which are not after thy law.
86  All thy commandments are true *
 they persecute me falsely; O be thou my help.
87  They had almost made an end of me upon earth *
 but I forsook not thy commandments.
88  O quicken me after thy loving-kindness *
 and so shall I keep the testimonies of thy mouth.

89  O Lord, thy word *
 endureth for ever in heaven.
90  Thy truth also remaineth from one generation to another *
 thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.
91  They continue this day according to thine ordinance *
 for all things serve thee.
92  If my delight had not been in thy law *
 I should have perished in my trouble.
93  I will never forget thy commandments *
 for with them thou hast quickened me.
94  I am thine, O save me *
 for I have sought thy commandments.
95  The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me *
 but I will consider thy testimonies.
96  I see that all things come to an end *
 but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

97  Lord, what love have I unto thy law *
 all the day long is my study in it.
98  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies *
 for they are ever with me.
99  I have more understanding than my teachers *
 for thy testimonies are my study.
100  I am wiser than the aged *
 because I keep thy commandments.
101  I have refrained my feet from every evil way *
 that I may keep thy word.
102  I have not shrunk from thy judgements *
 for thou teachest me.
103  O how sweet are thy words unto my throat *
 yea, sweeter than honey unto my mouth.
104  Through thy commandments I get understanding *
 therefore I hate all evil ways.
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 119:73-104 (Karl Kohlhase:
http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-119-73-104-KH.mp3)

Your hands made me and fashioned me;
help me understand your commandments.
May the fearful see and be glad,
because I wait for your word.
O LORD, I know your judgments are righteous,
and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
May your love become my comfort,
by your word unto your servant.
May your mercy come so I’ll live,
your law is my delight.
May the proud be ashamed of their lies;
while I meditate on your precepts.
May the fearful turn unto me,
even those who know your teachings.
May my heart become blameless in your laws,
so I will not be ashamed.

My soul longs for your salvation;
I wait upon your word.
My eyes go out for your word,
“When will you comfort me?”
Though a wineskin in the smoke,
I will not forget your laws.
How long are the days of your servant?
When will you judge those who hurt me?
For the proud have dug pits for me,
who are not in accord with your law.
All your commandments are faithful;
help me when I’m hurt by their lies!
They have almost destroyed me on earth,
but I’ll not forsake your precepts.
Revive me according to your love,
so I’ll keep the word of your mouth.

Forever, O LORD, your word is settled in heaven.
Your faithfulness is for all ages;
you set the earth firm, and it stands.
They stand to this day by your ordinances,
all things are for your servants.
If your law not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you revived me.
I am yours, please rescue me;
for I have sought your precepts.
Though the wicked looked out for my harm;
yet I discerned your teachings.
Saw the limit of all perfection;
your command is exceedingly broad.

O how I love your law!
My meditation all through the day.
Your commands make me wiser than my foes,
for they are ever mine.
I have insight beyond all my teachers,
for your teachings are my meditation.
Understanding more than the aged,
because your precepts I keep.
I’ve restrained my feet from all evil,
that I may keep your word.
I’ve not turned aside from your rulings,
for you yourself have taught me.
O how sweet are your words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
From your precepts I get understanding;
so I hate every false way.

PRAYER

O God for whom there are no barriers,
no stones too big to remove,
roll away our resistance to you.
Let your words fill us with new life
and bring us out from the tomb of indifference,
alive again in you.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. ^CGP

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Ezekiel 10:1-6, 14-19

At that moment I saw a form of a throne in the dome above the heads of the winged creatures. It appeared above them, and it looked like lapis lazuli. He said to the man clothed in linen: Go in between the wheels under the winged creatures. Fill your hands with fiery coals from between the winged creatures, and scatter them over the city. As I watched, he went in. Now the winged creatures were standing to the right of the temple when the man went in, and the cloud filled the inner courtyard. Then the Lord’s glory rose from above the winged creatures and moved toward the temple’s threshold. The temple was filled with the cloud, and the courtyard was filled with the brightness of the Lord’s glory. The sound of the winged creatures’ wings could be heard as far as the outer courtyard. It was like the sound of God Almighty when he speaks. When he instructed the man clothed in linen to take fire from between the winged creatures and their wheels, the man went and stood next to the wheel.

Each winged creature had four faces. The first face was that of a winged creature, the second face was that of a human being, the third that of a lion, and the fourth that of an eagle. The winged creatures rose up, the same creatures that I had seen at the Chebar River. When the winged creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them. When the winged creatures lifted their wings to ascend above the earth, the wheels remained beside them without swerving. When they stood still, the wheels stood still; when they rose up, they rose up with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them. Then the Lord’s glory went out from above the temple’s threshold and it stood over the winged creatures. While I watched, the winged creatures raised their wings and rose from the ground to leave, with their wheels beside them. They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the temple, and the glory of Israel’s God was up above them.

Reading: Acts 15.35–41

Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, where, together with many others, they taught and proclaimed the good news of the Lord’s word. Some time later, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit all the brothers and sisters in every city where we preached the Lord’s word. Let’s see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. Paul insisted that they shouldn’t take him along, since he had deserted them in Pamphylia and hadn’t continued with them in their work. Their argument became so intense that they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas and left, entrusted by the brothers and sisters to the Lord’s grace. He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

HYMN: Adam de Saint-Victor; trans. Robert Campbell
Tune: Alles ist an Gottes Segen 

1. Come, pure hearts, in joyful measure
sing of those who spread the treasure
in the holy Gospels shrined;
blessèd tidings of salvation,
peace on earth their proclamation,
love from God to lost mankind.

2. See the rivers four that gladden,
with their streams, the better Eden
planted by our Lord most dear;
Christ the fountain, these the waters;
drink, O Zion’s sons and daughters,
drink, and find salvation here.

3. O that we, thy truth confessing,
and thy holy word possessing,
Jesus may thy love adore;
unto thee our voices raising,
thee with all thy ransomed praising,
ever and forevermore.

Reading: Matthew 5:27-37

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, Don’t commit adultery. But I say to you that every man who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart. And if your right eye causes you to fall into sin, tear it out and throw it away. It’s better that you lose a part of your body than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to fall into sin, chop it off and throw it away. It’s better that you lose a part of your body than that your whole body go into hell.

“It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a divorce certificate.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife except for sexual unfaithfulness forces her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

“Again you have heard that it was said to those who lived long ago: Don’t make a false solemn pledge, but you should follow through on what you have pledged to the Lord. But I say to you that you must not pledge at all. You must not pledge by heaven, because it’s God’s throne. You must not pledge by the earth, because it’s God’s footstool. You must not pledge by Jerusalem, because it’s the city of the great king. And you must not pledge by your head, because you can’t turn one hair white or black. Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. Anything more than this comes from the evil one.”

CANTICLE Te Deum
(Chant by Joe Cox: https://tinyurl.com/ybzyundx)

We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud,
the Heavens and all the Powers therein.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry:
    Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;
    Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory.
The glorious company of the apostles praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee.
The noble army of martyrs praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world
                              doth acknowledge thee,
    the Father, of an infinite majesty,
    thine adorable, true, and only Son,
    also the Holy Ghost the Comforter.

Thou art the King of glory, O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man,
thou didst humble thyself to be born of a Virgin.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death,
thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge.
    We therefore pray thee, help thy servants,
    whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
    Make them to be numbered with thy saints,
    in glory everlasting.

THE PRAYERS ^WS2

O God, the heavens are yours and the earth is yours.
All our life belongs to you.
Make us your messengers of peace and justice.

May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Make us your messengers of peace and justice.

May all injustice, violence, and oppression give way
to fairness, mercy, and goodwill.
Make us your messengers of peace and justice.

Teach us to use the manifold resources of the earth
so that none may waste and none may want.
Make us your messengers of peace and justice.

In all our labors, may cooperation triumph over conflict;
may all people find their reward in work that serves the good of all.
Make us your messengers of peace and justice.

Keep alive the holy fire within the hearts
of all who dare to be the voices of unwelcome wisdom.
Make us willing to hear hard demands.
Make us your messengers of peace and justice.

Fill us with a passion for righteousness
and a zeal to serve where there is need.
Fill us with a purpose that is holy and right and just.
Help us to love the noblest and best.
Make us your messengers of peace and justice.

Unto you, O God, be all might and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and evermore. Amen.

(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.

Approaching God,
granting us the birth pangs of a new age:
we give thanks for Mark,
for the open ended gospel,
for the urgency of faith,
for the call to follow the Son of Man
through the foundering of temples
and the rage of fallen powers;
by your Holy Spirit give us the words of vision
that will bring good news to our world;
through Jesus Christ, the Chosen. 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.

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

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

^FATS For All the Saints, © The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, 2014

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

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 119 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.