Gregory of Nazianzus
Gregory of Nazianzus, one of the Cappadocian Fathers, loved God, the art of letters, and the human race—in that order. He was born about 330 in Nazianzus in Cappadocia (now Turkey), the son of a local bishop. He studied rhetoric in Athens with his friend Basil of Caesarea, and Julian, later to be the apostate emperor. Gregory, together with Basil, compiled an anthology of Origen’s works, The Philokalia. Two years later, he returned to his home, a town then rent by heresies and schism. His defense of his father’s orthodoxy in the face of a violent mob brought peace to the town and prominence to Gregory.
In 361, against his will, Gregory was ordained presbyter, and settled down to live an austere, priestly life. He was not to have peace for long. Basil, in his fight against the Arian Emperor Valens, compelled Gregory to become Bishop of Sasima.
Deaths in his family, and that of his estranged friend Basil, brought Gregory himself to the point of death. He withdrew for healing. In 379, Gregory moved to Constantinople, a new man and no longer in despair. He appeared as one afire with the love of God. His fame as a theologian rests on five sermons he delivered during this period on the doctrine of the Trinity. The next year, the new Emperor Theodosius entered Constantinople, and expelled its Arian bishop and clergy. Then, on a rainy day, the crowds in the Great Church of Hagia Sophia acclaimed Gregory bishop, after a ray of sunlight suddenly shone on him. Power and position meant nothing to Gregory. After the Ecumenical Council of 381, he retired to Nazianzus where he died in 389. HWHM
Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/ttyjpbkv
Proclaim a joyful sound and let it be heard;
proclaim to the ends of the earth:
The Lord has freed his people, alleluia. Isaiah 48
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: Gregory of Nazianzus; trans. John Brownlie
Tune: Waverton
1 O Light that knew no dawn,
that shines to endless day,
all things in earth and heav’n
are lustered by thy ray;
no eye can to thy throne ascend,
nor mind thy brightness comprehend.
2 Thy grace, O Father, give,
that I may serve in fear;
above all boons, I pray,
grant me thy voice to hear;
from sin thy child in mercy free,
and let me dwell in light with thee:
3 That, cleansed from stain of sin,
I may meet homage give,
and, pure in heart, behold
thy beauty while I live;
clean hands in holy worship raise,
and thee, O Christ my Savior, praise.
4 In supplication meek
to thee I bend the knee;
O Christ, when thou shalt come,
in love remember me,
and in thy kingdom, by thy grace,
grant me a humble servant’s place.
5 Thy grace, O Father, give,
I humbly thee implore;
and let thy mercy bless
thy servant more and more.
All grace and glory be to thee,
from age to age eternally.
PSALMS
Psalm 44 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/4mebue34)
1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us :
what thou hast done in their time of old;
2 How thou hast driven out the heathen with thy hand,
and planted them in :
how thou hast destroyed the nations and cast them out.
3 For they gat not the land in possession through their own sword :
neither was it their own arm that helped them;
4 But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance :
because thou hadst a favour unto them.
5 Thou art my King, O God :
send help unto Jacob.
6 Through thee will we overthrow our enemies :
and in thy Name will we tread them under, that rise up against us.
7 For I will not trust in my bow :
it is not my sword that shall help me;
8 But it is thou that savest us from our enemies :
and puttest them to confusion that hate us.
9 We make our boast of God all day long :
and will praise thy Name for ever.
10 But now thou art far off, and puttest us to confusion :
and goest not forth with our armies.
11 Thou makest us to turn our backs upon our enemies :
so that they which hate us spoil our goods.
12 Thou lettest us be eaten up like sheep :
and hast scattered us among the heathen.
13 Thou sellest thy people for nought :
and takest no money for them.
14 Thou makest us to be rebuked of our neighbours :
to be laughed to scorn, and had in derision of them
that are round about us.
15 Thou makest us to be a by-word among the heathen :
and that the people shake their heads at us.
16 My confusion is daily before me :
and the shame of my face hath covered me;
17 For the voice of the slanderer and blasphemer:
for the enemy and avenger.
18 And though all this be come upon us, yet do we not forget thee :
nor behave ourselves frowardly in thy covenant.
19 Our heart is not turned back :
neither our steps gone out of thy way;
20 No, not when thou hast smitten us into the place of dragons :
and covered us with the shadow of death.
21 If we have forgotten the Name of our God,
and holden up our hands to any strange god :
shall not God search it out? for he knoweth the very secrets of the heart.
22 For thy sake also are we killed all the day long :
and are counted as sheep appointed to be slain.
23 Up, Lord, why sleepest thou :
awake, and be not absent from us for ever.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face :
and forgettest our misery and trouble?
25 For our soul is brought low, even unto the dust :
our belly cleaveth unto the ground.
26 Arise, and help us :
and deliver us for thy mercy’s sake.
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 45 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ybupe5te)
1 My heart is inditing of a good matter *
I speak of the things which I have made unto the King.
2 My tongue is the pen *
of a ready writer.
3 Thou art fairer than the children of men *
full of grace are thy lips, because God hath blessed thee for ever.
4 Gird thee with thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most Mighty *
according to thy worship and renown.
5 Good luck have thou with thine honour *
ride on, because of the word of truth, of meekness,
and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
6 Thy arrows are very sharp,
and the people shall be subdued unto thee *
even in the midst among the King’s enemies.
7 Thy seat, O God, endureth for ever *
the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
8 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity *
wherefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee
with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
9 All thy garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia *
out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
10 Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women *
upon thy right hand did stand the queen in a vesture of gold,
wrought about with divers colours.
11 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, incline thine ear *
forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house.
12 So shall the King have pleasure in thy beauty *
for he is thy Lord God, and worship thou him.
13 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift *
like as the rich also among the people shall make their supplication before thee.
14 The King’s daughter is all glorious within *
her clothing is of wrought gold.
15 She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needle-work *
the virgins that be her fellows shall bear her company,
and shall be brought unto thee.
16 With joy and gladness shall they be brought *
and shall enter into the King’s palace.
17 Instead of thy fathers thou shalt have children *
whom thou mayest make princes in all lands.
18 I will remember thy Name from one generation to another *
therefore shall the people give thanks unto thee, world without end.
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 46 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y7svqcl3)
1 God is our hope and strength *
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved *
and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea.
3 Though the waters thereof rage and swell *
and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same.
4 The rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the city of God *
the holy place of the tabernacle of the most Highest.
5 God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed *
God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen make much ado, and the kingdoms are moved *
but God hath shewed his voice, and the earth shall melt away.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us *
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
8 O come hither, and behold the works of the Lord *
what destruction he hath brought upon the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease in all the world *
he breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear in sunder,
and burneth the chariots in the fire.
10 Be still then, and know that I am God *
I will be exalted among the heathen, and I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us *
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
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 44 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-44-MH.mp3)
2 We heard with our own ears, O God,
our fathers have told us the story
of the things you did in their days,
you yourself, in days long ago.
3 To plant them you uprooted the nations;
to let them spread you laid peoples low.
4 No sword of their own won the land;
no arm of their own brought them victory.
It was your right hand, your arm
and the light of your face; for you loved them.
5 It is you, my king, my God,
who granted victories to Jacob.
6 Through you we beat down our foes;
in your name we trampled down our aggressors.
7 For it was not in my bow that I trusted
nor yet was I saved by my sword:
8 it was you who saved us from our foes,
it was you who put our foes to shame.
9 All day long our boast was in God
and we praised your name without ceasing.
10 Yet now you have rejected us, disgraced us;
you no longer go forth with our armies.
11 You make us retreat from the foe
and our enemies plunder us at will.
12 You make us like sheep for the slaughter
and scatter us among the nations.
13 You sell your own people for nothing
and make no profit by the sale.
14 You make us the taunt of our neighbors,
the laughing stock of all who are near.
15 Among the nations, you make us a byword,
among the peoples a thing of derision.
16 All day long my disgrace is before me;
my face is covered with shame
17 at the voice of the taunter, the scoffer,
at the sight of the foe and avenger.
18 This befell us though we had not forgotten you,
though we had not been false to your covenant,
19 though we had not withdrawn our hearts;
though our feet had not strayed from your path.
20 Yet you have crushed us in a place of sorrows
and covered us with the shadow of death.
21 Had we forgotten the name of our God,
or stretched out our hands to another god
22 would not God have found this out,
he who knows the secrets of the heart?
23 It is for you that we face death all day long
and are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
24 Awake, O Lord, why do you sleep?
Arise, do not reject us for ever!
25 Why do you hide your face
and forget our oppression and misery?
26 For we are brought down low to the dust;
our body lies prostrate on the earth.
27 Stand up and come to our help!
Redeem us because of your love!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.
Psalm 45 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-45.mp3)
1 My heart is stirring with a noble song;
let me recite what I have fashioned for the king; *
my tongue shall be the pen of a skilled writer.
2 You are the fairest of men; *
grace flows from your lips,
because God has blessed you for ever.
3 Strap your sword upon your thigh, O mighty warrior, *
in your pride and in your majesty.
4 Ride out and conquer in the cause of truth *
and for the sake of justice.
5 Your right hand will show you marvelous things; *
your arrows are very sharp, O mighty warrior.
6 The peoples are falling at your feet, *
and the king’s enemies are losing heart.
7 Your throne, O God, endures for ever and ever, *
a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom;
you love righteousness and hate iniquity.
8 Therefore God, your God, has anointed you *
with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
9 All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia, *
and the music of strings from ivory palaces makes you glad.
10 Kings’ daughters stand among the ladies of the court; *
on your right hand is the queen,
adorned with the gold of Ophir.
11 “Hear, O daughter; consider and listen closely; *
forget your people and your father’s house.
12 The king will have pleasure in your beauty; *
he is your master; therefore do him honor.
13 The people of Tyre are here with a gift; *
the rich among the people seek your favor.”
14 All glorious is the princess as she enters; *
her gown is cloth-of-gold.
15 In embroidered apparel she is brought to the king; *
after her the bridesmaids follow in procession.
16 With joy and gladness they are brought, *
and enter into the palace of the king.
17 “In place of fathers, O king, you shall have sons; *
you shall make them princes over all the earth.
18 I will make your name to be remembered
from one generation to another; *
therefore nations will praise you for ever and ever.”
Psalm 46 (LSB Tone C: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-46-LSB.mp3)
1 God is our refuge and strength,*
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,*
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,*
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,*
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;*
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;*
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;*
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,*
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;*
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.*
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;*
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
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.
PRAYER
God our strength, you are the only refuge of all who trust you.
Fortify us with your goodness to live in quietness of spirit,
that we may serve you all our days;
through Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
The Lord’s word came to me: Human one, speak to your people and say to them: Suppose I bring a sword against a country, and the people of the land take a certain person from their assembly and make him their lookout. When he sees the sword coming against the land, he blows the trumpet and warns the people. If they hear the sound of the trumpet but don’t heed the warning, when the sword comes and they are taken away, they are responsible for their blood. They heard the sound of the trumpet but didn’t heed the warning, so their blood is on them. If they had paid attention to the warning, they would have saved their lives. If the lookout sees the sword coming but doesn’t blow the trumpet to warn the people, when the sword comes and takes away any of them, they are taken away in their sin, but I’ll hold the lookout responsible for their blood.
You, human one, I’ve made you a lookout for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear me speaking, you must give them warning from me. If I pronounce a death sentence on wicked people, and you don’t warn them to turn from their way, they will die in their guilt, but I will hold you responsible for their blood. But suppose you do warn the wicked of their ways so that they might turn from them. If they don’t turn from their ways, they will die in their guilt, but you will save your life.
You, human one, say to the house of Israel: This is what all of you are saying: “How our transgressions and our sins weigh on us! We waste away because of them. How can we live?” Say to them, This is what the Lord God says: As surely as I live, do I take pleasure in the death of the wicked? If the wicked turn from their ways, they will live. Turn, completely turn from your wicked ways! Why should you die, house of Israel?
You, human one, say to your people: The righteousness of the righteous doesn’t rescue them when they begin to sin. Nor does the wickedness of the wicked make them stumble if they turn from their wickedness. If the righteous sin, their righteousness won’t protect them. Even if I’ve told the righteous they will live, none of their righteous deeds will be remembered if they trust in their righteousness and do wrong. They will die because of their evil deeds. And even if I have pronounced a death sentence on the wicked, if they turn from sin and do what is just and right— if they return pledges, make restitution for robbery, and walk in life-giving regulations in order not to sin—they will live and not die. None of the sins they’ve committed will be remembered against them. They’ve done what is just and right, and they will live.
HYMN: Charles Wesley
Tune: Boylston https://tinyurl.com/2p9fw7j4
1 A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never dying soul to save
And fit it for the sky.
2 To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master’s will!
3 Arm me with jealous care,
As in Thy sight to live,
And O, Thy servant, Lord, prepare,
A strict account to give!
4 Help me to watch and pray,
And on Thyself rely
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
We don’t need to write to you about the timing and dates, brothers and sisters. You know very well that the day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. When they are saying, “There is peace and security,” at that time sudden destruction will attack them, like labor pains start with a pregnant woman, and they definitely won’t escape. But you aren’t in darkness, brothers and sisters, so the day won’t catch you by surprise like a thief. All of you are children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to night or darkness. So then, let’s not sleep like the others, but let’s stay awake and stay sober. People who sleep sleep at night, and people who get drunk get drunk at night. Since we belong to the day, let’s stay sober, wearing faithfulness and love as a piece of armor that protects our body and the hope of salvation as a helmet. God didn’t intend for us to suffer his wrath but rather to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with him. So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already.
HYMN: Patrick; trans. James J Quinn ©
Tune: Bunessan https://tinyurl.com/ycktemu5
1 This day God gives me
Strength of high heaven,
Sun and moon shining,
Flame in my hearth,
Flashing of lightning,
Wind in its swiftness,
Depths of the ocean,
Firmness of earth.
2 This day God sends me
Strength as my guardian,
Might to uphold me,
Wisdom as guide.
Your eyes are watchful,
Your ears are list’ning,
Your lips are speaking,
Friend at my side.
3 God’s way is my way,
God’s shield is ’round me,
God’s host defends me,
Saving from ill.
Angels of heaven,
Drive from me always
All that would harm me,
Stand by me still.
4 Rising I thank you,
Mighty and Strong One,
King of creation,
Giver of rest,
Firmly confessing
Three-ness of Persons,
Oneness of Godhead,
Trinity blest.
When Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. A huge storm arose on the lake so that waves were sloshing over the boat. But Jesus was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, rescue us! We’re going to drown!” He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you people of weak faith?” Then he got up and gave orders to the winds and the lake, and there was a great calm. The people were amazed and said, “What kind of person is this? Even the winds and the lake obey 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.
Almighty God,
you raised up your servant Gregory
in the midst of a troubled Church,
and gave him the gift of holy eloquence
to defend the mystery of your triune life.
Unite us, we pray, in celebration of this mystery,
that we may be filled with your light
and led by your truth to behold in praise and adoration
your glorious majesty and perfect love,
O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
three Persons and one God, now and for ever. Amen. FAS
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
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BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.
FAS For All the Saints, Revised Ed. © Anglican Church of Canada
HWHM Holy Women, Holy Men © 2010 The Church Pension Fund.
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
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 44 is from The Grail Psalter and is from the Manual Hopper YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA7dFvm3xGcnay-IeuplWww. Psalm 45 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. Psalm 46 is the version in Lutheran Service Book and is from the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg.
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.
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