Oremus for Sunday, May 21, 2023

Antiphon ¹

Ant. God has gone up amidst shouts of joy,
the Lord to the sound of the trumpet, alleluia.
V. All peoples, clap your hands. *
Cry to God with shouts of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, *
the great king over all the earth. Psalm 47

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: John W Chadwick
Tune: Song 1https://tinyurl.com/mr273vu6

1 Eternal Ruler of the ceaseless round
of circling planets singing on their way;
guide of the nations from the night profound
into the glory of the perfect day;
rule in our hearts, that we may ever be
guided and strengthened and upheld by thee.

2 We are of thee, the children of thy love,
the brothers of thy well-belovèd Son;
descend, O Holy Spirit, like a dove,
into our hearts, that we may be as one:
as one with thee, to whom we ever tend;
as one with him, our Brother and our Friend.

3 We would be one in hatred of all wrong,
one in our love of all things sweet and fair,
one with the joy that breaketh into song,
one with the grief that trembles into prayer,
one in the power that makes thy children free
to follow truth, and thus to follow thee.

4 O clothe us with thy heavenly armour, Lord,
thy trusty shield, thy sword of love divine;
our inspiration be thy constant word;
we ask no victories that are not thine:
give or withhold, let pain or pleasure be;
enough to know that we are serving thee.

PSALMS

Psalm 105 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/s2yts33)
1  Give thanks unto the Lord, and call upon his Name *
 tell the people what things he hath done.
2  O let your songs be of him, and praise him *
 and let your talking be of all his wondrous works.
3  Rejoice in his holy Name *
 let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
4  Seek the Lord and his strength *
 seek his face evermore.
5  Remember the marvellous works that he hath done *
 his wonders, and the judgements of his mouth,
6  O ye seed of Abraham his servant *
 ye children of Jacob his chosen.
7  He is the Lord our God *
 his judgements are in all the world.
8  He hath been alway mindful of his covenant and promise *
 that he made to a thousand generations;
9  Even the covenant that he made with Abraham *
 and the oath that he sware unto Isaac;
10  And appointed the same unto Jacob for a law *
 and to Israel for an everlasting testament;
11  Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan *
 the lot of your inheritance;
12  When there were yet but a few of them *
 and they strangers in the land;
13  What time as they went from one nation to another *
 from one kingdom to another people;
14  He suffered no man to do them wrong *
 but reproved even kings for their sakes;
15  Touch not mine Anointed *
 and do my prophets no harm.
16  Moreover, he called for a dearth upon the land *
 and destroyed all the provision of bread.
17  But he had sent a man before them *
 even Joseph, who was sold to be a bond-servant;
18  Whose feet they hurt in the stocks *
 the iron entered into his soul;
19  Until the time came that his cause was known *
 the word of the Lord tried him.
20  The king sent, and delivered him *
 the prince of the people let him go free.
21  He made him lord also of his house *
 and ruler of all his substance;
22  That he might inform his princes after his will *
 and teach his senators wisdom.
23  Israel also came into Egypt *
 and Jacob was a stranger in the land of Ham.
24  And he increased his people exceedingly *
 and made them stronger than their enemies;
25  Whose heart turned so, that they hated his people *
 and dealt untruly with his servants.
26  Then sent he Moses his servant *
 and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27  And these shewed his tokens among them *
 and wonders in the land of Ham.
28  He sent darkness, and it was dark *
 and they were not obedient unto his word.
29  He turned their waters into blood *
 and slew their fish.
30  Their land brought forth frogs *
 yea, even in their kings’ chambers.
31  He spake the word, and there came all manner of flies *
 and lice in all their quarters.
32  He gave them hail-stones for rain *
 and flames of fire in their land.
33  He smote their vines also and fig-trees *
 and destroyed the trees that were in their coasts.
34  He spake the word, and the grass hoppers came, and caterpillars innumerable *
 and did eat up all the grass in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
35  He smote all the first-born in their land *
 even the chief of all their strength.
36  He brought them forth also with silver and gold *
 there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
37  Egypt was glad at their departing *
 for they were afraid of them.
38  He spread out a cloud to be a covering *
 and fire to give light in the night-season.
39  At their desire he brought quails *
 and he filled them with the bread of heaven.
40  He opened the rock of stone, and the waters flowed out *
 so that rivers ran in the dry places.
41  For why? he remembered his holy promise *
 and Abraham his servant.
42  And he brought forth his people with joy *
 and his chosen with gladness;
43  And gave them the lands of the heathen *
 and they took the labours of the people in possession;
44  That they might keep his statutes *
 and observe his laws.
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 105 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-105-KH.mp3)
O give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known all his ways to the nations.

O sing to him, sing praise, and of his wonders speak;
shine in his holy name, all hearts who seek the LORD.
Seek him and his strength, his face continually.
Remember all his signs, and judgments of his mouth

His servant, Abra-am’s seed, his chosen Jacob’s sons,
he is the LORD our God; he rules though all the earth.
Remembering his word, unto the thousandth age,
his covenant with Abram, the oath to Isaac made.

O give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known all his ways to the nations.

Confirmed his word to Jacob, his oath to Israel:
“I’ll give the land of Canaan, as your inheritance,”
When they were few in number, so few, and strangers there.
They wandered land to land, one kingdom to and fro.

Permitting none to hurt them, reproving kings for them:
“Don’t touch whom I anoint, My prophets do not harm.”
He brought their land a famine; he broke their staff of bread.
Then sent a man before them, had Joseph sold a slave.

They bound his feet with fetters, when he was laid in irons;
until his word came true, the LORD’s word tested him.
The king then set him free, the one who ruled the world.
Made him lord of his house, to manage all he owned

O give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known all his ways to the nations.

To jail his chiefs at will, to make his elders wise.
Then Israel came to Egypt; and Jacob unto Ham.
He made his people fruitful, made stronger than their foes.
Hearts turned to hate his tribes, conspiring against them.

He sent his servant, Moses, and Aaron, whom he chose.
Performing signs for them, throughout the land of Ham.
Sent darkness to make dark, refusing not his word.
Turned water into blood, and caused their fish to die.

Their land was filled with frogs, their royal chambers too.
he spoke a swarm of flies, and gnats through all the land
Gave hail instead of rain, their land a blazing fire.
Struck down their vines and figs, broke trees through all the land

He spoke and locusts came, their young were beyond count,
Devouring all the land, the fruit of all their soil.
Their firstborn he struck down, first fruits of all their strength.
Led out with gold and silver, his tribes had none who fell.

O give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known all his ways to the nations.

Once gone Egypt was glad, they were in dread of them.
he spread a cloud to hide, a fire to shine by night.
When asked, he brought forth quail, filled with the bread of heav’n.
Split rock so water flowed; in deserts like a stream.

Recalled his holy word, to Abraham his servant;
he led them out with joy, his chosen with glad shouts.
He gave the nation’s lands, the fruit of others’ toil,
So they might keep his words, and laws, Alleluia!

O give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known all his ways to the nations. (x3)

PRAYER

Almighty God, creator of the universe,
we are awed by your wondrous works
and overwhelmed by your infinite wisdom.
For all your majesty we praise you;
yet even more
we rejoice that you do not forget us,
that you want to know us,
that you come to care for us,
sisters and brothers of Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

CANTICLE Revelation 5:12-14 (LBW)
(Richard Hillert setting: https://tinyurl.com/25ev5pcd)

Refrain:
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
1 Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be people of God. [Refrain]
2 Power, riches, wisdom, and strength,
and honor, blessing, and glory are his. [Refrain]
3 Sing with all the people of God,
and join in the hymn of all creation. [Refrain]
4 Blessing, honor, glory, and might
be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen. [Refrain]
5 For the Lamb who was slain
has begun his reign. Alleluia. [Refrain]

THE PRAYERS ^{Joe Milner}

For the Church: that we may deepen our relationship with the Father and Jesus through greater awareness of the Spirit’s work in our midst and thus grow into the life of God

For greater discipleship: that knowing Christ has prayed for us, we may deepen our identity as children of God and be strengthened to carry on the mission of Christ each day

For a renewal of prayer in our lives: that God will draw us into a deeper relationship through our listening to scripture and attention to God’s action in our lives

For all who suffer because of their faith: that they may draw strength from Christ’s promise to be always with us and continue to be faithful witnesses to Christ

For all preparing for Confirmation or Holy Orders: that God will pour out abundantly the Spirit upon them and empower them to be instruments of Christ’s love and mercy

For a new outpouring of the Spirit upon the Christian community: that God will heal the wounds in the Body of Christ, free us from fear, and unite us in mission and worship

For all nations and peoples: that the Good News which frees hearts and brings conversion may be preached to all and bring forth a new flowering of peace and justice in our world

For all who are waiting: that those who are in isolation, awaiting the birth of a child, the return of a loved one, or the end of imprisonment may experience God with them in this time and draw strength from prayer and concern of others

For parish leaders: that they may promote hospitality to all who connect with the parish, offer support to those in need, and provide opportunities for the development of faith and charity

For all who are ill: that God will bring healing to the sick, hope to those who are discouraged, and strength to all caregivers

For all children: that God will protect them during the coming months of summer and help them to develop physically and emotionally

For peace and a de-escalation of tension between world powers: that God will guide the work of international leaders as they seek peaceful resolution to conflicts and disagreements around the world

For an end to gun violence in cities and homes: that the Spirit will awaken a new sense of the dignity of human life and open alternatives to violent confrontations

For government leaders: that God will guide their conversations regarding debt and the ways to best use the finances and resources of our country

(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.

Threefold One,
relationship in unity,
love given and received
through all the ages long:
give us that unity
which is not enclosed
but alive and accepting
with the open heart of love;
through Jesus Christ, the glory of God. 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.

^DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.

¹ Adam Bartlett, Simple English Propers; audio from https://musicasacra.com/additional-publications/sep-practice-videos/ ©

The three main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.

The traditional-language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern version of Psalms 141 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is chanted by Ryland Angel. Psalms 139 is from Lutheran Service Book and the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg. Psalm 140 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.