Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/yc5u5mp9
The merciful love of the Lord fills the earth;
by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, alleluia. Psalm 33
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/ycn4djk5
O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will declare your praise.
Make haste, O God, to deliver me;
make haste to help me, O Lord.
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.
Praise to you, O Christ, Alleluia!
HYMN: John Cennick
Tune: Ely https://tinyurl.com/3kem9ykw
1 Be with me, Lord, where’er I go;
teach me what you would have me do;
suggest whate’er I think or say;
direct me in the narrow way.
2 Restrain me lest I harbor pride,
lest I in my own strength confide;
though I am weak, show me anew
I have my pow’r, my strength from you.
3 Enrich me always with your love;
my kind protector ever prove;
Lord, put your seal upon my heart,
that I from you may not depart.
4 O may I never do my will,
but yours, and only yours, fulfill;
let all my time and all my ways
be spend and ended to your praise.
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
Sovereign God,
you subdue the arrogant
and raise the humble;
you feed the hungry
and reveal the poverty of wealth.
Help us to praise your name in all times and places,
that we may be faithful servants
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob took everything our father owned and from it he produced all of this wealth.” And Jacob saw that Laban no longer liked him as much as he used to.
Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your ancestors and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
So Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah and summoned them into the field where his flock was. He said to them, “I am aware that your father no longer likes me as much as he used to. But my father’s God has been with me. You know that I’ve worked for your father as hard as I could. But your father cheated me and changed my payment ten times. Yet God didn’t let him harm me. If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your payment,’ the whole flock gave birth to speckled young. And if he said, ‘The striped ones will be your payment,’ the whole flock gave birth to striped young. God took away your father’s livestock and gave them to me. When the flocks were mating, I looked up and saw in a dream that the male goats that mounted the flock were striped, speckled, and spotted. In the dream, God’s messenger said to me, ‘Jacob!’ and I said, ‘I’m here.’ He said, ‘Look up and watch all the striped, speckled, and spotted male goats mounting the flock. I’ve seen everything that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a sacred pillar and where you made a solemn promise to me. Now, get up and leave this country and go back to the land of your relatives.’”
Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there any share or inheritance left for us in our father’s household? Doesn’t he think of us as foreigners since he sold us and has even used up the payment he received for us? All of the wealth God took from our father belongs to us and our children. Now, do everything God told you to do.”
So Jacob got up, put his sons and wives on the camels, and set out with all of his livestock and all of his possessions that he had acquired in Paddan-aram in order to return to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. Now, while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole the household’s divine images that belonged to her father. Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not sending word to him that he was leaving. So Jacob and his entire household left. He got up, crossed the river, and set out directly for the mountains of Gilead.
HYMN: Psalm 46; para. Psalter, 1912
Tune: Noel https://tinyurl.com/2p9xmcjt
1 God is our refuge and our strength,
our ever present aid,
and, therefore, though the earth gives way,
we will not be afraid;
though hills amidst the sea be cast,
‘though foaming waters roar,
yea, though the mighty billows shake
the mountains on the shore.
2 A river flows whose streams make glad
the city of our God,
the holy place wherein the Lord
Most High has his abode;
Since God is in the midst of her,
unmoved her walls shall stand,
for God will be her early help,
when trouble is at hand.
3 The nations raged, the kingdoms moved,
but when his voice was heard,
the troubled earth was stilled to peace
before his mighty word.
The Lord of hosts is on our side,
our safety to secure;
the God of Jacob is for us
a refuge strong and sure.
4 O come, behold what wondrous works
the Lord’s great might has wrought;
come, see what desolation great
he on the earth has brought.
To utmost ends of all the earth
he causes war to cease;
the weapons of the strong destroyed,
he makes abiding peace.
5 Be still and know that I am God,
o’er all exalted high;
the subject nations of the earth
my name shall magnify.
The Lord of hosts is on our side,
our safety to secure;
the God of Jacob is for us
a refuge strong and sure.
While the healed man clung to Peter and John, all the people rushed toward them at Solomon’s Porch, completely amazed. Seeing this, Peter addressed the people: “You Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why are you staring at us as if we made him walk by our own power or piety? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of our ancestors—has glorified his servant Jesus. This is the one you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence, even though he had already decided to release him. You rejected the holy and righteous one, and asked that a murderer be released to you instead. You killed the author of life, the very one whom God raised from the dead. We are witnesses of this. His name itself has made this man strong. That is, because of faith in Jesus’ name, God has strengthened this man whom you see and know. The faith that comes through Jesus gave him complete health right before your eyes.
HYMN: Timothy Dudley-Smith ©
Tune: Londonderry Air https://tinyurl.com/4vxnkar8
1 O Christ the same, through all our story’s pages,
our loves and hopes, our failures and our fears;
eternal Lord, the King of all the ages,
unchanging still, amid the passing years:
O living Word, the source of all creation,
who spread the skies, and set the stars ablaze,
O Christ the same, who wrought our whole salvation,
we bring our thanks for all our yesterdays.
2 O Christ the same, the friend of sinners sharing
our inmost thoughts, the secrets none can hide,
still as of old upon Your body bearing
the marks of love, in triumph glorified:
O Son of Man, who stooped for us from heaven,
O Prince of Life, in all Your saving power,
O Christ the same, to whom our hearts are given,
we bring our thanks for this the present hour.
3 O Christ the same, secure within whose keeping
our lives and loves, our days and years remain,
our work and rest, our waking and our sleeping,
our calm and storm, our pleasure and our pain:
O Lord of love, for all our joys and sorrows,
for all our hopes, when earth shall fade and flee,
O Christ the same, beyond our brief tomorrows,
we bring our thanks for all that is to be.
Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Jesus told them, “When you pray, say:
‘Father, uphold the holiness of your name.
Bring in your kingdom.
Give us the bread we need for today.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who has wronged us.
And don’t lead us into temptation.’”
He also said to them, “Imagine that one of you has a friend and you go to that friend in the middle of the night. Imagine saying, ‘Friend, loan me three loaves of bread because a friend of mine on a journey has arrived and I have nothing to set before him.’ Imagine further that he answers from within the house, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ I assure you, even if he wouldn’t get up and help because of his friendship, he will get up and give his friend whatever he needs because of his friend’s brashness. And I tell you: Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. To everyone who knocks, the door is opened.
“Which father among you would give a snake to your child if the child asked for a fish? If a child asked for an egg, what father would give the child a scorpion? If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
CANTICLE: Luke 1:68-79
(Consiglio: https://tinyurl.com/ya8y3kqs)
Ant. Blest be the Lord God of Israel; *
who has come to his people and set them free.
God has raiséd up a Savior strong and proud,
born of his servant David.
And through holy prophets God has promised from of old,
to save us from all our foes, from the hands of all who hate us. Ant.
God promised to show mercy to our ancestors
to remember the covenant.
This was the oath sworn to father Abraham,
to set us free from our enemies’ hands,
free to worship God without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. Ant.
You, little child, are the prophet of the Lord,
you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,
To give the people knowledge of salvation
by forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high breaks upon us,
to shine on us who dwell in the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet on the way of peace. Ant.
THE PRAYERS BCW
Give us your peace, O God, that we may rejoice in your goodness to us and to all
your children, and be thankful for your love revealed in Jesus Christ. Especially
we thank you for
people who reveal your truth and righteousness . . .
courage to be bold disciples . . .
those who show hospitality . . .
surprises that have blessed us . . .
the unity of the church of Jesus Christ. . . .
Give us your peace, O God, that we may be confident of your care for us and all
your children, as we remember the needs of others. Especially we pray for
friends and relatives who are far away . . .
neighbors in special need . . .
those who suffer hunger and thirst . . .
those who work at night while others sleep . . .
Episcopal and Methodist churches. . . .
Setting by Eric Wyse:2
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread;
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.
Life abundant,
God of grace,
you call us by name
to live without fear:
in peace may we resist
all who kill and despoil your people,
that their hearts might be turned
to the only source of life;
through Jesus Christ, the gateway. Amen. PIC
Music: https://tinyurl.com/y9efvwm5
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. 2 Cor. 13:14
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BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.
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 versions of Psalms 114 and 115 are in the version used in Lutheran Service Book: Pew Edition Concordia Publishing House, and are 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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