Oremus for Sunday, April 14, 2024

Christ Appears to the Disciples at Table after the Resurrection, Duccio di Buonisegna, 1308-11

Antiphon 1

Ant. Sing unto the Lord, alleluia; *
sing to the Lord, bless his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day, alleluia, alleluia.
V. O sing a new song to the Lord; *
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Tell among the nations his glory, *
and his wonders among all the peoples. Psalm 96

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: Leon M Adkins ©
Tune: Ellacombe https://tinyurl.com/bdh4u42e

1 “Go make of all disciples:”
We hear the call, O Lord,
That comes from you, our Father,
In your eternal Word.
Inspire our ways of learning
Through earnest, fervent prayer,
And let our daily living
Reveal you ev’rywhere.

2 “Go make of all disciples:”
Baptizing in the name
Of Father, Son, and Spirit—
From age to age the same.
We call each new disciple
To follow you, O Lord,
Redeeming soul and body
By water and the Word.

3 “Go make of all disciples:”
We at your feet would stay
Until each life’s vocation
Accents your holy way.
We cultivate the nature
God plants in ev’ry heart,
Revealing in our witness
The Master Teacher’s art.

4 “Go make of all disciples:”
We welcome your command;
“Lo, I am with you always:”
We take your guiding hand.
The task looms large before us—
We follow without fear.
In heav’n and earth your power
Shall bring God’s kingdom here.

PSALMS

Psalm 73 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vztsodf)
1  Truly God is loving unto Israel *
 even unto such as are of a clean heart.
2  Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone *
 my treadings had well-nigh slipt.
3  And why? I was grieved at the wicked *
 I do also see the ungodly in such prosperity.
4  For they are in no peril of death *
 but are lusty and strong.
5  They come in no misfortune like other folk *
 neither are they plagued like other men.
6  And this is the cause that they are so holden with pride *
 and overwhelmed with cruelty.
7  Their eyes swell with fatness *
 and they do even what they lust.
8  They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy *
 their talking is against the most High.
9  For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven *
 and their tongue goeth through the world.
10  Therefore fall the people unto them *
 and thereout suck they no small advantage.
11  Tush, say they, how should God perceive it *
 is there knowledge in the most High?
12  Lo, these are the ungodly, these prosper in the world,
and these have riches in possession *
 and I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain,
and washed mine hands in innocency.
13  All the day long have I been punished *
 and chastened every morning.
14  Yea, and I had almost said even as they *
 but lo, then I should have condemned the generation of thy children.
15  Then thought I to understand this *
 but it was too hard for me,
16  Until I went into the sanctuary of God *
 then understood I the end of these men;
17  Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery places *
 and castest them down, and destroyest them.
18  O how suddenly do they consume *
 perish, and come to a fearful end!
19  Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh *
 so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.
20  Thus my heart was grieved *
 and it went even through my reins.
21  So foolish was I, and ignorant *
 even as it were a beast before thee.
22  Nevertheless, I am alway by thee *
 for thou hast holden me by my right hand.
23  Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel *
 and after that receive me with glory.
24  Whom have I in heaven but thee *
 and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee.
25  My flesh and my heart faileth *
 but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
26  For lo, they that forsake thee shall perish *
 thou hast destroyed all them that commit fornication against thee.
27  But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord God *
 and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
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 74 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/r9v5c9y)
1  O God, wherefore art thou absent from us so long *
 why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?
2  O think upon thy congregation *
 whom thou hast purchased, and redeemed of old.
3  Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance *
 and mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
4  Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy *
 which hath done evil in thy sanctuary.
5  Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregations *
 and set up their banners for tokens.
6  He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees *
 was known to bring it to an excellent work.
7  But now they break down all the carved work thereof *
 with axes and hammers.
8  They have set fire upon thy holy places *
 and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground.
9  Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havock of them altogether *
 thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the land.
10  We see not our tokens, there is not one prophet more *
 no, not one is there among us, that understandeth any more.
11  O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour *
 how long shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name, for ever?
12  Why withdrawest thou thy hand *
 why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom
to consume the enemy?
13  For God is my King of old *
 the help that is done upon earth he doeth it himself.
14  Thou didst divide the sea through thy power *
 thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
15  Thou smotest the heads of Leviathan in pieces *
 and gavest him to be meat for the people in the wilderness.
16  Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hard rocks *
 thou driedst up mighty waters.
17  The day is thine, and the night is thine *
 thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
18  Thou hast set all the borders of the earth *
 thou hast made summer and winter.
19  Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy hath rebuked *
 and how the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.
20  O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the enemies *
 and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever.
21  Look upon the covenant *
 for all the earth is full of darkness, and cruel habitations.
22  O let not the simple go away ashamed *
 but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy Name.
23  Arise, O God, maintain thine own cause *
 remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily.
24  Forget not the voice of thine enemies *
 the presumption of them that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.
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 73 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-73-KH.mp3)
Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart!
But my feet came near to stumbling;
my steps had almost slipped.
I was envious of the arrogant,
when I saw the wicked prosper
In their death there are no pains,
and their bellies all are full.

They’re not burdened like the people,
nor struck like common men.
So pride becomes their necklace,
and violence is their garment.
Their eye is set on fatness,
and the fantasies of their heart.
They mock and threaten with cruelty;
and they speak as if on high.

But whom have I in heaven but you?
On earth I long for nothing else but you.
Though my heart and flesh may fail,
God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.

They set their mouth in heaven,
their tongue parades on the earth.
So the people keep returning to drink their waters in full.
They are saying, “What does God know?
Is knowledge with the Most High?”
Behold, these are the wicked,
at ease and gaining wealth.

In vain I kept my heart pure,
in innocence washed my hands;
I’m stricken all day long
and chastened every morning.
If I said, “I’ll speak in this way,”
I’d betray your generations.
When I pondered to understand this,
it was troublesome in my sight

But whom have I in heaven but you?
On earth I long for nothing else but you.
Though my heart and flesh may fail,
God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.

When I came into God’s sanctuary;
then I perceived their end.
you set them in smooth places,
then cast them down to slavery.
In a moment they are destroyed,
swept away by sudden terror!
Like a dream when awakened, Lord,
when aroused despise their form.

When my heart was thus embittered
I inwardly was pierced,
I was ignorant and senseless,
before you like a beast.
Yet I am always with you;
take hold of my right hand.
you will guide me with your counsel,
then will take me into glory.

For whom have I in heaven but you?
On earth I long for nothing else but you.
Though my heart and flesh may fail,
God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.

See, how the distant perish,
the unfaithful are destroyed;
but the nearness of God is my good
The Lord GOD is my refuge,
so I will tell of your works.

Psalm 74 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-74-KH.mp3)
O God, have you rejected us forever?
Will your anger burn against the sheep you pasture?
Remember your assembly, which of old you pledged,
you redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance;

In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

And toward these everlasting ruins now turn your feet;
the foe has broken down the sanctuary.
your adversaries roared within your meeting place;
They set up their own signs and banners of disgrace.

In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

See how an axe was lifted in a glade of trees.
Their hatchets and their hammers smash its artistry.
Unto the ground how they have burned your Holy Place;
Defiled the habitation of your glorious name.

In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

They said in their heart, “Let us utterly subdue.”
They burned all God’s meeting places down.
We do not see our signs; there’s no prophet anymore,
not even one among us knows how long.

How long, O God, how long, will the enemy revile,
Will the foe forever ridicule your name?
Why now withdraw your hand, even your right hand?
From within your bosom, strike them down!

Yet God has been my king since when it all began,
performing all His saving works throughout the land.
For by your strength the great sea was divided;
and there within the waters broke the dragon’s heads.

In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
In this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

Yes, of Leviathan you trampled on his heads;
gave him as food for people in the wilderness.
you opened up for them the fountains and the springs;
you shriveled up the strong and ever-flowing streams.

For this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
For this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

Yours is the day, yours also is the night time;
you prepare the moonlight and the sunshine.
You have set the boundaries of all the earth;
both the summer and the winter you bring forth.

For this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
For this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy reviled,
and how your name the foolish ones despised.
Deliver not the soul of your dove to wild beasts;
and do not long forget your poor ones’ lives.

Look towards the covenant, for the darkness of the land
is full of habitations for the mean.
O let not the oppressed all turn back and be ashamed;
and let the poor and needy praise your name.

Arise, O God, and plead for your own righteous case;
remember how the foolish have reproached all day.
Do not forget the voice of all your enemies,
the noise of their revolt ascends continually.

For this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
For this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

PRAYER

O God,
your love is wider than all the universe
and your mercy greater than the heights of heaven.
When we are tempted to break faith with you,
put a new song of love on our lips,
that we may sing your praises to all nations on earth,
through your Son, our only hope and defense. Amen. BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

It was not because you were greater than all other people that the Lord loved you and chose you. In fact, you were the smallest of peoples! No, it is because the Lord loved you and because he kept the solemn pledge he swore to your ancestors that the Lord brought you out with a strong hand and saved you from the house of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh, Egypt’s king. Know now then that the Lord your God is the only true God! He is the faithful God, who keeps the covenant and proves loyal to everyone who loves him and keeps his commands—even to the thousandth generation! He is the God who personally repays anyone who hates him, ultimately destroying that kind of person. The Lord does not waste time with anyone who hates him; he repays them personally. So make sure you carefully keep the commandment, the regulations, and the case laws that I am commanding you right now.

If you listen to these case laws and follow them carefully, the Lord your God will keep the covenant and display the loyalty that he promised your ancestors. He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your wombs and the fruit of your fertile land—all your grain, your wine, your oil, and the offspring of your cattle and flocks—upon the very fertile land that he swore to your ancestors to give to you.

HYMN: Psalm 25; para. Trinity Psalter Hymnal, alt.
Tune: Anima Christi https://tinyurl.com/yzfkjt86

1 LORD, I lift my soul to you,
2 O my God, I trust your might;
let not foes exult o’er me,
shame me not before their sight.
3 Truly none who wait for you
will be ever put to shame;
those who wantonly betray,
they will ever be ashamed.

4 Make me know your ways, O LORD;
 in your path lead me in truth.
5 You are God, my Savior true,
all the day I wait for you.
6 LORD, remember in your love
all your mercies from of old.
7 But remember not my sin,
for your goodness’ sake, O LORD!

8 Good and upright is the LORD;
he instructs all those who stray.
9 All the meek he leads aright,
he will teach his holy way.
10 All his paths are steadfast love,
he is faithful in his ways,
for all those who keep his word
and his covenant obey.

11 For the sake of your own name,
LORD, forgive my guilt, though great.
12 Who are they who fear the LORD?
God will teach them all his ways.
13 In well-being they abide,
their children receive the land.
14 The LORD loves those who fear him,
makes them know his covenant.

15 To the LORD I turn my eyes;
from all snares he plucks my feet.
16 Show your grace and turn to me;
I am lonely and afraid.
17 All my troubles are enlarged,
give relief from my distress.
18 See my deep afflictions, LORD,
and forgive my sinfulness.

19 See how many are my foes,
see the violence of their hate.
20 Guard my soul! Deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame,
21 since I wait for you, O LORD.
May my uprightness prevail.
22 From its troubles, gracious God,
O redeem your Israel.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us in that we should be called God’s children, and that is what we are! Because the world didn’t recognize him, it doesn’t recognize us.

Dear friends, now we are God’s children, and it hasn’t yet appeared what we will be. We know that when he appears we will be like him because we’ll see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves even as he is pure. Every person who practices sin commits an act of rebellion, and sin is rebellion. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and there is no sin in him. Every person who remains in relationship to him does not sin. Any person who sins has not seen him or known him.

Little children, make sure no one deceives you. The person who practices righteousness is righteous, in the same way that Jesus is righteous.

HYMN: Isaac Watts
Tune: St Stephen https://tinyurl.com/yrce5jrt

1 Behold th’amazing gift of love
the Father hath bestowed
on us, the sinful sons of men,
to call us sons of God!

2 Concealed as yet this honor lies,
by this dark world unknown,
a world that knew not when he came,
e’en God’s eternal Son.

3 High is the rank we now possess,
but higher we shall rise,
though what we shall hereafter be
is hid from mortal eyes.

4 Our souls, we know, when he appears,
shall bear his image bright,
for all his glory, full disclosed,
shall open to our sight.

5 A hope so great and so divine
may trials well endure,
and purify our souls from sin,
as Christ himself is pure.

 

While they were saying these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” They were terrified and afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you startled? Why are doubts arising in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet. It’s really me! Touch me and see, for a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones like you see I have.” As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. Because they were wondering and questioning in the midst of their happiness, he said to them, “Do you have anything to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish. Taking it, he ate it in front of them.

Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law from Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. He said to them, “This is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and a change of heart and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Look, I’m sending to you what my Father promised, but you are to stay in the city until you have been furnished with heavenly power.”

CANTICLE Exodus 15
(John Schiavone: https://tinyurl.com/ybknobsb)

Ant. I will sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

I will sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously triumphant;
horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
He is my God, I praise him;
the God of my father, I extol him. Ant.

The Lord is a warrior, LORD is his name!
Pharaoh’s chariots and army he hurled into the sea;
the elite of his officers were submerged in the Red Sea. Ant.

The flood waters covered them,
they sank into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O Lord, magnificent in power,
your right hand, O Lord, has shattered the enemy. Ant.

You brought in the people you redeemed
and planted them on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place where you made your seat, O Lord,
the sanctuary, Lord, which your hands established.
The Lord shall reign forever and ever. Ant.

THE PRAYERS Joe Milner

For the Church: that the Spirit will open our minds to understand the Scriptures and empower us to share the message of God’s love and forgiveness with all whom we encounter

For the grace of forgiveness: that we will be open to Gods free and generous forgiveness, and strive to forgive others as we have been forgiven

For the grace of recognition: that we may come to know Jesus in the breaking of the Bread and the sharing of the scriptures so that we may be dynamic disciples

For the gift of faith: that God will depend more fully on God in every aspect of our lives and grow in our confidence that God who will never abandon us

For all who are broken and wounded: that they may find healing in Christ and that God will help us recognize them as our brothers and sisters through the wounded Christ

For all who feel bound by their past: that God will heal and free them so that they may live life fully

For the members of Congress: that God will guide their deliberations and help them find ways to act upon the critical issues confronting our nation

For healing of the wounds of racism and prejudice: that God will help us to recognize the dignity of each person and work to heal the wounds and divisions that exist

For refugees and immigrants: that God will lead them to safety and help them find communities for support and opportunities to use their talents for the good of others

For a spirit of stewardship: that we may make wise use of the resources of the earth and protect the soil, air, and water for future generations

For an end to the pandemic: that God’s healing love will restore the sick to health, make the vaccines effective, and curtail the spread of the virus

For protection from violence and mass shootings: that God will protect the human family from destructive violence and the shooting of innocent persons

For an end to the development and proliferation of weapons that can destroy humanity: that God will free nations from fear and inspire them to promote education and development opportunities for their people

For all who have died: that they may touch Christ and be one with Him for all eternity

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.

Wounded God,
disabled and divine:
give us faith to perceive you
pierced and embodied,
standing here among us
feeding us forgiveness,
beautifully broken;
through Jesus Christ, the suffering servant. 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


Donation to Support This Ministry

Since 1993, Oremus has been done on a volunteer basis. If you are able, please consider supporting this work at the PayPal link below. For software reasons, I’ve set the value at $10.00, but feel free to change it. Thank you.

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BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.

PIC Prayers for An Inclusive Church, Steven Shakespeare

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

The intercession is by Joe Milner http://liturgy.slu.edu

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 psalms are 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 © 2024 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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