Matthias
After the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, the apostles brought their number back to twelve by choosing Matthias to replace him. He was chosen by lot from amongst the disciples. The author of the Acts of the Apostles sees apostleship differently from Paul’s interpretation of the rôle and seems to reflect the understanding of the gospel of Luke. The number had to be restored so that they might “sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel”. It was conditional that they had to have been with Jesus during his earthly ministry and witnesses to the resurrection. The point of being chosen by lot, rather than by some democratic method, indicated the election or choosing by God, rather than by mortals. EH
Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/3wcmx574
Receive the joy of your glory, giving thanks to God,
who has called you into the heavenly kingdom, alleluia. 2 Ezra
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: Henry Alford
Tune: Jackson https://tinyurl.com/2p889nd4
1 The highest and the holiest place
Guards not the heart from sin;
The Church that safest seems without
May harbor foes within.
2 Within that small and chosen band,
Beloved above the rest,
One fell from his apostleship,
A traitor soul unblest.
3 But ne’er the great designs of God
Man’s sins shall overthrow;
A better witness to the truth
Forth to the lands shall go.
4 Matthias was the chosen one–
God’s purpose cannot fail–
The word of grace no less shall sound,
The truth no less prevail.
5 Righteous, O Lord, are all thy ways:
Long as the worlds endure,
From foes without and foes within
Preserve thy Church secure.
PSALMS
Psalm 71 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ybx8s3ew)
1 In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust,
let me never be put to confusion *
but rid me, and deliver me, in thy righteousness;
incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
2 Be thou my strong hold, whereunto I may alway resort *
thou hast promised to help me,
for thou art my house of defence, and my castle.
3 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly *
out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
4 For thou, O Lord God, art the thing that I long for *
thou art my hope, even from my youth.
5 Through thee have I been holden up ever since I was born *
thou art he that took me out of my mother’s womb;
my praise shall be always of thee.
6 I am become as it were a monster unto many *
but my sure trust is in thee.
7 O let my mouth be filled with thy praise *
that I may sing of thy glory and honour all the day long.
8 Cast me not away in the time of age *
forsake me not when my strength faileth me.
9 For mine enemies speak against me,
and they that lay wait for my soul take their counsel together, saying *
God hath forsaken him; persecute him, and take him,
for there is none to deliver him.
10 Go not far from me, O God *
my God, haste thee to help me.
11 Let them be confounded and perish that are against my soul *
let them be covered with shame and dishonour that seek to do me evil.
12 As for me, I will patiently abide alway *
and will praise thee more and more.
13 My mouth shall daily speak of thy righteousness and salvation *
for I know no end thereof.
14 I will go forth in the strength of the Lord God *
and will make mention of thy righteousness only.
15 Thou, O God, hast taught me from my youth up until now *
therefore will I tell of thy wondrous works.
16 Forsake me not, O God, in mine old age, when I am gray-headed *
until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation,
and thy power to all them that are yet for to come.
17 Thy righteousness, O God, is very high *
and great things are they that thou hast done;
O God, who is like unto thee?
18 O what great troubles and adversities hast thou shewed me!
and yet didst thou turn and refresh me *
yea, and broughtest me from the deep of the earth again.
19 Thou hast brought me to great honour *
and comforted me on every side.
20 Therefore will I praise thee and thy faithfulness, O God,
playing upon an instrument of musick *
unto thee will I sing upon the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
21 My lips will be fain when I sing unto thee *
and so will my soul whom thou hast delivered.
22 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long *
for they are confounded and brought unto shame
that seek to do me evil.
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 72 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ya9qaxre)
1 Give the King thy judgements, O God *
and thy righteousness unto the King’s son.
2 Then shall he judge thy people according unto right *
and defend the poor.
3 The mountains also shall bring peace *
and the little hills righteousness unto the people.
4 He shall keep the simple folk by their right *
defend the children of the poor, and punish the wrong doer.
5 They shall fear thee, as long as the sun and moon endureth *
from one generation to another.
6 He shall come down like the rain into a fleece of wool *
even as the drops that water the earth.
7 In his time shall the righteous flourish *
yea, and abundance of peace, so long as the moon endureth.
8 His dominion shall be also from the one sea to the other *
and from the flood unto the world’s end.
9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall kneel before him *
his enemies shall lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tharsis and of the isles shall give presents *
the kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring gifts.
11 All kings shall fall down before him *
all nations shall do him service.
12 For he shall deliver the poor when he crieth *
the needy also, and him that hath no helper.
13 He shall be favourable to the simple and needy *
and shall preserve the souls of the poor.
14 He shall deliver their souls from falsehood and wrong *
and dear shall their blood be in his sight.
15 He shall live, and unto him shall be given of the gold of Arabia *
prayer shall be made ever unto him, and daily shall he be praised.
16 There shall be an heap of corn in the earth, high upon the hills *
his fruit shall shake like Libanus,
and shall be green in the city like grass upon the earth.
17 His Name shall endure for ever;
his Name shall remain under the sun among the posterities *
which shall be blessed through him; and all the heathen shall praise him.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, even the God of Israel *
which only doeth wondrous things ;
19 And blessed be the Name of his Majesty for ever *
and all the earth shall be filled with his Majesty. Amen, Amen.
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 71 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-71-KH.mp3)
I take refuge in you, LORD;
let me not always be shamed.
In your righteousness deliver;
extend your ear and save.
Be to me a rock of refuge
where I can always come;
For you give command to save,
my fortress and my rock.
My God, please rescue me
from the hand of the wicked
From the grip of evil men,
from the grasp of the embittered,
Lord GOD, you are my hope,
my confidence from youth.
You have held me since my birth,
even from my mother’s womb;
My praise is perpetual
I’m a wonder to the crowd,
my refuge is so strong.
My mouth is filled with praise
and your glory all day long.
Don’t leave in my old age
nor when my strength expires.
For my foes who watch my life,
take counsel and conspire
Saying, “God has left, give chase;
seize him with none to save”
My God, be not far off;
and to my help make haste!
O let them be ashamed,
who bring my soul alarm
O cover them with shame,
who seek to do me harm.
My praise is perpetual
As for me, I’ll always hope,
and praise you more and more.
Of your justice my mouth speaks,
your salvation all day long;
Their sum cannot be known,
all the deeds of the Lord God;
Of your righteousness I’ll tell,
of yours and yours alone.
God trained me from my youth,
and still your works I’m praising.
Even when I’m old and gray,
O God, do not forsake me,
Until I tell your power
to this age and those to come
Of your justice to the heav’ns.
Who is like you, O my God?
My praise is perpetual
You who’ve shown me many trials,
again you will revive me,
From the deepest place on earth
you’ll bring a new arising.
My greatness you’ll increase
when you turn back to console.
I will praise you with a harp,
for your faithfulness, O God;
With the lyre I’ll sing to you,
O Holy One of Israel.
And my lips will shout for joy;
the praise of my redeemed soul.
My tongue will also tell
of your justice all the day;
For those sought my harm
are turned back and ashamed.
My praise is perpetual
My praise is perpetual
Psalm 72 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-72-KH.mp3)
Give the King your justice, O God;
and your righteousness to the Royal Son
May he judge your people with equity
and all of the poor with justice
Let the mountains bring peace to the people
and the hills bear righteousness
He’ll defend the poor of the nation,
help poor children and crush oppressors
Amen and amen
May his honor endure like the sun
and as long as the moon for all ages
May he come down like rain on the field,
like showers that water the earth
In his days may righteousness flourish
and great peace till the moon is no more
Amen and amen
May his rule be from sea to sea,
from the river to the ends of the earth
Desert dwellers shall bow down to him,
and the hostile shall all lick the dust
May the kings of Tarshish bring tribute
and the kings of Sheba bring gifts
O let all the kings fall prostrate,
and may all the nations serve him
Amen and amen.
For he saves the needy who call,
the afflicted and those with no helper
For the weak and the poor his compassion
will save the souls of the needy
From oppression and violence he saves them;
and their blood is dear in his sight
Amen and amen.
So long may he live!
May the gold of Sheba be given
Let there be perpetual prayers
and blessings for him all the day
May the grain of the earth be abundant;
may it wave on mountain peaks
May its fruit be like unto Lebanon;
in the towns let people blossom
Amen and amen.
May his name endure forever
and his fame live on like the sun
May men bless themselves by him,
and all nations call him blessed
Bless the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone can work such wonders
Bless his glorious name forever;
may his glory fill the whole earth
Amen and amen.
PRAYER
God our strong fortress,
do not desert us in old age.
Help us to follow your will
through all our years
and under all circumstances,
that forever we may praise your faithfulness;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
But now hear this, Jacob my servant,
and Israel, whom I have chosen.
The Lord your maker,
who formed you in the womb and will help you, says:
Don’t fear, my servant Jacob,
Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
I will pour out water upon thirsty ground
and streams upon dry land.
I will pour out my spirit upon your descendants
and my blessing upon your offspring.
They will spring up from among the reeds
like willows by flowing streams.
This one will say, “I am the Lord’s,”
and that one will be named after Jacob.
Another will write on his hand, “The Lord’s”
and will take the name Israel.
The Lord, Israel’s king and redeemer,
the Lord of heavenly forces, says:
I am the first, and I am the last,
and besides me there are no gods.
Who is like me?
Let them speak up, explain it, and lay it out for me.
Who announced long ago what is to be?
Let them tell us what is to come.
Don’t tremble; have no fear!
Didn’t I proclaim it?
Didn’t I inform you long ago?
You are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no other rock; I know of none.
HYMN: Philip Doddridge
Tune: Festus https://tinyurl.com/ycxn3t8p
1 O happy day, that stays my choice
On Thee, my Saviour and my God;
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell Thy goodness all abroad.
2 O happy bond, that seals my vows
To Him Who merits all my love!
Let cheerful anthems fill His house,
While to His sacred throne I move.
3 Here rest, my oft-divided heart,
Fix’d on thy God, thy Saviour, rest;
Who with the world would grieve to part
When call’d on angels’ food to feast?
4 High heaven that heard the solemn vow,
That vow renew’d shall daily hear;
Till in life’s latest hour I bow,
And bless in death a bond so dear.
During this time, the family of believers was a company of about one hundred twenty persons. Peter stood among them and said, “Brothers and sisters, the scripture that the Holy Spirit announced beforehand through David had to be fulfilled. This was the scripture concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus. This happened even though he was one of us and received a share of this ministry.” (In fact, he bought a field with the payment he received for his injustice. Falling headfirst, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines spilled out. This became known to everyone living in Jerusalem, so they called that field in their own language Hakeldama, or “Field of Blood.”) “It is written in the Psalms scroll,
Let his home become deserted and let there be no one living in it;
and
Give his position of leadership to another.
“Therefore, we must select one of those who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus lived among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when Jesus was taken from us. This person must become along with us a witness to his resurrection.” So they nominated two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.
They prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s deepest thoughts and desires. Show us clearly which one you have chosen from among these two to take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” When they cast lots, the lot fell on Matthias. He was added to the eleven apostles.
HYMN: Wilmer D Swope ©
Tune: Wer da wonet https://tinyurl.com/837z3vbe
1 Great Shepherd of the church on earth,
Bless us Thy flock and with us stay;
May servants in the fold be found
To guide and feed Thy flock each day;
For shepherds in the church we need,
Who will our hungry souls still feed
With sacred manna from Thy Word;
Provide, true Shepherd, and us lead.
2 A watch about us safely keep,
For hireling shepherds lead astray;
For wealth and fame Thy gates they leave
Unguarded stand, and flee away!
Lord, give us faithful shepherds true;
Give each a shepherd’s heart, to keep
And lead the church to life in Christ;
Inspire the shepherds of Thy sheep.
3 O Holy Saviour, may Thy pow’r,
Within our lives bloom bright and clear,
In words and deeds, and mission firm;
Indwell our hearts, Thy temple here.
Omniscient God of love, o’er rule,
The casting of the lot direct;
Thy will we seek, do Thou, we pray,
Thy servants call and thus select.
4 Thy chosen vessels fill with peace,
Endow with wondrous gifts of grace;
Grant that they blossom and bear fruit,
With talents fill a servant’s place;
True shepherds with God’s Word go forth
The world to win in Jesus’ name,
With faithful hands and hearts of love;
Great Shepherd, bless their lives and aim!
Jesus said, “When the Companion comes, whom I will send from the Father—the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me. You will testify too, because you have been with me from the beginning. I have said these things to you so that you won’t fall away. They will expel you from the synagogue. The time is coming when those who kill you will think that they are doing a service to God. They will do these things because they don’t know the Father or me. But I have said these things to you so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them.
“I didn’t say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go away to the one who sent me. None of you ask me, ‘Where are you going?’ Yet because I have said these things to you, you are filled with sorrow. I assure you that it is better for you that I go away. If I don’t go away, the Companion won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will show the world it was wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment. He will show the world it was wrong about sin because they don’t believe in me. He will show the world it was wrong about righteousness because I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me anymore. He will show the world it was wrong about judgment because this world’s ruler stands condemned.
“I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now. However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you in all truth. He won’t speak on his own, but will say whatever he hears and will proclaim to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and proclaim it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine. That’s why I said that the Spirit takes what is mine and will proclaim it to you.”
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
Let us pray to God,
whose word was entrusted to the Apostles
and has spread to all the world.
Empower your Church
to proclaim the saving message of Jesus Christ.
Lord of mercy,
spread your word.
Give us courage and strength
to spread the Gospel in places
where it has not been preached.
Lord of mercy,
spread your word.
Bless us in our personal lives
that we may live fully according to Jesus’ example.
Lord of mercy,
spread your word.
Open our eyes to your Word in the Holy Scriptures
that we find new paths of understanding.
Lord of mercy,
spread your word.
Remember, in your mercy, those who have gone before
marked with the sign of faith and led by the Gospel.
Lord of mercy,
spread your word.
Feed your people, O Lord,
with your holy Word
and free us from the temptations
which lead us away from you
that, being filled with your mercy,
we may be admitted to your holy presence;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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.
Almighty God,
who in the place of Judas chose your faithful servant Matthias
to be numbered among the Twelve:
Grant that your Church, being delivered from false apostles,
may always be guided and governed by faithful and true pastors;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen. BCP79
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.
BCP79 The Book of Common Prayer (1979), The Episcopal Church
EH Exciting Holiness, Ed. Brother Tristram SSF © European Province of the Society of Saint Francis, 1997
The intercession has been used in Oremus for many years and I have lost track of the source.
The three main scripture readings are from the The New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Edition, The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern versions of Psalms 71 and 72 are sung by Karl Kohlhase http://www.k4communications.com/karl/index.html.
The three main scripture readings are from the The New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Edition, The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language version of Psalm 71 is 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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