Oremus for Thursday, November 14, 2024

BELGIUM – CIRCA 2002: The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, 1432, by Jan van Eyck (1390-1441), oil on panel. Detail of the central compartment in the lower register of the central panel of the Ghent Altarpiece, Saint Bavo Cathedral, Ghent, Belgium. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Image; . (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/fuads5xa

I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord.
Should they cry to me in any distress,
I will hear them, and I will be their Lord for ever.

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: Samuel John Stone
Tune: Aurelia https://tinyurl.com/2kstzrrw

1 The church’s one foundation
is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is His new creation,
by water and the word.
From heav’n He came and sought her
to be His holy bride;
with His own blood He bought her,
and for her life He died.

2 Elect from every nation,
yet one o’er all the earth,
her charter of salvation:
one Lord, one faith, one birth.
One holy name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with every grace endued.

3 Though with a scornful wonder,
men see her sore oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder,
by heresies distressed,
yet saints their watch are keeping,
their cry goes up, “How long?”
and soon the night of weeping
shall be the morn of song!

4 The church shall never perish!
Her dear Lord to defend,
to guide, sustain, and cherish,
is with her to the end;
though there be those that hate her,
and false sons in her pale,
against the foe or traitor
she ever shall prevail.

5 ‘Mid toil and tribulation,
and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation
of peace forevermore;
till with the vision glorious
her longing eyes are blest,
and the great church victorious
shall be the church at rest.

6 Yet she on earth hath union
with God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won;
O happy ones and holy!
Lord give us grace that we,
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with Thee.

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

Lord Jesus,
you came to us in our bondage,
and led us to freedom by the cross and resurrection.
May our lives praise you,
and our lips proclaim your mighty power to all people
that they may find their hope in you,
and live to your honor and glory,
now and forever. Amen. BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

The king told Daniel: “While I, Nebuchadnezzar, was safe in my house, content in my palace, I had a terrifying dream. My thoughts while I was lying in bed and the vision in my mind overwhelmed me. I ordered all Babylon’s sages to come before me, so they might tell me the dream’s meaning. So the dream interpreters, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners came. I told them the dream, but they couldn’t interpret it for me. Daniel, who is called Belteshazzar after the name of my god, was the last to come before me. In him is the breath of the holy gods! I told Daniel the dream:

“Belteshazzar, chief of the dream interpreters, I know the breath of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Tell me the meaning of the visions I had in my dream. In my mind, as I lay in bed, I saw a vision:

At the center of the earth was a towering tree.
    The tree grew in size and strength;
        it was as high as the sky;
        it could be seen from every corner of the earth.
        Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant;
        it had enough food for everyone.
    Wild animals took shade under it;
        birds nested in its branches.
    All living things lived off that tree.

“In my mind, as I lay in bed, I saw another vision: A holy watcher came down from heaven. He proclaimed loudly:

‘Cut down the tree and shear off its branches!
    Strip its leaves and scatter its fruit!
The creatures should flee from its shelter;
    the birds should take flight from its branches.
But leave its deepest root in the earth,
    bound with iron and bronze in the field grass.
Dew from heaven is to wash it,
    and it must live with the animals in the earth’s vegetation.
Its human mind is to be changed:
    it will be given the mind of an animal.
    Seven periods of time will pass over it.
This sentence is by the watchers’ decree;
    this decision is the holy ones’ word
        so that all who live might know
        that the Most High dominates human kingship.
The Most High gives kingship to anyone he wants
    and sets over it the lowest of people.’

“This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. So now Belteshazzar, tell me the meaning because all the sages in my kingdom were unable to interpret it for me. But you are able to do it because the breath of the holy gods is in you.”

HYMN: Joachim Neander; trans. Catherine Winkworth
Tune: Lobe den Herren  https://tinyurl.com/35cfbmkm

1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation;
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation.
All ye who hear,
now to His temple draw near:
praise Him in glad adoration!

2 Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen
how thy desires e’er have been
granted in what He ordaineth?

3 Praise to the Lord, who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee,
decked thee with health, and with loving hand guided and stayed thee.
How oft in grief
hath not He brought thee relief,
spreading His wings for to shade thee!

4 Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew
what the Almighty can do,
if with His love He befriend thee.

5 Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the amen
sound from His people again,
gladly forever adore Him.

Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion. With him were one hundred forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven that was like the sound of rushing water and loud thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. They sing a new song in front of the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders. And no one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. They weren’t defiled with women, for these people who follow the Lamb wherever he goes are virgins. They were purchased from among humankind as early produce for God and the Lamb. No lie came from their mouths; they are blameless.

Then I saw another angel flying high overhead with eternal good news to proclaim to those who live on earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

Another angel, a second one, followed and said, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She made all the nations drink the wine of her lustful passion.”

Then another angel, a third one, followed them and said in a loud voice, “If any worship the beast and its image, and receive a mark on their foreheads or their hands, they themselves will also drink the wine of God’s passionate anger, poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will suffer the pain of fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their painful suffering goes up forever and always. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, and those who receive the mark of its name.”

This calls for the endurance of the saints, who keep God’s commandments and keep faith with Jesus.

And I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Favored are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they can rest from their labors, because their deeds follow them.”

HYMN: Charles Wesley
Tune: Pleyel’s Hymn https://tinyurl.com/mr3c8brh

1 Hark! a voice divides the sky:
Happy are the faithful dead,
In the Lord who sweetly die;
They from all their toils are freed.

2 Them the Spirit hath declared
Blest, unutterably blest;
Jesus is their great Reward,
Jesus is their endless Rest.

3 Followed by their works, they go
Where their Head had gone before;
Reconciled by grace below,
Grace hath opened mercy’s door.

4 Justified through faith alone,
Here they knew their sins forgiven;
Here they laid their burden down,
Hallowed and made meet for heaven.

5 When from flesh the spirit freed
Hastens homeward to return,
Mortals cry: “A man is dead!”
Angels sing: “A child is born!”

Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be during the days of the Human One. People were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage until the day Noah entered the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise in the days of Lot, people were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building. But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. That’s the way it will be on the day the Human One is revealed. On that day, those on the roof, whose possessions are in the house, shouldn’t come down to grab them. Likewise, those in the field shouldn’t turn back. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to preserve their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in the same bed: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together: one will be taken and the other left.” The disciples asked, “Where, Lord?” Jesus said, “The vultures gather wherever there’s a dead body.”

CANTICLE Micah 6:6-8
(Tune: Sharpthorne https://tinyurl.com/yafplab4)

What does the Lord require
for praise and offering?
What sacrifice, desire,
or tribute bid you bring?
Do justly,
love mercy,
walk humbly with your God.

Rulers of earth, give ear!
Should you not justice know?
Will God your pleading hear
while crime and cruelty grow?
Do justly,
love mercy,
walk humbly with your God.

Still down the ages ring
the prophet’s stern commands;
to merchant, worker, king
he brings God’s high commands:
do justly,
love mercy,
walk humbly with your God.

How shall our life fulfill
God’s law so hard and high?
Let Christ endue our will
with grace to fortify.
Then justly,
in mercy,
we’ll humbly walk with God.

THE PRAYERS PWC

God of Jerusalem, send the riches of your grace
upon the church throughout the world.
Creator of all, carry us in your arms.
Fill all who proclaim the word of truth with the infinite wisdom of Christ.
Creator of all, carry us in your arms.
Inspire all who have consecrated their lives to your reign
and all who are struggling to follow the way of Christ with the gifts of the Spirit.
Creator of all, carry us in your arms.
Strengthen all who govern the nations
so that they strive for justice and peace.
Creator of all, carry us in your arms.
Enlighten scholars and research-workers
so that their studies may benefit humanity.
Creator of all, carry us in your arms.
Give your peace to all who have passed from this life in faith and obedience.
Creator of all, carry us in your arms.

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.

Eternal God,
neither death nor life can separate us from your love.
Grant that we may serve you faithfully here on earth,
and in heaven rejoice with all your saints
who ceaselessly proclaim your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen. BCW

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.

PWC PRAY WITHOUT CEASING: Morning and Evening Prayer for the Seasons of the Church Year Prepared by The Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett on behalf of The Liturgy Task Force of the Anglican Church of Canada, May 2016.

2 Eric Wyse, Lord’s Prayer, ©; audio from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_a40ME7aVk

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.

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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