Oremus for Saturday, March 15, 2025

*Christ Blessing the Children*, Nicolas Maes, 1652-53

Of you my heart has spoken: Seek his face.
It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not your face from me. Psalm 27

Gracious God,
our sins are too heavy to carry,
too real to hide,
and too deep to undo.
Forgive what our lips tremble to name,
what our hearts can no longer bear,
and what has become for us
a consuming fire of judgment.
Set us free from a past that we cannot change;
open to us a future in which we can be changed;
and grant us grace
to grow more and more in your likeness and image;
through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen. ^BCW

Music: https://tinyurl.com/ufxekitx

God, come to my assistance.
Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory 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.

HYMN: Bryan Jeffery Leech ©
Tune: Wye Valley https://tinyurl.com/36mdaezx

1 Let your heart be broken
for a world in need:
feed the mouths that hunger,
soothe the wounds that bleed,
give the cup of water
and the loaf of bread—
be the hands of Jesus,
serving in his stead.

2 Blest to be a blessing,
privileged to care,
challenged by the need—
apparent everywhere,
where the world is wanting,
fill the vacant place.
Be the means through which
the Lord reveals his grace.

3 Add to your believing
deeds that prove it true.
knowing Christ as Savior,
make him Master, too.
Follow in his footsteps,
go where he has trod;
in the world’s great trouble
risk yourself for God.

4 Let your heart be tender
and your vision clear;
see the world as God sees,
serve him far and near.
Let your heart be broken
by another’s pain;
share your rich resources,
give and give again.

PSALMS

Psalm 75 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/w8cy5dn)
1  Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks *
yea, unto thee do we give thanks.
2  Thy Name also is so nigh *
and that do thy wondrous works declare.
3  When I receive the congregation *
I shall judge according unto right.
4  The earth is weak, and all the inhabiters thereof *
I bear up the pillars of it.
5  I said unto the fools, Deal not so madly *
and to the ungodly, Set not up your horn.
6  Set not up your horn on high *
and speak not with a stiff neck.
7  For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west *
nor yet from the south.
8  And why? God is the Judge *
he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
9  For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red *
it is full mixed, and he poureth out of the same.
10  As for the dregs thereof *
all the ungodly of the earth shall drink them, and suck them out.
11  But I will talk of the God of Jacob *
and praise him for ever.
12  All the horns of the ungodly also will I break *
and the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
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 76 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/r9ym7fd)
1  In Jewry is God known *
his Name is great in Israel.
2  At Salem is his tabernacle *
and his dwelling in Sion.
3  There brake he the arrows of the bow *
the shield, the sword, and the battle.
4  Thou art of more honour and might *
than the hills of the robbers.
5  The proud are robbed, they have slept their sleep *
and all the men whose hands were mighty have found nothing.
6  At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob *
both the chariot and horse are fallen.
7  Thou, even thou art to be feared *
and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry?
8  Thou didst cause thy judgement to be heard from heaven *
the earth trembled, and was still,
9  When God arose to judgement *
and to help all the meek upon earth.
10  The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise *
and the fierceness of them shalt thou refrain.
11  Promise unto the Lord your God, and keep it,
all ye that are round about him *
bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
12  He shall refrain the spirit of princes *
and is wonderful among the kings of the earth.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,*
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 77 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vmyxazc)
1  I will cry unto God with my voice *
even unto God will I cry with my voice, and he shall hearken unto me.
2  In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord *
my sore ran, and ceased not in the night-season;
my soul refused comfort.
3  When I am in heaviness, I will think upon God *
when my heart is vexed, I will complain.
4  Thou holdest mine eyes waking *
I am so feeble, that I cannot speak.
5  I have considered the days of old *
and the years that are past.
6  I call to remembrance my song *
and in the night I commune with mine own heart, and search out my spirits.
7  Will the Lord absent himself for ever *
and will he be no more intreated?
8  Is his mercy clean gone for ever *
and is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore?
9  Hath God forgotten to be gracious *
and will he shut up his loving-kindness in displeasure?
10  And I said, It is mine own infirmity *
but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most Highest.
11  I will remember the works of the Lord *
and call to mind thy wonders of old time.
12  I will think also of all thy works *
and my talking shall be of thy doings.
13  Thy way, O God, is holy *
who is so great a God as our God?
14  Thou art the God that doeth wonders *
and hast declared thy power among the people.
15  Thou hast mightily delivered thy people *
even the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
16  The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee, and were afraid *
the depths also were troubled.
17  The clouds poured out water, the air thundered *
and thine arrows went abroad.
18  The voice of thy thunder was heard round about *
the lightnings shone upon the ground;
the earth was moved, and shook withal.
19  Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in the great waters *
and thy footsteps are not known.
20  Thou leddest thy people like sheep *
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
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 75 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-75-1.mp3)
1 We give you thanks, O God, we give you thanks, *
calling upon your Name and declaring all your wonderful deeds.
2 “I will appoint a time,” says God; *
“I will judge with equity.
3 Though the earth and all its inhabitants are quaking, *
I will make its pillars fast.
4 I will say to the boasters, ‘Boast no more,’ *
and to the wicked, ‘Do not toss your horns;
5 Do not toss your horns so high, *
nor speak with a proud neck.’”
6 For judgment is neither from the east nor from the west, *
nor yet from the wilderness or the mountains.
7 It is God who judges; *
he puts down one and lifts up another.
8 For in the LORD’S hand there is a cup,
full of spiced and foaming wine, which he pours out, *
and all the wicked of the earth shall drink and drain the dregs.
9 But I will rejoice for ever; *
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 He shall break off all the horns of the wicked; *
but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Psalm 76 (Acoustic Psalms; https://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-76.mp3)
In Judah God is known;
    his name is great in Israel.
His abode has been established in Salem,
    his dwelling place in Zion.
There he broke the flashing arrows,
    the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah

Glorious are you, more majestic
    than the mountains full of prey.
The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil;
    they sank into sleep;
all the men of war
    were unable to use their hands.
At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
    both rider and horse lay stunned.

But you, you are to be feared!
    Who can stand before you
    when once your anger is roused?
From the heavens you uttered judgment;
    the earth feared and was still,
when God arose to establish judgment,
    to save all the humble of the earth. Selah

Surely the wrath of man shall praise you;
    the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.
Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them;
    let all around him bring gifts
    to him who is to be feared,
who cuts off the spirit of princes,
    who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.

Psalm 77 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-77-KH.mp3)
My voice rises to God, I will cry aloud;
my voice rises to God, he will hear me.

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
in the night my hand stretched without fainting;
My soul refused to be comforted.
Yes, my soul refused to be comforted.
I’m disturbed when I remember God;
when I sigh my spirit faints.
You have held my eyelids open;
so troubled I can’t even speak.
I considered the days of old,
and all those years long ago;
I remember my song in the night;
my heart meditates and spirit ponders:
Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never again show favor?
Has his kindness ceased for all time?
Has his promise come to an end?
Has God forgotten to be gracious,
or in anger withdrawn his compassion?
Then I said, “It is surely my grief,
the right hand of the Most High has changed.”

My voice rises to God, I will cry aloud;
my voice rises to God, he will hear me.

I’ll remember the deeds of the LORD;
I’ll recall your wonders of old.
On all your works I’ll meditate,
and will muse upon your deeds
Your way, O God, is holy;
what god is great like our God?
You are the God of wonders;
your strength is known through the lands.
You save your people with power,
the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
The waters then saw you, O God;
the waters then saw you, O God,
Then they were in anguish;
the depths started to quake.
The clouds then poured down water;
the skies gave forth a sound;

My voice rises to God, I will cry aloud;
my voice rises to God, he will hear me.

Your arrows flashed here and there.
The sound of your thunder in a whirlwind;
your lightnings lit up the world;
the earth then trembled and shook.
Your paths through sea and water;
your footprints may not be known.
Like a flock you led your people forth,
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

My voice rises to God, I will cry aloud;
my voice rises to God, he will hear me. (repeat)

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

WORD OF GOD

I thought to myself, How wonderful it would be
    to treat you like children
    and give you a beautiful land,
        an inheritance unrivaled among the nations.
And I thought, You will call me father,
    and you won’t turn away from me.
But as a woman betrays her lover,
    so you, people of Israel, have betrayed me,
        declares the Lord.
A voice is heard on the well-traveled paths;
    it’s the crying and pleading of the people of Israel,
        who have lost their way
        and forgotten the Lord their God.
Return, rebellious children,
    and I will heal your rebellion.

“Here we are; we come to you,
    for you are the Lord our God.
Surely what happens on the hills is a waste,
    as is the uproar on the mountains.
Only in the Lord our God
    is the salvation of Israel.
From our youth, shame has devoured
    the fruit of our parents’ labor—
        their flocks and herds,
        as well as their sons and daughters.
Let’s lie down in our shame.
    Let our dishonor cover us,
        for we have sinned against the Lord our God,
            both we and our ancestors,
            from our youth to this very day.
We have disobeyed the voice of the Lord our God.”

If you return, Israel, return to me, declares the Lord.
    If you get rid of your disgusting idols from my presence
        and wander no more,
    and if you swear by the living God
        in truth, justice, and righteousness,
    then the nations will enjoy God’s blessings;
        they will boast about him.

This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to the residents of Jerusalem:

Break up your hard rocky soil;
    don’t plant among the thorns.
Dedicate yourselves to the Lord;
    don’t be thick-skinned,
        people of Judah and residents of Jerusalem,
    or else my anger will spread like a wildfire.
        It will burn, with no one to put it out,
        because of your evil deeds.

HYMN: Charles Wesley
Tune: St Bride https://tinyurl.com/ycxs6rt3

1 O Jesus, full of grace,
To thee I make my moan:
Let me again behold thy face,
Call home thy banished one.

2 Again my pardon seal,
Again my soul restore,
And freely my backslidings heal,
And bid me sin no more.

3 Wilt thou not bid me rise?
Speak, and my soul shall live;
“Forgive,” my stricken spirit cries,
“Abundantly forgive.”

4 Thine utmost mercy show;
Say to my drooping soul,
“In peace and full assurance go;
Thy faith hath made thee whole.”

What is the source of conflict among you? What is the source of your disputes? Don’t they come from your cravings that are at war in your own lives? You long for something you don’t have, so you commit murder. You are jealous for something you can’t get, so you struggle and fight. You don’t have because you don’t ask. You ask and don’t have because you ask with evil intentions, to waste it on your own cravings.

You unfaithful people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy. Or do you suppose that scripture is meaningless? Doesn’t God long for our faithfulness in the life he has given to us? But he gives us more grace. This is why it says, God stands against the proud, but favors the humble. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. Cry out in sorrow, mourn, and weep! Let your laughter become mourning and your joy become sadness. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Brothers and sisters, don’t say evil things about each other. Whoever insults or criticizes a brother or sister insults and criticizes the Law. If you find fault with the Law, you are not a doer of the Law but a judge over it. There is only one lawgiver and judge, and he is able to save and to destroy. But you who judge your neighbor, who are you?

HYMN: Sarah Flower Adams
Tune: Bethany https://tinyurl.com/2hkj2n54

1 Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

2 Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I’d be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

3 There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
all that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

4 Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
so by my woes to be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

5 Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

READING: Mark 9:30-37

From there Jesus and his followers went through Galilee, but he didn’t want anyone to know it. This was because he was teaching his disciples, “The Human One will be delivered into human hands. They will kill him. Three days after he is killed he will rise up.” But they didn’t understand this kind of talk, and they were afraid to ask him.

They entered Capernaum. When they had come into a house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about during the journey?” They didn’t respond, since on the way they had been debating with each other about who was the greatest. He sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be least of all and the servant of all.” Jesus reached for a little child, placed him among the Twelve, and embraced him. Then he said, “Whoever welcomes one of these children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me isn’t actually welcoming me but rather the one who sent me.”

CANTICLE Isaiah 12:2-6
(Uptown Worship Band: https://tinyurl.com/y8q877og)

Refrain:
Surely, it is God who saves;
I will and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my sure defense,
and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water
and rejoice from the salvation spring.
On that day you shall say,
give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name. Refrain

Make his deeds known among the people;
they remember his Name on high.
Sing praise to the Lord, for he has done great things,
and this is known in all the world. Refrain

Cry aloud, O Zion, ring out your joy,
for the great one in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

LITANY OF CONFESSION ^CW:TS

We pray to the Lord for courage to give up other things
and to give ourselves to him this Lent.

Give your Church the courage
to give up her preoccupation with herself
and to give more time to your mission in the world.