Antiphon1
Ant. Rejoice, O Jerusalem; and gather round, all you who love her;*
rejoice in gladness, after having been in sorrow;
exult and be replenished with the consolation
flowing from her motherly bosom.
V. I rejoiced when they said to me, *
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
And now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem. Isaiah 66; Psalm 122
Almighty God,
you love us, but we have not loved you.
You call, but we have not listened.
We walk away from neighbors in need,
wrapped in our own concerns.
We condone evil, prejudice, warfare, and greed.
God of grace, help us to admit our sin,
so that as you come to us in mercy,
we may repent, turn to you, and receive forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. 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: F. Bland Tucker ©
Tune: Azmon https://tinyurl.com/34ndccmc
1 Awake, O sleeper, rise from death,
And Christ shall give you light.
So learn his love – its length and breadth,
Its fullness, depth, and height.
2 To us on earth he came to bring
From sin and fear release,
To give the Spirit’s unity,
The very bond of peace.
3 There is one Body and one Hope,
One Spirit and one Call,
One Lord, one Faith, and one Baptism,
One Father of us all.
4 Then walk in love as Christ has loved
Who died that he might save;
With kind and gentle hearts forgive
As God in Christ forgave.
5 For us Christ lived, for us he died
And conquered in the strife.
Awake, arise, go forth in faith,
And Christ shall give you life.
PSALMS
Psalm 144 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tb977vw)
1 Blessed be the Lord my strength *
who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight;
2 My hope and my fortress, my castle and deliverer,
my defender in whom I trust *
who subdueth my people that is under me.
3 Lord, what is man, that thou hast such respect unto him *
or the son of man, that thou so regardest him?
4 Man is like a thing of nought *
his time passeth away like a shadow.
5 Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down *
touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Cast forth thy lightning, and tear them *
shoot out thine arrows, and consume them.
7 Send down thine hand from above *
deliver me, and take me out of the great waters,
from the hand of strange children;
8 Whose mouth talketh of vanity *
and their right hand is a right hand of wickedness.
9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God *
and sing praises unto thee upon a ten-stringed lute.
10 Thou hast given victory unto kings *
and hast delivered David thy servant from the peril of the sword.
11 Save me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children *
whose mouth talketh of vanity,
and their right hand is a right hand of iniquity.
12 That our sons may grow up as the young plants *
and that our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple.
13 That our garners may be full and plenteous
with all manner of store *
that our sheep may bring forth
thousands and ten thousands in our streets.
14 That our oxen may be strong to labour, that there be no decay *
no leading into captivity, and no complaining in our streets.
15 Happy are the people that are in such a case *
yea, blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God.
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 145 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ub6xy86)
1 I will magnify thee, O God, my King *
and I will praise thy Name for ever and ever.
2 Every day will I give thanks unto thee *
and praise thy Name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and marvellous worthy to be praised *
there is no end of his greatness.
4 One generation shall praise thy works unto another *
and declare thy power.
5 As for me, I will be talking of thy worship *
thy glory, thy praise, and wondrous works;
6 So that men shall speak of the might of thy marvellous acts *
and I will also tell of thy greatness.
7 The memorial of thine abundant kindness shall be shewed *
and men shall sing of thy righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious, and merciful *
long-suffering, and of great goodness.
9 The Lord is loving unto every man *
and his mercy is over all his works.
10 All thy works praise thee, O Lord *
and thy saints give thanks unto thee.
11 They shew the glory of thy kingdom *
and talk of thy power;
12 That thy power, thy glory, and mightiness of thy kingdom *
might be known unto men.
13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom *
and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages.
14 The Lord upholdeth all such as fall *
and lifteth up all those that are down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord *
and thou givest them their meat in due season.
16 Thou openest thine hand *
and fillest all things living with plenteousness.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways *
and holy in all his works.
18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him *
yea, all such as call upon him faithfully.
19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him *
he also will hear their cry, and will help them.
20 The Lord preserveth all them that love him *
but scattereth abroad all the ungodly.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord *
and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy Name for ever and ever.
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 146 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/rwxra4q)
1 Praise the Lord, O my soul; while I live will I praise the Lord *
yea, as long as I have any being, I will sing praises unto my God.
2 O put not your trust in princes, nor in any child of man *
for there is no help in them.
3 For when the breath of man goeth forth he shall turn again to his earth *
and then all his thoughts perish.
4 Blessed is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help *
and whose hope is in the Lord his God;
5 Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is *
who keepeth his promise for ever.
6 Who helpeth them to right that suffer wrong *
who feedeth the hungry.
7 The Lord looseth men out of prison *
the Lord giveth sight to the blind.
8 The Lord helpeth them that are fallen *
the Lord careth for the righteous.
9 The Lord careth for the strangers; he defendeth the fatherless and widow *
as for the way of the ungodly, he turneth it upside down.
10 The Lord thy God, O Sion, shall be King for evermore *
and throughout all generations.
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 144 (Ian White: https://tinyurl.com/4swvh9hj)
Praise the Lord who arms me for the fight.
He’s my loving God and my castle strong.
My guard and shield who subdues all men
that are under me.
Oh, Lord, what is man that you care for him?
The son of man that you think of him?
Man is like a breath
and his days will fly like a shadow.
Part the skies and come down to us
so the mountains smoke and remove your foes.
Reach down your hand
and rescue me from the waters.
I will sing a new song to you, O Lord.
On a ten-stringed lyre I will play your songs.
To the one who gives victory to kings
and deliverance for David.
Deliver me from my enemies
whose mouths and hands are full of deceit.
Then our sons and daughters will grow like flowers
in their beauty.
That our barns will be filled up with all we need.
And our means of life we will see increased.
No breach of walls, no captivity,
and no crying in the streets.
Blessed, blessed
are the people of whom this is true.
Blessed, blessed
are the people whose God is the Lord.
Psalm 145 (BCW Tone: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-145-BCW.mp3)
1 I will exalt you, O God my King, *
and bless your Name for ever and ever.
2 Every day will I bless you *
and praise your Name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; *
there is no end to his greatness.
4 One generation shall praise your works to another *
and shall declare your power.
5 I will ponder the glorious splendor of your majesty *
and all your marvelous works.
6 They shall speak of the might of your wondrous acts, *
and I will tell of your greatness.
7 They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness; *
they shall sing of your righteous deeds.
8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, *
slow to anger and of great kindness.
9 The LORD is loving to everyone *
and his compassion is over all his works.
10 All your works praise you, O LORD, *
and your faithful servants bless you.
11 They make known the glory of your kingdom *
and speak of your power;
12 That the peoples may know of your power *
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; *
your dominion endures throughout all ages.
14 The LORD is faithful in all his words *
and merciful in all his deeds.
15 The LORD upholds all those who fall; *
he lifts up those who are bowed down.
16 The eyes of all wait upon you, O LORD, *
and you give them their food in due season.
17 You open wide your hand *
and satisfy the needs of every living creature.
18 The LORD is righteous in all his ways *
and loving in all his works.
19 The LORD is near to those who call upon him, *
to all who call upon him faithfully.
20 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; *
he hears their cry and helps them.
21 The LORD preserves all those who love him, *
but he destroys all the wicked.
22 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD; *
let all flesh bless his holy Name for ever and ever.
Psalm 146 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-146.mp3)
1 Hallelujah!
Praise the LORD, O my soul! *
I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
2 Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *
for there is no help in them.
3 When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *
and in that day their thoughts perish.
4 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *
whose hope is in the LORD their God;
5 Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *
who keeps his promise for ever;
6 Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *
and food to those who hunger.
7 The LORD sets the prisoners free;
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind; *
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
8 The LORD loves the righteous;
the LORD cares for the stranger; *
he sustains the orphan and widow,
but frustrates the way of the wicked.
9 The LORD shall reign for ever, *
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
Hallelujah!
PRAYER
God our strength,
give us the humility to trust in your loving care,
and the patience to be faithful in seeking your kingdom,
that we may come to share in the inheritance of your saints;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
I’ve kept still for a very long time.
I’ve been silent and restrained myself.
Like a woman in labor I will moan;
I will pant, I will gasp.
I will wither mountains and valleys,
and I will dry up all their vegetation.
I will turn rivers into deserts,
and I will dry up pools.
I will make the blind walk a road they don’t know,
and I will guide them in paths they don’t know.
But I will make darkness before them into light
and rough places into level ground.
These things I will do;
I won’t abandon them.
Turned backward, utterly shamed
are those who trust in idols,
who say to a cast image,
“You are our god!”
Hear, deaf ones,
and blind ones, look and see!
Who is blind if not my servant
and deaf like my messenger whom I send?
Who is blind like the restored one,
blind like the servant of the Lord?
You have seen many things, but don’t keep watch.
With ears open, you don’t hear.
The Lord desired for the sake of his righteousness
to expand and glorify the Instruction.
HYMN: George Matheson
Tune: St Margaret https://tinyurl.com/3cpc6ftv
1 O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
2 O Light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
3 O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.
4 O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, so live your life as children of light. Light produces fruit that consists of every sort of goodness, justice, and truth. Therefore, test everything to see what’s pleasing to the Lord, and don’t participate in the unfruitful actions of darkness. Instead, you should reveal the truth about them. It’s embarrassing to even talk about what certain persons do in secret. But everything exposed to the light is revealed by the light. Everything that is revealed by the light is light. Therefore, it says, Wake up, sleeper! Get up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
HYMN: Fred Pratt Green ©
Tune: O waly waly https://tinyurl.com/3u9stu6m
1 He healed the darkness of my mind
The day he gave my sight to me.
It was not sin that made me blind;
It was no sinner made me see.
2 Let others call my faith a lie
Or try to stir up doubt in me.
Look at me now! None can deny
I once was blind, and now I see!
3 Ask me not how! But I know who
Has opened up new worlds to me.
This Jesus does what none can do;
I once was blind, and now I see!
As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who was blind from birth. Jesus’ disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned so that he was born blind, this man or his parents?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents. This happened so that God’s mighty works might be displayed in him. While it’s daytime, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” After he said this, he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and smeared the mud on the man’s eyes. Jesus said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (this word means sent). So the man went away and washed. When he returned, he could see.
The man’s neighbors and those who used to see him when he was a beggar said, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is,” and others said, “No, it’s someone who looks like him.” But the man said, “Yes, it’s me!” So they asked him, “How are you now able to see?” He answered, “The man they call Jesus made mud, smeared it on my eyes, and said, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and then I could see.” They asked, “Where is this man?” He replied, “I don’t know.”
Then they led the man who had been born blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus made the mud and smeared it on the man’s eyes on a Sabbath day. So Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. The man told them, “He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and now I see.”
Some Pharisees said, “This man isn’t from God, because he breaks the Sabbath law.” Others said, “How can a sinner do miraculous signs like these?” So they were divided. Some of the Pharisees questioned the man who had been born blind again: “What do you have to say about him, since he healed your eyes?” He replied, “He’s a prophet.”
The Jewish leaders didn’t believe the man had been blind and received his sight until they called for his parents. The Jewish leaders asked them, “Is this your son? Are you saying he was born blind? How can he now see?”
His parents answered, “We know he is our son. We know he was born blind. But we don’t know how he now sees, and we don’t know who healed his eyes. Ask him. He’s old enough to speak for himself.” His parents said this because they feared the Jewish authorities. This is because the Jewish authorities had already decided that whoever confessed Jesus to be the Christ would be expelled from the synagogue. That’s why his parents said, “He’s old enough. Ask him.”
Therefore, they called a second time for the man who had been born blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know this man is a sinner.” The man answered, “I don’t know whether he’s a sinner. Here’s what I do know: I was blind and now I see.” They questioned him: “What did he do to you? How did he heal your eyes?” He replied, “I already told you, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
They insulted him: “You are his disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses, but we don’t know where this man is from.” The man answered, “This is incredible! You don’t know where he is from, yet he healed my eyes! We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners. God listens to anyone who is devout and does God’s will. No one has ever heard of a healing of the eyes of someone born blind. If this man wasn’t from God, he couldn’t do this.” They responded, “You were born completely in sin! How is it that you dare to teach us?” Then they expelled him.
Jesus heard they had expelled the man born blind. Finding him, Jesus said, “Do you believe in the Human One?” He answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have seen him. In fact, he is the one speaking with you.” The man said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshipped Jesus.
Jesus said, “I have come into the world to exercise judgment so that those who don’t see can see and those who see will become blind.”
Some Pharisees who were with him heard what he said and asked, “Surely we aren’t blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you wouldn’t have any sin, but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”
CANTICLE Prayer of Manasseh
(Setting by Joe Cox https://tinyurl.com/4hqmx4jh)
Ant. Your merciful promise is beyond all measure; *
it surpasses all that our minds can fathom.
O Lord and Ruler of the hosts of heaven, *
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
and of all their righteous offspring:
You made the heavens and the earth, *
with all their vast array.
All things quake with fear at your presence; *
they tremble because of your power.
But your merciful promise is beyond all measure; *
it surpasses all that our minds can fathom.
O Lord, you are full of compassion, *
long-suffering, and abounding in mercy.
You hold back your hand; *
you do not punish as we deserve.
In your great goodness, Lord,
you have promised forgiveness to sinners, *
that they may repent of their sin and be saved.
And now, O Lord, I bend the knee of my heart, *
and make my appeal, sure of your gracious goodness.
I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, *
and I know my wickedness only too well.
Therefore I make this prayer to you: *
Forgive me, Lord, forgive me.
Do not let me perish in my sin, *
nor condemn me to the depths of the earth.
For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent, *
and in me you will show forth your goodness.
Unworthy as I am, you will save me,
in accordance with your great mercy, *
and I will praise you without ceasing all the days of my life.
For all the powers of heaven sing your praises, *
and yours is the glory to ages of ages. Amen.
THE PRAYERS Outlook
Loving God, we give you thanks for your words of hope to us. You promise us that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation; the old passes away and a new life is possible.
In these days of chaos and fear, we cling to the possibilities of life with you: that hearts can be turned, people can be reconciled, and redemption can spring forth from the most unlikely places.
Ground us in these truths of the gospel, O God, that our hearts might be open and loving, compassionate and generous.
Guard us from despair and grow within us strong and sustaining hope for the future of wellbeing you imagine for all creation.
Merciful God, you invite us not only to receive your grace, but to share it with others.
Show us how to reflect your mercy in our individual lives, and in our life together.
Help us to care for the most vulnerable in our communities with love that listens, responds and builds partnerships.
Draw us into your redeeming work of creating more just systems and structures in our world.
Commit us to ways of living together that provide all with what they need, rather than enriching some while others go without necessities of shelter and safety.
Bless our efforts to be your people of peace in a world obsessed with destruction and revenge.
God of justice, we pray for our nation in turmoil. Turn the hearts of those in power toward those they have been elected to serve. Give them ears to hear the suffering of those who cannot make ends meet and those whose lives have been upended by job cuts and funding freezes. Grant leaders at every level of government wisdom and discernment for the road ahead. Bring order out of chaos, O God, and draw us together for the good of all people and the world you so love.
Healer of our every ill, we pray for those in our community who need your care this day. Soothe the nerves of the anxious and lift the spirits of the depressed. Comfort those who sit in the heavy fog of grief. Energize those who are weighed down by burdens of care. Bring healing in body, mind and soul to those who are sick and recovering.
We name before you now in the quiet of our hearts all we know who need your healing mercies…
Surround us with your steadfast love, O Lord. When we are afraid, remind us to turn to you. When we don’t know what to do, animate us by your Spirit. Draw us close to you and close to one another in relationships that nurture our souls and show us the way. Amen.
(Plainsong: https://tinyurl.com/ahnrtv59)ELW
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.
Discerner of hearts,
you look beneath our outward appearance
and see your image in each of us.
Banish in us the blindness
that prevents us from recognizing truth,
so we may see the world through your eyes
and with the compassion of Jesus Christ who redeems us. Amen. RCLP
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.
ELW The Lord’s Prayer is from Setting Five in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.
1 Adam Bartlett, Simple English Propers; audio from https://musicasacra.com/additional-publications/sep-practice-videos/
The intercession is from Presbyterian Outlook https://pres-outlook.org/
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 version of Psalm 144 is by Ian White. Psalm 145 is a Book of Common Worship tone and was sourced from the PCUSA website https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/worship/service-lords-day/service-lords-day-psalm/chant-psalms/. Psalm 146 is chanted by Ryland Angel.
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 © 2025 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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