Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/7e7juvyw
The Lord is the strength of his people,
a saving refuge for the one he has anointed.
Save your people, Lord, and bless your heritage,
and govern them for ever. Psalm 28
O God, whose presence is veiled from our eyes:
Grant that when we do not recognize you,
our hearts may burn within us,
and that when feeling is lost,
we may cling in faith to your Word
and the power of bread broken
in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen. WS2
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: Charles Wesley
Tune: Ratisbon https://tinyurl.com/3az5m3rz
1 Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true and only Light,
Sun of righteousness, arise,
triumph o’er the shade of night;
Day-spring from on high, be near;
Day-star, in my heart appear.
2 Dark and cheerless is the morn
unaccompanied by Thee;
joyless is the day’s return,
till Thy mercy’s beams I see,
till they inward light impart,
glad my eyes, and warm my heart.
3 Visit then this soul of mine,
pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
fill me, radiancy divine,
scatter all my unbelief;
more and more Thyself display,
shining to the perfect day.
PSALMS
Psalm 119: 73-104 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y8qj25yx)
73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me *
O give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me *
because I have put my trust in thy word.
75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgements are right *
and that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled.
76 O let thy merciful kindness be my comfort *
according to thy word unto thy servant.
77 O let thy loving mercies come unto me, that I may live *
for thy law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be confounded,
for they go wickedly about to destroy me *
but I will be occupied in thy commandments.
79 Let such as fear thee, and have known thy testimonies *
be turned unto me.
80 O let my heart be sound in thy statutes *
that I be not ashamed.
81 My soul hath longed for thy salvation *
and I have a good hope because of thy word.
82 Mine eyes long sore for thy word *
saying, O when wilt thou comfort me?
83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke *
yet do I not forget thy statutes.
84 How many are the days of thy servant *
when wilt thou be avenged of them that persecute me?
85 The proud have digged pits for me *
which are not after thy law.
86 All thy commandments are true *
they persecute me falsely; O be thou my help.
87 They had almost made an end of me upon earth *
but I forsook not thy commandments.
88 O quicken me after thy loving-kindness *
and so shall I keep the testimonies of thy mouth.
89 O Lord, thy word *
endureth for ever in heaven.
90 Thy truth also remaineth from one generation to another *
thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.
91 They continue this day according to thine ordinance *
for all things serve thee.
92 If my delight had not been in thy law *
I should have perished in my trouble.
93 I will never forget thy commandments *
for with them thou hast quickened me.
94 I am thine, O save me *
for I have sought thy commandments.
95 The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me *
but I will consider thy testimonies.
96 I see that all things come to an end *
but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
97 Lord, what love have I unto thy law *
all the day long is my study in it.
98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies *
for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than my teachers *
for thy testimonies are my study.
100 I am wiser than the aged *
because I keep thy commandments.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way *
that I may keep thy word.
102 I have not shrunk from thy judgements *
for thou teachest me.
103 O how sweet are thy words unto my throat *
yea, sweeter than honey unto my mouth.
104 Through thy commandments I get understanding *
therefore I hate all evil ways.
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 119:73-104 (Karl Kohlhase:
http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-119-73-104-KH.mp3)
Your hands made me and fashioned me;
help me understand your commandments.
May the fearful see and be glad,
because I wait for your word.
O LORD, I know your judgments are righteous,
and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
May your love become my comfort,
by your word unto your servant.
May your mercy come so I’ll live,
your law is my delight.
May the proud be ashamed of their lies;
while I meditate on your precepts.
May the fearful turn unto me,
even those who know your teachings.
May my heart become blameless in your laws,
so I will not be ashamed.
My soul longs for your salvation;
I wait upon your word.
My eyes go out for your word,
“When will you comfort me?”
Though a wineskin in the smoke,
I will not forget your laws.
How long are the days of your servant?
When will you judge those who hurt me?
For the proud have dug pits for me,
who are not in accord with your law.
All your commandments are faithful;
help me when I’m hurt by their lies!
They have almost destroyed me on earth,
but I’ll not forsake your precepts.
Revive me according to your love,
so I’ll keep the word of your mouth.
Forever, O LORD, your word is settled in heaven.
Your faithfulness is for all ages;
you set the earth firm, and it stands.
They stand to this day by your ordinances,
all things are for your servants.
If your law not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you revived me.
I am yours, please rescue me;
for I have sought your precepts.
Though the wicked looked out for my harm;
yet I discerned your teachings.
Saw the limit of all perfection;
your command is exceedingly broad.
O how I love your law!
My meditation all through the day.
Your commands make me wiser than my foes,
for they are ever mine.
I have insight beyond all my teachers,
for your teachings are my meditation.
Understanding more than the aged,
because your precepts I keep.
I’ve restrained my feet from all evil,
that I may keep your word.
I’ve not turned aside from your rulings,
for you yourself have taught me.
O how sweet are your words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
From your precepts I get understanding;
so I hate every false way.
PRAYER
O God for whom there are no barriers,
no stones too big to remove,
roll away our resistance to you.
Let your words fill us with new life
and bring us out from the tomb of indifference,
alive again in you.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. CGP
THE WORD OF GOD
You are as beautiful, my dearest, as Tirzah,
as lovely as Jerusalem,
formidable as those lofty sights.
Turn your eyes away from me,
for they overwhelm me!
Your hair is like a flock of goats
as they stream down from Gilead.
Your teeth are like a flock of ewes
as they come up from the washing pool—
all of them perfectly matched,
not one of them lacks its twin.
Like a slice of pomegranate is the curve of your face
behind the veil of your hair.
There may be sixty queens
and eighty secondary wives,
young women beyond counting,
but my dove, my perfect one, is one of a kind.
To her mother she’s the only one,
radiant to the one who bore her.
Young women see her and declare her fortunate;
queens and secondary wives praise her.
Who is this, gazing down like the morning star,
beautiful as the full moon,
radiant as the sun,
formidable as those lofty sights?
To the nut grove I went down
to look upon the fresh growth in the valley,
to see whether the vine was in flower,
whether the pomegranates had bloomed.
I hardly knew myself;
she had set me in an official’s chariot!
Come back, come back, Shulammite!
Come back, come back, so we may admire you.
How you all admire the Shulammite
as she whirls between two circles of dancers!
How graceful are your sandaled feet,
willing woman!
The smooth curves of your thighs—like fine jewelry,
the work of an artist’s hands!
Your navel, cupped like the full moon—
may it never lack spiced wine!
Your belly is a mound of winnowed wheat
edged with lilies.
Your two breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle doe;
your neck, like a tower of ivory;
your eyes, pools in Heshbon,
by the gate of that lordly city.
Your profile is like the tower of Lebanon,
looking out toward Damascus.
Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel,
and your hair, braided in royal purple—
a king is bound by the tresses!
You are so beautiful, so lovely—
my love, delightful one!
Your stately form resembles a date palm,
and your breasts are like clustered fruit.
I say, “I will climb the palm tree;
I will hold its fruit!”
May your breasts be now
like grape clusters,
and the scent of your breath like apples!
Your palate is like excellent wine . . .
. . . flowing smoothly for my love,
gliding through the lips and teeth.
HYMN: Isaac Watts
Tune: Ein Kind gebor’n https://tinyurl.com/3ex29hj6
1 When strangers stand and hear me tell
What beauties in my Saviour dwell,
Where he is gone they fain would know,
That they may seek and love him too.
2 My best beloved keeps his throne
On hills of light, in worlds unknown;
But he descends and shews his face
In the young gardens of his grace.
3 In vineyards planted by his hand,
Where fruitful trees in order stand;
He feeds among the spicy buds,
Where lilies shew their spotless heads.
4 He has engross’d my warmest love;
No earthly charms my soul can move:
I have a ransom in his heart,
Nor death, nor hell, shall make us part.
5 O may my spirit daily rise
On wings of faith above the skies,
Till death shall make my last remove
To dwell for ever with my Love.
It’s a physical body when it’s put into the ground, but it’s raised as a spiritual body. If there’s a physical body, there’s also a spiritual body. So it is also written, The first human, Adam, became a living person, and the last Adam became a spirit that gives life. But the physical body comes first, not the spiritual one—the spiritual body comes afterward. The first human was from the earth made from dust; the second human is from heaven. The nature of the person made of dust is shared by people who are made of dust, and the nature of the heavenly person is shared by heavenly people. We will look like the heavenly person in the same way as we have looked like the person made from dust.
This is what I’m saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s kingdom. Something that rots can’t inherit something that doesn’t decay. Listen, I’m telling you a secret: All of us won’t die, but we will all be changed— in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the final trumpet. The trumpet will blast, and the dead will be raised with bodies that won’t decay, and we will be changed. It’s necessary for this rotting body to be clothed with what can’t decay, and for the body that is dying to be clothed in what can’t die.
HYMN: John Henry Newman
Tune: Gerontius https://tinyurl.com/4waud3j8
1 Praise to the Holiest in the height,
and in the depth be praise;
in all His words most wonderful,
most sure in all His ways!
2 O loving wisdom of our God!
When all was sin and shame,
a second Adam to the fight,
and to the rescue came.
3 O wisest love! That flesh and blood,
which did in Adam fail,
Should strive afresh against the foe,
should strive and should prevail.
4 And that the highest gift of grace
should flesh and blood refine;
God’s presence and His very self,
and essence all-divine.
5 Praise to the Holiest in the height,
and in the depth be praise;
in all His works most wonderful,
most sure in all His ways!
In the beginning was the Word
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
The Word was with God in the beginning.
Everything came into being through the Word,
and without the Word
nothing came into being.
What came into being
through the Word was life,
and the life was the light for all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.
A man named John was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.
The true light that shines on all people
was coming into the world.
The light was in the world,
and the world came into being through the light,
but the world didn’t recognize the light.
The light came to his own people,
and his own people didn’t welcome him.
But those who did welcome him,
those who believed in his name,
he authorized to become God’s children,
born not from blood
nor from human desire or passion,
but born from God.
The Word became flesh
and made his home among us.
We have seen his glory,
glory like that of a father’s only son,
full of grace and truth.
John testified about him, crying out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace;
as the Law was given through Moses,
so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
God the only Son,
who is at the Father’s side,
has made God known.
CANTICLE Revelation 4:11, 5:9-10, 13
(Chant by Joe Cox: https://tinyurl.com/y499lmmp)
Ant. Splendor and honor and kingly power *
are yours by right, O Lord our God,
For you created everything that is, *
and by your will they were created and have their being;
And yours by right, O Lamb that was slain, *
for with your blood you have redeemed for God,
From every family, language, people, and nation, *
a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
And so, to him who sits upon the throne, *
and to Christ the Lamb,
Be worship and praise, dominion and splendor, *
for ever and for evermore. Ant.
THE PRAYERS CWC
O Good Shepherd, your world is hurting.
As people flee their homes
because of violence and poverty, we pray:
Make us your instruments.
As governments and corporations
grow in power and wealth, we pray:
Make us your instruments.
As some of your beloved sheep
grow in despair and hopelessness, we pray:
Make us your instruments.
As your children are persecuted
in places near and far, we pray:
Make us your instruments.
Make us your instruments, O God,
so that we may bring your message of hope
and proclaim your loving name
to every household in this world. Amen.
(Traditional chant: http://oremus.org/chant/LP-1940.mp3)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
O Christ,
who lived to show what life is like,
who died to show that sin is death,
who rose to raise us up to life eternal,
help us to follow you and love you forever. Amen. WS2
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.
WS2 The Worship Sourcebook, 2nd edition, © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources
CWC Connections Worship Companion, ed. David Gambrell © Westminster John Knox Press
The Lord’s Prayer is the traditional chant as set in The Hymnal 1940 and sung by Kathryn Mannyng https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsJ2TB9pLbU
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 119 is 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 © 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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