Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany, in 1685 into a family of musicians. As a youngster he studied violin and organ and served as a choirboy at the parish church. By early adulthood, Bach had already achieved an enviable reputation as a composer and performer. His assignments as a church musician began in 1707 and a year later he became the organist and chamber musician for the court of the Duke of Weimar. In 1723, Bach was appointed cantor of the St. Thomas School in Leipzig and parish musician at both St. Thomas and St. Nicholas churches, where he remained until his death on this day in 1750. A man of deep Lutheran faith, Bach’s music was an expression of his religious convictions. HWHM
Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/npyhr6v4
O sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has worked wonders;
in the sight of the nations
he has shown his deliverance, alleluia. Psalm 98
Lord God, where two or three gather in your name,
you promise to be with them.
Look upon your family gathered in your name,
and graciously pour out your blessings upon us;
for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. BCW2018
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: T.R. Birks
Tune: Faithful (Mein gläubiges Herz)
1 The heavens declare Thy glory,
The firmament Thy power;
Day unto day the story
Repeats from hour to hour;
Night unto night replying,
Proclaims in every land,
O Lord, with voice undying,
The wonders of Thy hand.
2 The sun with royal splendor
Goes forth to chant Thy praise,
And moonbeams soft and tender
Their gentler anthem raise;
O’er every tribe and nation
The music strange is poured,
The song of all creation
To Thee, creation’s Lord.
3 All heaven on high rejoices
To do its Maker’s will;
The stars with solemn voices
Resound Thy praises still;
So let my whole behavior,
Thoughts, words, and actions be,
O Lord, my Strength, my Savior,
One ceaseless song to Thee.
PSALMS
Psalm 132 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tv4ygfu)
1 Lord, remember David *
and all his trouble;
2 How he sware unto the Lord *
and vowed a vow unto the Almighty God of Jacob;
3 I will not come within the tabernacle of mine house *
nor climb up into my bed;
4 I will not suffer mine eyes to sleep, nor mine eye-lids to slumber *
neither the temples of my head to take any rest;
5 Until I find out a place for the temple of the Lord *
an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
6 Lo, we heard of the same at Ephrata *
and found it in the wood.
7 We will go into his tabernacle *
and fall low on our knees before his footstool.
8 Arise, O Lord, into thy resting-place *
thou, and the ark of thy strength.
9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness *
and let thy saints sing with joyfulness.
10 For thy servant David’s sake *
turn not away the presence of thine Anointed.
11 The Lord hath made a faithful oath unto David *
and he shall not shrink from it;
12 Of the fruit of thy body *
shall I set upon thy seat.
13 If thy children will keep my covenant,
and my testimonies that I shall learn them *
their children also shall sit upon thy seat for evermore.
14 For the Lord hath chosen Sion to be an habitation for himself *
he hath longed for her.
15 This shall be my rest for ever *
here will I dwell, for I have a delight therein.
16 I will bless her victuals with increase *
and will satisfy her poor with bread.
17 I will deck her priests with health *
and her saints shall rejoice and sing.
18 There shall I make the horn of David to flourish *
I have ordained a lantern for mine Anointed.
19 As for his enemies, I shall clothe them with shame *
but upon himself shall his crown flourish.
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 133 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tlrm8lu)
1 Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is *
brethren, to dwell together in unity !
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head,
that ran down unto the beard *
even unto Aaron’s beard, and went down to the skirts of his clothing.
3 Like as the dew of Hermon *
which fell upon the hill of Sion.
4 For there the Lord promised his blessing *
and life for evermore.
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 134 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/v5kga57)
1 Behold now, praise the Lord *
all ye servants of the Lord;
2 Ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord *
even in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary *
and praise the Lord.
4 The Lord that made heaven and earth *
give thee blessing out of Sion.
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 135 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/w3blm5w)
1 O praise the Lord, laud ye the Name of the Lord *
praise it, O ye servants of the Lord;
2 Ye that stand in the house of the Lord *
in the courts of the house of our God.
3 O praise the Lord, for the Lord is gracious *
O sing praises unto his Name, for it is lovely.
4 For why? the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself *
and Israel for his own possession.
5 For I know that the Lord is great *
and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth *
and in the sea, and in all deep places.
7 He bringeth forth the clouds from the ends of the world *
and sendeth forth lightnings with the rain,
bringing the winds out of his treasures.
8 He smote the first-born of Egypt *
both of man and beast.
9 He hath sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee,
O thou land of Egypt *
upon Pharaoh, and all his servants.
10 He smote divers nations *
and slew mighty kings;
11 Sehon king of the Amorites, and Og the king of Basan *
and all the kingdoms of Canaan;
12 And gave their land to be an heritage *
even an heritage unto Israel his people.
13 Thy Name, O Lord, endureth for ever *
so doth thy memorial, O Lord, from one generation to another.
14 For the Lord will avenge his people *
and be gracious unto his servants.
15 As for the images of the heathen, they are but silver and gold *
the work of men’s hands.
16 They have mouths, and speak not *
eyes have they, but they see not.
17 They have ears, and yet they hear not *
neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18 They that make them are like unto them *
and so are all they that put their trust in them.
19 Praise the Lord, ye house of Israel *
praise the Lord, ye house of Aaron.
20 Praise the Lord, ye house of Levi *
ye that fear the Lord, praise the Lord.
21 Praised be the Lord out of Sion *
who dwelleth at Jerusalem.
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 132 (LSB Tone G: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-132-LSB.mp3)
1 Remember, O LORD, in David’s favor,*
all the hardships he endured,
2 how he swore to the LORD*
and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
3 “I will not enter my house*
or get into my bed,
4 I will not give sleep to my eyes*
or slumber to my eyelids,
5 until I find a place for the LORD,*
a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;*
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
7 “Let us go to his dwelling place;*
let us worship at his footstool!”
8 Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place,*
you and the ark of your might.
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,*
and let your saints shout for joy.
10 For the sake of your servant David,*
do not turn away the face of your anointed one.
11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath
from which he will not turn back:*
“One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them,*
their sons also forever shall sit on your throne.”
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion;*
he has desired it for his dwelling place:
14 “This is my resting place forever;*
here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her provisions;*
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation,*
and her saints will shout for joy.
17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David;*
I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
18 His enemies I will clothe with shame,*
but on him his crown will shine.”
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.
Psalm 133 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-133.mp3)
1 Oh, how good and pleasant it is, *
when brethren live together in unity!
2 It is like fine oil upon the head *
that runs down upon the beard,
3 Upon the beard of Aaron, *
and runs down upon the collar of his robe.
4 It is like the dew of Hermon *
that falls upon the hills of Zion.
5 For there the LORD has ordained the blessing: *
life for evermore.
Psalm 134 (LSB Tone D: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-134-LSB.mp3)
1 Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD,*
who stand by night in the house of the LORD!
2 Lift up your hands to the holy place*
and bless the LORD!
3 May the LORD bless you from Zion,*
he who made heaven and earth!
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.
Psalm 135 (Gregorian Tone VIII.1)
1 O praise the Lord. Praise the Name of the Lord; *
offer praise, you servants of the Lord,
2 You who stand in the house of the Lord, *
in the courts of the house of our God.
3 O praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; *
sing praises unto his Name, for it is lovely.
4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself *
and Israel for his own possession.
5 For I know that the Lord is great, *
and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatsoever the Lord pleases he does, in heaven and on earth, *
in the seas and in all the deep places.
7 He brings forth clouds from the ends of the earth *
and sends forth lightning with the rain,
bringing the wind out of his treasuries.
8 It was he who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, *
both of man and beast.
9 He sent signs and wonders into the midst of you,
O land of Egypt, *
against Pharaoh and all his servants.
10 He smote many nations, *
and slew mighty kings:
11 Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og the king of Bashan, *
and all the kingdoms of Canaan.
12 And he gave their land to be an inheritance, *
an inheritance for Israel his people.
13 Your Name, O Lord, endures for ever; *
so does your renown, O Lord, from one generation to another.
14 For the Lord will avenge his people *
and have compassion upon his servants.
15 As for the idols of the nations, they are but silver and gold, *
the work of human hands.
16 They have mouths, but they speak not; *
eyes have they, but they see not;
17 They have ears, and yet they hear not, *
neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them are like them, *
and so are all who put their trust in them.
19 Praise the Lord, O house of Israel; *
praise the Lord, O house of Aaron.
20 Praise the Lord, O house of Levi; *
you who fear the Lord, praise the Lord.
21 Praised be the Lord from Zion, *
who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
PRAYER
Creator of the universe,
from whom all things come,
to whom all things return,
give your people such unity of heart and mind,
that all the world may grow in the life of your eternal kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
So Moses went down the mountain to the people. He made sure the people were holy and that they washed their clothes. He told the men, “Prepare yourselves for three days. Don’t go near a woman.”
When morning dawned on the third day, there was thunder, lightning, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud blast of a horn. All the people in the camp shook with fear. Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their place at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord had come down on it with lightning. The smoke went up like the smoke of a hot furnace, while the whole mountain shook violently. The blasts of the horn grew louder and louder. Moses would speak, and God would answer him with thunder. The Lord came down on Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain. The Lord called Moses to come up to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. The Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to try to see the Lord, or many of them will fall dead. Even the priests who come near to the Lord must keep themselves holy, or the Lord will break loose against them.”
Moses said to the Lord, “The people aren’t allowed to come up on Mount Sinai because you warned us and said, ‘Set up a fence around the mountain to keep it holy.’”
The Lord said to him, “Go down, and bring Aaron back up with you. But the priests and the people must not break through and come up to the Lord. Otherwise, the Lord will break loose against them.” So Moses went down to the people and told them.
HYMN: Albrecht, Duke of Prussia; trans. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941 ©
Tune: Was mein Gott will https://tinyurl.com/5xs57897
1 The will of God is always best
And shall be done forever;
And they who trust in Him are blest,
He will forsake them never.
He helps indeed
In time of need,
He chastens with forbearing;
They who depend
On God, their Friend,
Shall not be left despairing.
2 God is my Comfort and my Trust,
My Hope and Life abiding;
And to His counsel, wise and just,
I yield, in Him confiding.
The very hairs,
His Word declares,
Upon my head He numbers.
By night and day
God is my Stay,
He never sleeps nor slumbers.
3 Lord Jesus, this I ask of Thee,
Deny me not this favor:
When Satan sorely troubles me,
Then do not let me waver.
Keep watch and ward,
O gracious Lord,
Fulfil Thy faithful saying:
Who doth believe
He shall receive
An answer to his praying.
4 When life’s brief course on earth is run
And I this world am leaving,
Grant me to say: “Thy will be done,”
By faith to Thee still cleaving.
My heav’nly Friend, I now commend
My soul into Thy keeping,
O’er sin and hell,
And death as well,
Thro’ Thee the vict’ry reaping.
This is the message that you heard from the beginning: love each other. Don’t behave like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he kill him? He killed him because his own works were evil, but the works of his brother were righteous.
Don’t be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have transferred from death to life, because we love the brothers and sisters. The person who does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that murderers don’t have eternal life residing in them. This is how we know love: Jesus laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. But if someone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but refuses to help—how can the love of God dwell in a person like that?
HYMN: Adam de St-Victor; trans. Robert Campbell
Tune: Alles ist an Gottes Segen https://tinyurl.com/yk653x9d
1. Come, pure hearts, in joyful measure
sing of those who spread the treasure
in the holy Gospels shrined;
blessed tidings of salvation,
peace on earth their proclamation,
love from God to lost mankind.
2. See the rivers four that gladden,
with their streams, the better Eden
planted by our Lord most dear;
Christ the fountain, these the waters;
drink, O Zion’s sons and daughters,
drink, and find salvation here.
3. O that we, thy truth confessing,
and thy holy word possessing,
Jesus may thy love adore;
unto thee our voices raising,
thee with all thy ransomed praising,
ever and for evermore.
Then Pharisees and legal experts came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why are your disciples breaking the elders’ rules handed down to us? They don’t ritually purify their hands by washing before they eat.”
Jesus replied, “Why do you break the command of God by keeping the rules handed down to you? For God said, Honor your father and your mother, and The person who speaks against father or mother will certainly be put to death. But you say, ‘If you tell your father or mother, “Everything I’m expected to contribute to you I’m giving to God as a gift,”then you don’t have to honor your father.’ So you do away with God’s Law for the sake of the rules that have been handed down to you. Hypocrites! Isaiah really knew what he was talking about when he prophesied about you, This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. Their worship of me is empty since they teach instructions that are human rules.”
CANTICLE Revelation 19:1-7
(Mount St. Mary’s Seminary https://tinyurl.com/57f9sztd)
Ant. Praise God, all you who serve him,
both great and small, alleluia.
Alleluia.
Salvation, glory, and power to our God: alleluia.
his judgments are honest and true.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia.
Sing praise to our God, all you his servants, alleluia.
all who worship him reverently, great and small.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia.
The Lord our all-powerful God is King; alleluia.
Let us rejoice, sing praise, and give him glory.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia.
The wedding feast of the Lamb has begun, alleluia.
and his bride is prepared to welcome him.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, alleluia.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Ant. Praise God, all you who serve him,
both great and small, alleluia.
THE PRAYERS COS
Gracious God,
rejoicing in your blessings,
trusting in your loving care for all,
we bring you our prayers for the world.
We pray for the created world:
for those who rebuild
where things have been destroyed;
for those who fight hunger, poverty, and disease;
for those who have power
to bring change for the better and to renew hope.
In the life of our world
your kingdom come, O Lord.
We pray for our country:
for those who frame our laws
and shape our common life;
for those who keep the peace
and administer justice;
for those who teach,
those who heal,
all who serve the community.
In the life of our land
your kingdom come, O Lord.
We pray for people in need:
those for whom life is a bitter struggle;
those whose lives are clouded
by death or loss,
by pain or disability,
by discouragement or fear,
by shame or rejection.
In the lives of those in need
your kingdom come, O Lord.
We pray for those
in the circle of friendship and love around us:
children and parents;
sisters and brothers;
friends and neighbours;
and for those especially in our thoughts today.
In the lives of those we love
your kingdom come, O Lord.
We pray for the Church
in its stand with the poor,
in its love for the outcast and the ashamed,
in its service to the sick and the neglected,
in its proclamation of the Gospel,
in this land, in this place.
In the life of your Church
your kingdom come, O Lord.
Setting: Sanford Dole https://tinyurl.com/y7ldq7h5
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today the bread of life;
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, beautiful in majesty and majestic in holiness, who teaches us in Holy Scripture to sing your praises and who gave Johann Sebastian Bach grace to show forth your glory in their music: Be with all those who write or make music for your people, that we on earth may glimpse your beauty and know the inexhaustible riches of your new creation in Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. HWHM
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.
HWHM Holy Women, Holy Men © Church Publishing, Inc.
BCW2018 Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 2018
COS Common Order, © 1994 Church of Scotland
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 versions of Psalms 132 and 134 are in the version used in Lutheran Service Book: Pew Edition Concordia Publishing House, and are from the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg. Psalm 133 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. Psalm 135 is from Book of Common Prayer (2019) as recorded for the St Bernard Breviary https://www.bernardbreviary.com/chant-helps.
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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