Antiphon1
Ant. My house will be called a house of prayer, says the Lord;
everyone who asks here, will receive,
and he who seeks will find,
and to him who knocks, it will be opened.
V. How lovely is your dwelling place, *
O Lord of hosts.
My soul is longing and yearning *
for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my flesh cry out *
to the living God. Matthew 21; Psalm 84
Remember us, gracious God,
when we cannot see your way and purpose,
and renew in us the joy of your kingdom of light and life.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. BCW
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: Elton Trueblood ©
Tune: Dim Ond Isesu (Lowry) https://tinyurl.com/4wvdpama
1 God, whose purpose is to kindle,
now ignite us with your fire.
While the earth awaits your burning,
with your passion us inspire.
Overcome our sinful calmness,
stir us with your saving name.
Baptize with your fiery Spirit,
crown our lives with tongues of flame.
2 God, who still a sword delivers
rather than a placid peace,
with your sharpened word disturb us,
from complacency release!
Save us now from satisfaction,
when we privately are free,
yet are undisturbed in spirit
by our neighbor’s misery.
3 God, who in your holy gospel
wills that all should truly live,
make us sense our share of failure,
our tranquility forgive.
Teach us courage as we struggle
in all liberating strife.
Lift the smallness of our vision
by your own abundant life.
PSALMS
Psalm 89 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ydygwbyj)
1 My song shall be alway of the loving kindness of the Lord *
with my mouth will I ever be shewing thy truth
from one generation to another.
2 For I have said, Mercy shall be set up for ever *
thy truth shalt thou stablish in the heavens.
3 I have made a covenant with my chosen *
I have sworn unto David my servant;
4 Thy seed will I stablish for ever *
and set up thy throne from one generation to another.
5 O Lord, the very heavens shall praise thy wondrous works *
and thy truth in the congregation of the saints.
6 For who is he among the clouds *
that shall be compared unto the Lord?
7 And what is he among the gods *
that shall be like unto the Lord?
8 God is very greatly to be feared in the council of the saints *
and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about him.
9 O Lord God of hosts, who is like unto thee *
thy truth, most mighty Lord, is on every side.
10 Thou rulest the raging of the sea *
thou stillest the waves thereof when they arise.
11 Thou hast subdued Egypt, and destroyed it *
thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arm.
12 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine *
thou hast laid the foundation of the round world, and all that therein is.
13 Thou hast made the north and the south *
Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy Name.
14 Thou hast a mighty arm *
strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
15 Righteousness and equity are the habitation of thy seat *
mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
16 Blessed is the people, O Lord, that can rejoice in thee *
they shall walk in the light of thy countenance.
17 Their delight shall be daily in thy Name *
and in thy righteousness shall they make their boast.
18 For thou art the glory of their strength *
and in thy loving-kindness thou shalt lift up our horns.
19 For the Lord is our defence *
the Holy One of Israel is our King.
20 Thou spakest sometime in visions unto thy saints, and saidst *
I have laid help upon one that is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
21 I have found David my servant *
with my holy oil have I anointed him.
22 My hand shall hold him fast *
and my arm shall strengthen him.
23 The enemy shall not be able to do him violence *
the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.
24 I will smite down his foes before his face *
and plague them that hate him.
25 My truth also and my mercy shall be with him *
and in my Name shall his horn be exalted.
26 I will set his dominion also in the sea *
and his right hand in the floods.
27 He shall call me, Thou art my Father *
my God, and my strong salvation.
28 And I will make him my first-born *
higher than the kings of the earth.
29 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore *
and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
30 His seed also will I make to endure for ever *
and his throne as the days of heaven.
31 But if his children forsake my law *
and walk not in my judgements;
32 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments *
I will visit their offences with the rod, and their sin with scourges.
33 Nevertheless, my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him *
nor suffer my truth to fail.
34 My covenant will I not break,
nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips *
I have sworn once by my holiness, that I will not fail David.
35 His seed shall endure for ever *
and his seat is like as the sun before me.
36 He shall stand fast for evermore as the moon *
and as the faithful witness in heaven.
37 But thou hast abhorred and forsaken thine Anointed *
and art displeased at him.
38 Thou hast broken the covenant of thy servant *
and cast his crown to the ground.
39 Thou hast overthrown all his hedges *
and broken down his strong holds.
40 All they that go by spoil him *
and he is become a reproach to his neighbours.
41 Thou hast set up the right hand of his enemies *
and made all his adversaries to rejoice.
42 Thou hast taken away the edge of his sword *
and givest him not victory in the battle.
43 Thou hast put out his glory *
and cast his throne down to the ground.
44 The days of his youth hast thou shortened *
and covered him with dishonour.
45 Lord, how long wilt thou hide thyself, for ever *
and shall thy wrath burn like fire?
46 O remember how short my time is *
wherefore hast thou made all men for nought?
47 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death *
and shall he deliver his soul from the hand of hell?
48 Lord, where are thy old loving-kindnesses *
which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?
49 Remember, Lord, the rebuke that thy servants have *
and how I do bear in my bosom the rebukes of many people;
50 Wherewith thine enemies have blasphemed thee,
and slandered the footsteps of thine Anointed *
Praised be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and 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 89 (Genevan 89th https://tinyurl.com/4phuhwc5)
1 Forever I will sing of your great love, O LORD,
to every changing age your faithfulness record.
2 I will declare how firm your steadfast love is founded,
established in the skies with faithfulness unbounded.
3 Your cov’nant with David no pow’r on earth can sever.
4 You promised to establish his descendants fore’er.
5 O LORD, the heav’ns extol the wonders of your ways;
the holy ones in their assembly sing your praise.
6 Who in their mighty host compares with you in splendor?
7 They all before your throne to you their homage render.
8 O LORD, who is like you? Who else has pow’r unbounded?
You are the mighty God by faithfulness surrounded.
9 You rule the swelling tides, the surging of the sea,
and on the roaring waves impose tranquility.
10 Proud Rahab you have crushed, its carcass you have shattered;
you with your mighty arm your enemies have scattered.
11 Both earth and skies are yours, for yours is all creation;
the world with all it holds you placed on its foundation.
12 You made both north and south and ev’ry mountain height;
Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon glory in your might.
13 Your arm, your strong right hand, evokes their jubilation.
14 True righteousness and justice are your throne’s foundation.
The love and faithfulness that will endure forever
before you make their way as heralds of your favor.
15 Blest are the people who acclaim you as their King,
and walk in the light, before your face rejoicing.
16 They praise fore’er your name, your justice and salvation.
17 For your strength and pow’r are their source of exultation.
18 To you belongs our shield, our king so great and glorious;
you, LORD, came to his aid and made him victorious.
19 Of old your vision came to David, as you said:
20 “I offer him the crown, my oil upon his head.
21 I will abide with him; my hand will not forsake him.
22-23 His enemies will fear; their armies will not break him.
24 My steadfast love and power will go with him forever.
25 I’ll set his hand on every sea and every river.”
26 “You are my God and Rock,” my chosen one will cry.
27 among the kings he’ll reign, the highest of the high.
28 My steadfast love for him I will maintain forever;
the cov’nant made with him I will not break or sever.
29 In keeping with my pledge, the throne to David given
will stand forever firm, enduring like the heavens.
30 “Although his children stray, and disobey my law,
31 ignoring my commands, not holding them in awe,
32 then I will punish them, flog them for their transgression,
33 but will not take from him my love and my compassion.
34 My cov’nant will stand firm, my vow will not be broken,
nor will I change a word of what my lips have spoken.
35 “I once for all have sworn by my own holiness.
I will not break my word, but David I will bless;
36 his throne will evermore from heir to heir be handed,
for like the sun it will endure as I commanded.
37 And like the moon, the faithful witness in the heavens,
his reign will be secure. My promise I have given.”
38 But now, O LORD, in wrath you turn against your own.
39 You have removed his crown, cast down his royal throne.
40 LORD, you have breached the walls, brought widespread devastation,
reduced the citadels to scenes of desolation.
41 See how all who pass by have robbed and plundered him;
he is his neighbors’ scorn, enduring bitter shame.
42 His enemies rejoice, all with laughter greet him.
43 Their armies lay him low; in battle defeat him.
44 You turned his scepter and his throne to desolation;
45 his joy and youth are changed to shame and violation.
46 How long, O LORD? How long will you from him be hiding?
How long before your blazing wrath will be subsiding?
47 Remember, LORD, my life, its brief and fleeting span.
O for what vanity have you created man!
48 Who can outwit the grave or claim to be immortal?
Who can escape the ruinous power of Sheol?
49 Lord, where is now your love? Why has it waned and wavered?
Where is the faithfulness that once you swore to David?
50 Remember how I bear within my heart, O Lord,
the insults and the taunts that I have long endured.
51 Your servant has been mocked and jeered by all the nations;
foes taunted your anointed with their provocations.
52 Yet praise and worship God! His mercy will not waver.
Yes, Amen and Amen. Praised be the LORD forever!
PRAYER
As we sing of your love, O Lord,
anoint us with the Spirit’s seal,
that we may praise your faithfulness
and proclaim your truth from age to age;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. CW:DP
THE WORD OF GOD
The Lord declares, Am I a God
who is only nearby and not far off?
Can people hide themselves in secret places
so I might not see them?
Don’t I fill heaven and earth?
I have heard the prophets prophesying lies in my name. They claim, “I’ve had a dream; I’ve had a dream!” How long will deceitful prophecies dominate the minds of the prophets? Those prophets are treacherous. They scheme to make my people forget me by their dreams that people tell each other, just as their ancestors forgot me because of Baal. Let the prophet who has a dream declare it, but let the one who has my word proclaim it faithfully.
What a difference between straw and wheat!
declares the Lord.
Isn’t my word like fire
and like a hammer that shatters rock?
declares the Lord.
HYMN: Charles Wesley
Tune: York https://tinyurl.com/47zh2zke
1 Come, O Thou all-victorious Lord,
Thy power to us make known;
Strike with the hammer of the Word,
And break these hearts of stone.
2 O that we all might now begin
Our foolishness to mourn!
And turn at once from every sin,
And to the Savior turn.
3 Give us ourselves and Thee to know
In this our gracious day:
Repentance unto life bestow,
And take our sins away.
4 Convince us first of unbelief,
And freely then release:
Fill every soul with sacred grief,
And then with sacred peace.
So then, with endurance, let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne.
Think about the one who endured such opposition from sinners so that you won’t be discouraged and you won’t give up. In your struggle against sin, you haven’t resisted yet to the point of shedding blood, and you have forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons and daughters:
My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline
or give up when you are corrected by him,
because the Lord disciplines whomever he loves,
and he punishes every son or daughter whom he accepts.
Bear hardship for the sake of discipline. God is treating you like sons and daughters! What child isn’t disciplined by his or her father? But if you don’t experience discipline, which happens to all children, then you are illegitimate and not real sons and daughters. What’s more, we had human parents who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live? Our human parents disciplined us for a little while, as it seemed best to them, but God does it for our benefit so that we can share his holiness. No discipline is fun while it lasts, but it seems painful at the time. Later, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it.
So strengthen your drooping hands and weak knees! Make straight paths for your feet so that if any part is lame, it will be healed rather than injured more seriously.
HYMN: Scottish Translations and Paraphrases
Tune: Wetherby https://tinyurl.com/bdhfw5uz
1 Behold what witnesses unseen
encompass us around,
who, once like us, with suffering tried,
but now with glory crowned.
2 Let us, with zeal like theirs inspired,
begin the Christian race,
and, freed from each encumbering weight,
their holy footsteps trace.
3 Behold a witness nobler still,
who trod affliction’s path,
Jesus, at once the finisher
and author of our faith.
4 He for the joy before him set,
so generous was his love,
endured the cross, despised the shame,
and now he reigns above.
5 Then let our hearts no more despond,
our hands be weak no more;
still let us trust our Father’s love,
his wisdom still adore.
Jesus said, “I came to cast fire upon the earth. How I wish that it was already ablaze! I have a baptism I must experience. How I am distressed until it’s completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, I have come instead to bring division. From now on, a household of five will be divided—three against two and two against three. Father will square off against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
CANTICLE Luke 1:46-55
(John Michael Talbot, https://tinyurl.com/mweccsj)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
PRAYERS BCW
God of heaven and earth,
through Jesus Christ you promise to hear us
when we pray to you in his name.
Confident in your love and mercy
we offer our prayer.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Empower the church throughout the world in its life and witness.
Break down the barriers that divide,
that, united in your truth and love,
the church may confess your name,
share one baptism,
sit together at one table,
and serve you in one common ministry.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Guide the rulers of the nations.
Move them to set aside their fear, greed, and vain ambition,
and bow to your sovereign rule.
Inspire them to strive for peace and justice,
that all your children may dwell secure,
free of war and injustice.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hear the cries of the world’s hungry and suffering.
Give us, who consume most of the earth’s resources,
the will to reorder our lives,
that all may have their rightful share of the food,
medical care, and shelter,
and so have the necessities of a life of dignity.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Restore among us a love of the earth you created for our home.
Help us put an end to ravishing its land, air, and waters,
and give us respect for all your creatures,
that, living in harmony with everything you have made,
your whole creation may resound in an anthem of praise
to your glorious name.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Renew our nation in the ways of justice and peace.
Guide those who make and administer our laws
to build a society based on trust and respect.
Erase prejudices that oppress;
free us from crime and violence;
guard our youth from the perils of drugs and materialism.
Give all citizens a new vision of a life of harmony.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Look with compassion on all who suffer.
Support with your love
those with incurable and stigmatized diseases,
those unjustly imprisoned,
those denied dignity,
those who live without hope,
those who are homeless or abandoned.
so lead us to be present with them in their suffering
in the name of Jesus Christ.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(Plainsong Mode 2: https://tinyurl.com/yctqq8cf)DL
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.
Judge eternal,
you love justice and hate oppression;
you give peace to those who seek it,
and you condemn the rage of violence.
Give us courage to take our stand
with all victims of bloodshed and greed,
and, following your servants and prophets,
look to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. 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.
CW:DP Common Worship: Daily Prayer, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2005 and published by Church House Publishing
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 scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.
The traditional language psalm is from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language version of Psalim 89 is adapted from the Genevan versions found in Book of Praise: Anglo-Genevan Psalter and Psalter Hymnal, 1985 ©
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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