Oremus for Thursday, August 21, 2025

Jonathan Daniels
Jonathan Myrick Daniels (March 20, 1939 – August 20, 1965) was an Episcopal seminarian and civil rights activist. In 1965, he was murdered by a shotgun-wielding special county deputy, Tom Coleman, who was a construction worker, in Hayneville, Alabama, while in the act of shielding 17-year-old Ruby Sales. He saved the life of the young Black civil rights activist. They were both working in the nonviolent civil rights movement in Lowndes County to integrate public places and register Black voters after passage of the Voting Rights Act that summer. Daniels’ death generated further support for the civil rights movement. ^Wikipedia

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/8zfp8pca

Behold, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age, alleluia. Matthew 28

Eternal God,
your hand shaped our lives by grace
and your hand rescued us from sin by love.
May your hand guide us through this day,
shielding us from all evil,
strengthening us to do justice and love,
in Jesus Christ our 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: Margaret Cropper ©
Tune: Au clair de la lune https://tinyurl.com/ycxys7c2

1 Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all,
healing pain and sickness, blessing children small,
washing tired feet, and lifting those who fall;
Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all.

2 Take my hands, Lord Jesus; let them work for you,
make them strong and gentle, kind in all I do.
Touch me with your Spirit till I’m gentle, too,
till my hands are kind hands, quick to work for you.

PSALMS

Psalm 106 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yd2cn3x8)
1  O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious *
 and his mercy endureth for ever.
2  Who can express the noble acts of the Lord *
 or shew forth all his praise?
3  Blessed are they that alway keep judgement *
 and do righteousness.
4  Remember me, O Lord, according to the favour
that thou bearest unto thy people *
 O visit me with thy salvation;
5  That I may see the felicity of thy chosen *
 and rejoice in the gladness of thy people,
and give thanks with thine inheritance.
6  We have sinned with our fathers *
 we have done amiss, and dealt wickedly.
7  Our fathers regarded not thy wonders in Egypt,
neither kept they thy great goodness in remembrance *
 but were disobedient at the sea, even at the Red sea.
8  Nevertheless, he helped them for his Name’s sake *
 that he might make his power to be known.
9  He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up *
 so he led them through the deep, as through a wilderness.
10  And he saved them from the adversary’s hand *
 and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.
11  As for those that troubled them, the waters overwhelmed them *
 there was not one of them left.
12  Then believed they his words *
 and sang praise unto him.
13  But within a while they forgat his works *
 and would not abide his counsel.
14  But lust came upon them in the wilderness *
 and they tempted God in the desert.
15  And he gave them their desire *
 and sent leanness withal into their soul.
16  They angered Moses also in the tents *
 and Aaron the saint of the Lord.
17  So the earth opened, and swallowed up Dathan *
 and covered the congregation of Abiram.
18  And the fire was kindled in their company *
 the flame burnt up the ungodly.
19  They made a calf in Horeb *
 and worshipped the molten image.
20  Thus they turned their glory *
 into the similitude of a calf that eateth hay.
21  And they forgat God their Saviour *
 who had done so great things in Egypt;
22  Wondrous works in the land of Ham *
 and fearful things by the Red sea.
23  So he said, he would have destroyed them,
had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the gap *
 to turn away his wrathful indignation, lest he should destroy them.
24  Yea, they thought scorn of that pleasant land *
 and gave no credence unto his word;
25  But murmured in their tents *
 and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.
26  Then lift he up his hand against them *
 to overthrow them in the wilderness;
27  To cast out their seed among the nations *
 and to scatter them in the lands.
28  They joined themselves unto Baalpeor *
 and ate the offerings of the dead.
29  Thus they provoked him to anger with their own inventions *
 and the plague was great among them.
30  Then stood up Phinees and prayed *
 and so the plague ceased.
31  And that was counted unto him for righteousness *
 among all posterities for evermore.
32  They angered him also at the waters of strife *
 so that he punished Moses for their sakes;
33  Because they provoked his spirit *
 so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
34  Neither destroyed they the heathen *
 as the Lord commanded them;
35  But were mingled among the heathen *
 and learned their works.
36  Insomuch that they worshipped their idols,
which turned to their own decay *
 yea, they offered their sons and their daughters unto devils;
37  And shed innocent blood,
even the blood of their sons and of their daughters *
 whom they offered unto the idols of Canaan;
and the land was defiled with blood.
38  Thus were they stained with their own works *
 and went a whoring with their own inventions.
39  Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people *
 insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
40  And he gave them over into the hand of the heathen *
 and they that hated them were lords over them.
41  Their enemies oppressed them *
 and had them in subjection.
42  Many a time did he deliver them *
 but they rebelled against him with their own inventions,
and were brought down in their wickedness.
43  Nevertheless, when he saw their adversity *
 he heard their complaint.
44  He thought upon his covenant, and pitied them,
according unto the multitude of his mercies *
 yea, he made all those that led them away captive to pity them.
45  Deliver us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen *
 that we may give thanks unto thy holy Name, and make our boast of thy praise.
46  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and world without end *
 and let all the people say, 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 106 (Old 22^nd https://tinyurl.com/4nja9dwy)
1 O praise the LORD, for He is good;
give thanks and bless His name;
His loving-kindness changes not,
from age to age the same.
What tongue can tell His mighty deeds,
His wondrous works and ways?
O who can show His glory forth,
or utter all His praise?

2 The LORD will bless and prosper those–
yea, blest indeed are they–
whose ways are just, who constantly
His righteous law obey.
O LORD, remember me in grace,
let me salvation see;
the grace You show unto Your saints,
that grace reveal to me.

3 Let me behold Your people’s good
and in their joy rejoice;
with Your triumphant heritage
let me lift up my voice.
In evil we have gone astray,
and sinful is our race;
rebelliously our fathers walked
forgetful of Your grace.

4 Tho’ they rebelled, yet for their help
in saving strength He came
to make His pow’r almighty known
and glorify His name.
He brought them safely thro’ the sea
and overwhelmed their foes;
their faith was stirred, and for the time
their songs of praise arose.

5 Forgetful soon, they tempted God,
nor for His counsel cared;
He sent them leanness in their souls,
While they earth’s bounties shared.
Their God and Savior they forgot,
their helper and their stay,
but Moses sought the promised grace
and turned God’s wrath away.

6 But they despised the pleasant land,
the promised land of God,
and tempted Him to make them fall
and scattered them abroad.
Against His own inheritance
the LORD’s great wrath arose;
His chosen people He condemned
to serve their heathen foes.

7 Save us, O LORD, our gracious God,
from alien lands reclaim,
that we may triumph in Your praise
and bless Your holy name.
Blest be the Lord, our cov’nant God,
all praise to Him accord;
let all the people say, “Amen!”
Forever praise the LORD.

PRAYER

Holy God,
when our memories blot out your kindness
and we ignore your patient love,
remember us, re-make us,
and give us sinners
the rich inheritance of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^CW:DP

THE WORD OF GOD

CANTICLE Prayer of Manasseh
(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 ^AAPB
Almighty God,
maker of all things and Father of us all,
you have shown us in Christ the purpose of your creation
and called us to responsible service in the world:

We give thanks
for the order of created things
for the resources of the earth
for the gift of human life . . .
for your continuing work of creation
for our share in your creative purpose
for your gifts of creative vision and inventive skill
for your faithfulness to us in patience and love
for every human response of obedience and humble achievement . . .

We pray for your world
all nations . . .
our own country . . .
those in authority . . .
the peace of the world . . .
racial harmony . . .
and the reconciliation of all who are at enmity . . .

May we delight in your purpose,
and work to bring all things to their true end;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.

O God of justice and compassion, you put down the proud and mighty from their place, and lift up the poor and the afflicted: We give you thanks for your faithful witness Jonathan Myrick Daniels, who, in the midst of injustice and violence, risked and gave his life for another; and we pray that we, following his example, may make no peace with oppression; through Jesus Christ the just one, 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

---

^BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.

^BCW2018 Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 2018

^ELW The Lord’s Prayer is from Setting Five in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.

^HWHM Holy Women, Holy Men © 2010 The Church Pension Fund.

^CW:DP Common Worship: Daily Prayer, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2005 and published by Church House Publishing

^AAPB An Australian Prayer Book, © 1978 Anglican Church of Australia

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 psalm is adapted from Psalter, 1912.

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.