Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/2ybp9ax5
Proclaim a joyful sound and let it be heard;
proclaim to the ends of the earth:
The Lord has freed his people, alleluia. Cf. Isaiah 48
God our strength,
the only refuge of all who trust you.
Fortify us with your goodness
to live in quietness of spirit,
that we may serve you all our days;
through Jesus Christ, your Son. 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: Timothy Dudley-Smith ©
Tune: Bridegroom https://tinyurl.com/4j9ns9jt
1. Not for tongues of Heaven’s angels,
Not for wisdom to discern,
Not for faith that masters mountains,
For this better gift we yearn:
May love be ours, O Lord.
2. Love is humble, love is gentle,
Love is tender, true, and kind;
Love is gracious, ever patient,
Generous of heart and mind:
May love be ours, O Lord.
3. Never jealous, never selfish,
Love will not rejoice in wrong;
Never boastful nor resentful,
Love believes and suffers long:
May love be ours, O Lord.
4. In the day this world is fading,
Faith and hope will play their part,
But when Christ is seen in glory,
Love shall reign in every heart:
May love be ours, O Lord.
PSALMS
Psalm 44 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/4mebue34)
1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us :
what thou hast done in their time of old;
2 How thou hast driven out the heathen with thy hand,
and planted them in :
how thou hast destroyed the nations and cast them out.
3 For they gat not the land in possession through their own sword :
neither was it their own arm that helped them;
4 But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance :
because thou hadst a favour unto them.
5 Thou art my King, O God :
send help unto Jacob.
6 Through thee will we overthrow our enemies :
and in thy Name will we tread them under, that rise up against us.
7 For I will not trust in my bow :
it is not my sword that shall help me;
8 But it is thou that savest us from our enemies :
and puttest them to confusion that hate us.
9 We make our boast of God all day long :
and will praise thy Name for ever.
10 But now thou art far off, and puttest us to confusion :
and goest not forth with our armies.
11 Thou makest us to turn our backs upon our enemies :
so that they which hate us spoil our goods.
12 Thou lettest us be eaten up like sheep :
and hast scattered us among the heathen.
13 Thou sellest thy people for nought :
and takest no money for them.
14 Thou makest us to be rebuked of our neighbours :
to be laughed to scorn, and had in derision of them
that are round about us.
15 Thou makest us to be a by-word among the heathen :
and that the people shake their heads at us.
16 My confusion is daily before me :
and the shame of my face hath covered me;
17 For the voice of the slanderer and blasphemer:
for the enemy and avenger.
18 And though all this be come upon us, yet do we not forget thee :
nor behave ourselves frowardly in thy covenant.
19 Our heart is not turned back :
neither our steps gone out of thy way;
20 No, not when thou hast smitten us into the place of dragons :
and covered us with the shadow of death.
21 If we have forgotten the Name of our God,
and holden up our hands to any strange god :
shall not God search it out? for he knoweth the very secrets of the heart.
22 For thy sake also are we killed all the day long :
and are counted as sheep appointed to be slain.
23 Up, Lord, why sleepest thou :
awake, and be not absent from us for ever.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face :
and forgettest our misery and trouble?
25 For our soul is brought low, even unto the dust :
our belly cleaveth unto the ground.
26 Arise, and help us :
and deliver us for thy mercy’s sake.
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 45 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ybupe5te)
1 My heart is inditing of a good matter *
I speak of the things which I have made unto the King.
2 My tongue is the pen *
of a ready writer.
3 Thou art fairer than the children of men *
full of grace are thy lips, because God hath blessed thee for ever.
4 Gird thee with thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most Mighty *
according to thy worship and renown.
5 Good luck have thou with thine honour *
ride on, because of the word of truth, of meekness,
and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
6 Thy arrows are very sharp,
and the people shall be subdued unto thee *
even in the midst among the King’s enemies.
7 Thy seat, O God, endureth for ever *
the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
8 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity *
wherefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee
with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
9 All thy garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia *
out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
10 Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women *
upon thy right hand did stand the queen in a vesture of gold,
wrought about with divers colours.
11 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, incline thine ear *
forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house.
12 So shall the King have pleasure in thy beauty *
for he is thy Lord God, and worship thou him.
13 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift *
like as the rich also among the people shall make their supplication before thee.
14 The King’s daughter is all glorious within *
her clothing is of wrought gold.
15 She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needle-work *
the virgins that be her fellows shall bear her company,
and shall be brought unto thee.
16 With joy and gladness shall they be brought *
and shall enter into the King’s palace.
17 Instead of thy fathers thou shalt have children *
whom thou mayest make princes in all lands.
18 I will remember thy Name from one generation to another *
therefore shall the people give thanks unto thee, world without end.
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 46 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y7svqcl3)
1 God is our hope and strength *
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved *
and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea.
3 Though the waters thereof rage and swell *
and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same.
4 The rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the city of God *
the holy place of the tabernacle of the most Highest.
5 God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed *
God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen make much ado, and the kingdoms are moved *
but God hath shewed his voice, and the earth shall melt away.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us *
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
8 O come hither, and behold the works of the Lord *
what destruction he hath brought upon the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease in all the world *
he breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear in sunder,
and burneth the chariots in the fire.
10 Be still then, and know that I am God *
I will be exalted among the heathen, and I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us *
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
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 44 (Tonus Peregrinus)
1 We have heard with our ears, O God,
our fathers have told us *
what you did in the days of old:
2 How you drove out the nations with your hand,
and planted our fathers in the land; *
how you destroyed the nations and cast them out.
3 For they did not possess the land by their own sword, *
neither was it their own arm that helped them,
4 But by your right hand, and your arm,
and the light of your countenance, *
because you favored them.
5 You are my King, O God; * †
you send help to Jacob.
6 Through you we will overthrow our enemies, *
and in your Name will we tread down those who rise up against us.
For I will not trust in my bow; *
it is not my sword that shall help me;
8 But you save us from our enemies *
and put to shame those who hate us.
9 We make our boast in God all day long *
and will praise your Name for ever.
10 But now you have cast us off and put us to shame, *
and you do not go forth with our armies.
11 You make us turn our backs upon our enemies, *
so that those who hate us plunder our goods.
12 You let us be eaten up like sheep *
and have scattered us among the nations.
13 You sell your people for nothing *
and take no money for them.
14 You make us the reproach of our neighbors, *
to be laughed to scorn, and held in derision by those who are round about us.
15 You make us a byword among the nations, *
so that the peoples shake their heads at us.
16 My disgrace is daily before me, *
and the shame of my face has covered me,
17 Because of the voice of the slanderer and blasphemer, *
because of the enemy and avenger.
18 And though all this has come upon us, yet we do not forget you, *
nor have we been unfaithful to your covenant.
19 Our heart has not turned back, *
nor have our steps departed from your way,
20 Though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, *
and covered us with the shadow of death.
21 If we have forgotten the Name of our God,
and held up our hands to any strange god, *
shall not God search it out?
For he knows the very secrets of the heart.
22 For your sake we are killed all the day long, *
and are counted as sheep appointed to be slain.
23 Rise up, O Lord! Why are you sleeping? *
Awake, and cast us not away for ever.
24 Why do you hide your face *
and forget our misery and trouble?
25 For our soul is brought low, even to the dust; *
our belly cleaves to the ground.
26 Arise, O Lord, and help us, *
and deliver us for your mercy’s sake.
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.
Psalm 45 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-45.mp3)
1 My heart is stirring with a noble song;
let me recite what I have fashioned for the king; *
my tongue shall be the pen of a skilled writer.
2 You are the fairest of men; *
grace flows from your lips,
because God has blessed you for ever.
3 Strap your sword upon your thigh, O mighty warrior, *
in your pride and in your majesty.
4 Ride out and conquer in the cause of truth *
and for the sake of justice.
5 Your right hand will show you marvelous things; *
your arrows are very sharp, O mighty warrior.
6 The peoples are falling at your feet, *
and the king’s enemies are losing heart.
7 Your throne, O God, endures for ever and ever, *
a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom;
you love righteousness and hate iniquity.
8 Therefore God, your God, has anointed you *
with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
9 All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia, *
and the music of strings from ivory palaces makes you glad.
10 Kings’ daughters stand among the ladies of the court; *
on your right hand is the queen,
adorned with the gold of Ophir.
11 “Hear, O daughter; consider and listen closely; *
forget your people and your father’s house.
12 The king will have pleasure in your beauty; *
he is your master; therefore do him honor.
13 The people of Tyre are here with a gift; *
the rich among the people seek your favor.”
14 All glorious is the princess as she enters; *
her gown is cloth-of-gold.
15 In embroidered apparel she is brought to the king; *
after her the bridesmaids follow in procession.
16 With joy and gladness they are brought, *
and enter into the palace of the king.
17 “In place of fathers, O king, you shall have sons; *
you shall make them princes over all the earth.
18 I will make your name to be remembered
from one generation to another; *
therefore nations will praise you for ever and ever.”
Psalm 46 (LSB Tone C: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-46-LSB.mp3)
1 God is our refuge and strength,*
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,*
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,*
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,*
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;*
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;*
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;*
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,*
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;*
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.*
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;*
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
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.
PRAYER
God of Jacob,
when the earth shakes
and the nations are in uproar,
speak, and let the storm be still;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. CW:DP
THE WORD OF GOD
When Elkanah and all his household went up to make the annual sacrifice and keep his solemn promise, Hannah didn’t go. “I’ll bring the boy when he is weaned,” she told her husband, “so he can be presented to the Lord and stay there permanently. I will offer him as a nazirite forever.” “Do what seems best to you,” said her husband Elkanah. “Stay here until you’ve weaned him. But may the Lord bring to pass what you’ve promised.” So the woman stayed home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
When he had been weaned and was still very young, Hannah took him, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a jar of wine, and brought him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh. They slaughtered the bull, then brought the boy to Eli.
“Excuse me, sir!” Hannah said. “As surely as you live, sir, I am the woman who stood here next to you, praying to the Lord. I prayed for this boy, and the Lord gave me what I asked from him. So now I give this boy back to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.” Then they worshipped there before the Lord.
Then Hannah prayed:
My heart rejoices in the Lord.
My strength rises up in the Lord!
My mouth mocks my enemies
because I rejoice in your deliverance.
No one is holy like the Lord—
no, no one except you!
There is no rock like our God!
Don’t go on and on, talking so proudly,
spouting arrogance from your mouth,
because the Lord is the God who knows,
and he weighs every act.
The bows of mighty warriors are shattered,
but those who were stumbling now dress themselves in power!
Those who were filled full now sell themselves for bread,
but the ones who were starving are now fat from food!
The woman who was barren has birthed seven children,
but the mother with many sons has lost them all!
The Lord!
He brings death, gives life,
takes down to the grave, and raises up!
The Lord!
He makes poor, gives wealth,
brings low, but also lifts up high!
God raises the poor from the dust,
lifts up the needy from the garbage pile.
God sits them with officials,
gives them the seat of honor!
The pillars of the earth belong to the Lord;
he set the world on top of them!
God guards the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked die in darkness
because no one succeeds by strength alone.
The Lord!
His enemies are terrified!
God thunders against them from heaven!
The Lord!
He judges the far corners of the earth!
May God give strength to his king
and raise high the strength of his anointed one.
Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy served the Lord under Eli the priest.
HYMN: John Henry Newman
Tune: Gerontius https://tinyurl.com/26net6m7
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 a higher gift than grace
should flesh and blood refine,
God’s presence and his very self,
and essence all-divine.
5 O generous love! that he, who smote
in Man for man the foe,
the double agony in Man
for man should undergo;
6 And in the garden secretly,
and on the cross on high,
should teach his brethren, and inspire
to suffer and to die.
7 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.
We have conducted ourselves with godly sincerity and pure motives in the world, and especially toward you. This is why we are confident, and our conscience confirms this. We didn’t act with human wisdom but we relied on the grace of God. We don’t write anything to you except what you can read and also understand. I hope that you will understand totally since you have already understood us partly. Understand that in the day of our Lord Jesus, we will make you proud as you will also make us proud.
Because I was sure of this, I wanted to visit you first so that you could have a second opportunity to see me. I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and then come to you again on my way back from Macedonia, at which point I was hoping you would help me on my way to Judea.
So I wasn’t unreliable when I planned to do this, was I? Or do I make decisions with a substandard human process so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? But as God is faithful, our message to you isn’t both yes and no. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, is the one who was preached among you by us—through me, Silvanus, and Timothy—he wasn’t yes and no. In him it is always yes. All of God’s promises have their yes in him. That is why we say Amen through him to the glory of God.
God is the one who establishes us with you in Christ and who anointed us. God also sealed us and gave the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts. I call on God as my witness—I didn’t come again to Corinth because I wanted to spare you. It isn’t that we are trying to control your faith, but we are working with you for your happiness, because you stand firm in your faith.
HYMN: Bryn Rees ©
Tune: Doncaster https://tinyurl.com/39f265ba
1 Have faith in God, my heart,
trust and be unafraid;
God will fulfil in every part
each promise he has made.
2 Have faith in God, my mind,
though oft thy light burns low;
God’s mercy holds a wiser plan
than thou canst fully know.
3 Have faith in God, my soul,
his cross for ever stands;
and neither life nor death can pluck
his children from his hands.
4 Lord Jesus, make me whole;
grant me no resting place,
until I rest, heart, mind, and soul,
the captive of thy grace.
During that time, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night long. At daybreak, he called together his disciples. He chose twelve of them whom he called apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter; his brother Andrew; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called a zealot; Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Jesus came down from the mountain with them and stood on a large area of level ground. A great company of his disciples and a huge crowd of people from all around Judea and Jerusalem and the area around Tyre and Sidon joined him there. They came to hear him and to be healed from their diseases, and those bothered by unclean spirits were healed. The whole crowd wanted to touch him, because power was going out from him and he was healing everyone.
CANTICLE Isaiah 12:2-6 (James Turle)
Surely, it is God who saves me; *
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *
and he will be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *
from the springs of salvation.
And on that day you shall say, *
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among the peoples; *
see that they remember that his Name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *
and this is known in all the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *
for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.
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.
THE PRAYERS COS, alt.
Loving God,
we pray for all who are ill:
ease their pain, calm their restlessness;
give them such trust in you
that they may know
they are always in your keeping.
Bless all who care for them:
give them such trust in you
that they may win new strength;
and may their love and tireless patience
bring your grace and comfort
to those who suffer.
Remember your Church on earth.
Enable Christian people
to walk with Christ in their daily lives
and to work for the coming of his kingdom.
Strengthen the witness of the Church
in this parish and in every place,
that the world may learn to live your truth
and seek your peace.
Remember the nations of the world.
Bring to an end all war and strife;
break down the barriers of race and creed,
that all may live
as members of one family of God.
Remember our country.
Preserve us as a people
from all that is degrading,
and raise us to the righteousness
of serving your will.
Remember those who have died in the faith,
especially those known and dear to us.
Grant us a living hope,
and bring us, when our days on earth are over,
to share the joys of everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.
God our deliverer,
you walk with the meek and the poor,
the compassionate and those who mourn,
and you call us to walk humbly with you.
When we are foolish, be our wisdom;
when we are weak, be our strength;
that, as we learn to do justice
and to love mercy,
your rule may come as blessing. 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.
RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.
CW:DP Common Worship: Daily Prayer, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2005 and published by Church House Publishing
COS Common Order, © 1994 Church of Scotland
The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language versions of Psalm 44 and the canticle are from Book of Common Prayer (2019) and were recorded for the St Bernard Breviary https://www.bernardbreviary.com/chant-helps. Psalm 45 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. Psalm 46 is the version in Lutheran Service Book and is from the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg.
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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