Cyprian of Carthage
Born in Carthage in about the year 200, Cyprian was a teacher of rhetoric and a lawyer in the city before his conversion to Christianity. He gave away his pagan library and set his mind to study the sacred Scriptures and the commentaries that were beginning to proliferate. He became a priest and then, in the year 248, was elected Bishop of Carthage by the people of the city, together with the assembled priests and other bishops present. He showed compassion to returning apostates, whilst always insisting on the need for unity in the Church. During the persecution of Valerian, the Christian clergy were required to participate in pagan worship; Cyprian refused and was first exiled and then condemned to death. He died on this day in the year 258. EH
Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/5h42v9y7
I am the Good Shepherd,
and I lay down my life for my sheep, says the Lord. John 10
Almighty God, we thank you
for planting in us the seed of your Word.
By your Holy Spirit,
help us to receive it with joy,
and live according to it,
that we may grow in faith and hope and love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. 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: Cyprian of Carthage (De unitate ecclesiae);
para. Anders Frostenson, trans. David Lewis ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/y45azkfw
1 Many are the light-beams from the one light.
Our one light is Jesus.
Many are the light-beams from the one light;
we are one in Christ.
2 Many are the branches of the one tree.
Our one tree is Jesus.
Many are the branches of the one tree;
we are one in Christ.
3 Many are the gifts giv’n, love is all one.
Love’s the gift of Jesus.
Many are the gifts giv’n, love is all one;
we are one in Christ.
4 Many ways to serve God, the spirit is one;
servant spirit of Jesus.
Many ways to serve God, the spirit is one;
we are one is Christ.
5 Many are the members, the body is one;
members all of Jesus.
Many are the members, the body is one;
we are one in Christ.
PSALMS
Psalm 68 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ybgjjxjc)
1 Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered *
let them also that hate him flee before him.
2 Like as the smoke vanisheth, so shalt thou drive them away *
and like as wax melteth at the fire,
so let the ungodly perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God *
let them also be merry and joyful.
4 O sing unto God, and sing praises unto his Name *
magnify him that rideth upon the heavens, as it were upon an horse;
praise him in his Name JAH, and rejoice before him.
5 He is a Father of the fatherless,
and defendeth the cause of the widows *
even God in his holy habitation.
6 He is the God that maketh men to be of one mind in an house,
and bringeth the prisoners out of captivity *
but letteth the runagates continue in scarceness.
7 O God, when thou wentest forth before the people *
when thou wentest through the wilderness,
8 The earth shook, and the heavens dropped at the presence of God *
even as Sinai also was moved at the presence of God,
who is the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God, sentest a gracious rain upon thine inheritance *
and refreshedst it when it was weary.
10 Thy congregation shall dwell therein *
for thou, O God, hast of thy goodness prepared for the poor.
11 The Lord gave the word *
great was the company of the preachers.
12 Kings with their armies did flee, and were discomfited *
and they of the household divided the spoil.
13 Though ye have lien among the pots,
yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove *
that is covered with silver wings, and her feathers like gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings for their sake *
then were they as white as snow in Salmon.
15 As the hill of Basan, so is God’s hill *
even an high hill, as the hill of Basan.
16 Why hop ye so, ye high hills? this is God’s hill,
in the which it pleaseth him to dwell *
yea, the Lord will abide in it for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels *
and the Lord is among them, as in the holy place of Sinai.
18 Thou art gone up on high, thou hast led captivity captive,
and received gifts for men *
yea, even for thine enemies,
that the Lord God might dwell among them.
19 Praised be the Lord daily *
even the God who helpeth us, and poureth his benefits upon us.
20 He is our God, even the God of whom cometh salvation *
God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.
21 God shall wound the head of his enemies *
and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his wickedness.
22 The Lord hath said,
I will bring my people again, as I did from Basan *
mine own will I bring again, as I did sometime from the deep of the sea.
23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies *
and that the tongue of thy dogs may be red through the same.
24 It is well seen, O God, how thou goest *
how thou, my God and King, goest in the sanctuary.
25 The singers go before, the minstrels follow after *
in the midst are the damsels playing with the timbrels.
26 Give thanks, O Israel, unto God the Lord in the congregations *
from the ground of the heart.
27 There is little Benjamin their ruler,
and the princes of Judah their counsel *
the princes of Zabulon, and the princes of Nephthali.
28 Thy God hath sent forth strength for thee *
stablish the thing, O God, that thou hast wrought in us,
29 For thy temple’s sake at Jerusalem *
so shall kings bring presents unto thee.
30 When the company of the spear-men,
and multitude of the mighty are scattered abroad
among the beasts of the people,
so that they humbly bring pieces of silver *
and when he hath scattered the people that delight in war;
31 Then shall the princes come out of Egypt *
the Morians’ land shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
32 Sing unto God, O ye kingdoms of the earth *
O sing praises unto the Lord;
33 Who sitteth in the heavens over all from the beginning *
lo, he doth send out his voice, yea, and that a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe ye the power to God over Israel *
his worship, and strength is in the clouds.
35 O God, wonderful art thou in thy holy places *
even the God of Israel;
he will give strength and power unto his people;
blessed be God.
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 68 (LSB Tone K: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-68-LSB.mp3)
1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;*
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;*
as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God;*
they shall be jubilant with joy!
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;*
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the LORD; exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows*
is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,*
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people,*
when you marched through the wilderness,
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,*
before God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;*
you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it;*
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11 The Lord gives the word;*
the women who announce the news are a great host:
12 “The kings of the armies— they flee, they flee!”*
The women at home divide the spoil—
13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds—*
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,*
let snow fall on Zalmon.
15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;*
O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,*
at the mount that God desired for his abode,
yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;*
the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts among men,*
even among the rebellious,
that the LORD God may dwell there.
19 Blessèd be the Lord, who daily bears us up;*
God is our salvation.
20 Our God is a God of salvation,*
and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies,*
the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan,*
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may strike your feet in their blood,*
that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”
24 Your procession is seen, O God,*
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last,*
between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation,*
the LORD, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
the princes of Judah in their throng,*
the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Summon your power, O God,*
the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem*
kings shall bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.*
Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;
scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Nobles shall come from Egypt;*
Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.
32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;*
sing praises to the Lord,
33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;*
behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God,*
whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary;*
the God of Israel—
he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessèd be God!
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
Lord Jesus,
you came to us in our bondage,
and led us to freedom by the cross and resurrection.
May our lives praise you,
and our lips proclaim your mighty power to all people
that they may find their hope in you,
and live to your honor and glory,
now and forever. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
Now when Samuel got old, he appointed his sons to serve as Israel’s judges. The name of his oldest son was Joel; the name of the second was Abijah. They served as judges in Beer-sheba. But Samuel’s sons didn’t follow in his footsteps. They tried to turn a profit, they accepted bribes, and they perverted justice.
So all the Israelite elders got together and went to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “Listen. You are old now, and your sons don’t follow in your footsteps. So appoint us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” It seemed very bad to Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” so he prayed to the Lord.
The Lord answered Samuel, “Comply with the people’s request—everything they ask of you—because they haven’t rejected you. No, they’ve rejected me as king over them. They are doing to you only what they’ve been doing to me from the day I brought them out of Egypt to this very minute, abandoning me and worshipping other gods. So comply with their request, but give them a clear warning, telling them how the king will rule over them.”
Then Samuel explained everything the Lord had said to the people who were asking for a king. “This is how the king will rule over you,” Samuel said:
“He will take your sons, and will use them for his chariots and his cavalry and as runners for his chariot. He will use them as his commanders of troops of one thousand and troops of fifty, or to do his plowing and his harvesting, or to make his weapons or parts for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, or bakers. He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his servants. He will give one-tenth of your grain and your vineyards to his officials and servants. He will take your male and female servants, along with the best of your cattle and donkeys, and make them do his work. He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and then you yourselves will become his slaves! When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you chose for yourselves, but on that day the Lord won’t answer you.”
But the people refused to listen to Samuel and said, “No! There must be a king over us so we can be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles.”
Samuel listened to everything the people said and repeated it directly to the Lord.
HYMN: Psalm 33; para.
vv. 1-17 Marie J Post © vv. 18-end
vv. 18-22 Book of Praise: Anglo-Genevan Psalter, alt. ©
Tune: Genevan 33rd https://tinyurl.com/3ftehbfs
1 Rejoice! Sing praise to your Creator,
for it is good to praise the LORD.
2-3 Make music with guitar and trumpet;
blend skillfully each note and word.
4 All God’s words are truthful.
All his works are faithful.
5 He loves righteousness.
To the earth and heavens
constant care is given
with unfailing love.
6 God spoke his word to make the heavens;
his spirit gave the stars their birth.
7 He gathers all the oceans’ waters
in storehouses around the earth.
8 Who should not adore him,
stand in awe before him?
9 What he spoke was done:
place and life were given
to seas, earth, and heaven.
Let all fear the LORD!
10 The LORD upsets the plans of nations;
he frustrates all that they devise.
11 But God’s own plans stand firm forever,
and all his purposes are wise.
Blessed is that nation,
12 every generation
for whom God is LORD.
Bound to him forever,
nothing now can sever
God from those he chose.
13 The LORD on high looks down from heaven;
14-15 he sees all people he has made.
16 No king is saved by might or army;
17 a warrior’s horse will not give aid.
18 On those who revere him
and place their hope in him
the LORD keeps his eye.
19 From death he’ll deliver,
save their lives from hunger,
and keep them alive.
20 Our soul awaits the great Redeemer;
our help and shield, whom we acclaim.
21 In him alone our heart rejoices,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 God of our salvation,
hear our supplication;
to your word be true.
Let your love and favor
rest on us forever,
as we hope in you.
So, since we have such a hope, we act with great confidence. We aren’t like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the Israelites couldn’t watch the end of what was fading away. But their minds were closed. Right up to the present day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. The veil is not removed because it is taken away by Christ. Even today, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts. But whenever someone turns back to the Lord, the veil is removed. The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom. All of us are looking with unveiled faces at the glory of the Lord as if we were looking in a mirror. We are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to the next degree of glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
This is why we don’t get discouraged, given that we received this ministry in the same way that we received God’s mercy. Instead, we reject secrecy and shameful actions. We don’t use deception, and we don’t tamper with God’s word. Instead, we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God by the public announcement of the truth. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are on the road to destruction. The god of this age has blinded the minds of those who don’t have faith so they couldn’t see the light of the gospel that reveals Christ’s glory. Christ is the image of God.
We don’t preach about ourselves. Instead, we preach about Jesus Christ as Lord, and we describe ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. God said that light should shine out of the darkness. He is the same one who shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
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.
After Jesus finished presenting all his words among the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion had a servant who was very important to him, but the servant was ill and about to die. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Jesus to ask him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they earnestly pleaded with Jesus. “He deserves to have you do this for him,” they said. “He loves our people and he built our synagogue for us.”
Jesus went with them. He had almost reached the house when the centurion sent friends to say to Jesus, “Lord, don’t be bothered. I don’t deserve to have you come under my roof. In fact, I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to you. Just say the word and my servant will be healed. I’m also a man appointed under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and the servant does it.”
When Jesus heard these words, he was impressed with the centurion. He turned to the crowd following him and said, “I tell you, even in Israel I haven’t found faith like this.” When the centurion’s friends returned to his house, they found the servant restored to health.
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.
THE PRAYERS COS, alt.
God of all kindness,
you gave your only Son,
because you loved the world so much.
We pray for the peace of the world.
Move among us by your Spirit,
break down barriers
of fear, suspicion, and hatred.
Heal the human family of its divisions
and unite it in the bonds of justice and peace.
We pray for our country.
Enrich our common life;
strengthen the forces of truth and goodness;
teach us to share prosperity,
that those whose lives are impoverished
may pass from need and despair
to dignity and joy.
We pray for those who suffer.
Surround them with your love,
support them with your strength,
console them with your comfort,
and give them hope
and courage beyond themselves.
We pray for our families,
for those whom we love.
Protect them at home;
support them in times of difficulty and anxiety,
that they may grow together
in mutual love and understanding,
and rest content in one another.
We pray for the Church.
Keep us true to the Gospel
and responsive to the gifts and needs of all.
Make known your saving power in Jesus Christ,
by the witness of our faith,
our worship,
and our lives Amen.
Setting by Eric Wyse:2
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.
Almighty God, who gave to your servant Cyprian boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; 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
COS Common Order, © 1994 Church of Scotland
EH Exciting Holiness, Ed. Brother Tristram SSF © European Province of the Society of Saint Francis, 1997
HWHM Holy Women, Holy Men © 2010 The Church Pension Fund.
2 Eric Wyse, Lord’s Prayer, ©; audio from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_a40ME7aVk
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 68 is in the version used in Lutheran Service Book: Pew Edition © Concordia Publishing House, 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.
Oremus 