Oremus for Monday, September 15, 2025

The Martyrs of Birmingham
Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley were getting ready for church services when a bomb exploded on this day in 1965 at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, killing all four of the school-age girls. The church had been a center for civil rights meetings and marches.

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/vm2nse5e

You have given us, O Lord, bread from heaven,
endowed with all delights and sweetness in every taste. Wisdom 16

As you cause the sun to rise, O God,
bring the light of Christ to dawn in our souls
and dispel the shadows of hatred and fear.
Give us grace to reflect Christ’s glory;
and let his love show in our deeds,
his peace shine in our words,
and his healing in our touch,
that all may give him praise, now and forever. 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: Gracia Grindal ©, alt.
Tune: Leicester https://tinyurl.com/4ymubvry

1 Let flow our tears in grief for this,
our little ones, now gone from us,
who not so long ago were born,
now all that’s left to do is mourn,
but we refuse to be consoled
like Rachel weeping her children.

2 Our voices join with all of those
who weep to hold their children close
but cannot reach beyond their dust
to lines they drew, their little trusts
and they refuse to be consoled
these parents weeping their children.

3 All death and hope are met in one
born long ago who is God’s Son
whose birth provoked the tyrant’s rage
who tramples wanton through our age.
Still we refuse to be consoled
like Rachel weeping her children.

4 For who of us can stop the hand
of brutal demons in the land
whose fury aims to hurt and kill
the innocents whose screams are still
upon the air and unconsoled
with parents weeping their children.

5 All we can do is turn to him
who died in old Jerusalem
and wept abandoned on the cross
disarming demons there for us
so one day we might be consoled
with Rachel weeping our children.

PSALMS

Psalm 75 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/w8cy5dn)
1  Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks *
 yea, unto thee do we give thanks.
2  Thy Name also is so nigh *
 and that do thy wondrous works declare.
3  When I receive the congregation *
 I shall judge according unto right.
4  The earth is weak, and all the inhabiters thereof *
 I bear up the pillars of it.
5  I said unto the fools, Deal not so madly *
 and to the ungodly, Set not up your horn.
6  Set not up your horn on high *
 and speak not with a stiff neck.
7  For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west *
 nor yet from the south.
8  And why? God is the Judge *
 he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
9  For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red *
 it is full mixed, and he poureth out of the same.
10  As for the dregs thereof *
 all the ungodly of the earth shall drink them, and suck them out.
11  But I will talk of the God of Jacob *
 and praise him for ever.
12  All the horns of the ungodly also will I break *
 and the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
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 76 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/r9ym7fd)
1  In Jewry is God known *
 his Name is great in Israel.
2  At Salem is his tabernacle *
 and his dwelling in Sion.
3  There brake he the arrows of the bow *
 the shield, the sword, and the battle.
4  Thou art of more honour and might *
 than the hills of the robbers.
5  The proud are robbed, they have slept their sleep *
 and all the men whose hands were mighty have found nothing.
6  At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob *
 both the chariot and horse are fallen.
7  Thou, even thou art to be feared *
 and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry?
8  Thou didst cause thy judgement to be heard from heaven *
 the earth trembled, and was still,
9  When God arose to judgement *
 and to help all the meek upon earth.
10  The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise *
 and the fierceness of them shalt thou refrain.
11  Promise unto the Lord your God, and keep it,
all ye that are round about him *
 bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
12  He shall refrain the spirit of princes *
 and is wonderful among the kings of the earth.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,*
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 77 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vmyxazc)
1  I will cry unto God with my voice *
 even unto God will I cry with my voice, and he shall hearken unto me.
2  In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord *
 my sore ran, and ceased not in the night-season;
my soul refused comfort.
3  When I am in heaviness, I will think upon God *
 when my heart is vexed, I will complain.
4  Thou holdest mine eyes waking *
 I am so feeble, that I cannot speak.
5  I have considered the days of old *
 and the years that are past.
6  I call to remembrance my song *
 and in the night I commune with mine own heart, and search out my spirits.
7  Will the Lord absent himself for ever *
 and will he be no more intreated?
8  Is his mercy clean gone for ever *
 and is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore?
9  Hath God forgotten to be gracious *
 and will he shut up his loving-kindness in displeasure?
10  And I said, It is mine own infirmity *
 but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most Highest.
11  I will remember the works of the Lord *
 and call to mind thy wonders of old time.
12  I will think also of all thy works *
 and my talking shall be of thy doings.
13  Thy way, O God, is holy *
 who is so great a God as our God?
14  Thou art the God that doeth wonders *
 and hast declared thy power among the people.
15  Thou hast mightily delivered thy people *
 even the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
16  The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee, and were afraid *
 the depths also were troubled.
17  The clouds poured out water, the air thundered *
 and thine arrows went abroad.
18  The voice of thy thunder was heard round about *
 the lightnings shone upon the ground;
the earth was moved, and shook withal.
19  Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in the great waters *
 and thy footsteps are not known.
20  Thou leddest thy people like sheep *
 by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
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 75 (Gregorian Tone VI)

1 Unto you, O God, do we give thanks; *
indeed, unto you do we give thanks.
2 Those who call upon your Name *
declare your wondrous works.
3 “Surely at the time which I appoint, *
I, the Lord, will judge according to what is right.
4 The earth shakes with fear, and all that dwell therein; *
but I, even I, have made firm its pillars.
5 I say to the proud, ‘You should not boast!’ *
And to the ungodly, ‘Do not lift up your horn!
6 Do not lift up your horn on high, *
nor speak with a stiff neck.’”
7 For help comes neither from the east nor from the west, *
nor yet from the wilderness or the mountains.
8 For it is God who is the Judge; *
he puts down one and lifts up another.
9 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup,
and the wine is foaming; *
it is fully mixed, and he pours it out.
10 As for the dregs of it, *
all the ungodly of the earth shall
drink them and drain them out.
11 But I will magnify the God of Jacob *
and praise him for ever and ever.
12 All the horns of the ungodly will I break, *
but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
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 76 (Gregorian Tone VI)

1 In Judah God is known; *
his Name is great in Israel.
2 At Salem is his tabernacle, *
and his dwelling is in Zion.
3 There he broke the arrows of the bow, *
the shield, the sword, and the weapons of battle.
4 You are of more honor and might *
than the everlasting hills.
5 The strong of heart have been despoiled;
they have slept their sleep; *
and all those whose hands were mighty have lost their strength.
6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, *
both the chariot and horse lie stunned upon the ground.
7 You, even you, are to be feared, *
and who may stand in your sight when you are angry?
8 You caused your judgment to be heard from heaven; *
the earth trembled and was silent,
9 When God arose to judgment *
and to help all the meek upon earth.
10 The wrath of man shall be turned to your praise, *
and the remnant of fierceness you shall restrain.
11 Make a vow unto the Lord your God and keep it,
all you who are round about him; *
bring gifts unto him who is worthy to be feared.
12 He restrains the spirit of princes, *
and is feared among the kings of the earth.
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 77 (Gregorian Tone VI)

1 I will cry unto God with my voice; *
even unto God will I cry with my voice, and he shall
hearken unto me.
2 In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord; *
my hands were stretched out in the night without rest;
my soul refused comfort.
3 When I think upon God, I groan; *
when I ponder, my spirit grows faint.
4 You hold my eyelids open; *
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old; *
I call to remembrance the years that are past.
6 In the night I commune with my own heart; *
I meditate and search my spirit.
7 Will the Lord cast me off for ever, *
and will he no more show his favor?
8 Is his mercy gone for ever, *
and has his promise come utterly to an end for evermore?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious, *
and will he withhold his loving-kindness in displeasure?
10 And I said, “Has his right hand become weak? *
Has the hand of the Most High lost its strength?”
11 I will remember the works of the Lord, *
and call to mind your wonders of old time.
12 I will think also of all your works, *
and my talk shall be of your deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy; *
who is so great a God as our God?
14 You are the God who does wonders, *
and have declared your power among the peoples.
15 You have mightily delivered your people, *
even the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
16 The waters saw you, O God;
the waters saw you and were afraid; *
the depths also were troubled.
17 The clouds poured out water, the skies thundered, *
and your arrows flashed on every side.
18 The voice of your thunder was heard in the whirlwind;
the lightning lit up the world; *
the earth was moved and shook.
19 Your way was in the sea,
and your paths in the great waters, *
yet your footsteps were not seen.
20 You led your people like sheep *
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
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

God our shepherd,
you led us and saved us in times of old;
do not forget your people in their troubles,
but raise up your power
to sustain the poor and helpless;
for the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^CW:DP

THE WORD OF GOD
READING: 1 Samuel 9:1-17
There was a wealthy man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish. He was the son of Abiel son of Zeror son of Becorath son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite. He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. No one in Israel was more handsome than Saul, and he stood head and shoulders above everyone else.

When the donkeys belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servant boys with you and go look for the donkeys.” So he traveled through the highlands of Ephraim and the land of Shalishah, but they didn’t find anything. They traveled through the land of Shaalim, but still found nothing, so they crossed back into the land of Benjamin, but they still couldn’t find the donkeys. When they came to the territory of Zuph, Saul said to the boy who was with him, “Let’s go back before my father stops worrying about the donkeys and starts worrying about us.”

But the boy said to him, “Listen, there’s a man of God in this town. He’s famous—everything he says actually happens! So let’s go there. Maybe he’ll be able to tell us which way we should go.”

Saul said to his young boy, “But if we go, what should we bring to the man? The food in our bags is all gone. We don’t have any gift to offer the man of God. Do we have anything?”

“Here,” the boy answered Saul, “I’ve got a quarter-shekel of silver. I’ll give that to the man of God so he tells us which way to go.” (Earlier in Israel, someone going to consult with God would say, “Let’s go to the seer,” because the people who are called prophets today were previously called seers.)

Saul said to the boy, “Great idea! Let’s go.” So they went into the town where the man of God lived. They were going up the hill to the town when they met some young women coming out to draw water. “Is the seer here?” they asked them.

“He’s just ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry up! He has just come to town because there is a sacrifice today for the people at the shrine. You’ll find him as soon as you enter the town, before he goes up to the shrine to eat. The people won’t eat until he gets there, because he must bless the sacrifice. Only after that can the invited guests eat. Now get going because you’ll find him momentarily.”

So Saul and the boy went up to the town, and as they entered it, suddenly Samuel came toward them on his way up to the shrine. Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed the following to Samuel: “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the Benjaminite territory. You will anoint him as leader of my people Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines’ power because I have seen the suffering of my people, and their cry for help has reached me.” When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “That’s the man I told you about. That’s the one who will rule my people.”

HYMN: Kōn-yong Yi; para. Marion Pope ©
Tune: O-so-so https://tinyurl.com/2ut5n29v

1 Come now, O Prince of Peace,
make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus,
reconcile your people.

2 Come now, O God of love,
make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus,
reconcile your people.

3 Come now and set us free,
O God, our Savior.
Come, O Lord Jesus,
reconcile all nations.

4 Come, Hope of unity,
make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus,
reconcile all nations.

READING: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18
But we have this treasure in clay pots so that the awesome power belongs to God and doesn’t come from us. We are experiencing all kinds of trouble, but we aren’t crushed. We are confused, but we aren’t depressed. We are harassed, but we aren’t abandoned. We are knocked down, but we aren’t knocked out.

We always carry Jesus’ death around in our bodies so that Jesus’ life can also be seen in our bodies. We who are alive are always being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake so that Jesus’ life can also be seen in our bodies that are dying. So death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

We have the same faithful spirit as what is written in scripture: I had faith, and so I spoke. We also have faith, and so we also speak. We do this because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus, and he will bring us into his presence along with you. All these things are for your benefit. As grace increases to benefit more and more people, it will cause gratitude to increase, which results in God’s glory.

So we aren’t depressed. But even if our bodies are breaking down on the outside, the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day. Our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile of glory for us that is beyond all comparison. We don’t focus on the things that can be seen but on the things that can’t be seen. The things that can be seen don’t last, but the things that can’t be seen are eternal.

HYMN: Carolina Sandell; trans. A.L. Skoog
Tune: Blatt en dag https://tinyurl.com/yd5njfvr

1. Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best–
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

2. Ev’ry day the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.

3. Help me then in ev’ry tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.

READING: Luke 7:11-17
A little later Jesus went to a city called Nain. His disciples and a great crowd traveled with him. As he approached the city gate, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When he saw her, the Lord had compassion for her and said, “Don’t cry.” He stepped forward and touched the stretcher on which the dead man was being carried. Those carrying him stood still. Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, get up.” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

Awestruck, everyone praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding region.

CANTICLE Isaiah 60:1-3, 11, 14, 18-19
(BCP 2019/S Wesley)

Arise, shine, for your light has come, *
and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.
For behold, darkness covers the land; *
deep gloom enshrouds the peoples.
But over you the Lord will rise, *
and his glory will appear upon you.
Nations will stream to your light, *
and kings to the brightness of your dawning.
Your gates will always be open; *
by day or night they will never be shut.
They will call you, The City of the Lord, *
the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Violence will no more be heard in your land, *
ruin or destruction within your borders.
You will call your walls, Salvation, *
and all your portals, Praise.
The sun will no more be your light by day; *
by night you will not need the brightness of the moon.
The Lord will be your everlasting light, *
and your God will be your glory.
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 ^BCW
We rejoice in your generous goodness, O God,
and celebrate your lavish gifts to us this day,
for you have shown your love
in giving Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world.
Especially we give thanks for
the labors of those who have served us today . . .
friends with whom we have shared . . .
those whom we love and have loved us . . .
opportunities for our work to help others . . .
all beauty that delights us. . . .

Gracious God, we know you are close to all in need,
and by our prayers for others we come closer to you.
We are bold to claim for others
your promises of new life in Jesus Christ,
as we claim them for ourselves. Especially we pray for
those in dangerous occupations . . .
physicians and nurses . . .
those who are ill or confined to nursing homes . . .
those who mourn . . .

(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.

We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the innocent in the struggle for human rights, especially in the United States.  Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of oppressive systems and in their place establish your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. ^{HWHM, alt.}

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

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

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

The scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.

The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language versions are from Book of Common Prayer (2019) as recorded for the St Bernard Breviary https://www.bernardbreviary.com/chant-helps. The canticle is from the same website.

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.