Dag Hammarskjöld
Dag Hammarskjold (1905 – 1961) was born into an influential Swedish family; his father was a former prime minister. He studied law and economics after which he was offered the post of Swedish ambassador to the United Nations. Hammarskjold then was elected Secretary General, an honored but difficult role he played for eight years. On September 18, 1961, he died in a plane crash in central Africa. Praise came from around the world for his wisdom, devotion to duty, and his relentless search for peace in a time when nuclear war seemed on the horizon.
Shortly after his death, a just completed manuscript was discovered in his apartment and published as Markings. The journal entries and commentary by Hammarskjold often revolve around religious matters such as faith, meaning, duty, loneliness, and pride. On these pages, he reveals “my negotiations with myself and with God.” 1
Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/292eca36
Your merciful love, O God,
we have received in the midst of your temple.
Your praise, O God, like your name,
reaches the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with saving justice. Psalm 48
I am the vessel.
The draft is God’s.
And God is the thirsty one. Amen. Hammarskjöld
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: Sy Miller and Jill Jackson
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/2kde6prj
Let there be peace on earth
and let it begin with me.
let there be peace on earth,
the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father,/With God our Creator,
brothers all are we;/we are family.
Let me walk with my brother/Let us walk with each other
in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me,
let this be the moment now.
With ev’ry step I take,
let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment and live each moment
in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.
PSALMS
Psalm 90 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/uzj6wj2)
1 Lord, thou hast been our refuge *
from one generation to another.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever the earth and the world were made *
thou art God from everlasting, and world without end.
3 Thou turnest man to destruction *
again thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men.
4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday *
seeing that is past as a watch in the night.
5 As soon as thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep *
and fade away suddenly like the grass.
6 In the morning it is green, and groweth up *
but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered.
7 For we consume away in thy displeasure *
and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation.
8 Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee *
and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
9 For when thou art angry all our days are gone *
we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told.
10 The days of our age are threescore years and ten;
and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years *
yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow;
so soon passeth it away, and we are gone.
11 But who regardeth the power of thy wrath *
for even thereafter as a man feareth, so is thy displeasure.
12 So teach us to number our days *
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
13 Turn thee again, O Lord, at the last *
and be gracious unto thy servants.
14 O satisfy us with thy mercy, and that soon *
so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
15 Comfort us again now after the time that thou hast plagued us *
and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity.
16 Shew thy servants thy work *
and their children thy glory.
17 And the glorious Majesty of the Lord our God be upon us *
prosper thou the work of our hands upon us,
O prosper thou our handy-work.
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 91 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/w5pwhvg)
1 Whoso dwelleth under the defence of the most High *
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say unto the Lord, Thou art my hope, and my strong hold *
my God, in him will I trust.
3 For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter *
and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall defend thee under his wings,
and thou shalt be safe under his feathers *
his faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night *
nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness *
nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon-day.
7 A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand *
but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold *
and see the reward of the ungodly.
9 For thou, Lord, art my hope *
thou hast set thine house of defence very high.
10 There shall no evil happen unto thee *
neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee *
to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee in their hands *
that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder *
the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him *
I will set him up, because he hath known my Name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will hear him *
yea, I am with him in trouble;
I will deliver him, and bring him to honour.
16 With long life will I satisfy him *
and shew him my salvation.
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 92 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/v6sub7d)
1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord *
and to sing praises unto thy Name, O most Highest;
2 To tell of thy loving-kindness early in the morning *
and of thy truth in the night-season;
3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the lute *
upon a loud instrument, and upon the harp.
4 For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy works *
and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operations of thy hands.
5 O Lord, how glorious are thy works *
thy thoughts are very deep.
6 An unwise man doth not well consider this *
and a fool doth not understand it.
7 When the ungodly are green as the grass,
and when all the workers of wickedness do flourish *
then shall they be destroyed for ever;
but thou, Lord, art the most Highest for evermore.
8 For lo, thine enemies, O Lord, lo, thine enemies shall perish *
and all the workers of wickedness shall be destroyed.
9 But mine horn shall be exalted like the horn of an unicorn *
for I am anointed with fresh oil.
10 Mine eye also shall see his lust of mine enemies *
and mine ear shall hear his desire of the wicked that arise up against me.
11 The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree *
and shall spread abroad like a cedar in Libanus.
12 Such as are planted in the house of the Lord *
shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God.
13 They also shall bring forth more fruit in their age *
and shall be fat and well-liking.
14 That they may shew how true the Lord my strength is *
and that there is no unrighteousness in him.
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 90 (LSB Tone G: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-90-LSB.mp3)
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place*
in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,*
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dust*
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,*
or as a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away as with a flood;*
they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;*
in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;*
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,*
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;*
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;*
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,*
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12 So teach us to number our days*
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O LORD! How long?*
Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,*
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,*
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,*
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;*
yes, establish the work of our hands!
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.
Psalm 91 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-91.mp3)
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, *
abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 He shall say to the LORD,
“You are my refuge and my stronghold, *
my God in whom I put my trust.”
3 He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter *
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with his pinions,
and you shall find refuge under his wings; *
his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, *
nor of the arrow that flies by day;
6 Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, *
nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.
7 A thousand shall fall at your side
and ten thousand at your right hand, *
but it shall not come near you.
8 Your eyes have only to behold *
to see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, *
and the Most High your habitation,
10 There shall no evil happen to you, *
neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, *
to keep you in all your ways.
12 They shall bear you in their hands, *
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; *
you shall trample the young lion and the serpent
under your feet.
14 Because he is bound to me in love,
therefore will I deliver him; *
I will protect him, because he knows my Name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *
I am with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and bring him to honor.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, *
and show him my salvation.
Psalm 92 (LSB Tone D: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-92-LSB.mp3)
1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD,*
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,*
and your faithfulness by night,
3 to the music of the lute and the harp,*
to the melody of the lyre.
4 For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work;*
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
5 How great are your works, O LORD!*
Your thoughts are very deep!
6 The stupid man cannot know;
the fool cannot understand this:*
7 that though the wicked sprout like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever;
8 but you, O LORD,*
are on high forever.
9 For behold, your enemies, O LORD,
for behold, your enemies shall perish;*
all evildoers shall be scattered.
10 But you have exalted my horn
like that of the wild ox;*
you have poured over me fresh oil.
11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;*
my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.
12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree*
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the LORD;*
they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;*
they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the LORD is upright;*
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
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
Almighty God, you have made us in your image
and crowned us with honor and glory.
Shape us by your Word and fill us with your Spirit
so that we may live as your beloved children
and proclaim your saving love to our life’s end;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW2018
THE WORD OF GOD
READING: 1 Samuel 10:17-27
Samuel summoned the people to the Lord at Mizpah. Then he told the Israelites: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the Egyptians’ power and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. But today you’ve rejected your God who saved you from all your troubles and difficulties by saying, ‘No! Appoint a king over us!’ So now assemble yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.”
Then Samuel brought all the Israelite tribes forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. Next Samuel brought the tribe of Benjamin forward by its families, and the family of Matri was selected. Samuel then brought the family of Matri forward, person by person, and Saul, Kish’s son, was selected. But when they looked for him, he wasn’t to be found. So they asked another question of the Lord: “Has the man come here yet?” The Lord said, “Yes, he’s hiding among the supplies.” They ran and retrieved Saul from there, and when he stood up in the middle of the people, he was head and shoulders taller than anyone else.
“Can you see the one the Lord has chosen?” Samuel asked all the people. “He has no equal among the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
Samuel then explained to the people how the monarchy should operate and wrote it in a scroll and placed it in the Lord’s presence. Then Samuel sent every person back to their homes. Saul also went back to his home in Gibeah. Along with him went courageous men whose hearts God had touched. But some despicable people said, “How can this man save us?” They despised Saul and didn’t bring him gifts, but Saul didn’t say anything.
Nahash the Ammonite king had been severely oppressing the Gadites and the Reubenites. He gouged out everyone’s right eye, thereby not allowing Israel to have a deliverer. There wasn’t a single Israelite left across the Jordan River who hadn’t had their right eye gouged out by the Ammonite king Nahash. But seven thousand people had escaped from the Ammonites’ power and fled to Jabesh-gilead.
HYMN: Psalm 2; para. vv. 1-5, 8-11 Sing Psalms, alt.;
vv. 6-7 Benner; v. 12 Psalter, 1912, alt.
Tune: Mein Seel, O Herr, muss loben dich https://tinyurl.com/3f4659ad
1 Why do the heathen nations rage?
Why do the peoples plot in vain?
2 Earth’s kings combine in enmity;
its rulers join against God’s reign.
They take their stand against the LORD
and challenge his anointed one:
3 “Let us break off their chains from us;
with their restraints let us be done.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord on high derides them all.
5 Then he rebukes them in his wrath;
his rage and terror on them fall.
6 The LORD has made it known to them:
“He is the king I have installed;
7 to reign on Zion, as my son.
My begotten whom I have called.
8 “Ask me, and for your heritage
I’ll give you nations near and far.
9 You’ll break them with an iron rod,
and smash them like a potter’s jar.”
10 Now therefore, kings, true wisdom find;
you judges of the earth, give ear.
11 With rev’rence come and serve the LORD;
bow down with joy and trembling fear.
12 Delay not, lest his anger rise,
and you should perish in your ways;
May all that put their trust in him
be blest indeed and blest always.
READING: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Since we work together with him, we are also begging you not to receive the grace of God in vain. He says, I listened to you at the right time, and I helped you on the day of salvation. Look, now is the right time! Look, now is the day of salvation!
We don’t give anyone any reason to be offended about anything so that our ministry won’t be criticized. Instead, we commend ourselves as ministers of God in every way. We did this with our great endurance through problems, disasters, and stressful situations. We went through beatings, imprisonments, and riots. We experienced hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger. We displayed purity, knowledge, patience, and generosity. We served with the Holy Spirit, genuine love, telling the truth, and God’s power. We carried the weapons of righteousness in our right hand and our left hand. We were treated with honor and dishonor and with verbal abuse and good evaluation. We were seen as both fake and real, as unknown and well known, as dying—and look, we are alive! We were seen as punished but not killed, as going through pain but always happy, as poor but making many rich, and as having nothing but owning everything.
HYMN: Alcuin of York; para. Christopher Idle ©
Tune: Jacob https://tinyurl.com/2jutfp7b
1 Eternal light, shine in my heart;
eternal hope, lift up my eyes:
eternal power, be my support;
eternal wisdom, make me wise.
2 Eternal life, raise me from death;
eternal brightness, make me see:
eternal Spirit, give me breath;
eternal Saviour, come to me:
3 Until by your most costly grace,
invited by your holy word,
at last I come before your face
to know you, my eternal God.
READING: Luke 7:36-50
One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. After he entered the Pharisee’s home, he took his place at the table. Meanwhile, a woman from the city, a sinner, discovered that Jesus was dining in the Pharisee’s house. She brought perfumed oil in a vase made of alabaster. Standing behind him at his feet and crying, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured the oil on them. When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw what was happening, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. He would know that she is a sinner.
Jesus replied, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher, speak,” he said. “A certain lender had two debtors. One owed enough money to pay five hundred people for a day’s work. The other owed enough money for fifty. When they couldn’t pay, the lender forgave the debts of them both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled.” Jesus said, “You have judged correctly.”
Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your home, you didn’t give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has poured perfumed oil on my feet. This is why I tell you that her many sins have been forgiven; so she has shown great love. The one who is forgiven little loves little.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other table guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this person that even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
CANTICLE Revelation 15:3-4
(BCP 2019/St Bernard Breviary)
O ruler of the universe, Lord God,
great deeds are they that you have done, *
surpassing human understanding.
Your ways are ways of righteousness and truth, *
O King of all the ages.
Who can fail to do you homage, Lord,
and sing the praises of your Name? *
For you only are the Holy One.
All nations will draw near and fall down before you, *
because your just and holy works have been revealed.
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 give you our praise and thanks, O God,
for all gifts of love we have received from you,
and for your persistent mercy in Jesus Christ.
Especially we thank you for
work we have accomplished pleasing to you . . .
the faithful witness of Christian people . . .
the example of righteousness we see in parents and teachers . . .
the innocence and openness we see in children . . .
all works of Christian compassion. . . .
We give you our cares and concerns, O God,
because we know you are kind
and care for your children in every circumstance.
Especially we pray for
those who struggle with doubt and despair . . .
people afflicted with disease . . .
those called to special ministries . . .
people neglected or abused . . .
(Karin Simmons: https://tinyurl.com/y7vwp7dd)
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.
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.
Almighty God, who exalted your humble Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords: Kindle within the hearts of the leaders of this world a yearning for peace with justice, as you did within your servant Dag Hammarskjöld, and, following his good example, ever guide our feet into the way of peace; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 2
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
The main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.
1 https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/practices/naming-the-days/view/23953/dag-hammarskjold-day
2 dailyoffice.wordpress.com/2019/09/18/evening-prayer-9-18-19-dag-hammarskjold-diplomat-peacemaker-1961/
The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language version of Psalm 91 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. Psalms 90 and 92 are from Lutheran Service Book, Concordia Publishing House, and are from the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg. The canticle is from Book of Common Prayer (2019) as recorded for the St Bernard Breviary https://www.bernardbreviary.com/chant-helps.
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 