Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/t9em6s7r
O praise the Lord, all you nations,
for his merciful love towards us is great. Psalm 117
As of old, O Lord our God,
you gave commandments to make
one nation just and true,
so by your incarnate Word
you make all peoples one in grace
and in the perfect freedom of your service.
We give thanks to you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BAS
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: Thomas T Lynch
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/2scamwpu
1 Lift up your heads, rejoice!
Redemption draweth nigh;
Now breathes a softer air,
Now shines a milder sky;
The early trees put forth
Their new and tender leaf;
Hushed is the moaning wind
That told of winter’s grief.
2 Lift up your heads, rejoice!
Redemption draweth nigh;
Now mount the laden clouds,
Now flames the darkening sky;
The early scattered drops
Descend with heavy fall,
And to the waiting earth
The hidden thunders call.
3 Lift up your heads, rejoice!
Redemption draweth nigh;
O note the varying signs
Of earth and air and sky;
The God of glory comes
In gentleness and might,
To comfort and alarm,
To succor and to smite.
4 He comes, the wide world’s King;
He comes, the true heart’s friend,
New gladness to begin,
And ancient wrong to end;
He comes to fill with light
The weary, waiting eye;
Lift up your heads, rejoice!
Redemption draweth nigh.
PSALMS
Psalm 119:1-32
(Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y9wwyccr)
1 Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way *
and walk in the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies *
and seek him with their whole heart.
3 For they who do no wickedness *
walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast charged *
that we shall diligently keep thy commandments.
5 O that my ways were made so direct *
that I might keep thy statutes!
6 So shall I not be confounded *
while I have respect unto all thy commandments.
7 I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart *
when I shall have learned the judgements of thy righteousness.
8 I will keep thy ceremonies *
O forsake me not utterly.
9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way *
even by ruling himself after thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee *
O let me not go wrong out of thy commandments.
11 Thy words have I hid within my heart *
that I should not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O Lord *
O teach me thy statutes.
13 With my lips have I been telling *
of all the judgements of thy mouth.
14 I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies *
as in all manner of riches.
15 I will talk of thy commandments *
and have respect unto thy ways.
16 My delight shall be in thy statutes *
and I will not forget thy word.
17 O do well unto thy servant *
that I may live, and keep thy word.
18 Open thou mine eyes *
that I may see the wondrous things of thy law.
19 I am a stranger upon earth *
O hide not thy commandments from me.
20 My soul breaketh out for the very fervent desire *
that it hath alway unto thy judgements.
21 Thou hast rebuked the proud *
and cursed are they that do err from thy commandments.
22 O turn from me shame and rebuke *
for I have kept thy testimonies.
23 Princes also did sit and speak against me *
but thy servant is occupied in thy statutes.
24 For thy testimonies are my delight *
and my counsellors.
25 My soul cleaveth to the dust *
O quicken thou me, according to thy word.
26 I have acknowledged my ways, and thou heardest me *
O teach me thy statutes.
27 Make me to understand the way of thy commandments *
and so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
28 My soul melteth away for very heaviness *
comfort thou me according unto thy word.
29 Take from me the way of lying *
and cause thou me to make much of thy law.
30 I have chosen the way of truth *
and thy judgements have I laid before me.
31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies *
O Lord, confound me not.
32 I will run the way of thy commandments *
when thou hast set my heart at liberty.
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 119:1-32 (Clarence P Walhout ©)
https://tinyurl.com/yeynxnxm
1 Blessed are those who heed the law of God,
who seek to do no evil or injustice.
They are the LORD’s who walk in all his ways.
O help us, LORD, to follow your commandments.
With upright hearts we strive to do your will.
Forsake us not; we want to learn your precepts.
2 How can the youthful keep their actions pure?
By taking care to honor all your statutes.
I will not wander from the ways of God.
With all my heart I seek your truth and justice.
I always keep your word within my heart;
I meditate upon your perfect goodness.
3 Open my eyes that I may see your law.
Your faithful truths are all that I delight in;
O do not hide them from my sight, O God.
I do but wander if you do not guide me;
my soul is longing for your righteousness.
LORD, be my counselor and patient teacher.
4 Protect me from the arrogant and proud;
they scorn and laugh at those who seek your pleasure.
Sometimes I am depressed and sad at heart;
revive my soul according to your precepts.
Melt sorrow; put false ways far from my path.
Give me again your gracious understanding.
PRAYER
Holy God,
you are just in all your ways
and your commandments are the greatest of treasures.
Give us understanding of your law
and direct us according to your will
that we may be faithful in serving you
for the sake of Jesus our Lord. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
READING: 1 Kings 17
Elijah from Tishbe, who was one of the settlers in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the Lord lives, Israel’s God, the one I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain these years unless I say so.”
Then the Lord’s word came to Elijah: Go from here and turn east. Hide by the Cherith Brook that faces the Jordan River. You can drink from the brook. I have also ordered the ravens to provide for you there. Elijah went and did just what the Lord said. He stayed by the Cherith Brook that faced the Jordan River. The ravens brought bread and meat in the mornings and evenings. He drank from the Cherith Brook. After a while the brook dried up because there was no rain in the land.
The Lord’s word came to Elijah: Get up and go to Zarephath near Sidon and stay there. I have ordered a widow there to take care of you. Elijah left and went to Zarephath. As he came to the town gate, he saw a widow collecting sticks. He called out to her, “Please get a little water for me in this cup so I can drink.” She went to get some water. He then said to her, “Please get me a piece of bread.”
“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any food; only a handful of flour in a jar and a bit of oil in a bottle. Look at me. I’m collecting two sticks so that I can make some food for myself and my son. We’ll eat the last of the food and then die.”
Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go and do what you said. Only make a little loaf of bread for me first. Then bring it to me. You can make something for yourself and your son after that. This is what Israel’s God, the Lord, says: The jar of flour won’t decrease and the bottle of oil won’t run out until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.” The widow went and did what Elijah said. So the widow, Elijah, and the widow’s household ate for many days. The jar of flour didn’t decrease nor did the bottle of oil run out, just as the Lord spoke through Elijah.
After these things, the son of the widow, who was the matriarch of the household, became ill. His sickness got steadily worse until he wasn’t breathing anymore. She said to Elijah, “What’s gone wrong between us, man of God? Have you come to me to call attention to my sin and kill my son?”
Elijah replied, “Give your son to me.” He took her son from her and carried him to the upper room where he was staying. Elijah laid him on his bed. Elijah cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, why is it that you have brought such evil upon the widow that I am staying with by killing her son?” Then he stretched himself over the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, please give this boy’s life back to him.” The Lord listened to Elijah’s voice and gave the boy his life back. And he lived. Elijah brought the boy down from the upper room of the house and gave him to his mother. Elijah said, “Look, your son is alive!”
“Now I know that you really are a man of God,” the woman said to Elijah, “and that the Lord’s word is truly in your mouth.”
HYMN: Albert Midlane
Tune: Carlisle https://tinyurl.com/2p8xyzy9
1 Revive thy work, O Lord,
thy mighty arm make bare;
speak with the voice that wakes the dead,
and make thy people hear.
2 Revive thy work, O Lord,
disturb this sleep of death;
quicken the smouldering embers now
by thine almighty breath.
3 Revive thy work, O Lord,
create soul-thirst for thee;
and hungering for the bread of life
O may our spirits be.
4 Revive thy work, O Lord,
exalt thy precious Name;
and, by the Holy Ghost sent down,
our love for thee inflame.
5 Revive thy work, O Lord,
and give refreshing showers.
The glory shall be all thine own;
the blessing, Lord, be ours.
READING: Revelation 9:1-12
Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the abyss. He opened the shaft of the abyss; and smoke rose up from the shaft, like smoke from a huge furnace. The sun and air were darkened by the smoke from the shaft. Then locusts came forth from the smoke and onto the earth. They were given power like the power that scorpions have on the earth. They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree. They could only hurt the people who didn’t have the seal of God on their foreheads. The locusts weren’t allowed to kill them, but only to make them suffer for five months—and the suffering they inflict is like that of a scorpion when it strikes a person. In those days people will seek death, but they won’t find it. They will want to die, but death will run away from them.
The locusts looked like horses ready for battle. On their heads were what seemed to be gold crowns. Their faces were like human faces, their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. In front they had what seemed to be iron armor upon their chests, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of many chariots and horses racing into battle. They also have tails with stingers, just like scorpions; and in their tails is their power to hurt people for five months. Their king is an angel from the abyss, whose Hebrew name is Abaddon, and whose Greek name is Apollyon.
The first horror has passed. Look! Two horrors are still coming after this.
HYMN: Horatius Bonar
Tune: O quanta qualia https://tinyurl.com/3f82ynfz
1 Blessing and honor and glory and pow’r,
wisdom and riches and strength evermore
give ye to him who our battle hath won,
whose are the kingdom, the crown, and the throne.
2 Soundeth the heav’n of the heav’ns with his name;
ringeth the earth with his glory and fame;
ocean and mountain, stream, forest, and flow’r
echo his praises and tell of his pow’r.
3 Ever ascendeth the song and the joy;
ever descendeth the love from on high;
blessing and honor and glory and praise-—
this is the theme of the hymns that we raise.
4 Give we the glory and praise to the Lamb;
take we the robe and the harp and the palm;
sing we the song of the Lamb that was slain,
dying in weakness, but rising to reign.
READING: Luke 12:54-59
Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud forming in the west, you immediately say, ‘It’s going to rain.’ And indeed it does. And when a south wind blows, you say, ‘A heat wave is coming.’ And it does. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret conditions on earth and in the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret the present time? And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? As you are going to court with your accuser, make your best effort to reach a settlement along the way. Otherwise, your accuser may bring you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you won’t get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”
CANTICLE Matthew 5:2-12
(Znammeny Chant https://tinyurl.com/37jctjvy)
Ant. In thy kingdom remember us, O Lord,
when thou comest in thy kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those that hunger
and thirst after righteousness,
for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those that are persecuted
for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when men
shall revile you and persecute you
and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely for my sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad,
for great is your reward in heaven.
THE PRAYERS AAPB
Eternal God,
you raised Jesus our Lord from death and gave him glory,
and through him you called your church into being
that your people might know you,
and that they might make your Name known:
We give thanks
for the gospel committed to your church for the whole world
for the continuing presence and power of the Holy Spirit
for the ministry of word, sacrament, and prayer . . .
for the mission you have called us to share
for the call to unity and its fruit in common action
for the faithful witness of those who follow our Lord . . .
for all works of Christian compassion
for every service which proclaims your love . . .
We pray for the church
universal and local . . .
the ministries of the church . . .
the mission of the church . . .
the renewal of the church . . .
our fellow Christians in this place . . .
In peace and unity may your people offer you the unfailing
sacrifice of praise,
that the whole world may know your rule,
and all nations know your salvation and your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(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.
God of widows and strangers,
you protect the oppressed and forgotten
and feed the hungry with good things.
You stand among us in Christ, offering life to all.
Give us open hearts and minds
to respond with love to the world,
caring for those for whom you care. 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
BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.
AAPB An Australian Prayer Book, © 1978 Anglican Church of Australia
RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.
BAS Book of Alternative Services © 1985, Anglican Church of Canada.
DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.
The scripture readings are ©2011 by Common English Bible.
The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language version of Psalm 119 is from Psalter Hymnal, 1985 ©, sung to the Genevan tone for Psalm 119.
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 