Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/tebu693h
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer;
my God is my saving strength. Psalm 18
Loving God,
you are faithful in your promises
and tender in your compassion.
Listen to our hymn of joy,
and continue to satisfy the needs of every living thing,
that all your creatures may bless your name,
O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, both 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: Bob Hurd ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/22by8e58
Refrain:
Shelter me, O God;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
You alone are my hope.
1 When my foes surround me,
set me high above their reach.
Hear me when I call your name. [Refrain]
2 As a mother gathers her young
beneath her care,
gather me into your arms. [Refrain]
3 Though I walk in darkness,
through the needle’s eye of death,
You will never leave my side. [Refrain]
PSALMS
Psalm 144 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tb977vw)
1 Blessed be the Lord my strength *
who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight;
2 My hope and my fortress, my castle and deliverer,
my defender in whom I trust *
who subdueth my people that is under me.
3 Lord, what is man, that thou hast such respect unto him *
or the son of man, that thou so regardest him?
4 Man is like a thing of nought *
his time passeth away like a shadow.
5 Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down *
touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Cast forth thy lightning, and tear them *
shoot out thine arrows, and consume them.
7 Send down thine hand from above *
deliver me, and take me out of the great waters,
from the hand of strange children;
8 Whose mouth talketh of vanity *
and their right hand is a right hand of wickedness.
9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God *
and sing praises unto thee upon a ten-stringed lute.
10 Thou hast given victory unto kings *
and hast delivered David thy servant from the peril of the sword.
11 Save me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children *
whose mouth talketh of vanity,
and their right hand is a right hand of iniquity.
12 That our sons may grow up as the young plants *
and that our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple.
13 That our garners may be full and plenteous
with all manner of store *
that our sheep may bring forth
thousands and ten thousands in our streets.
14 That our oxen may be strong to labour, that there be no decay *
no leading into captivity, and no complaining in our streets.
15 Happy are the people that are in such a case *
yea, blessed are the people who have the Lord for their 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 145 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ub6xy86)
1 I will magnify thee, O God, my King *
and I will praise thy Name for ever and ever.
2 Every day will I give thanks unto thee *
and praise thy Name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and marvellous worthy to be praised *
there is no end of his greatness.
4 One generation shall praise thy works unto another *
and declare thy power.
5 As for me, I will be talking of thy worship *
thy glory, thy praise, and wondrous works;
6 So that men shall speak of the might of thy marvellous acts *
and I will also tell of thy greatness.
7 The memorial of thine abundant kindness shall be shewed *
and men shall sing of thy righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious, and merciful *
long-suffering, and of great goodness.
9 The Lord is loving unto every man *
and his mercy is over all his works.
10 All thy works praise thee, O Lord *
and thy saints give thanks unto thee.
11 They shew the glory of thy kingdom *
and talk of thy power;
12 That thy power, thy glory, and mightiness of thy kingdom *
might be known unto men.
13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom *
and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages.
14 The Lord upholdeth all such as fall *
and lifteth up all those that are down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord *
and thou givest them their meat in due season.
16 Thou openest thine hand *
and fillest all things living with plenteousness.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways *
and holy in all his works.
18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him *
yea, all such as call upon him faithfully.
19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him *
he also will hear their cry, and will help them.
20 The Lord preserveth all them that love him *
but scattereth abroad all the ungodly.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord *
and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy Name for ever and ever.
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 146 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/rwxra4q)
1 Praise the Lord, O my soul; while I live will I praise the Lord *
yea, as long as I have any being, I will sing praises unto my God.
2 O put not your trust in princes, nor in any child of man *
for there is no help in them.
3 For when the breath of man goeth forth he shall turn again to his earth *
and then all his thoughts perish.
4 Blessed is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help *
and whose hope is in the Lord his God;
5 Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is *
who keepeth his promise for ever.
6 Who helpeth them to right that suffer wrong *
who feedeth the hungry.
7 The Lord looseth men out of prison *
the Lord giveth sight to the blind.
8 The Lord helpeth them that are fallen *
the Lord careth for the righteous.
9 The Lord careth for the strangers; he defendeth the fatherless and widow *
as for the way of the ungodly, he turneth it upside down.
10 The Lord thy God, O Sion, shall be King for evermore *
and throughout all generations.
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 144 (Gregorian Tone IV.2)
1 Blessèd be the Lord my strength, *
who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight,
2 My hope and my fortress, my stronghold and deliverer,
my defender in whom I trust, *
who subdues the peoples under me.
3 O Lord, what is man, that you have shown such respect to him, *
or the son of man, that you so regard him?
4 Man is like a thing of nought; *
his time passes away like a shadow.
5 Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down; *
touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Cast forth your lightning and scatter them; *
shoot out your arrows and consume them.
7 Send down your hand from above; *
deliver me, and take me out of the great waters,
from the hand of strangers,
8 Whose mouth talks of vain things, *
and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9 I will sing a new song unto you, O God, *
and sing praises unto you upon a ten-stringed lute.
10 You have given victory to kings, *
and have delivered David your servant
from the peril of the sword.
11 Save me, and deliver me from the hand of strangers, *
whose mouth talks of vain things,
and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood;
12 That our sons may grow up as young plants, *
and that our daughters may be as the
polished corners of the temple,
13 That our storehouses may be full and plenteous with
all manner of grain, *
that our sheep may bring forth thousands
and ten thousands in our fields,
14 That our oxen may be strong to labor, that there be no decay, *
no leading into captivity, and no outcry in our streets.
15 Happy are the people of whom this is so; *
indeed, blessèd are the people
who have the Lord for their God.
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 145 (Gregorian Tone IV.2)
1 I will magnify you, O God my King, *
and I will praise your Name for ever and ever.
2 Every day will I give thanks to you, *
and praise your Name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and most worthy to be praised; *
there is no end of his greatness.
4 One generation shall praise your works to another, *
and shall declare your power.
5 As for me, I will be talking of the glorious
splendor of your majesty, *
and of all your wondrous works.
6 They shall speak of the might of your marvelous acts, *
and I also will tell of your greatness.
7 The remembrance of your abundant
goodness shall they proclaim, *
and they shall sing of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, *
long-suffering, and of great kindness.
9 The Lord is loving to everyone, *
and his mercy is over all his works.
10 All your works praise you, O Lord, *
and your faithful servants give thanks to you.
11 They speak of the glory of your kingdom *
and talk of your power,
12 That your power may be known to the children of men, *
even the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, *
and your dominion endures throughout all ages.
14 The Lord upholds all those who fall *
and lifts up all those who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, *
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open wide your hand, *
and fill all things living with plenteousness.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways *
and merciful in all his works.
18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon him, *
to all who call upon him faithfully.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him; *
he also will hear their cry and will help them.
20 The Lord preserves all those who love him, *
but he will destroy all the ungodly.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; *
and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy Name
for ever and ever.
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 146 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-146.mp3)
1 Hallelujah!
Praise the LORD, O my soul! *
I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
2 Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *
for there is no help in them.
3 When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *
and in that day their thoughts perish.
4 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *
whose hope is in the LORD their God;
5 Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *
who keeps his promise for ever;
6 Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *
and food to those who hunger.
7 The LORD sets the prisoners free;
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind; *
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
8 The LORD loves the righteous;
the LORD cares for the stranger; *
he sustains the orphan and widow,
but frustrates the way of the wicked.
9 The LORD shall reign for ever, *
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Blessed are those who put their trust in you, O God,
our sure rock and refuge.
Guard us from giving to any other
the allegiance which belongs only to you.
Shine upon us with the brightness of your light,
that we may love you with a pure heart
and praise you forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
READING: 1 Kings 19
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, how he had killed all Baal’s prophets with the sword. Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with this message: “May the gods do whatever they want to me if by this time tomorrow I haven’t made your life like the life of one of them.”
Elijah was terrified. He got up and ran for his life. He arrived at Beer-sheba in Judah and left his assistant there. He himself went farther on into the desert a day’s journey. He finally sat down under a solitary broom bush. He longed for his own death: “It’s more than enough, Lord! Take my life because I’m no better than my ancestors.” He lay down and slept under the solitary broom bush.
Then suddenly a messenger tapped him and said to him, “Get up! Eat something!” Elijah opened his eyes and saw flatbread baked on glowing coals and a jar of water right by his head. He ate and drank, and then went back to sleep. The Lord’s messenger returned a second time and tapped him. “Get up!” the messenger said. “Eat something, because you have a difficult road ahead of you.” Elijah got up, ate and drank, and went refreshed by that food for forty days and nights until he arrived at Horeb, God’s mountain. There he went into a cave and spent the night.
The Lord’s word came to him and said, “Why are you here, Elijah?” Elijah replied, “I’ve been very passionate for the Lord God of heavenly forces because the Israelites have abandoned your covenant. They have torn down your altars, and they have murdered your prophets with the sword. I’m the only one left, and now they want to take my life too!”
The Lord said, “Go out and stand at the mountain before the Lord. The Lord is passing by.” A very strong wind tore through the mountains and broke apart the stones before the Lord. But the Lord wasn’t in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake. But the Lord wasn’t in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire. But the Lord wasn’t in the fire. After the fire, there was a sound. Thin. Quiet. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his coat. He went out and stood at the cave’s entrance. A voice came to him and said, “Why are you here, Elijah?”
He said, “I’ve been very passionate for the Lord God of heavenly forces because the Israelites have abandoned your covenant. They have torn down your altars, and they have murdered your prophets with the sword. I’m the only one left, and now they want to take my life too.”
The Lord said to him, “Go back through the desert to Damascus and anoint Hazael as king of Aram. Also anoint Jehu, Nimshi’s son, as king of Israel; and anoint Elisha from Abel-meholah, Shaphat’s son, to succeed you as prophet. Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill. Whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. But I have preserved those who remain in Israel, totaling seven thousand—all those whose knees haven’t bowed down to Baal and whose mouths haven’t kissed him.”
So Elijah departed from there and found Elisha, Shaphat’s son. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him. Elisha was with the twelfth yoke. Elijah met up with him and threw his coat on him. Elisha immediately left the oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and my mother,” Elisha said, “then I will follow you.”
Elijah replied, “Go! I’m not holding you back!” Elisha turned back from following Elijah, took the pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Then with equipment from the oxen, Elisha boiled the meat, gave it to the people, and they ate it. Then he got up, followed Elijah, and served him.
HYMN: Charles Wesley
Tune: Leamington https://tinyurl.com/mr37x92n
1 Open, Lord, my inward ear,
and bid my heart rejoice!
Bid my quiet spirit hear
thy comfortable voice,
never in the whirlwind found,
or where earthquakes rock the place;
still and silent is the sound,
the whisper of thy grace.
2 From the world of sin and noise
and hurry I withdraw.
For the small and inward voice
I wait, with humble awe.
Silent am I now and still,
dare not in thy presence move.
To my waiting soul reveal
the secret of thy love.
3 Thou hast undertook for me,
for me to death wast sold;
wisdom in a mystery
of bleeding love unfold.
Teach the lesson of the cross;
let me die with thee to reign.
All things let me count but loss
so I may thee regain.
4 Lord, my time is in thy hand—
my soul to thee convert.
Thou canst make me understand,
though I am slow of heart.
Thine, in whom I love and move,
thine the work, the praise is thine,
thou art wisdom, pow’r, and love,
and all thou art is mine.
READING: Revelation 12:13-17
When the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he chased the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she could fly to her place in the desert. There she would be taken care of—out of the snake’s reach—for a time and times and half a time. Then from his mouth the snake poured a river of water after the woman so that the river would sweep her away. But the earth helped the woman. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon poured out of his mouth. So the dragon was furious with the woman, and he went off to make war on the rest of her children, on those who keep God’s commandments and hold firmly to the witness of Jesus.
HYMN: Charles Wesley
Tune: Hollingside https://tinyurl.com/35p39z35
1 Jesus, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high;
hide me, O my Savior, hide,
till the storm of life is past;
safe into the haven guide,
O receive my soul at last!
2 Other refuge have I none;
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenseless head
with the shadow of thy wing.
3 Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound;
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art;
freely let me take of thee;
spring thou up within my heart,
rise to all eternity.
READING: Luke 13:31-35
At that time, some Pharisees approached Jesus and said, “Go! Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you.” Jesus said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Look, I’m throwing out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work. However, it’s necessary for me to travel today, tomorrow, and the next day because it’s impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you! How often I have wanted to gather your people just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you didn’t want that. Look, your house is abandoned. I tell you, you won’t see me until the time comes when you say, Blessings on the one who comes in the Lord’s name.”
CANTICLE Isaiah 66:10-14a (Sing the Hours)
Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her,
all you who love her;
exult, exult with her,
all you who were mourning over her!
Oh, that you may suck fully
of the milk of her comfort,
that you may nurse with delight
at her abundant breasts!
For thus says the Lord:
Lo, I will spread prosperity over her like a river,
and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent.
As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms,
and fondled in her lap;
as a mother comforts her son,
so will I comfort you;
in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort.
When you see this, your heart shall rejoice,
and your bodies flourish like the grass.
THE PRAYERS COS, alt.
Almighty God,
we pray for those
locked in circumstances beyond their control,
restrained by oppressors,
and seeing no end to their captivity.
May they discover hope
buried in deepest suffering;
through Jesus Christ,
who shared the weakness and despair
of human life,
yet gave even death a new outcome
and brought resurrection from a closed tomb.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the Church,
set in the world
to show how people belong together
and how your gifts are given to be shared.
Grant that, as we feel
for the rejection and voicelessness of others,
we may meet Christ in them
and bear witness to his transforming love.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the communities
in which we live and work;
for people under stress
and unable to deal with their difficulties;
for those who seek comfort
in ways which bring no help;
for all who are fearful.
Give us grace to show by our concern and actions
how each is loved and valued by you.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We remember those now hidden from us
but at home with you.
We give thanks especially
for those who have strengthened our weak faith,
built up our trust in you,
and by their life have drawn us
into the life of Christ
who died in weakness and reigns in glory. Amen.
(Traditional chant: https://tinyurl.com/ydzx5jdp)
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 refuge and hope,
when race, status, or gender divide us,
when despondency and despair haunt and afflict us,
when community lies shattered:
comfort and convict us with the stillness of your presence,
that we may confess all you have done,
through Christ to whom we belong
and in whom we are one. 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.
BCW2018 Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 2018
COS Common Order, © 1994 Church of Scotland
RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.
The three main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.
The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). Psalms 144 and 145 are from Book of Common Prayer (2019) as recorded for the St Bernard Breviary https://www.bernardbreviary.com/chant-helps. Psalm 146 is chanted by Ryland Angel. The canticle is from Liturgy of the Hours as recorded for the Sing the Hours YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/SingtheHours
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 