Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/3wcmx574
Receive the joy of your glory, giving thanks to God,
who has called you into the heavenly kingdom, alleluia. 2 Ezra
Lord God,
you so tend the vine you planted
that now it extends its branches throughout the world.
Keep us in Christ as branches on the vine,
that, grafted firmly in your love,
we may show the whole world your great power
and bear the fruit of righteousness;
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. 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: Anna Briggs ©
Tune: Garelochside
1. We lay our broken world
in sorrow at your feet,
haunted by hunger, war, and fear,
oppressed by power and hate.
2. Here human life seems less
than profit, might, and pride
though to unite us all in you
you lived and loved and died.
3. We bring our broken towns
our neighbours hurt and bruised;
you show us how old pain and wounds
for new life can be used.
4. We bring our broken loves,
friends parted, families torn;
then in your life and death we see
that love must be reborn.
5. We bring our broken selves,
confused and closed and tired;
then through your gift of healing grace
new purpose is inspired.
6. Breathe in us, breath of God,
our life and strength renew,
find in us trust, and hope, and love,
and lift us up to you.
PSALMS
Psalm 79 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ssjuezl)
1 O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance *
thy holy temple have they defiled,
and made Jerusalem an heap of stones.
2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given
to be meat unto the fowls of the air *
and the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the land.
3 Their blood have they shed like water on every side of Jerusalem *
and there was no man to bury them.
4 We are become an open shame to our enemies *
a very scorn and derision unto them that are round about us.
5 Lord, how long wilt thou be angry *
shall thy jealousy burn like fire for ever?
6 Pour out thine indignation upon the heathen
that have not known thee *
and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy Name.
7 For they have devoured Jacob *
and laid waste his dwelling-place.
8 O remember not our old sins, but have mercy upon us, and that soon *
for we are come to great misery.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy Name *
O deliver us, and be merciful unto our sins, for thy Name’s sake.
10 Wherefore do the heathen say *
Where is now their God?
11 O let the vengeance of thy servants’ blood that is shed *
be openly shewed upon the heathen in our sight.
12 O let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before thee *
according to the greatness of thy power,
preserve thou those that are appointed to die.
13 And for the blasphemy
wherewith our neighbours have blasphemed thee *
reward thou them, O Lord, seven-fold into their bosom.
14 So we, that are thy people, and sheep of thy pasture,
shall give thee thanks for ever *
and will alway be shewing forth thy praise from generation to generation.
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 80 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ry2whon)
1 Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel,
thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep *
shew thyself also, thou that sittest upon the cherubims.
2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses *
stir up thy strength, and come, and help us.
3 Turn us again, O God *
shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
4 O Lord God of hosts *
how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that prayeth?
5 Thou feedest them with the bread of tears *
and givest them plenteousness of tears to drink.
6 Thou hast made us a very strife unto our neighbours *
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7 Turn us again, thou God of hosts *
shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt *
thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
9 Thou madest room for it *
and when it had taken root it filled the land.
10 The hills were covered with the shadow of it *
and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedar-trees.
11 She stretched out her branches unto the sea *
and her boughs unto the river.
12 Why hast thou then broken down her hedge *
that all they that go by pluck off her grapes?
13 The wild boar out of the wood doth root it up *
and the wild beasts of the field devour it.
14 Turn thee again, thou God of hosts, look down from heaven *
behold, and visit this vine;
15 And the place of the vineyard that thy right hand hath planted *
and the branch that thou madest so strong for thyself.
16 It is burnt with fire, and cut down *
and they shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand *
and upon the son of man,
whom thou madest so strong for thine own self.
18 And so will not we go back from thee *
O let us live, and we shall call upon thy Name.
19 Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts *
shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
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 81 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tl45xkf)
1 Sing we merrily unto God our strength *
make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2 Take the psalm, bring hither the tabret *
the merry harp with the lute.
3 Blow up the trumpet in the new-moon *
even in the time appointed, and upon our solemn feast-day.
4 For this was made a statute for Israel *
and a law of the God of Jacob.
5 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony *
when he came out of the land of Egypt, and had heard a strange language.
6 I eased his shoulder from the burden *
and his hands were delivered from making the pots.
7 Thou calledst upon me in troubles, and I delivered thee *
and heard thee what time as the storm fell upon thee.
8 I proved thee also *
at the waters of strife.
9 Hear, O my people, and I will assure thee, O Israel *
if thou wilt hearken unto me,
10 There shall no strange god be in thee *
neither shalt thou worship any other god.
11 I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt *
open thy mouth wide, and I shall fill it.
12 But my people would not hear my voice *
and Israel would not obey me.
13 So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lusts *
and let them follow their own imaginations.
14 O that my people would have hearkened unto me *
for if Israel had walked in my ways,
15 I should soon have put down their enemies *
and turned my hand against their adversaries.
16 The haters of the Lord should have been found liars *
but their time should have endured for ever.
17 He should have fed them also with the finest wheat-flour *
and with honey out of the stony rock should I have satisfied thee.
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 79 (Gregorian Tone VII.7)
1 O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; *
they have defiled your holy temple, and made
Jerusalem a heap of stones.
2 The dead bodies of your servants have they given
to be meat for the birds of the air, *
and the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the land.
3 Their blood have they shed
like water on every side of Jerusalem, *
and there was no one to bury them.
4 We have become a reproach to our enemies, *
an object of scorn and derision to those
who are round about us.
5 O Lord, how long will you be angry? *
Shall your jealousy burn like fire for ever?
6 Pour out your indignation
upon the nations that have not known you, *
and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon your Name.
7 For they have devoured Jacob *
and laid waste his dwelling place.
8 O remember not our past sins, but have mercy on us speedily, *
for we have come to great misery.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your Name; *
O deliver us and forgive our sins for your Name’s sake.
10 Why do the nations say, *
“Where now is their God?”
11 O let the vengeance of your servants’ blood that is shed *
be known in our sight among the nations.
12 O let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before you; *
according to the greatness of your power,
preserve those who are condemned to die.
13 As for the blasphemy
by which our neighbors have blasphemed you, *
repay them, O Lord, seven-fold into their bosoms.
14 So we, who are your people and the sheep of your pasture,
shall give you thanks for ever, *
and will always be showing forth your praise
from generation to generation.
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 80 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-80.mp3)
1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *
shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
stir up your strength and come to help us.
3 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
4 O LORD God of hosts, *
how long will you be angered
despite the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
6 You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
8 You have brought a vine out of Egypt; *
you cast out the nations and planted it.
9 You prepared the ground for it; *
it took root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered by its shadow *
and the towering cedar trees by its boughs.
11 You stretched out its tendrils to the Sea *
and its branches to the River.
12 Why have you broken down its wall, *
so that all who pass by pluck off its grapes?
13 The wild boar of the forest has ravaged it, *
and the beasts of the field have grazed upon it.
14 Turn now, O God of hosts, look down from heaven;
behold and tend this vine; *
preserve what your right hand has planted.
15 They burn it with fire like rubbish; *
at the rebuke of your countenance let them perish.
16 Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, *
and son of man you have made so strong for yourself.
17 And so will we never turn away from you; *
give us life, that we may call upon your Name.
18 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
Psalm 81 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-81.mp3)
1 Sing with joy to God our strength *
and raise a loud shout to the God of Jacob.
2 Raise a song and sound the timbrel, *
the merry harp, and the lyre.
3 Blow the ram’s-horn at the new moon, *
and at the full moon, the day of our feast.
4 For this is a statute for Israel, *
a law of the God of Jacob.
5 He laid it as a solemn charge upon Joseph, *
when he came out of the land of Egypt.
6 I heard an unfamiliar voice saying, *
“I eased his shoulder from the burden;
his hands were set free from bearing the load.”
7 You called on me in trouble, and I saved you; *
I answered you from the secret place of thunder
and tested you at the waters of Meribah.
8 Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you: *
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you; *
you shall not worship a foreign god.
10 I am the LORD your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt and said, *
“Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.”
11 And yet my people did not hear my voice, *
and Israel would not obey me.
12 So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their hearts, *
to follow their own devices.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me! *
that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I should soon subdue their enemies *
and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, *
and their punishment would last for ever.
16 But Israel would I feed with the finest wheat *
and satisfy him with honey from the rock.
PRAYER
God our strength,
you ease our burden
and set us free from bondage to death.
Help us listen always to your voice,
and satisfy our hearts with the finest bread,
food for this life and a foretaste of eternity:
your Son, Jesus Christ, the bread of life. Amen. BCW2018
THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Malachi 4
Look, the day is coming,
burning like an oven.
All the arrogant ones and all those doing evil will become straw.
The coming day will burn them,
says the Lord of heavenly forces,
leaving them neither root nor branch.
But the sun of righteousness will rise on those revering my name;
healing will be in its wings
so that you will go forth and jump about like calves in the stall.
You will crush the wicked;
they will be like dust beneath the soles of your feet
on the day that I am preparing,
says the Lord of heavenly forces.
Remember the Instruction from Moses, my servant,
to whom I gave Instruction and rules for all Israel at Horeb.
Look, I am sending Elijah the prophet to you,
before the great and terrifying day of the Lord arrives.
Turn the hearts of the parents to the children
and the hearts of the children to their parents.
Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.
HYMN: Henry Scott Holland
Tune: Rhuddlan https://tinyurl.com/yfhju9j2
1 Judge eternal, throned in splendour,
Lord of lords and King of kings,
with thy living fire of judgment
purge this realm of bitter things:
solace all its wide dominion
with the healing of thy wings.
2 Still the weary folk are pining
for the hour that brings release:
and the city’s crowded clangour
cries aloud for sin to cease;
and the homesteads and the woodlands
plead in silence for their peace.
3 Crown, O Lord, thine own endeavour;
cleave our darkness with thy sword;
cheer the faint and feed the hungry
with the richness of thy word;
cleanse the body of this nation
through the glory of the Lord.
READING: 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
This shows that God’s judgment is right, and that you will be considered worthy of God’s kingdom for which you are suffering. After all, it’s right for God to pay back the ones making trouble for you with trouble and to pay back you who are having trouble with relief along with us. This payback will come when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his powerful angels. He will give justice with blazing fire to those who don’t recognize God and don’t obey the good news of our Lord Jesus. They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction away from the Lord’s presence and away from his mighty glory. This will happen when he comes on that day to receive honor from his holy people and to be admired by everyone who has believed—and our testimony to you was believed.
HYMN: Reginald Heber
Tune: Gonfalon Royal https://tinyurl.com/4h9bfcnz
1. The Lord will come! the earth shall quake;
The hills their fixed seat forsake,
And with’ring from the vault of night,
The stars withdraw their feeble light.
2. The Lord will come! but not the same
As once in lowly form he came,
A silent Lamb to slaughter led,
The bruised, the suff’ring, and the dead.
3. The Lord shall come! in dreadful form,
With wreath of flame and robe of storm,
On cherub-wings, and wings of wind,
Anointed Judge of human-kind.
4. Go, tyrants! to the rocks complain!
Go, seek the mountain’s cleft in vain!
But faith, victorious o’er the tomb,
Shall sing for joy, The Lord has come!
READING: Luke 21:5-19
Some people were talking about the temple, how it was decorated with beautiful stones and ornaments dedicated to God. Jesus said, “As for the things you are admiring, the time is coming when not even one stone will be left upon another. All will be demolished.”
They asked him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? What sign will show that these things are about to happen?”
Jesus said, “Watch out that you aren’t deceived. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I’m the one!’ and ‘It’s time!’ Don’t follow them. When you hear of wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end won’t happen immediately.”
Then Jesus said to them, “Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other. There will be great earthquakes and wide-scale food shortages and epidemics. There will also be terrifying sights and great signs in the sky. But before all this occurs, they will take you into custody and harass you because of your faith. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will provide you with an opportunity to testify. Make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance. I’ll give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to counter or contradict. You will be betrayed by your parents, brothers and sisters, relatives, and friends. They will execute some of you. Everyone will hate you because of my name. Still, not a hair on your heads will be lost. By holding fast, you will gain your lives.”
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.
PRAYERS BCW
God of heaven and earth,
through Jesus Christ you promise to hear us
when we pray to you in his name.
Confident in your love and mercy
we offer our prayer.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Empower the church throughout the world in its life and witness.
Break down the barriers that divide,
that, united in your truth and love,
the church may confess your name,
share one baptism,
sit together at one table,
and serve you in one common ministry.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Guide the rulers of the nations.
Move them to set aside their fear, greed, and vain ambition,
and bow to your sovereign rule.
Inspire them to strive for peace and justice,
that all your children may dwell secure,
free of war and injustice.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hear the cries of the world’s hungry and suffering.
Give us, who consume most of the earth’s resources,
the will to reorder our lives,
that all may have their rightful share of the food,
medical care, and shelter,
and so have the necessities of a life of dignity.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Restore among us a love of the earth you created for our home.
Help us put an end to ravishing its land, air, and waters,
and give us respect for all your creatures,
that, living in harmony with everything you have made,
your whole creation may resound in an anthem of praise
to your glorious name.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Renew our nation in the ways of justice and peace.
Guide those who make and administer our laws
to build a society based on trust and respect.
Erase prejudices that oppress;
free us from crime and violence;
guard our youth from the perils of drugs and materialism.
Give all citizens a new vision of a life of harmony.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Look with compassion on all who suffer.
Support with your love
those with incurable and stigmatized diseases,
those unjustly imprisoned,
those denied dignity,
those who live without hope,
those who are homeless or abandoned.
so lead us to be present with them in their suffering
in the name of Jesus Christ.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(Traditional chant: http://oremus.org/chant/LP-1940.mp3)
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.
O God,
in Christ you give us hope
for a new heaven and a new earth.
Grant us wisdom to interpret the signs of our times,
courage to stand in the time of trial,
and faith to witness to your truth and love. 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
RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.
The Lord’s Prayer is the traditional chant as set in The Hymnal 1940 and sung by Kathryn Mannyng https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsJ2TB9pLbU
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 versions of Psalms 80 and 81 are from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. Psalm 79 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 