Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yaqpktwa
O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,
qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.
O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.
O Lord of might,
master of the universe and ruler of the house of Israel,
your mighty acts have rescued remnants of your people
from the midst of slavery, exile, war, and holocaust:
raise your scepter over us, that your saving rule
may be extended to all people in all places—
for the sake of him who we know as Lord of all,
even Jesus, the Christ. Amen. WS2
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: Jan Berry ©
Tune: Creator God https://tinyurl.com/k7ncepru
Praise to the God who clears the way
Preparing room and space;
For power and pride will lose their sway
As peace comes in their place.
Praise to the God who comes to judge
The truth of word and deed,
Who calls our minds and wills to change,
Rebuking wealth and greed.
Praise to the God who waits with us
For hope and joy to reign,
Who share our suffering and our loss,
Embodied in our pain.
Praise to the God who comes to bring
Comfort to all who mourn.
The whole creation “Glory” sing
As Christ the light is born.
PSALMS
Psalm 93 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y7tg5urb)
1 The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel *
the Lord hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength.
2 He hath made the round world so sure *
that it cannot be moved.
3 Ever since the world began hath thy seat been prepared *
thou art from everlasting.
4 The floods are risen, O Lord, the floods have lift up their voice *
the floods lift up their waves.
5 The waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly *
but yet the Lord, who dwelleth on high, is mightier.
6 Thy testimonies, O Lord, are very sure *
holiness becometh thine house for 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 94 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y8otscow)
1 O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth *
thou God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
2 Arise, thou Judge of the world *
and reward the proud after their deserving.
3 Lord, how long shall the ungodly *
how long shall the ungodly triumph?
4 How long shall all wicked doers speak so disdainfully *
and make such proud boasting?
5 They smite down thy people, O Lord *
and trouble thine heritage.
6 They murder the widow, and the stranger *
and put the fatherless to death.
7 And yet they say, Tush, the Lord shall not see *
neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
8 Take heed, ye unwise among the people *
O ye fools, when will ye understand?
9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear *
or he that made the eye, shall he not see?
10 Or he that nurtureth the heathen *
it is he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he punish?
11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man *
that they are but vain.
12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord *
and teachest him in thy law;
13 That thou mayest give him patience in time of adversity *
until the pit be digged up for the ungodly.
14 For the Lord will not fail his people *
neither will he forsake his inheritance;
15 Until righteousness turn again unto judgement *
all such as are true in heart shall follow it.
16 Who will rise up with me against the wicked *
or who will take my part against the evil-doers?
17 If the Lord had not helped me *
it had not failed but my soul had been put to silence.
18 But when I said, My foot hath slipt *
thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.
19 In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart *
thy comforts have refreshed my soul.
20 Wilt thou have any thing to do with the stool of wickedness *
which imagineth mischief as a law?
21 They gather them together against the soul of the righteous *
and condemn the innocent blood.
22 But the Lord is my refuge *
and my God is the strength of my confidence.
23 He shall recompense them their wickedness, and destroy them in their own malice *
yea, the Lord our God shall destroy them.
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 93 (Plainsong Tone V.1)
1 The Lord is King and has put on glorious apparel; *
the Lord has put on his apparel
and girded himself with strength.
2 He has made the round world so sure *
that it cannot be moved.
3 Ever since the world began,
your throne has been established; *
you are from everlasting.
The floods have risen, O Lord;
the floods have lifted up their voice; *
the floods have lifted up their waves.
5 Mightier than the sound of many waters,
mightier than the waves of the sea, *
the Lord who dwells on high is mightier.
6 Your testimonies, O Lord, are very sure; *
holiness adorns your house for 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 94 (Plainsong Tone V.1)
1 O Lord God to whom vengeance belongs, *
O God to whom vengeance belongs, show yourself.
2 Arise, O Judge of the world, *
and reward the proud according to their deserving.
3 O Lord, how long shall the ungodly, *
how long shall the ungodly triumph?
4 How long shall all evildoers speak so disdainfully *
and make such proud boasting?
5 They smite down your people, O Lord, *
and trouble your heritage.
6 They murder the widow and the stranger, *
and put the fatherless to death.
7 And yet they say, “The Lord shall not see, *
neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.”
8 Take heed, you unwise among the people; *
O you fools, when will you understand?
9 He who planted the ear, shall he not hear? *
Or he who made the eye, shall he not see?
10 Or he who nurtures the nations, *
he who teaches humanity knowledge, shall he not punish?
11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man, *
that they are but vain.
12 Blessèd is the one whom you chasten, O Lord, *
and whom you teach your law,
13 That you may give him patience in time of adversity, *
until a pit is dug for the ungodly.
14 For the Lord will not fail his people, *
neither will he forsake his inheritance,
15 But righteousness shall return to the place of judgment, *
and all those who are true of heart shall follow it.
16 Who will rise up with me against the wicked, *
or who will take my part against the evildoers?
17 If the Lord had not helped me, *
my soul would soon have dwelt in the land of silence.
18 But when I said, “My foot has slipped,” *
your mercy, O Lord, held me up.
19 In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart, *
your comforts refreshed my soul.
20 Will you have anything to do with the council of wickedness, *
which turns evil into law?
21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous *
and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the Lord is my refuge, *
and my God is the rock of my confidence.
23 He shall recompense them for their wickedness,
and destroy them in their own malice; *
indeed, the Lord our God shall destroy them.
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
Omnipotent God,
your glory is incomprehensible,
your majesty infinite,
and your power incomparable.
Found us on the certainty of your promises,
that no matter what happens,
we may be firm in faith
and live uprightly in your church,
bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
The word from the Lord of heavenly forces came to me: I care passionately about Zion; I burn with passion for her. The Lord proclaims: I have returned to Zion; I will settle in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the city of truth; the mountain of the Lord of heavenly forces will be the holy mountain.
Old men and old women will again dwell in the plazas of Jerusalem. Each of them will have a staff in their hand because of their great age. The city will be full of boys and girls playing in its plazas.
Even though it may seem to be a miracle for the few remaining among this people in these days, should it seem to be a miracle for me? says the Lord of heavenly forces.
I’m about to deliver my people from the land of the east and the land of the west. I’ll bring them back so they will dwell in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God—in truth and in righteousness.
Peoples will still come, the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city will go to another saying, “Let’s go and seek the favor of the Lord, and look for the Lord of heavenly forces. I’m going too.” Many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the Lord of heavenly forces in Jerusalem and to seek the favor of the Lord.
In those days ten men from nations with entirely different languages will grab hold of a Judean’s clothes and say, “Let’s go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
HYMN: Samuel Medley
Tune: Kilmarnock https://tinyurl.com/5n74w95c
1 Great God! thy glory and thy love
Our humble songs employ;
Propitious from thy throne above,
Look down, and aid our joy.
2 Thy presence and thy glories, Lord,
Fill all the realms of space;
O let thy presence, by thy word,
Divinely fill this place.
3 Sacred to thy eternal name,
Behold, these walls we raise;
Long may they stand to show thy fame,
And echo to thy praise.
4 This day begins the solemn sound
Of sacred worship here;
May every saint with joy abound,
And reverential fear.
5 Dear Jesus! Zion’s holy King,
Enter with all thy train,
And here thy choicest blessings bring,
And long may they remain.
6 Eternal Spirit! heavenly Dove!
Enter and fill this place;
Reveal Immanuel’s matchless love
And open all his grace.
So I’ll keep reminding you about these things, although you already know them and stand secure in the truth you have. I think it’s right that I keep stirring up your memory, as long as I’m alive. After all, our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I am about to depart from this life. I’m eager for you always to remember these things after my death.
We didn’t repeat crafty myths when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Quite the contrary, we witnessed his majesty with our own eyes. He received honor and glory from God the Father when a voice came to him from the magnificent glory, saying, “This is my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. In addition, we have a most reliable prophetic word, and you would do well to pay attention to it, just as you would to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Most important, you must know that no prophecy of scripture represents the prophet’s own understanding of things, because no prophecy ever came by human will. Instead, men and women led by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
HYMN: Philip Nicolai; trans. Catherine Winkworth
Tune: Wie schön leuchtet https://tinyurl.com/2zhtaj5a
1 O Morning Star, how fair and bright
Thou beamest forth in truth and light!
O Sovereign meek and lowly!
Thou root of Jesse, David’s Son,
My Lord and Savior, Thou hast won
My heart to serve Thee solely!
Thou art holy,
Fair and glorious, all victorious,
Rich in blessing,
Rule and might o’er all possessing.
2 Thou heavenly brightness! Light divine!
O deep within my heart now shine,
And make Thee there an altar!
Fill me with joy and strength to be
Thy member, ever joined to Thee
In love that cannot falter!
Toward Thee longing
Doth possess me; turn and bless me;
Here in sadness
Eye and heart long for Thy gladness!
During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous before God, blameless in their observance of all the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to become pregnant and they both were very old. One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God because his priestly division was on duty. Following the customs of priestly service, he was chosen by lottery to go into the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense. All the people who gathered to worship were praying outside during this hour of incense offering. An angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and overcome with fear.
The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many people will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the Lord’s eyes. He must not drink wine and liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. He will bring many Israelites back to the Lord their God. He will go forth before the Lord, equipped with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and he will turn the disobedient to righteous patterns of thinking. He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? My wife and I are very old.” The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in God’s presence. I was sent to speak to you and to bring this good news to you. Know this: What I have spoken will come true at the proper time. But because you didn’t believe, you will remain silent, unable to speak until the day when these things happen.”
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered why he was in the sanctuary for such a long time. When he came out, he was unable to speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he gestured to them and couldn’t speak. When he completed the days of his priestly service, he returned home. Afterward, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She kept to herself for five months, saying, “This is the Lord’s doing. He has shown his favor to me by removing my disgrace among other people.”
CANTICLE: Luke 1:68-79
(Consiglio: https://tinyurl.com/ya8y3kqs)
Ant. Blest be the Lord God of Israel; *
who has come to his people and set them free.
God has raiséd up a Savior strong and proud,
born of his servant David.
And through holy prophets God has promised from of old,
to save us from all our foes, from the hands of all who hate us. Ant.
God promised to show mercy to our ancestors
to remember the covenant.
This was the oath sworn to father Abraham,
to set us free from our enemies’ hands,
free to worship God without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. Ant.
You, little child, are the prophet of the Lord,
you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,
To give the people knowledge of salvation
by forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high breaks upon us,
to shine on us who dwell in the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet on the way of peace. Ant.
THE PRAYERS
O Lord,
you have revealed yourself in manifold ways
throughout human history.
You are surely coming and without delay:
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
At your coming all things will rejoice:
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
You come to show us our dignity as God’s children:
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Look with compassion on the sick and the suffering:
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Help us to recognize the signs of the times:
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
May all things be judged in the light of your truth:
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
(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.
God of unexpected birth
and desert waters:
silence our cynicism
and give us a new voice
that with John the Baptist
we may proclaim your overwhelming grace;
through Jesus Christ, the One who is to come. Amen. PIC
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
Support this ministry
$10.00
BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.
WS2 The Worship Sourcebook, 2nd edition, © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources
The intercession has been used in Oremus for at least 20 years and I no longer recall the source. I apologize.
PIC Prayers for An Inclusive Church, Steven Shakespeare
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 modern versions are 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 