Oremus for December 30, 2025

Josephine Butler
Josephine Butler (née Grey) was born in April 1828, and baptised on this day that year, in Northumberland. She married an Anglican priest in 1852. She became incensed by the way contemporary society treated prostitutes, most of whom were forced into such activity through desperate poverty. From 1869, she campaigned for the repeal of the legislation which put all opprobrium onto the women concerned, and the issue became international after she travelled in Europe addressing meetings in 1874-75. Her campaign succeeded with the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act in 1883. She was a devout Anglican and a woman of prayer, basing her spirituality on that of St Catherine of Siena, whose biography she wrote. She died on 30 December 1906. ^EH

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/tebu693h

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer;
my God is my saving strength. Psalm 18

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: Frank Mason North
Tune: St Bartholomew https://tinyurl.com/ye26axk5

1 Where cross the crowded ways of life,
where sound the cries of race and clan,
above the noise of selfish strife,
we hear your voice, O Son of Man.

2 In haunts of wretchedness and need,
on shadowed thresholds fraught with fears,
from paths where hide the lures of greed,
we catch the vision of your tears.

3 From tender childhood’s helplessness,
from human grief and burdened toil,
from famished souls, from sorrow’s stress,
your heart has never known recoil.

4 The cup of water given for you
still holds the freshness of your grace;
yet long these multitudes to view
the sweet compassion of your face.

5 O Master, from the mountainside,
make haste to heal these hearts of pain;
among these restless throngs abide;
O tread the city’s streets again;

6 Till all the world shall learn your love,
and follow where your feet have trod;
till glorious from your heaven above
shall come the city of our God.

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

Refrain:
Come and bring light to a people in darkness.
Come, set us free from the chains we have made.
We are your people, the flock that you tend.
Lord, open our eyes once again.

1 To the ones brokenhearted: open our eyes.
To the plight of the poor: open our eyes.
To the innocent children: open our eyes.
Teach us compassion and love. [Refrain]

2 To the victims of violence: open our eyes.
To the ones who seek justice: open our eyes.
To those sitting in prison: open our eyes.
Teach us compassion and love. [Refrain]

3 When a color divides us: open our eyes.
When the darkness surrounds us: open our eyes.
When we choose to look elsewhere: open our eyes.
Teach us compassion and love. [Refrain]

4 To those full of life’s sorrow: open our eyes.
To the needs of the lowly: open our eyes.
To the ones who seek peace: open our eyes.
Teach us compassion and love. [Refrain]

5 To those suffering illness: open our eyes.
To those trapped by addiction: open our eyes.
To those lost or forgotten: open our eyes.
Teach us compassion and love. [Refrain]

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 ^CW:TS

We pray for God’s faithfulness to be known in our world.

In a world of change and hope,
of fear and adventure,
faithful God
glorify your name.

In human rebellion and obedience,
in our seeking and our finding,
faithful God
glorify your name.

In the common life of our society,
in prosperity and need,
faithful God
glorify your name.

As your Church proclaims your goodness
in words and action,
faithful God
glorify your name.

Among our friends
and in our homes,
faithful God
glorify your name.

In our times of joy,
in our days of sorrow,
faithful God
glorify your name.

In our strengths and triumphs,
in our weakness and at our death,
faithful God
glorify your name.

In your saints in glory
and on the day of Christ’s coming,
faithful God
glorify your name.

(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 of compassion and tenderness,
you call us in Christ to care for the powerless,
the poor and the exploited;
grant that, after Josephine Butler’s example,
we may have compassion and zeal
to see justice done and want relieved,
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. ^FATS

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.

^EH Exciting Holiness, Ed. Brother Tristram SSF © European Province of the Society of Saint Francis, 1997

^FATS For All the Saints, © The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, 2014

^CW:TSCommon Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2006 and published by Church House Publishing.

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.