
Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/ysz2pzj8
O sing a new song to the Lord;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
In his presence are majesty and splendor,
strength and honor in his holy place. Psalm 96
Almighty God,
you gave your only-begotten Son
to take our nature upon him,
and be born of the Virgin Mary.
Grant that we, who have been born again
and made your children by adoption and grace,
may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen. BCW
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: John Morrison
Tune: Dundee http://tinyurl.com/m3dnfhav
1 The people that in darkness sat
a glorious light have seen;
the light has shined on them who long
in shades of death have been.
2 To hail thee, Sun of Righteousness,
the gathering nations come;
they joy as when the reapers bear
their harvest treasures home.
3 For thou their burden dost remove,
and break the tyrant’s rod,
as in the day when Midian fell
before the sword of God.
4 For unto us a child is born,
to us a Son is given,
and on his shoulder ever rests
all power in earth and heaven.
5 His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
the everlasting Lord,
the Wonderful, the Counsellor,
the God by all adored.
6 His righteous government and power
shall over all extend;
on judgement and on justice based,
his reign shall have no end.
7 Lord Jesus, reign in us, we pray,
and make us thine alone,
who with the Father ever art
and Holy Spirit One.
PSALMS
Psalm 50 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yaptmvbw)
1 The Lord, even the most mighty God, hath spoken *
and called the world, from the rising up of the sun,
unto the going down thereof.
2 Out of Sion hath God appeared *
in perfect beauty.
3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence *
there shall go before him a consuming fire,
and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.
4 He shall call the heaven from above *
and the earth, that he may judge his people.
5 Gather my saints together unto me *
those that have made a covenant with me with sacrifice.
6 And the heaven shall declare his righteousness *
for God is Judge himself.
7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak *
I myself will testify against thee, O Israel; for I am God, even thy God.
8 I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices,
or for thy burnt-offerings *
because they were not alway before me.
9 I will take no bullock out of thine house *
nor he-goat out of thy folds.
10 For all the beasts of the forest are mine *
and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11 I know all the fowls upon the mountains *
and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight.
12 If I be hungry, I will not tell thee *
for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein.
13 Thinkest thou that I will eat bulls’ flesh *
and drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer unto God thanksgiving *
and pay thy vows unto the most Highest.
15 And call upon me in the time of trouble *
so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.
16 But unto the ungodly said God *
Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my covenant in thy mouth;
17 Whereas thou hatest to be reformed *
and hast cast my words behind thee?
18 When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him *
and hast been partaker with the adulterers.
19 Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness *
and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.
20 Thou satest, and spakest against thy brother *
yea, and hast slandered thine own mother’s son.
21 These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue,
and thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself *
but I will reprove thee, and set before thee
the things that thou hast done.
22 O consider this, ye that forget God *
lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.
23 Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he honoureth me *
and to him that ordereth his conversation right
will I shew the salvation of 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 51 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yb6rfjqo)
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness *
according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
2 Wash me throughly from my wickedness *
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my faults *
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight *
that thou mightest be justified in thy saying,
and clear when thou art judged.
5 Behold, I was shapen in wickedness *
and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
6 But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts *
and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
7 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean *
thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness *
that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Turn thy face from my sins *
and put out all my misdeeds.
10 Make me a clean heart, O God *
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence *
and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
12 O give me the comfort of thy help again *
and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
13 Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked *
and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God,
thou that art the God of my health *
and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
15 Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord *
and my mouth shall shew thy praise.
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee *
but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
17 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit *
a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
18 O be favourable and gracious unto Sion *
build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness,
with the burnt-offerings and oblations *
then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
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 52 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ycgabjj9)
1 Why boastest thou thyself, thou tyrant *
that thou canst do mischief;
2 Whereas the goodness of God *
endureth yet daily?
3 Thy tongue imagineth wickedness *
and with lies thou cuttest like a sharp razor.
4 Thou hast loved unrighteousness more than goodness *
and to talk of lies more than righteousness.
5 Thou hast loved to speak all words that may do hurt *
O thou false tongue.
6 Therefore shall God destroy thee for ever *
he shall take thee, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling,
and root thee out of the land of the living.
7 The righteous also shall see this, and fear *
and shall laugh him to scorn;
8 Lo, this is the man that took not God for his strength *
but trusted unto the multitude of his riches,
and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
9 As for me, I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God *
my trust is in the tender mercy of God for ever and ever.
10 I will always give thanks unto thee for that thou hast done *
and I will hope in thy Name, for thy saints like it well.
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 50: LSB Tone I http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-50-LSB.mp3)
1 The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth*
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,*
God shines forth.
3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence;*
before him is a devouring fire,
around him a mighty tempest.
4 He calls to the heavens above*
and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 “Gather to me my faithful ones,*
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
6 The heavens declare his righteousness,*
for God himself is judge!
7 “Hear, O my people, and I will speak;
O Israel, I will testify against you.*
I am God, your God.
8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;*
your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9 I will not accept a bull from your house*
or goats from your folds.
10 For every beast of the forest is mine,*
the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the hills,*
and all that moves in the field is mine.
12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you,*
for the world and its fullness are mine.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls*
or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,*
and perform your vows to the Most High,
15 and call upon me in the day of trouble;*
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
16 But to the wicked God says:*
“What right have you to recite my statutes
or take my covenant on your lips?
17 For you hate discipline,*
and you cast my words behind you.
18 If you see a thief, you are pleased with him,*
and you keep company with adulterers.
19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil,*
and your tongue frames deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother;*
you slander your own mother’s son.
21 These things you have done, and I have been silent;
you thought that I was one like yourself.*
But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.
22 “Mark this, then, you who forget God,*
lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver!
23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;*
to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”
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.
Psalm 51 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-51.mp3)
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your loving-kindness; *
in your great compassion blot out my offenses.
2 Wash me through and through from my wickedness *
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, *
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you only have I sinned *
and done what is evil in your sight.
5 And so you are justified when you speak *
and upright in your judgment.
6 Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, *
a sinner from my mother’s womb.
7 For behold, you look for truth deep within me, *
and will make me understand wisdom secretly
8 Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; *
wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.
9 Make me hear of joy and gladness, *
that the body you have broken may rejoice.
10 Hide your face from my sins *
and blot out all my iniquities.
11 Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
and renew a right spirit within me.
12 Cast me not away from your presence *
and take not your holy Spirit from me.
13 Give me the joy of your saving help again *
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
14 I shall teach your ways to the wicked, *
and sinners shall return to you.
15 Deliver me from death, O God, *
and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness,
O God of my salvation.
16 Open my lips, O Lord, *
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
17 Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice, *
but you take no delight in burnt-offerings.
18 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; *
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
19 Be favorable and gracious to Zion, *
and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
20 Then you will be pleased with the appointed sacrifices,
with burnt-offerings and oblations; *
then shall they offer young bullocks upon your altar.
Psalm 52 (Gregorian Tone I.1)
1 Why do you boast, you tyrant, *
that you can do evil;
2 Whereas the goodness of God *
endures all the day long?
3 Your tongue devises wickedness, *
and with lies you cut like a sharp razor.
4 You have loved unrighteousness more than goodness *
and to utter lies more than truth.
5 You have loved to speak all words that hurt, *
O you deceitful tongue.
6 Therefore, God shall destroy you for ever; *
he shall catch you, and pluck you out of your dwelling,
and root you out of the land of the living.
7 The righteous also shall see this and fear, *
and shall laugh him to scorn:
8 “Behold, this is the one who did not take God for his strength, *
but trusted in the multitude of his riches and relied
on his wickedness.”
9 As for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; *
my trust is in the tender mercy of God for ever and ever.
10 I will always give thanks unto you for what you have done, *
and I will declare your Name among the faithful, for it is good.
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
Almighty God,
your servant Jesus became obedient to death,
a sacrifice greater than all the sacrifices of old.
Receive the praise we offer,
not as we ought but as we are able,
and help us to dedicate our whole lives to you
as our spiritual worship;
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. BCW2018
THE WORD OF GOD
When you turn to him
with all your heart and your all being
to act sincerely before him,
then he will turn to you and never
hide his face from you again.
And now, look at what
he has done for you,
and acknowledge him
in everything you say.
Praise the Lord of righteousness,
and exalt the king of the ages!
I will acknowledge him in the land where I am a captive
and make known his power
and greatness to a sinful nation.
So turn around, you sinners,
and act justly before him.
Who knows?
Perhaps he will want you back
and show you mercy.
My soul exalts my God,
the king of heaven,
and my soul will rejoice
all the days of my life.
Praise the Lord, all you chosen ones,
and let everyone
praise his greatness.
Let them speak through psalms,
use your days for rejoicing,
and acknowledge him.
HYMN: Henry Francis Lyte
Tune: Lauda anima https://tinyurl.com/5amusfjd
1 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
to his feet thy tribute bring;
ransomed healed, restored, forgiven,
who like me his praise should sing?
Alleluia, alleluia,
praise the everlasting King.
2 Praise him for his grace and favour
to our fathers in distress;
praise him still the same for ever,
slow to chide and swift to bless:
Alleluia, alleluia,
glorious in his faithfulness.
3 Father-like, he tends and spares us,
well our feeble frame he knows;
in his hands he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes:
Alleluia, alleluia,
widely as his mercy flows.
4 Frail as summer’s flower we flourish;
blows the wind and it is gone;
but, while mortals rise and perish,
God endures unchanging on:
Alleluia, alleluia,
praise the high eternal One.
5 Angels, help us to adore him;
ye behold him face to face;
sun and moon bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space:
Alleluia, alleluia,
praise with us the God of grace.
Everything that is revealed by the light is light. Therefore, it says, Wake up, sleeper! Get up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. So be careful to live your life wisely, not foolishly. Take advantage of every opportunity because these are evil times. Because of this, don’t be ignorant, but understand the Lord’s will. Don’t get drunk on wine, which produces depravity. Instead, be filled with the Spirit in the following ways: speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; sing and make music to the Lord in your hearts; always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
HYMN: J.R. Peacey ©
Tune: Deus tuorum militum https://tinyurl.com/2uy85ke5
1 Awake, awake: fling off the night!
For God has sent a glorious light;
and we who live in Christ’s new day
must works of darkness put away.
2 Awake and rise, with love renewed,
and with the Spirit’s power endued.
The light of life in us must glow,
and fruits of truth and goodness show.
3 Let in the light; all sin expose
to Christ, whose life no darkness knows.
Before his cross for guidance kneel;
his light will judge and, judging, heal.
4 Awake, and rise up from the dead,
and Christ his light on you will shed.
Its power will wrong desires destroy,
and your whole nature fill with joy.
5 Then sing for joy, and use each day;
give thanks for everything alway.
Lift up your hearts; with one accord
praise God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A man named John was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.
CANTICLE Ephesians 1:3-10
(John Michael Talbot: https://tinyurl.com/mrymmyvk)
Ant. God chose us in his Son to be his beloved children.
Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, *
who bestowed on us in Christ
every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
God chose us in him before the world began, *
to be holy and blameless in his sight.
He predestined us to be
his adopted children through Jesus Christ, *
such was his will and pleasure,
that all might praise the glorious favor
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.
In him and through his blood,
we have been redeemed, *
and our sins forgiven,
so immeasurably generous is God’s favor to us.
God has given us the wisdom
to understand fully the mystery, *
the plan he was pleased to decree in Christ.
A plan to be carried out in Christ,
in the fullness of time, *
to bring all things into one in him,
in the heavens and on the earth
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.
THE PRAYERS COS, alt.
Let us call to mind
our concerns and commitments,
and let us join our prayers
for peace and well-being
to the prayers of the whole Church
as they are offered this day for the whole world.
Let us remember those people we know
who are in trouble,
and pray for healing and happiness for all.
Let us seek divine encouragement
for honest trade and decent commerce,
for useful and courteous service in daily life,
for medicine and education,
and for those gifts and aptitudes in every person
which make for happier
and fairer community living.
Let us pray
for peace on earth,
for the generous sharing of the earth’s resources
and the responsible sharing
of the earth’s problems;
for tolerance across divisions
and willingness to regard
the diversity of human culture
as more stimulating than threatening;
for the turning of swords into ploughshares
and spears into pruning hooks.
Let us pray for the Church,
by all its names and in all its places;
for its continuing usefulness
as a channel of grace and hope;
for its rescue
from pretentiousness and pomposity
and from taking some things
more seriously than is healthy.
Let us commend to the Lord
our families and friends;
and let us ask him to help us
in the days that come. 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 it is in heaven.
Give us today the bread of life;
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.
Eternal God,
you sent John the Baptist
to prepare the way for the coming of your Son.
Grant us the wisdom to see your purpose
and openness to hear your will,
that we too may prepare the way for Christ
who is coming in power and glory
to establish his kingdom of peace and justice;
through Jesus Christ our Judge and our Redeemer,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever. Amen. BCW
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
DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.
COS Common Order, © 1994 Church of Scotland
The main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.
The traditional-language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern versions of Psalm 50 is the version in Lutheran Service Book and from the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg. Psalm 51 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. Psalm 52 is from Book of Common Prayer (2019) and is from 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.