Oremus for January 22, 2026

Noah’s Ark under a Double Rainbow, William Blake

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/4m8ka32t

I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me,
sing psalms to the name of the Lord Most High. Psalm 13

As you cause the sun to rise, O God,
bring the light of Christ to dawn in our souls
and dispel all darkness.
Give us grace to reflect Christ’s glory;
and let his love show in our deeds,
his peace shine in our words,
and his healing in our touch,
that all may give him praise, 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: Philip Doddridge
Tune: Bethel https://tinyurl.com/mrx4zaz9

1 O God of Bethel, by whose hand
thy people still are fed,
who through this weary pilgrimage
hast all our fathers led;

2 Our vows, our prayers, we now present
before thy throne of grace;
God of our fathers, be the God
of their succeeding race.

3 Through each perplexing path of life
our wandering footsteps guide;
give us each day our daily bread,
and raiment fit provide.

4 O spread thy covering wings around
till all our wanderings cease,
and at our Father’s loved abode
our souls arrive in peace.

PSALMS

Psalm 107 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/sp6nct3)
1  O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious *
 and his mercy endureth for ever.
2  Let them give thanks whom the Lord hath redeemed *
 and delivered from the hand of the enemy;
3  And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west *
 from the north, and from the south.
4  They went astray in the wilderness out of the way *
 and found no city to dwell in;
5  Hungry and thirsty *
 their soul fainted in them.
6  So they cried unto the Lord in their trouble *
 and he delivered them from their distress.
7  He led them forth by the right way *
 that they might go to the city where they dwelt.
8  O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
 and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!
9  For he satisfieth the empty soul *
 and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
10  Such as sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death *
 being fast bound in misery and iron;
11  Because they rebelled against the words of the Lord *
 and lightly regarded the counsel of the most Highest;
12  He also brought down their heart through heaviness *
 they fell down, and there was none to help them.
13  So when they cried unto the Lord in their trouble *
 he delivered them out of their distress.
14  For he brought them out of darkness,
and out of the shadow of death *
 and brake their bonds in sunder.
15  O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
 and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men !
16  For he hath broken the gates of brass *
 and smitten the bars of iron in sunder.
17  Foolish men are plagued for their offence *
 and because of their wickedness.
18  Their soul abhorred all manner of meat *
 and they were even hard at death’s door.
19  So when they cried unto the Lord in their trouble *
 he delivered them out of their distress.
20  He sent his word, and healed them *
 and they were saved from their destruction.
21  O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
 and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!
22  That they would offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
 and tell out his works with gladness!
23  They that go down to the sea in ships *
 and occupy their business in great waters;
24  These men see the works of the Lord *
 and his wonders in the deep.
25  For at his word the stormy wind ariseth *
 which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26  They are carried up to the heaven, and down again to the deep *
 their soul melteth away because of the trouble.
27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man *
 and are at their wit’s end.
28  So when they cry unto the Lord in their trouble *
 he delivereth them out of their distress.
29  For he maketh the storm to cease *
 so that the waves thereof are still.
30  Then are they glad, because they are at rest *
 and so he bringeth them unto the haven where they would be.
31  O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
 and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!
32  That they would exalt him also in the congregation of the people *
 and praise him in the seat of the elders!
33  Who turneth the floods into a wilderness *
 and drieth up the water-springs.
34  A fruitful land maketh he barren *
 for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35  Again, he maketh the wilderness a standing water *
 and water-springs of a dry ground.
36  And there he setteth the hungry *
 that they may build them a city to dwell in;
37  That they may sow their land, and plant vineyards *
 to yield them fruits of increase.
38  He blesseth them, so that they multiply exceedingly *
 and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39  And again, when they are minished, and brought low *
 through oppression, through any plague, or trouble;
40  Though he suffer them to be evil intreated through tyrants *
 and let them wander out of the way in the wilderness;
41  Yet helpeth he the poor out of misery *
 and maketh him households like a flock of sheep.
42  The righteous will consider this, and rejoice *
 and the mouth of all wickedness shall be stopped.
43  Whoso is wise will ponder these things *
 and they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.
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 107 (Gregorian Tone IV.2)

1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious, *
and his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let those whom the Lord has redeemed give thanks, *
whom he has delivered from the hand of the enemy,
3 And gathered them out of the lands,
from the east and from the west, *
from the north and from the south.
4 They went astray in the wilderness, even in the desert, *
and found no city to dwell in;
5 They were hungry and thirsty, *
and their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, *
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them forth by a straight path *
until they came to a city where they might dwell.
8 Oh, that they would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
and declare the wonders that he does for the children of men!
9 For he satisfies the empty soul *
and fills the hungry soul with goodness.
10 Some sat in darkness, and in the shadow of death, *
being bound fast in misery and iron,
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God *
and lightly regarded the counsel of the Most High.
12 He also brought down their heart with heaviness; *
they fell down, and there was none to help them.
13 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, *
and he delivered them out of their distress.
14 For he brought them out of darkness,
and out of the shadow of death, *
and broke their bonds asunder.
15 Oh, that they would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
and declare the wonders that he does for the children of men!
16 For he has broken the gates of brass *
and shattered the bars of iron asunder.
17 The foolish were plagued for their offense *
and because of their wickedness.
18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food, *
and they were even close to death’s door.
19 So when they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, *
he delivered them out of their distress.
20 He sent his word and healed them, *
and they were saved from destruction.
21 Oh, that they would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
and declare the wonders that he does for the children of men!
22 That they would offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and tell of his works with gladness!
23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, *
who carry out their business in great waters,
24 They behold the works of the Lord *
and his wonders in the deep.
25 For at his word the stormy wind arises, *
which lifts up the waves.
26 They are carried up to heaven and down again to the deep; *
their soul melts away because of the trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, *
and are at their wits’ end.
28 So when they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, *
he delivers them out of their distress.
29 For he makes the storm to cease, *
so that the waves are still.
30 Then they are glad, because they are at rest, *
and so he brings them into the haven where they desire to be.
31 Oh, that they would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
and declare the wonders that he does for the children of men!
32 That they would exalt him also in the congregation of the people *
and praise him in the seat of the elders!
33 He turns rivers into a wilderness *
and water-springs into thirsty ground,
34 A fruitful land he makes barren, *
because of the wickedness of those who dwell there.
35 Again, he makes the wilderness into pools of water *
and dry ground into water-springs;
36 And there he sets the hungry *
that they may build a city to dwell in,
37 That they may sow their land and plant vineyards *
to yield the fruits of increase.
38 He blesses them, so that they multiply exceedingly, *
and does not allow their cattle to decrease.
39 And again, when they are diminished and brought low, *
through oppression, through any plague or trouble,
40 Though he pours contempt on princes *
and lets them wander in the pathless wilderness,
41 Yet he helps the poor out of misery *
and increases their households like a flock of sheep.
42 The righteous will consider this and rejoice, *
and the mouth of all wickedness shall be stopped.
43 Whoever is wise will ponder these things, *
and shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.
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

O God,
you are light to the lost,
bread to the hungry,
deliverance to the captive,
healing to the sick, eternal vision to the dying,
and harbor to every soul in peril.
Gather the wanderers from every corner of the world
into the community of your mercy and grace,
that we may eternally praise you
for our salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW

THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Genesis 9:1-17
God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fertile, multiply, and fill the earth. All of the animals on the earth will fear you and dread you—all the birds in the skies, everything crawling on the ground, and all of the sea’s fish. They are in your power. Everything that lives and moves will be your food. Just as I gave you the green grasses, I now give you everything. However, you must not eat meat with its life, its blood, in it.

I will surely demand your blood for a human life,
from every living thing I will demand it.
From humans, from a man for his brother,
I will demand something for a human life.
Whoever sheds human blood,
by a human his blood will be shed;
for in the divine image
God made human beings.

As for you, be fertile and multiply. Populate the earth and multiply in it.” God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “I am now setting up my covenant with you, with your descendants, and with every living being with you—with the birds, with the large animals, and with all the animals of the earth, leaving the ark with you. I will set up my covenant with you so that never again will all life be cut off by floodwaters. There will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.”

God said, “This is the symbol of the covenant that I am drawing up between me and you and every living thing with you, on behalf of every future generation. I have placed my bow in the clouds; it will be the symbol of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember the covenant between me and you and every living being among all the creatures. Floodwaters will never again destroy all creatures. The bow will be in the clouds, and upon seeing it I will remember the enduring covenant between God and every living being of all the earth’s creatures.” God said to Noah, “This is the symbol of the covenant that I have set up between me and all creatures on earth.”

HYMN: Paul Gerhardt; trans. John Wesley
Tune: Doncaster https://tinyurl.com/3pwjswhr

1 Put thou thy trust in God,
in duty’s path go on;
walk in his strength with faith and hope,
so shall thy work be done.

2 Commit thy ways to him,
thy works into his hands,
and rest on his unchanging word,
who heaven and earth commands.

3 Though years on years roll on,
his covenant shall endure;
though clouds and darkness hide his path,
the promised grace is sure.

4 Give to the winds thy fears;
hope, and be undismayed:
God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears;
God shall lift up thy head.

5 Through waves and clouds and storms
his power will clear thy way:
wait thou his time; the darkest night
shall end in brightest day.

6 Leave to his sovereign sway
to choose and to command;
so shalt thou, wondering, own his way,
how wise, how strong his hand.

READING: Galatians 5:16-26
I say be guided by the Spirit and you won’t carry out your selfish desires. A person’s selfish desires are set against the Spirit, and the Spirit is set against one’s selfish desires. They are opposed to each other, so you shouldn’t do whatever you want to do. But if you are being led by the Spirit, you aren’t under the Law. The actions that are produced by selfish motives are obvious, since they include sexual immorality, moral corruption, doing whatever feels good, idolatry, drug use and casting spells, hate, fighting, obsession, losing your temper, competitive opposition, conflict, selfishness, group rivalry, jealousy, drunkenness, partying, and other things like that. I warn you as I have already warned you, that those who do these kinds of things won’t inherit God’s kingdom.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the self with its passions and its desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit. Let’s not become arrogant, make each other angry, or be jealous of each other.

HYMN: Jan Struther ©
Tune: Slane https://tinyurl.com/yhjrruwu

1 Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever child-like, no cares can destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

2 Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

3 Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

4 Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

READING: Matthew 4:12-17
Now when Jesus heard that John was arrested, he went to Galilee. He left Nazareth and settled in Capernaum, which lies alongside the sea in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfilled what Isaiah the prophet said:

Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
alongside the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who lived in the dark have seen a great light,
and a light has come upon those who lived in the region and in shadow of death.

From that time Jesus began to announce, “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!”

CANTICLE Isaiah 40:10-17 (Sing the Hours)

Here comes with power
the Lord God,
who rules by his strong arm;
here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
Carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.
Who has cupped in his hand the waters of the sea,
and marked off the heavens with a span?
Who has held in a measure the dust of the earth,
weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
Who has directed the spirit of the Lord,
or has instructed him as his counselor?
Whom did he consult to gain knowledge?
Who taught him the path of judgment,
or showed him the way of understanding?
Behold, the nations count as a drop of the bucket,
as dust on the scales;
the coastlands weigh no more than powder.
Lebanon would not suffice for fuel,
nor its animals be enough for holocausts.
Before him all the nations are as nought,
as nothing and void he accounts them.

THE PRAYERS AAPB

God our Father,
you gave your Son Jesus Christ
to share our common life,
to grow in wisdom,
to work with his hands,
and to make known the ways of your kingdom:

We give thanks
for his revelation of yourself
for his care and acceptance of people
for his joy in obedience . . .
for the value he gave to human work
for the strength he promised us in serving others
for the call to follow in his way . . .
for all opportunities of work and leisure
for all the truth we have learned
for all the discoveries humankind has made . . .

We pray for our human society
those who work
the unemployed
those who teach and those who learn . . .
research workers . . .
those who work in the press, radio, and television . . .
those who maintain the life of our community . . .

Give us reverence for the truth,
and wisdom to use the knowledge you give us
to the glory of your Name
and the benefit of humankind
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread;
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.

Lord of living waters
you save us from the flood
of violence and despair:
reach out to us
when faith is weak,
when we are going under
and make us unafraid
to walk with you;
through Jesus Christ, in whom we are raised. 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


BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.

PIC Prayers for An Inclusive Church, Steven Shakespeare

DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.

The scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.

The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language version of Psalm 107 is from Book of Common Prayer (2019) as recorded for the St Bernard Breviary https://www.bernardbreviary.com/chant-helps. The canticle is from Liturgy of the Hours as recorded for Sing the Hours https://www.singthehours.org/

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 © 2026 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.

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