John Chrysostom
Born in Antioch in 347, John earned his nick-name, “the golden-mouthed” (Chrysostom), for his brilliant preaching. He was much attracted to the ascetic tradition, which became popular in the fourth century, and preached vigorously on the need for a disciplined Christian lifestyle. He was made patriarch of Constantinople in 398 against his will. His crusading moral zeal gained him enemies in church and state, who succeeded in having him exiled to Arme-nia, where he died in 407. FATS
Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/5fs95sez
O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ.
O Son of God, who art risen from the dead,
save us who sing to thee, Alleluia.
Gracious God,
your Son blessed the peacemakers
and called them your children.
Give us that peace which the world cannot give,
so that, freed from the schemes of the arrogant
and devoted to works of peace,
we may go forward joyfully to meet you;
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: John Brownlie, from The Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
Tune: Trentham http://tinyurl.com/mryzds4n
Thou One-begotten Son,
Eternal Word adored,
Immortal while the ages run,
And our Almighty Lord.
To bring Salvation nigh,
To vanquish death and sin,
Thou didst in cruel anguish die,
And life for mortals win.
Save us, O Christ, our God,
Save by Thy Cross we pray;
Thou Who didst bear the Father’s rod,
And death, by dying, slay.
Thou art the Eternal Son,
One in the glorious Three;
Co-equal praise, Immortal One,
Shall ever rise to Thee.
PSALMS
Psalm 120 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/wmagrmt)
1 When I was in trouble I called upon the Lord *
and he heard me.
2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips *
and from a deceitful tongue.
3 What reward shall be given or done unto thee, thou false tongue *
even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning coals.
4 Woe is me, that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech *
and to have my habitation among the tents of Kedar.
5 My soul hath long dwelt among them *
that are enemies unto peace.
6 I labour for peace, but when I speak unto them thereof *
they make them ready to battle.
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 121 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/wlpcmlp)
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills *
from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh even from the Lord *
who hath made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved *
and he that keepeth thee will not sleep.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel *
shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord himself is thy keeper *
the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand;
6 So that the sun shall not burn thee by day *
neither the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil *
yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in *
from this time forth for evermore.
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 122 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/uwbt7e3)
1 I was glad when they said unto me *
We will go into the house of the Lord.
2 Our feet shall stand in thy gates *
O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built as a city *
that is at unity in itself.
4 For thither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord *
to testify unto Israel, to give thanks unto the Name of the Lord.
5 For there is the seat of judgement *
even the seat of the house of David.
6 O pray for the peace of Jerusalem *
they shall prosper that love thee.
7 Peace be within thy walls *
and plenteousness within thy palaces.
8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes *
I will wish thee prosperity.
9 Yea, because of the house of the Lord our God *
I will seek to do thee good.
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 123 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vqr5s45)
1 Unto thee lift I up mine eyes *
O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
2 Behold, even as the eyes of servants look
unto the hand of their masters,
and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress *
even so our eyes wait upon the Lord Our God,
until he have mercy upon us.
3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us *
for we are utterly despised.
4 Our soul is filled with the scornful reproof of the wealthy *
and with the despitefulness of the proud.
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 124 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/w9ocmm5)
1 If the Lord himself had not been on our side, now may Israel say *
if the Lord himself had not been on our side,
when men rose up against us;
2 They had swallowed us up quick *
when they were so wrathfully displeased at us.
3 Yea, the waters had drowned us *
and the stream had gone over our soul.
4 The deep waters of the proud *
had gone even over our soul.
5 But praised be the Lord *
who hath not given us over for a prey unto their teeth.
6 Our soul is escaped even as a bird out of the snare of the fowler *
the snare is broken, and we are delivered.
7 Our help standeth in the Name of the Lord *
who hath made heaven and earth.
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 125 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/s7phzdz)
1 They that put their trust in the Lord shall be even as the mount Sion *
which may not be removed, but standeth fast for ever.
2 The hills stand about Jerusalem *
even so standeth the Lord round about his people,
from this time forth for evermore.
3 For the rod of the ungodly cometh not into the lot of the righteous *
lest the righteous put their hand unto wickedness.
4 Do well, O Lord *
unto those that are good and true of heart.
5 As for such as turn back unto their own wickedness *
the Lord shall lead them forth with the evil-doers;
but peace shall be upon Israel.
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 120 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-120.mp3)
1 When I was in trouble, I called to the LORD; *
I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
2 Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips *
and from the deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be done to you, and what more besides, *
O you deceitful tongue?
4 The sharpened arrows of a warrior, *
along with hot glowing coals.
5 How hateful it is that I must lodge in Meshech *
and dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I had to live *
among the enemies of peace.
7 I am on the side of peace, *
but when I speak of it, they are for war
Psalm 121 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-121.mp3)
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; *
from where is my help to come?
2 My help comes from the LORD, *
the maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved *
and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.
4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel *
shall neither slumber nor sleep;
5 The LORD himself watches over you; *
the LORD is your shade at your right hand,
6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day, *
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; *
it is he who shall keep you safe.
8 The LORD shall watch over your going out and
your coming in, *
from this time forth for evermore.
Psalm 122 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-122.mp3)
1 I was glad when they said to me, *
“Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
2 Now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built as a city *
that is at unity with itself;
4 To which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD, *
the assembly of Israel,
to praise the Name of the LORD.
5 For there are the thrones of judgment, *
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
“May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls *
and quietness within your towers.
8 For my brethren and companions’ sake, *
I pray for your prosperity.
9 Because of the house of the LORD our God, *
I will seek to do you good.”
Psalm 123 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-123.mp3)
1 To you I lift up my eyes, *
to you enthroned in the heavens.
2 As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, *
and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
3 So our eyes look to the LORD our God, *
until he show us his mercy.
4 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy, *
for we have had more than enough of contempt,
5 Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich, *
and of the derision of the proud.
Psalm 124 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-124.mp3)
1 If the LORD had not been on our side, *
let Israel now say;
2 If the LORD had not been on our side, *
when enemies rose up against us;
3 Then would they have swallowed us up alive *
in their fierce anger toward us;
4 Then would the waters have overwhelmed us *
and the torrent gone over us;
5 Then would the raging waters *
have gone right over us.
6 Blessed be the LORD! *
he has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; *
the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the Name of the LORD, *
the maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 125 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-125.mp3)
1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, *
which cannot be moved, but stands fast for ever.
2 The hills stand about Jerusalem; *
so does the LORD stand round about his people,
from this time forth for evermore.
3 The scepter of the wicked shall not hold sway over the
land allotted to the just, *
so that the just shall not put their hands to evil.
4 Show your goodness, O LORD, to those who are good *
and to those who are true of heart.
5 As for those who turn aside to crooked ways,
the LORD will lead them away with the evildoers; *
but peace be upon Israel.
PRAYER
God, our helper,
you are strength greater than the mountains;
you look to our needs and watch over us day and night.
Teach us to hold confidently to your grace
that in times of fear and danger
we may know you are near and depend on you,
our sure deliverer. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Genesis 14:14-24
When Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he took all of the loyal men born in his household, three hundred eighteen, and went after them as far as Dan. During the night, he and his servants divided themselves up against them, attacked, and chased them to Hobah, north of Damascus. He brought back all of the looted property, together with his relative Lot and Lot’s property, wives, and people.
After Abram returned from his attack on Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom came out to the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley) to meet him. Now Melchizedek the king of Salem and the priest of El Elyon had brought bread and wine, and he blessed him,
“Bless Abram by El Elyon,
creator of heaven and earth;
bless El Elyon,
who gave you the victory over your enemies.”
Abram gave Melchizedek one-tenth of everything. Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and take the property for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I promised the Lord, El Elyon, creator of heaven and earth, that I wouldn’t take even a thread or a sandal strap from anything that was yours so that you couldn’t say, ‘I’m the one who made Abram rich.’ The only exception is that the young men may keep whatever they have taken to eat, and the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre—may keep their share.”
HYMN: Psalm 110; para. vv. 1-4, 7 Sing Psalms; vv. 5-6 Benner
Tune: St Bride https://tinyurl.com/fcnanzkx
1 The LORD said to my Lord:
“Sit here at my right hand,
until I make your foes a stool
on which your feet may stand.”
2 The LORD will make your reign
extend from Zion’s hill;
with royal power you’ll rule among
those who oppose your will.
3 When you display your power,
your people flock to you;
at dawn, arrayed in holiness,
your youth will come like dew.
4 Unchangeably the LORD
with solemn purpose swore:
“Just like Melchizedek you are
a priest for evermore.”
5 The Lord at your right hand
will crush all who defy;
6 the nations he will judge;
in mourning they will cry.
7 A brook beside the way
his thirst will satisfy;
and, thus refreshed, he will with joy
lift up his head on high.
READING: Romans 1:1-7
From Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for God’s good news. God promised this good news about his Son ahead of time through his prophets in the holy scriptures. His Son was descended from David. He was publicly identified as God’s Son with power through his resurrection from the dead, which was based on the Spirit of holiness. This Son is Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we have received God’s grace and our appointment to be apostles. This was to bring all Gentiles to faithful obedience for his name’s sake. You who are called by Jesus Christ are also included among these Gentiles.
To those in Rome who are dearly loved by God and called to be God’s people. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
HYMN: F Richard Garland ©
Tune: Canonbury https://tinyurl.com/ruuwdzp9
Lord, be to us a source of joy,
a saving gift of grace and peace.
Restore, O God: your love employ
to show us where to find release.
2 Lord, sometimes we are loath to seek
the healing touch of your embrace.
O, help us trust that you will speak
the quiet Word of promised grace.
3 Lord, long ago the prophets spoke,
and common folk were glad to hear.
The Spirit came: the world awoke,
and Love’s salvation did appear.
4 O, ready us for Love’s rebirth.
O, hasten now the coming day.
Renew, o God, this troubled earth,
and thus fulfill redemptions’ way.
READING: Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.”
CANTICLE Isaiah 42:10-16
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise from the end of the earth:
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the coastlands, and those who dwell in them.
Let the steppe and its cities cry out,
the villages where Kedar dwells;
Let the inhabitants of Sela exult,
and shout from the top of the mountains.
Let them give glory to the Lord,
and utter his praise in the coastlands.
The Lord goes forth like a hero,
like a warrior he stirs up his ardor;
he shouts out his battle cry,
against his enemies he shows his might:
I have looked away, and kept silence,
I have said nothing, holding myself in;
but now, I cry out as a woman in labor,
gasping and panting.
I will lay waste mountains and hills,
all their herbage I will dry up;
I will turn the rivers into marshes,
and the marshes I will dry up.
I will lead the blind on their journey;
by paths unknown I will guide them.
I will turn darkness into light before them,
and make crooked ways straight.
THE PRAYERS COS, alt.
Loving God,
you care for all your children;
you know each one and hear each prayer,
you know each house and see each need.
Give peace and love to those who call upon you,
and receive us into the kingdom of your light.
Bless your Church, here and everywhere.
Confirm your people in the faith of the Gospel,
inspire them with love for your house,
zeal in your service,
and joy in the well-being of your kingdom.
Bless the whole world with peace.
Kindle in the hearts of all people
the true love of peace,
and guide with your wisdom
the leaders of the nations,
that your kingdom may advance
until the earth be filled
with the knowledge of your love.
Bless with your comfort
all who are in trouble or pain.
Heal those who are sick;
support those who are dying;
console those who mourn;
supply the wants of those who are in need.
Bless our homes,
that love and joy may dwell there;
and keep those who are absent from us
within the protection of your love.
Bless those who have kept the faith on earth
and have entered into the joy
of your heavenly presence.
Inspire us by their example,
encourage us by their fellowship,
and bring us with them at the last
to glory everlasting.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Setting by Eric Wyse:2
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.
Gracious God,
you gave to your servant John Chrysostom
eloquence of speech and courage to bear reproach for you;
give us clarity in our proclamation of the gospel
and steadfastness in time of trial;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. 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.
BCW2018 Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 2018
FATS For All the Saints, © The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, 2014
COS Common Order, © 1994 Church of Scotland
2 Eric Wyse, Lord’s Prayer, ©; audio from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_a40ME7aVk
The three main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible
The traditional-language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern versions of the psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and are sung 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 © 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.
Oremus 