Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/p478xrzb
To you, I lift up my soul, O my God.
In you, I have trusted; let me not be put to shame.
Nor let my enemies exult over me;
and let none who hope in you be put to shame. Psalm 25
Praise to you, God of our salvation.
You come to our help and set us free.
May your strength be our shield
and your word, our lamp,
that we may serve you with pure hearts
and find deliverance in Jesus Christ, our Savior. 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 L Bell & Graham Maule ©
Tune: Noel nouvelet https://tinyurl.com/mr3whj7c
1 Jesus Christ is waiting, waiting in the streets;
no one is his neighbor, all alone he eats.
Listen, Lord Jesus, I am lonely too.
Make me, friend or stranger, fit to wait on you.
2 Jesus Christ is raging, raging in the streets,
where injustice spirals and real hope retreats.
Listen, Lord Jesus, I am angry too.
In the kingdom’s causes let me rage with you.
3 Jesus Christ is healing, healing in the streets;
curing those who suffer, touching those he greets.
Listen, Lord Jesus, I have pity too.
Let my care be active, healing just like you.
4 Jesus Christ is dancing, dancing in the streets,
where each sign of hatred he, with love, defeats.
Listen, Lord Jesus, I should triumph too.
Where good conquers evil let me dance with you.
5 Jesus Christ is calling, calling in the streets,
“Who will join my journey? I will guide their feet.”
Listen, Lord Jesus, let my fears be few.
Walk one step before me; I will follow you.
PSALMS
Psalm 18
(Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yx7qz95s)
1 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength;
the Lord is my stony rock, and my defence *
my Saviour, my God, and my might, in whom I will trust,
my buckler, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge.
2 I will call upon the Lord, which is worthy to be praised *
so shall I be safe from mine enemies.
3 The sorrows of death compassed me *
and the overflowings of ungodliness made me afraid.
4 The pains of hell came about me *
the snares of death overtook me.
5 In my trouble I will call upon the Lord *
and complain unto my God.
6 So shall he hear my voice out of his holy temple *
and my complaint shall come before him,
it shall enter even into his ears.
7 The earth trembled and quaked *
the very foundations also of the hills shook,
and were removed, because he was wroth.
8 There went a smoke out in his presence *
and a consuming fire out of his mouth,
so that coals were kindled at it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down *
and it was dark under his feet.
10 He rode upon the cherubims, and did fly *
he came flying upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his secret place *
his pavilion round about him with dark water,
and thick clouds to cover him.
12 At the brightness of his presence his clouds removed *
hail-stones, and coals of fire.
13 The Lord also thundered out of heaven,
and the Highest gave his thunder *
hail-stones, and coals of fire.
14 He sent out his arrows, and scattered them *
he cast forth lightnings, and destroyed them.
15 The springs of waters were seen,
and the foundations of the round world were discovered,
at thy chiding, O Lord *
at the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure.
16 He shall send down from on high to fetch me *
and shall take me out of many waters.
17 He shall deliver me from my strongest enemy,
and from them which hate me *
for they are too mighty for me.
18 They prevented me in the day of my trouble *
but the Lord was my upholder.
19 He brought me forth also into a place of liberty *
he brought me forth, even because he had a favour unto me.
20 The Lord shall reward me after my righteous dealing *
according to the cleanness of my hands shall he recompense me.
21 Because I have kept the ways of the Lord *
and have not forsaken my God, as the wicked doth.
22 For I have an eye unto all his laws *
and will not cast out his commandments from me.
23 I was also uncorrupt before him *
and eschewed mine own wickedness.
24 Therefore shall the Lord reward me after my righteous dealing *
and according unto the cleanness of my hands in his eye-sight.
25 With the holy thou shalt be holy *
and with a perfect man thou shalt be perfect.
26 With the clean thou shalt be clean *
and with the froward thou shalt learn frowardness.
27 For thou shalt save the people that are in adversity *
and shalt bring down the high looks of the proud.
28 Thou also shalt light my candle *
the Lord my God shall make my darkness to be light.
29 For in thee I shall discomfit an host of men *
and with the help of my God I shall leap over the wall.
30 The way of God is an undefiled way *
the word of the Lord also is tried in the fire;
he is the defender of all them that put their trust in him.
31 For who is God, but the Lord *
or who hath any strength, except our God?
32 It is God, that girdeth me with strength of war *
and maketh my way perfect.
33 He maketh my feet like harts’ feet *
and setteth me up on high.
34 He teacheth mine hands to fight *
and mine arms shall break even a bow of steel.
35 Thou hast given me the defence of thy salvation *
thy right hand also shall hold me up,
and thy loving correction shall make me great.
36 Thou shalt make room enough under me for to go *
that my footsteps shall not slide.
37 I will follow upon mine enemies, and overtake them *
neither will I turn again till I have destroyed them.
38 I will smite them, that they shall not be able to stand *
but fall under my feet.
39 Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle *
thou shalt throw down mine enemies under me.
40 Thou hast made mine enemies also to turn their backs upon me *
and I shall destroy them that hate me.
41 They shall cry, but there shall be none to help them *
yea, even unto the Lord shall they cry, but he shall not hear them.
42 I will beat them as small as the dust before the wind *
I will cast them out as the clay in the streets.
43 Thou shalt deliver me from the strivings of the people *
and thou shalt make me the head of the heathen.
44 A people whom I have not known *
shall serve me.
45 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me *
but the strange children shall dissemble with me.
46 The strange children shall fail *
and be afraid out of their prisons.
47 The Lord liveth, and blessed be my strong helper *
and praised be the God of my salvation.
48 Even the God that seeth that I be avenged *
and subdueth the people unto me.
49 It is he that delivereth me from my cruel enemies,
and setteth me up above mine adversaries *
thou shalt rid me from the wicked man.
50 For this cause will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles *
and sing praises unto thy Name.
51 Great prosperity giveth he unto his King *
and sheweth loving-kindness unto David his Anointed,
and unto his seed 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 18 (Gregorian Tone 7a)
2 I love you, Lord, my strength;
3 O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my savior;
my God my rock where I take refuge;
my shield, my saving strength, my stronghold. †
4 I cry out, “O praised be the LORD!” *
and see, I am saved from my foes.
5 The waves of death rose about me; *
the torrents of destruction assailed me;
6 the snares of Sheol surrounded me; *
the traps of death confronted me.
7 In my anguish I called to the LORD; *
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice; *
my cry to him reached his ears.
8 The earth then reeled and rocked; †
the mountains were shaken to their base; *
they quaked at his terrible anger.
9 Smoke came forth from his nostrils, †
and scorching fire from his mouth; *
from him were kindled live coals.
10 He bent the heavens and came down *
a black cloud was under his feet.
11 On a cherub, he rode and he flew; *
he soared on the wings of the wind.
12 He made the darkness his covering, *
the dark waters of the clouds, his tent.
13 A brightness shone out before him, *
with hailstones and flashes of fire.
14 The LORD then thundered in the heavens; †
the Most High let his voice be heard, *
with hail and coals of fire.
15 He shot his arrows, scattered the foe, *
flashed his lightnings, and put them to flight.
16 The bed of the ocean was revealed; *
the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD, *
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
17 From on high he reached down and seized me; *
he drew me forth from the mighty waters.
18 He saved me from my powerful foe, *
from my enemies, whose strength I could not match.
19 They assailed me in the day of my misfortune, *
but the LORD was my strong support.
20 He brought me out to a place of freedom; *
he saved me because he loved me.
21 The LORD rewarded me because I was righteous,*
repaid me, for my hands were clean,
22 for I have kept the ways of the LORD, *
and have not fallen away from my God.
23 For his judgments are all before me; *
his commands I have not cast aside.
24 I have been blameless before him; *
I have kept myself from guilt.
25 The LORD repaid me because I was righteous, *
and my hands were clean in his eyes.
26 With the faithful you show yourself faithful; *
with the blameless you show yourself blameless.
27 With the sincere you show yourself sincere, *
but the cunning you outdo in shrewdness;
28 for you save a lowly people, *
but bring low the eyes that are proud.
29 It is you who give light to my lamp; *
the LORD my God lightens my darkness.
30 With you I can crush the foe, *
with my God I can scale a wall.
31 As for God, his way is blameless; *
the word of the LORD is pure.
He indeed is the shield *
of all who trust in him.
32 For who is God but the LORD? *
Who is a rock but our God?
33 It is God who girds me with strength, *
and keeps my path free of blame.
34 My feet he makes swift as the deerʼs; *
he has made me stand firm on the heights.
35 He has trained my hands for battle, *
and my arms to bend the bronze bow.
36 You gave me your saving shield; †
with your right hand, you gave me support; *
you bent down to make me great.
37 You lengthened my steps beneath me; *
and my feet have never slipped.
38 I pursued and overtook my foes, *
never turning back till they were slain.
39 I struck them so they could not rise; *
they fell beneath my feet.
40 You girded me with strength for battle; *
you made my enemies fall beneath me.
41 You made my foes take flight; *
those who hated me I destroyed.
42 They cried out, but there was no one to save them, *
cried to the LORD, but he did not answer.
43 I crushed them fine as dust before the wind, *
trod them down like dirt in the streets.
44 From the feuds of the people you delivered me, *
and put me at the head of the nations.
45 People unknown to me served me:
when they heard of me, they obeyed me.
46 Foreign nations came to me cringing:
foreign nations faded away.
Trembling, they came forth from their strongholds.
47 The Lord lives, and blest be my Rock!
May the God of my salvation be exalted,
48 the God who gives me redress
and subdues the peoples under me.
49 You saved me from my furious foes;
you set me above my assailants;
you saved me from the violent man.
50 So I will praise you, Lord, among the nations:
to your name will I sing a psalm.
51 The Lord gives great victories to his king
and shows merciful love for his anointed,
for David and his seed for ever.
PRAYER
O God,
our stronghold and our salvation,
in Christ you draw near to us with compassion.
Give us such strength of love
that we may reach out to our neighbor
without counting the cost;
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. BCW2018
THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Genesis 18:1-15
The Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he sat at the entrance of his tent in the day’s heat. He looked up and suddenly saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from his tent entrance to greet them and bowed deeply. He said, “Sirs, if you would be so kind, don’t just pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought so you may wash your feet and refresh yourselves under the tree. Let me offer you a little bread so you will feel stronger, and after that you may leave your servant and go on your way—since you have visited your servant.” They responded, “Fine. Do just as you have said.”
So Abraham hurried to Sarah at his tent and said, “Hurry! Knead three seahs of the finest flour and make some baked goods!” Abraham ran to the cattle, took a healthy young calf, and gave it to a young servant, who prepared it quickly. Then Abraham took butter, milk, and the calf that had been prepared, put the food in front of them, and stood under the tree near them as they ate.
They said to him, “Where’s your wife Sarah?” And he said, “Right here in the tent.” Then one of the men said, “I will definitely return to you about this time next year. Then your wife Sarah will have a son!”
Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were both very old. Sarah was no longer menstruating. So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, I’m no longer able to have children and my husband’s old. The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Me give birth? At my age?’ Is anything too difficult for the Lord? When I return to you about this time next year, Sarah will have a son.” Sarah lied and said, “I didn’t laugh,” because she was frightened. But he said, “No, you laughed.”
HYMN: Judith Fetter ©
Tune: Thornbury https://tinyurl.com/bdfvrns3
1 To Abraham and Sarah
the call of God was clear:
“Go forth and I will show you
a country rich and fair.
You need not fear the journey,
for I have pledged my word
that you shall be my people
and I will be your God.”
2 From Abraham and Sarah
arose a pilgrim race,
dependent for their journey
on God’s abundant grace;
and in their heart was written
by God this saving word,
“That you shall be my people
and I will be your God.”
3 We of this generation
on whom God’s hand is laid
can journey to the future
secure and unafraid,
rejoicing in God’s goodness
and trusting in this word,
“That you shall be my people
and I will be your God.”
READING: Romans 3:1-8
So what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Or what’s the benefit of circumcision? Plenty in every way. First of all, the Jews were trusted with God’s revelations. What does it matter, then, if some weren’t faithful? Their lack of faith won’t cancel God’s faithfulness, will it? Absolutely not! God must be true, even if every human being is a liar, as it is written:
So that it can show that you are right in your words;
and you will triumph when you are judged.
But if our lack of righteousness confirms God’s justice, what will we say? That God, who brings wrath upon us, isn’t just (I’m speaking rhetorically)? Absolutely not! If God weren’t just, how could he judge the world? But if God’s truth is demonstrated by my lie and it increases his glory, why am I still judged as a sinner? Why not say, “Let’s do evil things so that good things will come out of it”? (Some people who slander us accuse us of saying that, but these people deserve criticism.)
HYMN: Psalm 51; para. Trinity Psalter Hymnal ©
Tune: Genevan 51 https://tinyurl.com/36bp6b95
1 Be merciful, be merciful to me;
in steadfast love, O gracious God, have mercy.
Blot out my sins, Lord, in your great compassion.
Wash me and fully cleanse me from my sin!
I know my sin; it never leaves my mind.
Lord, against you, you only, I did evil.
So you are just and blameless when you judge.
I was conceived and born in sin and evil.
2 You want me truthful deep within my soul;
you teach me in my secret heart your wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, make me pure and spotless.
Wash me and make me whiter than the snow.
The sounds of joy and gladness let me hear;
let all the bones you broke begin rejoicing.
O hide your face from my iniquities;
blot out the stain of all my foul transgressions.
3 O God, create in me a pure, clean heart;
within me, Lord, renew a steadfast spirit.
O do not cast me from your holy presence;
your Holy Spirit do not take from me.
The joy of your salvation, Lord, restore;
uphold me with a free and willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors all your ways,
and sinners will return again to serve you.
4 O save me from the guilt of shedding blood,
for you are God, the God of my salvation!
My tongue will sing aloud your righteous judgment.
Open my lips, O Lord, to sing your praise.
For you will not delight in sacrifice,
or else with off’rings would I try to please you.
A broken spirit you will not despise;
the off’ring of a contrite heart delights you.
5 Do good to Zion; bless Jerusalem.
In your good pleasure prosper and restore her.
Build up her walls, Lord, only you can build them.
Do good to Zion, Lord, in mercy hear.
Then you will take delight in sacrifice,
in righteous gifts we bring to you in worship,
in whole burnt off’rings given unto you;
then will young bulls be offered on your altar.
READING: Mark 1:21-28
Jesus and his followers went into Capernaum. Immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and started teaching. The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the legal experts. Suddenly, there in the synagogue, a person with an evil spirit screamed, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God.” “Silence!” Jesus said, speaking harshly to the demon. “Come out of him!” The unclean spirit shook him and screamed, then it came out. Everyone was shaken and questioned among themselves, “What’s this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands unclean spirits and they obey him!” Right away the news about him spread throughout the entire region of Galilee.
CANTICLE Colossians 1:12-20
(Chant by John Michael Talbot https://tinyurl.com/ya95yzto)
Ant. He is the first born of all creation,
in every way the primacy is his.
Let us give thanks to the Father
for having made you worthy
to share the lot of the saints in light.
He rescued us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Through him we have redemption,
the forgiveness of our sins.
He is the image of the invisible God,
the first-born of all creatures.
In him everything in heaven and on earth was created,
things visible and invisible.
All were created through him; all were created for him.
He is before all else that is.
In him everything continues in being.
It is he who is head of the body, the church!
He who is the beginning, the first-born of the dead,
so that primacy may be his in everything.
It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in him
and, by means of him, to reconcile everything in his person,
both on earth and in the heavens,
making peace through the blood of his cross.
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 BCW
God of all mercies,
we praise you that you have brought us to this new day,
brightening our lives with the dawn
of promise and hope in Jesus Christ.
Especially we thank you for
the warmth of sunlight,
the wetness of rain and snow,
and all that nourishes the earth…
the presence and power of your Spirit . . .
the support and encouragement we receive from others . . .
those who provide for public safety and well-being . . .
the mission of the church around the world. . . .
Merciful God,
strengthen us in prayer
that we may lift up the brokenness of this world for your healing,
and share in the saving love of Jesus Christ.
Especially we pray for
those in positions of authority over others . . .
the lonely and forgotten . . .
children without families or homes . . .
agents of caring and relief . . .
the church in Asia and the Middle East….
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.
God of the prophets and apostles,
you greeted old Abraham and Sarah
with news of wonder and life.
Send us into the world
to preach good news, as Jesus did,
heal the sick,
resist evil,
and bring the outcast home. Amen. RCLP
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
RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.
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 psalm texts are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The contemporary psalm text is from The Abbey Psalter as recorded for the Chants and Rants YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@chantsandrants
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 