Antiphon
Ant. I shall meditate upon your commandments which I greatly love;
I will extend my hands towards your commandments which I love.
V. I have said, “O Lord, my portion *
is to obey your words.”
With all my heart I implore your favor; *
as with your promise, have mercy. Psalm 119
Almighty God,
you love us, but we have not loved you.
You call, but we have not listened.
We walk away from neighbors in need,
wrapped in our own concerns.
We condone evil, prejudice, warfare, and greed.
God of grace, help us to admit our sin,
so that as you come to us in mercy,
we may repent, turn to you, and receive forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. BCW
Music: https://tinyurl.com/ufxekitx
God, come to my assistance.
Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory 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.
HYMN: Josua Stegmann; trans. Augustus Crull
Tune: Christus, der ist mein Leben https://tinyurl.com/jh44uva7
1 Abide, O dearest Jesus,
Among us with Thy grace,
That Satan may not harm us,
Nor we to sin give place.
2 Abide, O dear Redeemer,
Among us with Thy Word,
And thus now and hereafter
True peace and joy afford.
3 Abide with heavenly brightness
Among us, precious Light;
Thy truth direct, and keep us
From error’s gloomy night.
4 Abide with richest blessings
Among us, bounteous Lord;
Let us in grace and wisdom
Grow daily through Thy Word.
5 Abide with Thy protection
Among us, Lord our strength;
Lest world and Satan fell us,
And overcome at length.
6 Abide, O faithful Savior,
Among us with Thy love,
Grant steadfastness, and help us
To reach our home above.
PSALMS
Psalm 1 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yaev8zrk)
1 Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor stood in the way of sinners *
and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord *
and in his law will he exercise himself day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-side *
that will bring forth his fruit in due season.
4 His leaf also shall not wither *
and look, whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper.
5 As for the ungodly, it is not so with them *
but they are like the chaff, which the wind
scattereth away from the face of the earth.
6 Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgement *
neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
7 But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous *
and the way of the ungodly shall perish.
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 2 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ya85zg8v)
1 Why do the heathen so furiously rage together *
and why do the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together *
against the Lord, and against his Anointed.
3 Let us break their bonds asunder *
and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn *
the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath *
and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my King *
upon my holy hill of Sion.
7 I will preach the law, whereof the Lord hath said unto me *
Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
8 Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance *
and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron *
and break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings *
be learned, ye that are judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord in fear *
and rejoice unto him with reverence.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and so ye perish from the right way *
if his wrath be kindled, (yea, but a little,)
blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
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 3 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yabg6jbn)
1 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me *
many are they that rise against me.
2 Many one there be that say of my soul *
There is no help for him in his God.
3 But thou, O Lord, art my defender *
thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head.
4 I did call upon the Lord with my voice *
and he heard me out of his holy hill.
5 I laid me down and slept, and rose up again *
for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people *
that have set themselves against me round about.
7 Up, Lord, and help me, O my God *
for thou smitest all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone;
thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord *
and thy blessing is upon thy people.
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 4 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y7jpb9m3)
1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness *
thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble;
have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.
2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour *
and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing?
3 Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to himself
the man that is godly *
when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
4 Stand in awe, and sin not *
commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be still.
5 Offer the sacrifice of righteousness *
and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There be many that say *
Who will shew us any good?
7 Lord, lift thou up *
the light of thy countenance upon us.
8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart *
since the time that their corn, and wine, and oil, increased.
9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest *
for it is thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.
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 5 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yd4gge8p)
1 Ponder my words, O Lord *
consider my meditation.
2 O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my God *
for unto thee will I make my prayer.
3 My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O Lord *
early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
4 For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness *
neither shall any evil dwell with thee.
5 Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight *
for thou hatest all them that work vanity.
6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing *
the Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.
7 But as for me, I will come into thine house,
even upon the multitude of thy mercy *
and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies *
make thy way plain before my face.
9 For there is no faithfulness in his mouth *
their inward parts are very wickedness.
10 Their throat is an open sepulchre *
they flatter with their tongue.
11 Destroy thou them, O God;
let them perish through their own imaginations *
cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness;
for they have rebelled against thee.
12 And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice *
they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them;
they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee;
13 For thou, Lord, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous *
and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield.
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 1 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-1.mp3)
1 Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *
nor lingered in the way of sinners,
nor sat in the seats of the scornful!
2 Their delight is in the law of the LORD, *
and they meditate on his law day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *
everything they do shall prosper.
4 It is not so with the wicked; *
they are like chaff which the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when
judgment comes, *
nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, *
but the way of the wicked is doomed.
Psalm 2 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-2.mp3)
1 Why are the nations in an uproar? *
Why do the peoples mutter empty threats?
2 Why do the kings of the earth rise up in revolt,
and the princes plot together, *
against the LORD and against his Anointed?
3 “Let us break their yoke,” they say; *
“let us cast off their bonds from us.”
4 He whose throne is in heaven is laughing; *
the Lord has them in derision.
5 Then he speaks to them in his wrath, *
and his rage fills them with terror.
6 “I myself have set my king *
upon my holy hill of Zion.”
7 Let me announce the decree of the LORD: *
he said to me, “You are my Son;
this day have I begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance *
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
9 You shall crush them with an iron rod *
and shatter them like a piece of pottery.”
10 And now, you kings, be wise; *
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Submit to the LORD with fear, *
and with trembling bow before him;
12 Lest he be angry and you perish; *
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
13 Happy are they all *
who take refuge in him!
Psalm 3 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-3.mp3)
1 LORD, how many adversaries I have! *
how many there are who rise up against me!
2 How many there are who say of me, *
“There is no help for him in his God.”
3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me; *
you are my glory, the one who lifts up my head.
4 I call aloud upon the LORD, *
and he answers me from his holy hill;
5 I lie down and go to sleep; *
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
6 I do not fear the multitudes of people *
who set themselves against me all around.
7 Rise up, O LORD; set me free, O my God; *
surely, you will strike all my enemies across the face,
you will break the teeth of the wicked.
8 Deliverance belongs to the LORD. *
Your blessing be upon your people!
Psalm 4 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-4.mp3)
1 Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; *
you set me free when I am hard-pressed;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 “You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; *
how long will you worship dumb idols
and run after false gods?”
3 Know that the LORD does wonders for the faithful; *
when I call upon the LORD, he will hear me.
4 Tremble, then, and do not sin; *
speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.
5 Offer the appointed sacrifices *
and put your trust in the LORD.
6 Many are saying,
“Oh, that we might see better times!” *
Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.
7 You have put gladness in my heart, *
more than when grain and wine and oil increase.
8 I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; *
for only you, LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 5 (LSB Tone A: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-5-LSB.mp3)
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD;*
consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God,*
for to you do I pray.
3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;*
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;*
evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;*
you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;*
the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.*
I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies;*
make your way straight before me.
9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;*
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;*
because of the abundance of their transgressions
cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,*
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD;*
you cover him with favor as with a shield.
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.
PRAYER
You alone, O God, are holy and righteous,
and we praise you for protecting us in times of trial.
Keep us safe from all evil
and lead us in paths of justice
that we may know the joy of trusting Jesus Christ
our shield and defender. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Exodus 20:1-17
Then God spoke all these words,
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
“Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female slave, ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
HYMN: Psalm 1; para. Sing Psalms, alt.
Tune: Tallis’ Ordinal https://tinyurl.com/2sbbj8kh
1 Blessèd are they who turn away
from where the wicked walk,
who do not stand in sinners’ paths
or sit with those who mock.
2 Instead they find God’s holy law
their joy and great delight;
they make the precepts of the LORD
their study day and night.
3 They prosper ever like a tree
that’s planted by a stream,
and in due season yields its fruit;
its leaves are always green.
4 Not so the wicked! They are like
the chaff that’s blown away.
5 They will not stand when judgment comes
or with the righteous stay.
6 It is the LORD who sees and knows
the way the righteous go,
but those who live an evil life
the LORD will overthrow.
READING: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of the proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews ask for signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
HYMN: Isaac Watts
Tune: Sutheran https://tinyurl.com/5b4e852t
1 When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the cross of Christ my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
3 See from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down;
did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown!
4 His dying crimson, like a robe,
spreads o’er his body on the tree:
then am I dead to all the globe,
and all the globe is dead to me.
5 Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
READING: John 2:13-25
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, with the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone, for he himself knew what was in everyone.
CANTICLE Luke 1:68-79
(John Harper, https://tinyurl.com/4wwy9fbs)
Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,
To show mercy to our ancestors,
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
PRAYERS WS2
O Jesus, you know the anguish of our human lives.
As one who sees the pain of those who suffer,
bring comfort, peace, and strength.
As one who has experienced the agony
and tears of losing loved ones,
comfort all who grieve.
As one who wept over the faithlessness of your people,
send your Spirit to correct us in our unfaithfulness.
As one who understands the agony of those who have been deserted,
stand alongside those who feel alone and abandoned today.
As one who was once forsaken by all others,
give hope and assurance to those who feel rejection.
As one who knows the ravages of violence,
bring peace and healing to those who are tortured by enemies.
You, our Lord, have offered up prayers with loud cries and tears;
hear us when we do the same.
We approach your throne of grace with boldness.
May we receive mercy and grace in our time of need. 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 the overturning,
your passion sweeps away
the calculating religion,
the pious profiteering
which keep us safely outside the holy places:
may we find our way through the debris
of all that protected us
to find your dangerous heart
and our world upside down;
through Jesus Christ, our exiled Lord. 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.
1 Adam Bartlett, Simple English Propers; audio from https://musicasacra.com/additional-publications/sep-practice-videos/ ©
WS2 Worship Sourcebook, 2nd edition, © Faith Alive Christian Resources
PIC Prayers for An Inclusive Church, Steven Shakespeare
The scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.
The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language versions of Psalms 1-4 are from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and are sung by Ryland Angel. Psalm 5 is from Lutheran Service Book and is from the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg.
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 