Oremus for March 21, 2026

Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury for twenty-three years under three Tudor monarchs, was martyred on 21 March 1556, when Queen Mary temporarily brought the English church back into the papal fold. Cranmer steered the church through the troubles of the Reformation and left an unparalleled legacy of liturgical writing in the Book of Common Prayer. His writ-ings expressed his mature, reformed, biblical theology. For him nothing was more important than that Christians should “read, mark, learn and inwardly digest” the Scriptures.^FATS

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/2up5tr2v

Look to your covenant, O Lord,
and forget not the life of your poor ones for ever.
Arise, O God, and defend your cause,
and forget not the cries of those who seek you. Psalm 74

Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep,
we have followed too much
the devices and desires of our own hearts,
we have offended against thy holy laws,
we have left undone those things
which we ought to have done,
and we have done those things
which we ought not to have done.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us,
spare thou those who confess their faults,
restore thou those who are penitent,
according to thy promises declared unto mankind
in Christ Jesus our Lord;
and grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may hereafter live
a godly, righteous, and sober life,
to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen. ^{Thomas Cranmer, 1552 BCP}

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: Philip Doddridge
Tune: St Michael https://tinyurl.com/bddrm56r

1 Ye servants of the Lord,
each in his office wait,
observant of his heavenly word,
and watchful at his gate.

2 Let all your lamps be bright,
and trim the golden flame;
gird up your loins as in his sight,
for aweful is his name.

3 Watch! ’tis your Lord’s command,
and while we speak, he’s near;
mark the first signal of his hand,
and ready all appear.

4 O happy servant he
in such a posture found!
he shall his Lord with rapture see,
and be with honour crowned.

5 Christ shall the banquet spread
with his own royal hand,
and raise that faithful servant’s head
amid the angelic band.

PSALMS

Psalm 105 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/s2yts33)
1  Give thanks unto the Lord, and call upon his Name *
tell the people what things he hath done.
2  O let your songs be of him, and praise him *
and let your talking be of all his wondrous works.
3  Rejoice in his holy Name *
let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
4  Seek the Lord and his strength *
seek his face evermore.
5  Remember the marvellous works that he hath done *
his wonders, and the judgements of his mouth,
6  O ye seed of Abraham his servant *
ye children of Jacob his chosen.
7  He is the Lord our God *
his judgements are in all the world.
8  He hath been alway mindful of his covenant and promise *
that he made to a thousand generations;
9  Even the covenant that he made with Abraham *
and the oath that he sware unto Isaac;
10  And appointed the same unto Jacob for a law *
and to Israel for an everlasting testament;
11  Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan *
the lot of your inheritance;
12  When there were yet but a few of them *
and they strangers in the land;
13  What time as they went from one nation to another *
from one kingdom to another people;
14  He suffered no man to do them wrong *
but reproved even kings for their sakes;
15  Touch not mine Anointed *
and do my prophets no harm.
16  Moreover, he called for a dearth upon the land *
and destroyed all the provision of bread.
17  But he had sent a man before them *
even Joseph, who was sold to be a bond-servant;
18  Whose feet they hurt in the stocks *
the iron entered into his soul;
19  Until the time came that his cause was known *
the word of the Lord tried him.
20  The king sent, and delivered him *
the prince of the people let him go free.
21  He made him lord also of his house *
and ruler of all his substance;
22  That he might inform his princes after his will *
and teach his senators wisdom.
23  Israel also came into Egypt *
and Jacob was a stranger in the land of Ham.
24  And he increased his people exceedingly *
and made them stronger than their enemies;
25  Whose heart turned so, that they hated his people *
and dealt untruly with his servants.
26  Then sent he Moses his servant *
and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27  And these shewed his tokens among them *
and wonders in the land of Ham.
28  He sent darkness, and it was dark *
and they were not obedient unto his word.
29  He turned their waters into blood *
and slew their fish.
30  Their land brought forth frogs *
yea, even in their kings’ chambers.
31  He spake the word, and there came all manner of flies *
and lice in all their quarters.
32  He gave them hail-stones for rain *
and flames of fire in their land.
33  He smote their vines also and fig-trees *
and destroyed the trees that were in their coasts.
34  He spake the word, and the grass hoppers came, and caterpillars innumerable *
and did eat up all the grass in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
35  He smote all the first-born in their land *
even the chief of all their strength.
36  He brought them forth also with silver and gold *
there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
37  Egypt was glad at their departing *
for they were afraid of them.
38  He spread out a cloud to be a covering *
and fire to give light in the night-season.
39  At their desire he brought quails *
and he filled them with the bread of heaven.
40  He opened the rock of stone, and the waters flowed out *
so that rivers ran in the dry places.
41  For why? he remembered his holy promise *
and Abraham his servant.
42  And he brought forth his people with joy *
and his chosen with gladness;
43  And gave them the lands of the heathen *
and they took the labours of the people in possession;
44  That they might keep his statutes *
and observe his laws.
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 105 (Gregorian Tone III.4)

1 Give thanks unto the Lord and call upon his Name; *
tell the peoples what things he has done.
2 O let your songs be of him, and praise him, *
and let your speech be of all his wondrous works.
3 Rejoice in his holy Name; *
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Seek the Lord and his strength; *
seek his face evermore.
5 Remember the marvelous works that he has done, *
his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
6 O seed of Abraham his servant, *
O children of Jacob his chosen.
7 He is the Lord our God; *
his judgments are in all the world.
8 He has always been mindful of his covenant, *
and the promise that he made to a thousand generations,
9 Even the covenant that he made with Abraham, *
and the oath that he swore to Isaac,
10 Which he appointed to Jacob for a law, *
and to Israel for an everlasting testament,
11 Saying, “To you will I give the land of Canaan *
to be the portion of your inheritance.”
12 When there were yet but a few of them, *
and they were strangers in the land,
13 And they wandered from nation to nation, *
and from one kingdom to another,
14 He allowed no one to do them wrong, *
but reproved even kings for their sakes:
15 “Do not touch my Anointed, *
and do my prophets no harm.”
16 Moreover, he called for a famine in the land *
and destroyed all the provision of bread.
17 But he had sent a man before them: *
Joseph, who was sold to be a bondservant,
18 Whose feet they hurt in the stocks; *
they put an iron collar around his neck.
19 Until the time came that his sayings were fulfilled, *
the word of the Lord tried him.
20 The king sent and delivered him; *
the ruler of the people let him go free.
21 He made him lord over his house, *
and ruler of all his possessions,
22 That he might instruct his princes according to his will *
and teach his elders wisdom.
23 Israel also came into Egypt, *
and Jacob was a stranger in the land of Ham.
24 And he increased his people exceedingly, *
and made them stronger than their enemies,
25 Whose heart he turned, so that they hated his people, *
and dealt deceitfully with his servants.
26 Then he sent Moses his servant, *
and Aaron whom he had chosen,
27 And they worked his signs among them, *
and wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and it was dark; *
but they were not obedient to his word.
29 He turned their waters into blood *
and caused their fish to die.
30 Their land brought forth frogs, *
even in their kings’ chambers.
31 He spoke the word, and there came all manner of flies, *
and gnats in all their borders.
32 He gave them hailstones for rain, *
and flames of fire in their land.
33 He smote their vines also, and their fig trees, *
and destroyed the trees that were in their borders.
34 He spoke the word, and the grasshoppers came, and locusts innumerable, *
which ate up all the grass in their land and devoured
the fruit of their ground.
35 He smote all the firstborn in their land, *
even the firstfruits of all their strength.
36 He brought forth Israel with silver and gold; *
in all their tribes there was not one who stumbled.
37 Egypt was glad at their departing, *
for they were afraid of them.
38 He spread out a cloud to be a covering, *
and fire to give light in the night season.
39 At their desire he brought quail, *
and he filled them with the bread of heaven.
40 He opened the rock, and the waters flowed out, *
so that rivers ran in the dry places.
41 For he remembered his holy promise *
and Abraham his servant.
42 And he brought forth his people with joy, *
and his chosen ones with gladness,
43 And gave them the lands of the nations, *
and they took the labors of the peoples in possession,
44 That they might keep his statutes *
and observe his laws. Praise 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

Sovereign God,
you subdue the arrogant
and raise the humble;
you feed the hungry
and reveal the poverty of wealth.
Help us to praise your name in all times and places,
that we may be faithful servants
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Jeremiah 26:1-16
At the beginning of the reign of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, this word came from the Lord: Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord; speak to them all the words that I command you; do not hold back a word. It may be that they will listen and will turn from their evil way, that I may change my mind about the disaster that I intend to bring on them because of their evil doings. You shall say to them: Thus says the Lord: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you and to heed the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently—though you have not heeded— then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.

The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die! Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord and took their seat in the entry of the New Gate of the Lord. Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, “This man deserves the sentence of death because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.”

Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “It is the Lord who sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will change his mind about the disaster that he has pronounced against you. But as for me, here I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will be bringing innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”

HYMN: Benjamin Schmolk; trans. Jane Borthwick
Tune: Jewett https://tinyurl.com/2f97cmpb

1 My Jesus, as Thou wilt!
O may Thy will be mine!
Into Thy hand of love
I would my all resign.
Through sorrow or thro’ joy,
Conduct me as Thine own;
And help me still to say,
“My Lord, Thy will be done.”

2 My Jesus, as Thou wilt!
Tho’ seen thro’ many a tear,
Let not my star of hope
Grow dim or disappear.
Since Thou on earth hast wept
And sorrowed oft alone,
If I must weep with Thee,
My Lord, Thy will be done.

3 My Jesus, as Thou wilt!
All shall be well for me;
Each changing future scene
I gladly trust with Thee.
Straight to my home above
I travel calmly on,
And sing, in life or death,
“My Lord, Thy will be done.”

READING: Hebrews 11:17-31
By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, of whom he had been told, “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, “bowing in worship over the top of his staff.” By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial.

By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king’s anger, for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.

HYMN: Frederick William Faber
Tune: St Catherine https://tinyurl.com/3b89rhee

1 Faith of our fathers! living still
in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword:
O how our hearts beat high with joy,
whene’er we hear that glorious word:

Refrain:
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.

2 Faith of our fathers! faith and prayer
shall win all nations unto thee;
and through the truth that comes from God,
mankind shall then indeed be free. [Refrain]

3 Faith of our fathers! we will love
both friend and foe in all our strife:
and preach thee, too, as love knows how,
by kindly deeds and virtuous life. [Refrain]

READING: Mark 13:28-37
Jesus said, “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight or at cockcrow or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

CANTICLE Isaiah 12:2-6

Surely, it is God who saves me; *
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *
and he will be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *
from the springs of salvation.
And on that day you shall say, *
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among the peoples; *
see that they remember that his Name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *
and this is known in all the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *
for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.
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.

LITANY OF CONFESSION ^CW:TS

We pray to the Lord for courage to give up other things
and to give ourselves to him this Lent.

Give your Church the courage
to give up her preoccupation with herself
and to give more time to your mission in the world.