Antiphon1
Ant. If a man would serve me, let him follow me;
wherever I am, my servant will be there too.
V. O Lord, hear a cause that is just; *
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer: *
no deceit is on my lips.
From you may my justice come forth. *
Your eyes discern what is upright. John 12; Psalm 17
Merciful God,
you pardon all who truly repent and turn to you.
We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy.
We have not loved you with a pure heart,
nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves.
We have not done justice, loved kindness,
or walked humbly with you, our God.
Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness.
In your great compassion,
cleanse us from our sin.
Create in us a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within us.
Do not cast us from your presence,
or take your Holy Spirit from us.
Restore to us the joy of your salvation
and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit. 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: Charles Wesley
Tune: Cornwall https://tinyurl.com/mv2zjwma
1. Man made of earth by earth He heals!
The creature is whate’er He wills
Who gave it first to be:
Clay in th’ Almighty’s hands restores
Our bodily, or mental powers,
And gives the blind to see.
2. Your touch medicinal we prove;
Our blindness it does still remove;
The unction of your grace
Opens our faith’s enlightened eyes,
And lo! with rapturous surprize
We see your lovely face!
3. When Jesus bade me first believe,
My spirit did its sight receive,
Though long by nature blind;
To Christ at his command I went,
And found him by his Father sent,
The Savior of mankind.
4. His Spirit drew me to the pool,
Which makes a world of sinners whole,
The purple fountain showed,
The balm infallible applied,
And pointed out the Crucified,
And plunged me in his blood.
5. ’Twas there I washed my sins away,
I triumphed in the gospel-day,
To paradise restored:
And clearly still I all things view,
But nothing half so fair as you,
So heav’nly as my Lord.
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 22:1-14
After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. And the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them walked on together.
When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place “The Lord will provide,” as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
HYMN: John Newton
Tune: Lyons https://tinyurl.com/h9adeppd
1 Though troubles assail us and dangers affright,
though friends should all fail us and foes all unite,
yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
the promise assures us, “The Lord will provide.”
2 The birds, without garner or storehouse, are fed;
from them let us learn to trust God for our bread.
His saints what is fitting shall ne’er be denied
so long as ’tis written, “The Lord will provide.”
3 When Satan assails us to stop up our path,
and courage all fails us, we triumph by faith.
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
this heart-cheering promise, “The Lord will provide.”
4 No strength of our own and no goodness we claim;
yet, since we have known of the Savior’s great name,
in this our strong tower for safety we hide:
the Lord is our power, “The Lord will provide.”
READING: Philippians 3:8-21
More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal, but I press on to lay hold of that for which Christ has laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have laid hold of it, but one thing I have laid hold of: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us, then, who are mature think this way, and if you think differently about anything, this, too, God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.
Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.
HYMN: Marty Haugen ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/mryj2h97
Refrain:
Eye has not seen, ear has not heard
what God has ready for those who love him;
Spirit of love, come, give us the mind of Jesus,
teach us the wisdom of God.
1 When pain and sorrow weigh us down,
be near to us, O Lord;
forgive the weakness of our faith,
and bear us up within your peaceful word. [Refrain]
2 Our lives are but a single breath,
we flower and we fade,
yet all our days are in your hands,
so we return in love what love has made. [Refrain]
3 To those who see with eyes of faith,
the Lord is ever near,
reflected in the faces of all the poor
and lowly of the world. [Refrain]
4 We sing a myst’ry from the past,
in halls where saints have trod,
yet ever new the music rings
to Jesus, Living Song of God. [Refrain]
READING: John 9
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am he.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”
The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind, but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.
Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.
CANTICLE Luke 1:46-55
(John Michael Talbot, https://tinyurl.com/mweccsj)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
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.
PRAYERS LCA
Jesus is the light of the world. Let us pray that his light may shine into the darkness of our world today.
Heavenly Father, thank you for opening the eyes of our hearts to see your will for our lives in Christ. As his light shines in our hearts to replace the darkness of our sin and weakness with his righteousness, help us to turn to you and seek your grace.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Lord, teach us to pray your will for our own lives and those we love and serve. Instruct us by your holy word, and direct us each day to Jesus and the prayers he prays for us.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
We pray for people who are blinded to Christ because of ignorance or because of sin and shame. And we pray for those areas in our lives we have kept shut to his truth and grace. Father, bring the light of the gospel to these people and places.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Where people are in despair for whatever reason please bring your peace. Relieve the pressure on those who suffer for your name.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Give courage to those who are physically blind and support those who help them. Give faith and strength to the sick and those who care for them.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
We lift our eyes to you, O Lord. Restore us and the world in which we live through the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. 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.
Discerner of hearts,
you look beneath our outward appearance
and see your image in each of us.
Banish in us the blindness
that prevents us from recognizing truth,
so we may see the world through your eyes
and with the compassion of Jesus Christ who redeems us. 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.
DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.
RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.
LCA Lutheran Church of Australia
The main scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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.
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 