Oremus for May 16, 2026

The New Jerusalem and the River and Tree of Life, Beatus of Facundus, Mozarabic manuscript, 1047

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/24ze4zp5

The merciful love of the Lord fills the earth;
by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, alleluia. Psalm 33

Lord, while our days vanish like shadows
and our lives wear out like a garment,
you are eternal.
Although our earthly lives come to an end,
help us to live in Christ’s endless life
and at length attain our home,
the heavenly Jerusalem,
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen. BCW

Music: https://tinyurl.com/mb6h9xfa

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
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.
Alleluia, alleluia!

HYMN: John Newton
Tune: Lux Prima https://tinyurl.com/2m3dm4js

1 One there is, above all others,
well deserves the name of Friend;
His is love beyond a brother’s,
costly, free, and knows no end;
they who once His kindness prove,
find it everlasting love!

2 Which of all our friends to save us,
could or would have shed their blood?
But our Jesus died to have us
reconciled in Him to God;
this was boundless love indeed!
Jesus is a Friend in need.

3 Men, when raised to lofty stations,
often know their friends no more;
slight and scorn their poor relations
though they valued them before.
But our Savior always owns
those whom He redeemed with groans.

4 When He lived on earth abased,
Friend of sinners was His name;
now, above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same;
still He calls them brethren, friends,
and to all their wants attends.

5 Could we bear from one another,
what He daily bears from us?
Yet this glorious Friend and Brother
loves us though we treat Him thus;
though for good we render ill,
He accounts us brethren still.

6 O for grace our hearts to soften!
Teach us, Lord, at length to love;
we, alas! forget too often
what a Friend we have above;
but when home our souls are brought,
we will love Thee as we ought.

PSALMS

Psalm 79 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ssjuezl)
1  O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance *
 thy holy temple have they defiled,
and made Jerusalem an heap of stones.
2  The dead bodies of thy servants have they given
to be meat unto the fowls of the air *
 and the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the land.
3  Their blood have they shed like water on every side of Jerusalem *
 and there was no man to bury them.
4  We are become an open shame to our enemies *
 a very scorn and derision unto them that are round about us.
5  Lord, how long wilt thou be angry *
 shall thy jealousy burn like fire for ever?
6  Pour out thine indignation upon the heathen
that have not known thee *
 and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy Name.
7  For they have devoured Jacob *
 and laid waste his dwelling-place.
8  O remember not our old sins, but have mercy upon us, and that soon *
 for we are come to great misery.
9  Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy Name *
 O deliver us, and be merciful unto our sins, for thy Name’s sake.
10  Wherefore do the heathen say *
 Where is now their God?
11  O let the vengeance of thy servants’ blood that is shed *
 be openly shewed upon the heathen in our sight.
12  O let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before thee *
 according to the greatness of thy power,
preserve thou those that are appointed to die.
13  And for the blasphemy
wherewith our neighbours have blasphemed thee *
 reward thou them, O Lord, seven-fold into their bosom.
14  So we, that are thy people, and sheep of thy pasture,
shall give thee thanks for ever *
 and will alway be shewing forth thy praise from generation to generation.
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 80 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ry2whon)
1  Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel,
thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep *
 shew thyself also, thou that sittest upon the cherubims.
2  Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses *
 stir up thy strength, and come, and help us.
3  Turn us again, O God *
 shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
4  O Lord God of hosts *
 how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that prayeth?
5  Thou feedest them with the bread of tears *
 and givest them plenteousness of tears to drink.
6  Thou hast made us a very strife unto our neighbours *
 and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7  Turn us again, thou God of hosts *
 shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
8  Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt *
 thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
9  Thou madest room for it *
 and when it had taken root it filled the land.
10  The hills were covered with the shadow of it *
 and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedar-trees.
11  She stretched out her branches unto the sea *
 and her boughs unto the river.
12  Why hast thou then broken down her hedge *
 that all they that go by pluck off her grapes?
13  The wild boar out of the wood doth root it up *
 and the wild beasts of the field devour it.
14  Turn thee again, thou God of hosts, look down from heaven *
 behold, and visit this vine;
15  And the place of the vineyard that thy right hand hath planted *
 and the branch that thou madest so strong for thyself.
16  It is burnt with fire, and cut down *
 and they shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
17  Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand *
 and upon the son of man,
whom thou madest so strong for thine own self.
18  And so will not we go back from thee *
 O let us live, and we shall call upon thy Name.
19  Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts *
 shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
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 81 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tl45xkf)
1  Sing we merrily unto God our strength *
 make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2  Take the psalm, bring hither the tabret *
 the merry harp with the lute.
3  Blow up the trumpet in the new-moon *
 even in the time appointed, and upon our solemn feast-day.
4  For this was made a statute for Israel *
 and a law of the God of Jacob.
5  This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony *
 when he came out of the land of Egypt, and had heard a strange language.
6  I eased his shoulder from the burden *
 and his hands were delivered from making the pots.
7  Thou calledst upon me in troubles, and I delivered thee *
 and heard thee what time as the storm fell upon thee.
8  I proved thee also *
 at the waters of strife.
9  Hear, O my people, and I will assure thee, O Israel *
 if thou wilt hearken unto me,
10  There shall no strange god be in thee *
 neither shalt thou worship any other god.
11  I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt *
 open thy mouth wide, and I shall fill it.
12  But my people would not hear my voice *
 and Israel would not obey me.
13  So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lusts *
 and let them follow their own imaginations.
14  O that my people would have hearkened unto me *
 for if Israel had walked in my ways,
15  I should soon have put down their enemies *
 and turned my hand against their adversaries.
16  The haters of the Lord should have been found liars *
 but their time should have endured for ever.
17  He should have fed them also with the finest wheat-flour *
 and with honey out of the stony rock should I have satisfied thee.
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 79 (Gregorian Tone VII.7)

1 O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; *
they have defiled your holy temple, and made
Jerusalem a heap of stones.
2 The dead bodies of your servants have they given
to be meat for the birds of the air, *
and the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the land.
3 Their blood have they shed
like water on every side of Jerusalem, *
and there was no one to bury them.
4 We have become a reproach to our enemies, *
an object of scorn and derision to those
who are round about us.
5 O Lord, how long will you be angry? *
Shall your jealousy burn like fire for ever?
6 Pour out your indignation
upon the nations that have not known you, *
and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon your Name.
7 For they have devoured Jacob *
and laid waste his dwelling place.
8 O remember not our past sins, but have mercy on us speedily, *
for we have come to great misery.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your Name; *
O deliver us and forgive our sins for your Name’s sake.
10 Why do the nations say, *
“Where now is their God?”
11 O let the vengeance of your servants’ blood that is shed *
be known in our sight among the nations.
12 O let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before you; *
according to the greatness of your power,
preserve those who are condemned to die.
13 As for the blasphemy
by which our neighbors have blasphemed you, *
repay them, O Lord, seven-fold into their bosoms.
14 So we, who are your people and the sheep of your pasture,
shall give you thanks for ever, *
and will always be showing forth your praise
from generation to generation.
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.

Psalm 80 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-80.mp3)
1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *
shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
stir up your strength and come to help us.
3 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
4 O LORD God of hosts, *
how long will you be angered
despite the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
6 You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
8 You have brought a vine out of Egypt; *
you cast out the nations and planted it.
9 You prepared the ground for it; *
it took root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered by its shadow *
and the towering cedar trees by its boughs.
11 You stretched out its tendrils to the Sea *
and its branches to the River.
12 Why have you broken down its wall, *
so that all who pass by pluck off its grapes?
13 The wild boar of the forest has ravaged it, *
and the beasts of the field have grazed upon it.
14 Turn now, O God of hosts, look down from heaven;
behold and tend this vine; *
preserve what your right hand has planted.
15 They burn it with fire like rubbish; *
at the rebuke of your countenance let them perish.
16 Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, *
and son of man you have made so strong for yourself.
17 And so will we never turn away from you; *
give us life, that we may call upon your Name.
18 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

Psalm 81 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-81.mp3)
1 Sing with joy to God our strength *
and raise a loud shout to the God of Jacob.
2 Raise a song and sound the timbrel, *
the merry harp, and the lyre.
3 Blow the ram’s-horn at the new moon, *
and at the full moon, the day of our feast.
4 For this is a statute for Israel, *
a law of the God of Jacob.
5 He laid it as a solemn charge upon Joseph, *
when he came out of the land of Egypt.
6 I heard an unfamiliar voice saying, *
“I eased his shoulder from the burden;
his hands were set free from bearing the load.”
7 You called on me in trouble, and I saved you; *
I answered you from the secret place of thunder
and tested you at the waters of Meribah.
8 Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you: *
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you; *
you shall not worship a foreign god.
10 I am the LORD your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt and said, *
“Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.”
11 And yet my people did not hear my voice, *
and Israel would not obey me.
12 So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their hearts, *
to follow their own devices.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me! *
that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I should soon subdue their enemies *
and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, *
and their punishment would last for ever.
16 But Israel would I feed with the finest wheat *
and satisfy him with honey from the rock.

PRAYER

God our strength,
you ease our burden
and set us free from bondage to death.
Help us listen always to your voice,
and satisfy our hearts with the finest bread,
food for this life and a foretaste of eternity:
your Son, Jesus Christ, the bread of life. Amen. BCW2018

THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Isaiah 66:10-14
Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,
all you who love her;
rejoice with her in joy,
all you who mourn over her—
that you may nurse and be satisfied
from her consoling breast,
that you may drink deeply with delight
from her glorious bosom.

For thus says the Lord:
I will extend prosperity to her like a river
and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream,
and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm
and bounced on her knees.
As a mother comforts her child,
so I will comfort you;
you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;
your bodies shall flourish like the grass,
and it shall be known that the power of the Lord is with his servants,
and his indignation is against his enemies.

HYMN: Nikolaus von Zinzendorf; trans. John Wesley
Tune: Fulda https://tinyurl.com/yh6ppm7h

1. Jesus, thy blood and righteousness,
My beauty are, my glorious dress;
Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
With joy shall I lift up my head.

2. The holy, meek, unspotted Lamb,
Who from the Father’s bosom came,
Who died for me, e’en me t’ atone,
Now for my Lord and God I own.

3. When from the dust of death I rise
To claim my mansion in the skies,
E’en then this shall be all my plea,
Jesus hath lived, hath died for me.

4. Jesus, be endless praise to thee,
Whose boundless mercy hath for me
And all who trust thy hands hath made
An everlasting ransom paid.

5. Ah! give to all, almighty Lord,
With pow’r to speak thy gracious word,
That all who to thy wounds will flee
May find eternal life in thee.

READING: 1 Timothy 6:17-21
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches but rather on God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge; by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith. Grace be with you.

HYMN: Charles Wesley
Tune: Boylston https://tinyurl.com/35x37z8t

1 A charge to keep I have,
a God to glorify,
a never-dying soul to save,
and fit it for the sky.

2 To serve the present age,
my calling to fulfill,
O may it all my pow’rs engage
to do my Master’s will!

3 Arm me with watchful care
as in Thy sight to live,
and now Thy servant, Lord, prepare
a strict account to give!

4 Help me to watch and pray,
and still on Thee rely,
O let me not my trust betray,
but press to realms on high.

READING: John 15:12-25
Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

“If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Slaves are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. It was to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’”

CANTICLE Song of the Three Young Men 35-65
(New Camaldoli chant: https://tinyurl.com/yawzzmsx)

All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Heavens and waters above the heavens, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Powers of the Lord, God be praised and exalted above all forever!
Sun and moon, bless the Lord!
All you stars of heaven, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

All rain and dew, bless the Lord!
And let every wind, bless the Lord!
Fire and heat, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Cold and warmth, bless the Lord!
Dew and snowstorm, bless the Lord!
Frost and cold, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Ice and snow, bless the Lord!
Nights and days, bless the Lord!
Light and darkness, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord!
Let the whole earth bless the Lord!
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Every plant that grows, bless the Lord!
Springs of water, bless the Lord!
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Everything that moves in the waters, bless the Lord!
And let every kind of bird bless the Lord!
All you beasts wild and tame, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Let the whole human race, bless the Lord!
O Israel, bless the Lord!
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

All you the Lord’s servants, bless the Lord!
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord!
Humble-hearted people, bless the Lord!
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

God has freed us from the underworld,
saved us from the hand of death
and drawn us from the heart of the flame:
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

Give thanks to the Lord who is so good!
Bless the God of gods, all you who fear him.
Praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
God be praised and exalted above all forever!

THE PRAYERS WS2

God of life,
we rejoice in the resurrection of your Son,
his defeat over death, and his gift of new life.
We praise you for the reflections of that new life
in creation . . .
in nations and governments around the world . . .
in the ministry of the church universal . . .
in our community as it . . .
in the sacrifice of those who serve . . .
in our new life in Christ . . .

To you as the giver of new life and renewed hope
we bring our prayers
for creation and its care . . .
for the nations of the world . . .
for our nation and its leaders . . .
for this community and those who are in authority . . .
for the church universal as it works on your behalf . . .
for this local church in its ministry . . .
for persons with particular needs . . .
We pray all this in your name, the Lord and giver of life. 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.

Faithful God,
make our hearts bold with love for one another.
Pour out your Spirit upon all people,
that we may live your justice
and sing in praise
the new song of your marvelous victory. Amen. RCLP

https://tinyurl.com/rkxkpmc
Go in peace, alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia!

Glory to God whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine:
Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church,
and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.    Ephesians 3:20,21


BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.

BCW2018 Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 2018

WS2 The Worship Sourcebook, 2nd edition, © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources

RCLP Revised Common Lectionary Prayers. © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.

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 versions of Psalms 80 and 81 are from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. Psalm 79 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.

Leave a comment