Oremus for May 17, 2026

Christ in Majesty, Speyer Gospels (Codex Bruchsal), ca. 1220

Antiphon 1

Ant. God has gone up amidst shouts of joy,
the Lord to the sound of the trumpet, alleluia.
V. All peoples, clap your hands. *
Cry to God with shouts of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, *
the great king over all the earth. Psalm 47

True and only Light,
from whom comes every good gift,
send your Spirit into our lives
with the power of a mighty wind.
Open the horizons of our minds
by the flame of your wisdom.
Loosen our tongues to sing your praise,
for only in your Spirit
can we tell of your glory
and acclaim Jesus as Lord. Amen. BCW2018

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: Charles Wesley
Tune: Ratisbon https://tinyurl.com/3az5m3rz

1 Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true and only Light,
Sun of righteousness, arise,
triumph o’er the shade of night;
Day-spring from on high, be near;
Day-star, in my heart appear.

2 Dark and cheerless is the morn
unaccompanied by Thee;
joyless is the day’s return,
till Thy mercy’s beams I see,
till they inward light impart,
glad my eyes, and warm my heart.

3 Visit then this soul of mine,
pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
fill me, radiancy divine,
scatter all my unbelief;
more and more Thyself display,
shining to the perfect day.

PSALMS

Psalm 86 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vmvol2r)
1  Bow down thine ear, O Lord, and hear me *
 for I am poor, and in misery.
2  Preserve thou my soul, for I am holy *
 my God, save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee.
3  Be merciful unto me, O Lord *
 for I will call daily upon thee.
4  Comfort the soul of thy servant *
 for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5  For thou, Lord, art good and gracious *
 and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
6  Give ear, Lord, unto my prayer *
 and ponder the voice of my humble desires.
7  In the time of my trouble I will call upon thee *
 for thou hearest me.
8  Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord *
 there is not one that can do as thou doest.
9  All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship thee, O Lord *
 and shall glorify thy Name.
10  For thou art great, and doest wondrous things *
 thou art God alone.
11  Teach me thy way, O Lord, and I will walk in thy truth *
 O knit my heart unto thee, that I may fear thy Name.
12  I will thank thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart *
 and will praise thy Name for evermore.
13  For great is thy mercy toward me *
 and thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell.
14  O God, the proud are risen against me *
 and the congregations of naughty men
have sought after my soul, and have not set thee before their eyes.
15  But thou, O Lord God, art full of compassion and mercy *
 long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and truth.
16  O turn thee then unto me, and have mercy upon me *
 give thy strength unto thy servant, and help the son of thine handmaid.
17  Shew some token upon me for good,
that they who hate me may see it, and be ashamed *
 because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,*
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 87 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/sjg229z)
1  Her foundations are upon the holy hills *
 the Lord loveth the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
2  Very excellent things are spoken of thee *
 thou city of God.
3  I will think upon Rahab and Babylon *
 with them that know me.
4  Behold ye the Philistines also *
 and they of Tyre, with the Morians; lo, there was he born.
5  And of Sion it shall be reported that he was born in her *
 and the most High shall stablish her.
6  The Lord shall rehearse it when he writeth up the people *
 that he was born there.
7  The singers also and trumpeters shall he rehearse *
 All my fresh springs shall be in 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 88 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tl4xkf)
1  O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee *
 O let my prayer enter into thy presence, incline thine ear unto my calling.
2  For my soul is full of trouble *
 and my life draweth nigh unto hell.
3  I am counted as one of them that go down into the pit *
 and I have been even as a man that hath no strength.
4  Free among the dead, like unto them that are wounded, and lie in the grave *
 who are out of remembrance, and are cut away from thy hand.
5  Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit *
 in a place of darkness, and in the deep.
6  Thine indignation lieth hard upon me *
 and thou hast vexed me with all thy storms.
7  Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me *
 and made me to be abhorred of them.
8  I am so fast in prison *
 that I cannot get forth.
9  My sight faileth for very trouble *
 Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched forth my hands unto thee.
10  Dost thou shew wonders among the dead *
 or shall the dead rise up again, and praise thee?
11  Shall thy loving-kindness be shewed in the grave *
 or thy faithfulness in destruction?
12  Shall thy wondrous works be known in the dark *
 and thy righteousness in the land where all things are forgotten?
13  Unto thee have I cried, O Lord *
 and early shall my prayer come before thee.
14  Lord, why abhorrest thou my soul *
 and hidest thou thy face from me?
15  I am in misery, and like unto him that is at the point to die *
 even from my youth up thy terrors have I suffered with a troubled mind.
16  Thy wrathful displeasure goeth over me *
 and the fear of thee hath undone me.
17  They came round about me daily like water *
 and compassed me together on every side.
18  My lovers and friends hast thou put away from me *
 and hid mine acquaintance out of my sight.
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 86 (LSB Tone B: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-86-LSB.mp3)
1 Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,*
 for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am godly;*
 save your servant, who trusts in you— you are my God.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord,*
 for to you do I cry all the day.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant,*
 for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,*
 abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;*
 listen to my plea for grace.
7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you,*
 for you answer me.
8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,*
 nor are there any works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made
shall come and worship before you, O Lord,*
 and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wondrous things;*
 you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;*
 unite my heart to fear your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,*
 and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;*
 you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
a band of ruthless men seek my life,*
 and they do not set you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,*
 slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;*
 give your strength to your servant,
 and save the son of your maidservant.
17 Show me a sign of your favor,*
 that those who hate me may see
 and be put to shame because you, LORD,
 have helped me and comforted me.
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.

Psalm 87 (Gregorian Tone VIII.1)

1 The Lord loves the foundation
which he has laid upon the holy hills; *
the gates of Zion are dearer to him than
all the dwellings of Jacob.
2 Very excellent things are spoken of you, *
O city of God.
3 I will consider Egypt and Babylon *
among those who know me.
4 Behold Philistia also, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; *
each one was born in her.
5 And of Zion it shall be reported that each one was born in her, *
and the Most High shall establish her.
6 The Lord shall record it when he registers the people, *
that each one was born there.
7 The singers and the dancers also shall say, *
“All my fresh springs are in you.”
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 88 (Gregorian Tone VIII.1)

1 O Lord God of my salvation,
I have cried day and night before you; *
O let my prayer enter into your presence;
incline your ear to my call.
2 For my soul is full of trouble, *
and my life draws nigh to the Grave.
3 I am counted as one of those who go down into the pit, *
and I have become as one who has no strength.
4 I have become like the dead, and like the slain who lie in the grave, *
whom you remember no more,
and who are cut off from your hand.
5 You have laid me in the lowest pit, *
in a place of darkness, and in the deep.
6 Your indignation lies heavy upon me, *
and you have overwhelmed me with all your storms.
7 You have put my friends far from me, *
and made me to be abhorred by them.
8 I am in prison; *
I cannot go forth.
9 My sight fails because of trouble; *
Lord, I have called daily upon you;
I have stretched forth my hands unto you.
10 Do you show wonders among the dead, *
or shall the dead rise up again and praise you?
11 Shall your loving-kindness be shown in the grave, *
or your faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall your wondrous works be known in the dark, *
and your righteousness in the land where
all things are forgotten?
13 Unto you have I cried, O Lord, *
and early shall my prayer come before you.
14 Lord, why do you cast off my soul *
and hide your face from me?
15 I am in misery, like one who is at the point of death; *
even from my youth,
your terrors have I suffered with a troubled mind.
16 Your wrathful displeasure goes over me, *
and the fear of you has undone me.
17 Daily they come round about me like water, *
and encompass me on every side.
18 My companions and neighbors you have put away from me, *
and hidden my friends out of my sight.
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

Lord, as you call us to your city
founded on the rock of ages,
let the springs of living water
rise within us to eternal life;
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. CW:DP

THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Ezekiel 39:21-29
I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed and my hand that I have laid on them. The house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day forward. And the nations shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they dealt treacherously with me. So I hid my face from them and gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and they all fell by the sword. I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their transgressions and hid my face from them.

Therefore thus says the Lord God: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. They shall bear their shame, and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they live securely in their land with no one to make them afraid, when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies’ lands and through them have displayed my holiness in the sight of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God because I sent them into exile among the nations and then gathered them into their own land. I will leave none of them behind, and I will never again hide my face from them, when I pour out my spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord God.

READING: Ephesians 5:15-21
Be careful, then, how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

READING: John 15:26-16:15
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

“I have said these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them.

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

CANTICLE Revelation 5:12-14 (LBW)
(John Ylsivaker ELW Setting 8: https://tinyurl.com/r4t5bzze)

Refrain:
This is the feast of victory for our God,
for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.
1 Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be people of God.
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength,
and honor, blessing, and glory are his. [Refrain]
2 Sing with all the people of God,
and join in the hymn of all creation.
Blessing, honor, glory, and might
be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen. [Refrain]

THE PRAYERS Joe Milner

For the Church: that, empowered by the Spirit, we may faithfully give witness to the Gospel and continue Christ’s mission of bringing hope and healing to all

For all who are awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit: that their hearts may be open and their spirits receptive to all the gifts of God

For a spirit of evangelization: that we may allow the Spirit to work through our words, deeds, and relationships to draw others to Christ

For the grace of wisdom and knowledge: that our hearts may be enlightened and our hope made firm in God who has called us to continue the mission of Jesus

For the grace to be fearless: that we may follow God’s call confidently and trust that God will guide and protect us through all challenging situations

For those who face the future with apprehension and uncertainty: that God will enlighten their path and give them peace

For all nations and their leaders: that the reign of peace and justice of God’s rule may inspire all who lead and govern to recognize the dignity of each person and promote the common good

For greater unity in the Church: that we may be one in faith, one in hope, and one in the peace of the Holy Spirit

For all who struggle with doubts: that the Spirit of Christ will free their minds and bring understanding to their hearts

For all who work to bring food to our tables: that God will bless them with seasonable weather and a bountiful harvest

For all missionaries: that God will help them to announce the Good News boldly and sustain their spirits as they help build the church

For the unmasking of racism: that God will help us recognize the variety of forms which discrimination takes and give us the courage to defeat it

For the gift of peace: that the reign of Christ will open new opportunities for dialogue and inspire them to work for justice and the preservation of life

(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 it is in heaven.
Give us today the bread of life;
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.

O God of glory,
your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us
and ascended to your right hand.
Unite us with Christ and each other,
in suffering and in joy,
that all your children may be drawn
into your bountiful dwelling. 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.

DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.

CW:DP Common Worship: Daily Prayer, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2005 and published by Church House Publishing

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

1 Adam Bartlett, Simple English Propers; audio from https://musicasacra.com/additional-publications/sep-practice-videos/ ©

The intercession is by Joe Milner http://liturgy.slu.edu

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 versions of Psalm 86 is the version in Lutheran Service Book and is from the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg. Psalms 87 and 88 are 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.

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