Oremus for May 21, 2026

Like the deer that yearns for running streams,
so my soul is yearning for you, my God;
my soul is thirsting for God, the living God. Psalm 42

Make us one, O God, as you are one.
Show us the gift of eternal life:
to know you as you know us.
Help us to finish the work
that you have called us to do,
that we may glorify you always;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.^CWC

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: Martin Luther; trans. Catherine Winkworth
Tune: Erhalt uns, Herr https://tinyurl.com/2ykn95pn

1 Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word;
Curb those who fain by craft and sword
Would wrest the kingdom from Thy Son
And set at naught all He hath done.

2 Lord Jesus Christ, Thy pow’r make known,
For Thou art Lord of lords alone;
Protect Thy Church from perils sore
That we may laud Thee evermore.

3 O Comforter, of priceless worth,
Send peace and unity on earth;
Support us in our final strife,
And lead us out of death to life.

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: Ezekiel 34:17-31
As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats: Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture? When you drink of clear water, must you foul the rest with your feet? And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet and drink what you have fouled with your feet?

Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged, and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them; he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken.

I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild animals from the land, so that they may live in the wild and sleep in the woods securely. I will make them and the region around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. The trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase. They shall be secure on their soil, and they shall know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their yoke and save them from the hands of those who enslaved them. They shall no more be plunder for the nations, nor shall the animals of the land devour them; they shall live in safety, and no one shall make them afraid. I will provide for them a splendid vegetation so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land and no longer suffer the insults of the nations. They shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, says the Lord God. You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, says the Lord God.

HYMN: James Montgomery
Tune: St Agnes https://tinyurl.com/55v8yaxd

1 Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless
thy chosen pilgrim flock
with manna in the wilderness,
with water from the rock.

2 We would not live by bread alone,
but by thy word of grace,
in strength of which we travel on
to our abiding-place.

3 Be known to us in breaking bread,
and do not then depart;
Saviour, abide with us, and spread
thy table in our heart.

4 Lord, sup with us in love divine,
thy Body and thy Blood,
that living bread, that heavenly wine,
be our immortal food.

READING: Romans 12:1-10
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the encourager, in encouragement; the giver, in sincerity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

HYMN: Carl P Daw ©
Tune: Rendez à Dieu https://tinyurl.com/2per65p5

1 Mark how the Lamb of God’s self offering
our human sinfulness takes on
in the birth waters of the Jordan
as Jesus is baptized by John.
Hear how the voice from heaven thunders,
“Lo, this is my beloved Son.”
See how in dovelike form the Spirit
descends on God’s anointed one.

2 From this assurance of God’s favor
Jesus goes to the wilderness,
there to endure a time of testing
that readied him to teach and bless.
So we, by water and the Spirit
baptized into Christ’s ministry,
are often led to paths of service
through mazes of adversity.

3 Grant us, O God, the strength and courage
to live the faith our lips declare;
bless us in our baptismal calling;
Christ’s royal priesthood help us share.
Turn us from every false allegiance,
that we may trust in Christ alone:
raise up in us a chosen people
transformed by love to be your own.

READING: John 17:7-11
Jesus continued, “Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”

CANTICLE Revelation 11:17-18; 12:10b-12a
(Chant by John Michael Talbot: https://tinyurl.com/ycrn2d4f)
Ant. The Father has given Christ all power, honor, and kingship,
All people will obey him.
We praise you, the Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was.
You have assumed your great power,
you have begun your reign.
the nations have raged in anger,
but then came your day of wrath
and the moment to judge the dead:
the time to reward your servants the prophets
and the holy ones who revere you,
the great and the small alike.
Now have salvation and power come,
the reign of our god and the authority
of his anointed one,
for the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
who night and day accused them before God.
They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.
So rejoice, you heavens,
and you that dwell therein!
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.

THE PRAYERS ^CWC
Rise up, O God,
and scatter the enemies of sin and death.
Hear our prayer.

We pray for those we love . . .
Restore them to health and peace,
that they may know fullness of life
in your abundant mercy.

We pray for our community . . .
Support those who are struggling
for fair wages, housing, and health care,
that they may have all they need.

We pray for nations and leaders . . .
Strengthen their resolve
to pursue peace instead of war,
that all may live in safety.

We pray for the church . . .
Establish your holy people
as a sign of what you intend
for all the world.

We pray for creation . . .
Discipline us to be good stewards
of the resources of the earth,
that future generations may know your glory.

Pour out your mercy, O God,
to provide for those in need.
Send out your mighty voice
to establish justice in the earth.
Give power to your people,
that we may bless your holy name. Amen.

Setting by Eric Wyse:²

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.

Eternal God,
your hand shaped our lives by grace
and your hand rescued us from sin by love.
May your hand guide us through this day,
shielding us from all evil,
strengthening us to do justice and love,
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW2018

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.

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 Psalm 105 is from Book of Common Prayer (2019) as recorded for the St Bernard Breviary https://www.bernardbreviary.com/chant-helps. The canticle comes from the same site.

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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