Jan Hus
John Hus (1372-1415) was a Czech priest who became leader of the Czech reform movement, which called for a return to scripture and living out of the word of God in one’s life. As preacher at Bethlehem Chapel in Prague, he talked to the people in their native language. Hundreds gathered every day to hear his call for personal and institutional reform. Clerics he had offended had him exiled from Prague, but he continued his ministry through the written word. Hus took the radical step of appealing directly to Christ rather than to the hierarchy for the justification of his stance. When the Council of Constance opened in 1414, Hus traveled there hoping to clear his name of charges of heresy. He maintained that the charges against him were false or twisted versions of his teachings, and he could not recant opinions he had never held. Faced with an ultimatum to recant or die, Hus chose the latter. He was killed on this day in 1415. Hus’ rousing assertion “Truth will conquer!” is the motto of the Czech Republic today. HWHM, abbr.
Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/2ybp9ax5
Proclaim a joyful sound and let it be heard;
proclaim to the ends of the earth:
The Lord has freed his people, alleluia. Cf. Isaiah 48
O God, the well of life,
make us bright with wisdom,
that we may be lightened with the knowledge of your glory
in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. CW:DP
Music: https://tinyurl.com/ycn4djk5
O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will declare your praise.
Make haste, O God, to deliver me;
make haste to help me, O Lord.
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.
Praise to you, O Christ, Alleluia!
HYMN: Jan Hus; German version by Martin Luther; tr. unknown
Tune: Jesus Christus unser Heiland https://tinyurl.com/ekmzu3cp
1 Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior,
Turned away God’s wrath forever;
By His bitter grief and woe
He saved us from the evil Foe.
2 As His pledge of love undying
He, this precious food supplying,
Gives His body with the bread
And with the wine the blood He shed.
3 Whoso to this Board repaireth
May take heed how he prepareth;
For if he does not believe,
Then death for life he shall receive.
5 Thou shalt hold with faith unshaken
That this food is to be taken
By the sick who are distrest,
By hearts that long for peace and rest.
6 Christ says: “Come, all ye that labor,
And receive My grace and favor;
They who feel no want nor ill
Need no physician’s help nor skill.
7 “Useless were for thee My Passion
If thy works thy weal could fashion.
This feast is not spread for thee
If thine own savior thou wilt be.”
8 If thy heart this truth professes
And thy mouth thy sin confesses,
His dear guest thou here shalt be,
And Christ Himself shall banquet thee.
PSALMS
Psalm 35 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y8onefhr)
1 Plead thou my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me *
and fight thou against them that fight against me.
2 Lay hand upon the shield and buckler *
and stand up to help me.
3 Bring forth the spear, and stop the way
against them that persecute me *
say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
4 Let them be confounded, and put to shame, that seek after my soul *
let them be turned back, and brought to confusion,
that imagine mischief for me.
5 Let them be as the dust before the wind *
and the angel of the Lord scattering them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery *
and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.
7 For they have privily laid their net to destroy me without a cause *
yea, even without a cause have they made a pit for my soul.
8 Let a sudden destruction come upon him unawares,
and his net, that he hath laid privily, catch himself *
that he may fall into his own mischief.
9 And, my soul, be joyful in the Lord *
it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee,
who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him *
yea, the poor, and him that is in misery, from him that spoileth him?
11 False witnesses did rise up *
they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
12 They rewarded me evil for good *
to the great discomfort of my soul.
13 Nevertheless, when they were sick, I put on sackcloth,
and humbled my soul with fasting *
and my prayer shall turn into mine own bosom.
14 I behaved myself as though it had been my friend, or my brother *
I went heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced,
and gathered themselves together *
yea, the very abjects came together against me unawares,
making mouths at me, and ceased not.
16 With the flatterers were busy mockers *
who gnashed upon me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou look upon this *
O deliver my soul from the calamities which they bring on me,
and my darling from the lions.
18 So will I give thee thanks in the great congregation *
I will praise thee among much people.
19 O let not them that are mine enemies triumph over me ungodly *
neither let them wink with their eyes that hate me without a cause.
20 And why? their communing is not for peace *
but they imagine deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.
21 They gaped upon me with their mouths, and said *
Fie on thee, fie on thee, we saw it with our eyes.
22 This thou hast seen, O Lord *
hold not thy tongue then, go not far from me, O Lord.
23 Awake, and stand up to judge my quarrel *
avenge thou my cause, my God, and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness *
and let them not triumph over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, There, there, so would we have it *
neither let them say, We have devoured him.
26 Let them be put to confusion and shame together,
that rejoice at my trouble *
let them be clothed with rebuke and dishonour,
that boast themselves against me.
27 Let them be glad and rejoice, that favour my righteous dealing *
yea, let them say alway, Blessed be the Lord,
who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
28 And as for my tongue, it shall be talking of thy righteousness *
and of thy praise all the day long.
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 36 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y82f3wv5)
1 My heart sheweth me the wickedness of the ungodly *
that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flattereth himself in his own sight *
until his abominable sin be found out.
3 The words of his mouth are unrighteous, and full of deceit *
he hath left off to behave himself wisely, and to do good.
4 He imagineth mischief upon his bed,
and hath set himself in no good way *
neither doth he abhor any thing that is evil.
5 Thy mercy, O Lord, reacheth unto the heavens *
and thy faithfulness unto the clouds.
6 Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains *
thy judgements are like the great deep.
7 Thou, Lord, shalt save both man and beast;
How excellent is thy mercy, O God *
and the children of men shall put their trust
under the shadow of thy wings.
8 They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house *
and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures, as out of the river.
9 For with thee is the well of life *
and in thy light shall we see light.
10 O continue forth thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee *
and thy righteousness unto them that are true of heart.
11 O let not the foot of pride come against me *
and let not the hand of the ungodly cast me down.
12 There are they fallen, all that work wickedness *
they are cast down, and shall not be able to stand.
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 35 (Gregorian Tone VII.7)
1 Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me, *
and fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up the shield and buckler, *
and stand up to help me.
3 Bring forth the spear
and bar the way against those who pursue me; *
say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4 Let them be confounded
and put to shame who seek after my life; *
let them be turned back and brought to confusion
who imagine evil against me.
5 Let them be as the chaff before the wind, *
and let the angel of the Lord scatter them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery, *
and let the angel of the Lord pursue them.
7 For they have secretly laid their net
to destroy me without a cause; *
indeed, without a cause have they made
a pit to take away my life.
8 Let sudden destruction come upon them unawares,
and the net, which they have laid secretly, catch themselves, *
that they may fall into their own trouble.
9 Then shall my soul be joyful in the Lord; *
I shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, “Lord, who is like you?
You deliver the poor from those who are too strong for them; *
indeed, the poor and those who are in misery
from those who rob them.”
11 Malicious witnesses rise up; *
they charge me with matters I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good, *
to the great sorrow of my soul.
13 Nevertheless, when they were sick,
I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting; *
I prayed with my whole heart,
as if it had been my friend or my brother.
14 I behaved myself as one who mourns for his mother; *
I was bowed down with heaviness of heart.
15 But in my adversity, they rejoiced
and gathered themselves together; *
indeed, those who struck me came together against me,
and I had no rest; they tore at me, and would not cease.
16 When I stumbled they mocked me exceedingly, *
and gnashed at me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long will you look on this? *
O deliver me from the calamities they bring upon me,
and my life from the lions.
18 So will I give you thanks in the great congregation; *
I will praise you among many people.
19 O let not those who are my enemies
triumph over me deceitfully; *
neither let them wink with their eyes,
those who hate me without a cause.
20 For their talking is not for peace, *
but they imagine deceitful words against
those who are quiet in the land.
21 They open their mouths at me, and say, *
“Aha! Aha! We saw it with our own eyes!”
22 This you have seen, O Lord. *
Hold not your tongue then;
be not far from me, O Lord.
23 Awake, and stand up to judge my case; *
avenge my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O Lord my God,
according to your righteousness, *
and let them not triumph over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts,
“Aha! We have what we want!” *
Neither let them say, “We have devoured him.”
26 Let them be put to confusion
and shame who rejoice at my trouble; *
let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
who boast against me.
27 Let them be glad and rejoice who favor my righteous cause; *
indeed, let them say always, “Great is the Lord,
who takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”
28 And as for my tongue,
it shall be talking of your righteousness *
and of your praise all the day long.
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 36 (Gregorian Tone VII.7)
1 My heart shows me the wickedness of the ungodly; *
there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own sight, *
until his abominable sin is found out.
3 The words of his mouth are unrighteous and full of deceit; *
he has left off behaving wisely and doing good.
4 He imagines mischief upon his bed,
and has set himself in no good way; *
neither does he abhor anything that is evil.
5 Your mercy, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, *
and your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness stands like the strong mountains;
your judgments are like the great deep; *
you, Lord, shall save both man and beast.
7 How excellent is your mercy, O God! *
The children of men shall take refuge
under the shadow of your wings.
8 They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of your house, *
and you shall give them drink from your pleasures
as out of a river.
9 For with you is the well of life, *
and in your light shall we see light.
10 O continue your loving-kindness to those who know you, *
and your righteousness to those who are true of heart.
11 O let not the foot of the proud come against me, *
and let not the hand of the ungodly cast me down.
12 There have they fallen, all those who work wickedness; *
they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
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
God our Maker,
you crown the humble with honor
and exalt the faithful who gather in your name.
Because you have favored us with life,
we dance before you in our joy
and praise you with unending song
for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Exodus 7:8-21
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a wonder,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a snake.’ ” So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the Lord had commanded; Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same by their secret arts. Each one threw down his staff, and they became snakes, but Aaron’s staff swallowed up theirs. However, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water; stand by at the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that was turned into a snake. Say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you to say, “Let my people go, so that they may serve me in the wilderness.” But until now you have not listened. Thus says the Lord, “By this you shall know that I am the Lord.” See, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall be turned to blood. The fish in the river shall die, the river itself shall stink, and the Egyptians shall be unable to drink water from the Nile.’ ” The Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron: Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over its rivers, its canals, and its ponds, and all its pools of water—so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout the whole land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.”
Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and of his officials he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile; all the water in the river was turned into blood, and the fish in the river died. The river stank so that the Egyptians could not drink its water, and there was blood throughout the whole land of Egypt.
HYMN: Psalm 135; para. Trinity Psalter Hymnal, alt. ©
Tune: Creation https://tinyurl.com/4b44d5e9
1 O praise the LORD! His praise proclaim!
All you his servants, praise his name,
2 who stand within the house of the LORD
and humbly serve within his courts.
3 The LORD is good, his praise proclaim;
since it is pleasant, praise his name!
4 The LORD chose Jacob for himself
and loves his treasure, Israel.
5 I know the LORD is high in state;
above all gods our God is great.
6 The LORD will do what he decrees
in heav’n and earth, in depths and seas.
7 He makes the waters to ascend
to clouds from earth’s remotest end.
The lightning and the rain he sends,
and from his storehouse brings the winds.
8 The LORD struck down Egypt’s firstborn;
9 to ransom Israel as he’d sworn,
great wonders and signs he displayed;
till Pharaoh made haste and obeyed.
10 He struck down nations in their might,
11Sihon and Og and Canaanites.
12 He gave their lands to Israël,
a heritage where they might dwell.
13 Your name, O LORD, fore’er endures;
through ev’ry age your fame is sure.
14 The LORD his people will defend,
and great compassion shows to them.
15 The gods of gold are made by hand;
16 their mouths can’t breathe, their eyes are blind,
17 their ears are deaf, their mouths don’t breathe.
18 Those who trust in them cease to be.
19 O house of Isr’el, bless the LORD!
O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!
20 O house of Levi, bless the LORD!
All you who fear him, bless the LORD!
21 Now blest be God with one accord,
the LORD from Zion be adored,
who makes Jerus’lem his abode.
Sing your praise to God in Zion!
READING: Acts 18:1-23
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found a Jew named Aquila from Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers. Every Sabbath he would argue in the synagogue and would try to convince Jews and Greeks.
When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with proclaiming the word, testifying to the Jews that the Messiah was Jesus. When they opposed and reviled him, in protest he shook the dust from his clothes and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the gentiles.” Then he left the synagogue and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God; his house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the official of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, together with all his household, and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul became believers and were baptized. One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, for there are many in this city who are my people.” He stayed there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal. They said, “This man is persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to the law.” Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of crime or serious villainy, I would be justified in accepting the complaint of you Jews, but since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I do not wish to be a judge of these matters.” And he dismissed them from the tribunal. Then all of them seized Sosthenes, the official of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of these things.
After staying there for a considerable time, Paul said farewell to the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had his hair cut, for he was under a vow. When they reached Ephesus, he left them there, but first he himself went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews. When they asked him to stay longer, he declined, but on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.
When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch. After spending some time there he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
HYMN: German; trans. W Gustave Polack ©
Tune: Fang dein Werk https://tinyurl.com/5t4f5m7s
1 With the Lord begin thy task,
Jesus will direct it;
For His aid and counsel ask,
Jesus will perfect it.
Ev’ry morn with Jesus rise,
And when day is ended,
In His name then close thine eyes;
Be to Him commended.
2 Let each day begin with prayer,
Praise, and adoration;
On the Lord cast ev’ry care,
He is thy salvation.
Morning, evening, and at night
Jesus will be near thee,
Save you from the Tempter’s might,
With His presence cheer thee.
3 With thy Savior at thy side,
Foes need not alarm thee;
In His promises confide,
And no ill can harm thee.
All thy trust and hope repose
In the mighty Master,
Who in wisdom truly knows
How to stem disaster.
4 If your task be thus begun
With the Savior’s blessing,
Safely then thy course will run,
Naught thy soul distressing.
Good will follow everywhere
While thou here must wander;
Thou at last the joy wilt share
In the mansions yonder.
5 Thus, Lord Jesus, every task
Be to Thee commended;
May Thy will be done, I ask,
Until life is ended.
Jesus, in Thy name begun
Be the day’s endeavor;
Grant that it may well be done
To Thy praise forever.
READING: Matthew 12:31-32
Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
CANTICLE Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18
(BCP 2019/St Bernard Breviary)
I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *
the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *
the Lord has become my Savior.
This is my God and I will praise him, *
the God of my people and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a mighty warrior; *
The Lord is his Name.
The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; *
the finest of those who bear armor
have been drowned in the Red Sea.
The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *
they sank into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; *
your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.
Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? *
Who is like you, glorious in holiness,
awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?
You stretched forth your right hand; *
the earth swallowed them up.
With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; *
you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling.
You will bring them in and plant them *
on the mount of your possession,
The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, *
the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.
The Lord shall reign *
for ever and for ever.
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.
THE PRAYERS BCW
Eternal God,
we praise you for your mighty love
given in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross,
and the new life we have received by his resurrection.
Especially we thank you for
the presence of Christ in our weakness and suffering . . .
the ministry of Word and Sacrament . . .
all who work to help and heal . . .
sacrifices made for our benefit . . .
opportunities for our generous giving. . . .
God of grace,
let our concern for others reflect Christ’s self-giving love,
not only in our prayers, but also in our practice.
Especially we pray for
those subjected to tyranny and oppression . . .
wounded and injured people . . .
those who face death . . .
those who may be our enemies . . .
the church in Latin America. . . .
Setting: Sanford Dole https://tinyurl.com/y7ldq7h5
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as 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.
Faithful God, you gave John Hus the courage to confess your truth and recall your Church to the image of Christ: Enable us, inspired by his example, to bear witness against corruption and never cease to pray for our enemies, that we may prove faithful followers of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. HWHM
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.
HWHM Holy Women, Holy Men © 2010 The Church Pension Fund.
CW:DP Common Worship: Daily Prayer, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2005 and published by Church House Publishing
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). Psalms 35 and 36 are from Book of Common Prayer (2019) as recorded for the St Bernard Breviary https://www.bernardbreviary.com/chant-helps. The canticle is from the same website.
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 