Antiphon1
Ant. The ordinances of the Lord are right, *
bringing joy to all hearts, sweeter than honey or the honeycomb.
Therefore your servant will observe them.
V. The heavens declare the glory of God, *
and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands.
Day unto day conveys the message, *
and night unto night imparts the knowledge. Psalm 19
O God,
you clothe the sky with light
and the ocean depths with darkness.
You work your mighty wonders among us.
Give us new and honest hearts,
that we may hate evil and love justice;
and let us see the dawn of your glory
in the face of your only-begotten Son,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. BCW2018
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: Delores Dufner ©
Tune: Land of Rest https://tinyurl.com/3e85mhch
1 The reign of God, like farmer’s field,
Bears weeds along with wheat;
The good and bad are intertwined
Till harvest is complete.
2 The reign of God cannot be found
In faroff, foreign land
Till in familiar face and place
We find it close at hand.
3 The reign of God is like a pearl
On barren land concealed.
If once you find that precious pearl,
Go out and buy that field.
4 Though hidden now, the reign of God
May, yet unnoticed, grow;
From deep within it rises up,
Like yeast in swelling dough.
5 The reign of God is come in Christ;
The reign of God is near.
Ablaze among us, kindling hearts,
The reign of God is here!
PSALMS
Psalm 95 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yx5ywz8t)
1 O come, let us sing unto the Lord *
let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is a great God *
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are all the corners of the earth *
and the strength of the hills is his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it *
and his hands prepared the dry land.
6 O come, let us worship and fall down *
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For he is the Lord our God *
and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
8 To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts *
as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness;
9 When your fathers tempted me *
proved me, and saw my works.
10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said *
It is a people that do err in their hearts,
for they have not known my ways;
11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath *
that they should not enter into my rest.
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 96 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/u9ylore)
1 O sing unto the Lord a new song *
sing unto the Lord, all the whole earth.
2 Sing unto the Lord, and praise his Name *
be telling of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his honour unto the heathen *
and his wonders unto all people.
4 For the Lord is great, and cannot worthily be praised *
he is more to be feared than all gods.
5 As for all the gods of the heathen, they are but idols *
but it is the Lord that made the heavens.
6 Glory and worship are before him *
power and honour are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people *
ascribe unto the Lord worship and power.
8 Ascribe unto the Lord the honour due unto his Name *
bring presents, and come into his courts.
9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness *
let the whole earth stand in awe of him.
10 Tell it out among the heathen that the Lord is King *
and that it is he who hath made the round world
so fast that it cannot be moved;
and how that he shall judge the people righteously.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad *
let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is.
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it *
then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord.
13 For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth *
and with righteousness to judge the world,
and the people with his truth.
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 97 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/qm79zby)
1 The Lord is King, the earth may be glad thereof *
yea, the multitude of the isles may be glad thereof.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him *
righteousness and judgement are the habitation of his seat.
3 There shall go a fire before him *
and burn up his enemies on every side.
4 His lightnings gave shine unto the world *
the earth saw it, and was afraid.
5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord *
at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens have declared his righteousness *
and all the people have seen his glory.
7 Confounded be all they that worship carved images,
and that delight in vain gods *
worship him, all ye gods.
8 Sion heard of it, and rejoiced *
and the daughters of Judah were glad, because of thy judgements, O Lord.
9 For thou, Lord, art higher than all that are in the earth *
thou art exalted far above all gods.
10 O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil *
the Lord preserveth the souls of his saints;
he shall deliver them from the hand of the ungodly.
11 There is sprung up a light for the righteous *
and joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous *
and give thanks for a remembrance of his holiness.
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 95 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-95.mp3)
1 Come, let us sing to the LORD; *
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.
3 For the LORD is a great God, *
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands have molded the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *
and kneel before the LORD our Maker.
7 For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *
Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!
8 Harden not your hearts,
as your forebears did in the wilderness, *
at Meribah, and on that day at Massah,
when they tempted me.
9 They put me to the test, *
though they had seen my works.
10 Forty years long I detested that generation and said, *
“This people are wayward in their hearts;
they do not know my ways.”
11 So I swore in my wrath, *
“They shall not enter into my rest.”
Psalm 96 (LSB Tone K: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-96-LSB.mp3)
1 Oh sing to the LORD a new song;*
sing to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name;*
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,*
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;*
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,*
but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;*
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,*
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;*
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;*
tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;*
he will judge the peoples with equity.”
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;*
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the LORD, for he comes,*
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,*
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
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 97 (LSB Tone H: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-97-LSB.mp3)
1 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;*
let the many coast lands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;*
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him*
and burns up his adversaries all around.
4 His lightnings light up the world;*
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,*
before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,*
and all the peoples see his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;*
worship him, all you gods!
8 Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,*
because of your judgments, O LORD.
9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;*
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 O you who love the LORD, hate evil!*
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous,*
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,*
and give thanks to his holy name!
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.
PRAYER
Ever-living God,
the heavens were glad and the earth rejoiced
when you sent your Son, the incarnate Word, to dwell with us.
Help us to proclaim your glory to those who do not know you,
until the whole earth sings a new song to you,
with your Son and the Holy Spirit one God, now and forever. Amen. BCW2018
THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Isaiah 44:6-11
Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,
and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
I am the first, and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
Who is like me? Let them proclaim it;
let them declare and set it forth before me.
Who has announced from of old the things to come?
Let them tell us what is yet to be.
Do not fear or be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
You are my witnesses!
Is there any god besides me?
There is no other rock; I know not one.
All who make idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit; their witnesses neither see nor know, and so they will be put to shame. Who would fashion a god or cast an image that can do no good? All its devotees shall be put to shame; the artisans, too, are merely human. Let them all assemble; let them stand up; they shall be terrified; they shall all be put to shame.
HYMN: Psalm 86; para. Sing Psalms, alt. ©
Tune: Hollingside https://tinyurl.com/22f9uc9j
1 Hear, O LORD, and answer me;
I am poor, and needy too.
2 Guard my life; save me, my God,
For your servant trusts in you.
3 Lord, be merciful to me;
all day long to you I call.
4 Give your servant joy, O Lord,
for to you I lift my soul.
5 You, O Lord, alone are good;
you are ready to forgive.
To all those who call on you,
you abound in steadfast love.
6 Hear my earnest prayer, O LORD;
listen to my troubled cry.
7 In distress I’ll call on you,
for in mercy you’ll reply.
8 Lord, none of the many gods
we create can rival you;
deeds that mortals may perform
never match what you can do.
9 Lord, the nations you have made
will come near and praise your name.
10 You alone are God; your deeds
bring to you outstanding fame.
11 Teach me, LORD, your way, that I
from your truth may not depart;
so that I may fear your name,
give me a devoted heart.
12 Lord, with all my heart I will
praise your name unceasingly.
13 For your love to me is great;
from the grave you rescued me.
14 Arrogant foes attack me;
ruthless pursuers of strife,
who have no regard for God,
seek to take away my life.
15 But, Lord, you are merciful,
God of grace and tenderness,
slow to anger, rich in love
and in covenant faithfulness.
16 Turn your face towards me, Lord,
and to me compassion show.
Give me strength and save my life;
on your servant grace bestow.
17 Grant a sign of favor, LORD,
which my enemies may see;
then they will be put to shame,
for you help and comfort me.
READING: Romans 1:18-25
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and injustice of those who by their injustice suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. Ever since the creation of the world God’s eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been seen and understood through the things God has made. So they are without excuse, for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.
Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
HYMN: Isaac Watts
Tune: Warrington https://tinyurl.com/yvtn84rr
1 Nature with open volume stands
to spread her Maker’s praise abroad,
and every labour of his hands
shows something worthy of our God.
2 But in the grace that rescued man
his brightest form of glory shines;
here on the cross ’tis fairest drawn
in precious blood and crimson lines.
3 Here his whole name appears complete;
nor wit can guess, nor reason prove
which of the letters best is writ,
the power, the wisdom, or the love.
4 O the sweet wonders of that cross
where God the Saviour loved and died;
her noblest life my spirit draws
from his dear wounds and bleeding side.
5 I would for ever speak his name
in sounds to mortal ears unknown,
with angels join to praise the Lamb,
and worship at his Father’s throne.
READING: Matthew 13:24-30
Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field, but while everybody was asleep an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ”
CANTICLE Luke 1:68-79
(John Harper, https://tinyurl.com/4wwy9fbs)
Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,
To show mercy to our ancestors,
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
PRAYERS BCW
For the holy church of God,
that it may be filled with truth and love,
and be found without fault at the day of your coming,
we pray to you, O Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For all who fear God and believe in you, Lord Christ,
that our divisions may cease,
and that all may be one as you and the Father are one,
we pray to you, O Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who do not yet believe,
and those who have lost their faith,
that they may receive the light of the gospel,
we pray to you, O Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the world,
that a spirit of respect and forbearance
may grow among nations and peoples,
we pray to you, O Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those in positions of public trust (especially N., N.),
that they may serve justice,
and promote the dignity and freedom of every person,
we pray to you, O Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For a blessing upon all human labor,
and for the right use of the riches of creation,
that the world may be freed from poverty, famine, and disaster,
we pray to you, O Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the poor, the persecuted, and all who suffer;
for refugees, prisoners, and all who are in danger;
that they may be relieved and protected,
we pray to you, O Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For ourselves,
and for all whom we have injured or offended;
that we may be delivered from hardness of heart,
and show forth your glory in all that we do,
we pray to you, O Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For our families, friends, and neighbors;
that, being freed from anxiety,
they may live in joy, peace, and health,
we pray to you, O Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For all who have died in the communion of your church,
that, strengthened by their witness,
we may be grateful for their example,
living in justice and love
until we join them in life eternal,
we pray to you, O Lord. Lord, have mercy.
(Plainsong: https://tinyurl.com/ahnrtv59)ELW
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.
Steadfast God,
teach us your way and your truth.
Root us in you alone,
help us to grow in grace and love,
that we may fulfill our role and our work
in the reign of Jesus Christ. 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.
BCW2018 Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 2018
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/ ©
ELW The Lord’s Prayer is from Setting Five in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
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 95 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. Psalms 96 and 97 are from Lutheran Service Book, Concordia Publishing House, and are from the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg.
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 