Oremus for July 20, 2026

Miriam’s Song of Praise, Wilhelm Hensel, 1836

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/hb7yfm6y

Give peace, O Lord, to those who wait for you,
that your prophets be found true.
Hear the prayers of your servant,
and of your people Israel. Sirach 36

God of all who worship you,
make us one with all your saints
and with any who are in need.
Teach us to befriend the weak,
and welcome the outcast,
that we may serve the Lord Jesus Christ
and live to offer him glory.
In his holy name we pray. 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: John Mason
Tune: Crediton https://tinyurl.com/mukwv9jv

1 I’ve found the pearl of greatest price;
My heart doth sing for joy:
And sing I must, for Christ is mine–
Christ shall my song employ.

2 Christ is my Prophet, Priest and King:
My Prophet full of light;
My great High Priest before the throne;
My King of heavenly might.

3 For He indeed is Lord of lords,
And He the King of kings;
He is the Sun of Righteousness,
With healing in His wings.

4 Christ is my Peace: He died for me,
For me He gave his blood;
and, as my wondrous sacrifice,
Offered Himself to God.

5 Christ Jesus is my All in All,
My comfort and my love;
My life below, and He shall be
My joy and crown above.

PSALMS

Psalm 102 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tru8yxv)
1  Hear my prayer, O Lord *
 and let my crying come unto thee.
2  Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble *
 incline thine ear unto me when I call; O hear me, and that right soon.
3  For my days are consumed away like smoke *
 and my bones are burnt up as it were a fire-brand.
4  My heart is smitten down, and withered like grass *
 so that I forget to eat my bread.
5  For the voice of my groaning *
 my bones will scarce cleave to my flesh.
6  I am become like a pelican in the wilderness *
 and like an owl that is in the desert.
7  I have watched, and am even as it were a sparrow *
 that sitteth alone upon the house-top.
8  Mine enemies revile me all the day long *
 and they that are mad upon me are sworn together against me.
9  For I have eaten ashes as it were bread *
 and mingled my drink with weeping;
10  And that because of thine indignation and wrath *
 for thou hast taken me up, and cast me down.
11  My days are gone like a shadow *
 and I am withered like grass.
12  But, thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever *
 and thy remembrance throughout all generations.
13  Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Sion *
 for it is time that thou have mercy upon her, yea, the time is come.
14  And why? thy servants think upon her stones *
 and it pitieth them to see her in the dust.
15  The heathen shall fear thy Name, O Lord *
 and all the kings of the earth thy Majesty;
16  When the Lord shall build up Sion *
 and when his glory shall appear;
17  When he turneth him unto the prayer of the poor destitute *
 and despiseth not their desire.
18  This shall be written for those that come after *
 and the people which shall be born shall praise the Lord.
19  For he hath looked down from his sanctuary *
 out of the heaven did the Lord behold the earth;
20  That he might hear the mournings of such as are in captivity *
 and deliver the children appointed unto death;
21  That they may declare the Name of the Lord in Sion *
 and his worship at Jerusalem;
22  When the people are gathered together *
 and the kingdoms also, to serve the Lord.
23  He brought down my strength in my journey *
 and shortened my days.
24  But I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of mine age *
 as for thy years, they endure throughout all generations.
25  Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth *
 and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26  They shall perish, but thou shalt endure *
 they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
27  And as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed *
 but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
28  The children of thy servants shall continue *
 and their seed shall stand fast in thy 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 103 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/wclpdz5)
1  Praise the Lord, O my soul *
 and all that is within me praise his holy Name.
2  Praise the Lord, O my soul *
 and forget not all his benefits;
3  Who forgiveth all thy sin *
 and healeth all thine infirmities;
4  Who saveth thy life from destruction *
 and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness;
5  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things *
 making thee young and lusty as an eagle.
6  The Lord executeth righteousness and judgement *
 for all them that are oppressed with wrong.
7  He shewed his ways unto Moses *
 his works unto the children of Israel.
8  The Lord is full of compassion and mercy *
 long-suffering, and of great goodness.
9  He will not alway be chiding *
 neither keepeth he his anger for ever.
10  He hath not dealt with us after our sins *
 nor rewarded us according to our wickednesses.
11  For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth *
 so great is his mercy also toward them that fear him.
12  Look how wide also the east is from the west *
 so far hath he set our sins from us.
13  Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children *
 even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him.
14  For he knoweth whereof we are made *
 he remembereth that we are but dust.
15  The days of man are but as grass *
 for he flourisheth as a flower of the field.
16  For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone *
 and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17  But the merciful goodness of the Lord
endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear him *
 and his righteousness upon children’s children;
18  Even upon such as keep his covenant *
 and think upon his commandments to do them.
19  The Lord hath prepared his seat in heaven *
 and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20  O praise the Lord, ye angels of his, ye that excel in strength *
 ye that fulfil his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his words.
21  O praise the Lord, all ye his hosts *
 ye servants of his that do his pleasure.
22  O speak good of the Lord, all ye works of his,
in all places of his dominion *
 praise thou the Lord, O my soul.
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 102 (LSB Tone I: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-102-LSB.mp3)
1 Hear my prayer, O LORD;*
 let my cry come to you!
2 Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress!*
 Incline your ear to me;
 answer me speedily in the day when I call!
3 For my days pass away like smoke,*
 and my bones burn like a furnace.
4 My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;*
 I forget to eat my bread.
5 Because of my loud groaning*
 my bones cling to my flesh.
6 I am like a desert owl of the wilderness,*
 like an owl of the waste places;
7 I lie awake;*
 I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
8 All the day my enemies taunt me;*
 those who deride me use my name for a curse.
9 For I eat ashes like bread*
 and mingle tears with my drink,
10 because of your indignation and anger;*
 for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
11 My days are like an evening shadow;*
 I wither away like grass.
12 But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever;*
 you are remembered throughout all generations.
13 You will arise and have pity on Zion;*
 it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come.
14 For your servants hold her stones dear*
 and have pity on her dust.
15 Nations will fear the name of the LORD,*
 and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
16 For the LORD builds up Zion;*
 he appears in his glory;
17 he regards the prayer of the destitute*
 and does not despise their prayer.
18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come,*
 so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:
19 that he looked down from his holy height;*
 from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners,*
 to set free those who were doomed to die,
21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD,*
 and in Jerusalem his praise,
22 when peoples gather together,*
 and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.
23 He has broken my strength in midcourse;*
 he has shortened my days.
24 “O my God,” I say, “take me not away in the midst of my days—*
 you whose years endure throughout all generations!”
25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,*
 and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will remain;*
 they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe,
and they will pass away,*
27 but you are the same, and your years have no end.
28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure;*
 their offspring shall be established before you.
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 103 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-103.mp3)
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul, *
and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, *
and forget not all his benefits.
3 He forgives all your sins *
and heals all your infirmities;
4 He redeems your life from the grave *
and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;
5 He satisfies you with good things, *
and your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
6 The LORD executes righteousness *
and judgment for all who are oppressed.
7 He made his ways known to Moses *
and his works to the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is full of compassion and mercy, *
slow to anger and of great kindness.
9 He will not always accuse us, *
nor will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, *
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, *
so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, *
so far has he removed our sins from us.
13 As a father cares for his children, *
so does the LORD care for those who fear him.
14 For he himself knows whereof we are made; *
he remembers that we are but dust.
15 Our days are like the grass; *
we flourish like a flower of the field;
16 When the wind goes over it, it is gone, *
and its place shall know it no more.
17 But the merciful goodness of the LORD endures for ever
 on those who fear him, *
and his righteousness on children’s children;
18 On those who keep his covenant *
and remember his commandments and do them.
19 The LORD has set his throne in heaven, *
and his kingship has dominion over all.
20 Bless the LORD, you angels of his,
you mighty ones who do his bidding, *
and hearken to the voice of his word.
21 Bless the LORD, all you his hosts, *
you ministers of his who do his will.
22 Bless the LORD, all you works of his,
in all places of his dominion; *
bless the LORD, O my soul.

PRAYER

Great God, you are one God,
and you bring together what is scattered
and mend what is broken.
Unite us with the scattered peoples of the earth
that we may be one family of your children.
Bind up all our wounds,
and heal us in spirit,
that we may be renewed as disciples
of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. BCW2018

THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Exodus 15:19-27
When the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his chariot drivers went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.

Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. And Miriam sang to them:

“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.”

Then Moses ordered Israel to set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter. That is why it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” He cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood; he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

There the Lord made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he put them to the test. He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.”

Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there by the water.

HYMN: Henry Francis Lyte
Tune: Lauda Anima https://tinyurl.com/3e7m2xbk

1 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
to his feet thy tribute bring;
ransomed healed, restored, forgiven,
who like me his praise should sing?
Alleluia, alleluia,
praise the everlasting King.

2 Praise him for his grace and favour
to our fathers in distress;
praise him still the same for ever,
slow to chide and swift to bless:
Alleluia, alleluia,
glorious in his faithfulness.

3 Father-like, he tends and spares us,
well our feeble frame he knows;
in his hands he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes:
Alleluia, alleluia,
widely as his mercy flows.

4 Frail as summer’s flower we flourish;
blows the wind and it is gone;
but, while mortals rise and perish,
God endures unchanging on:
Alleluia, alleluia,
praise the high eternal One.

5 Angels, help us to adore him;
ye behold him face to face;
sun and moon bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space:
Alleluia, alleluia,
praise with us the God of grace.

READING: 1 John 1:1-2:2
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— what we have seen and heard we also declare to you so that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

HYMN: Graham Kendrick ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/4kbubwup

1 Lord, the light of Your love is shining,
in the midst of the darkness shining;
Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us,
set us free by the truth You now bring us,
shine on me, shine on me.

Refrain:
Shine, Jesus, shine,
fill this land with the Father’s glory;
blaze, Spirit, blaze
set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow,
flood the nations with grace and mercy;
send forth Your Word,
Lord, and let there be light.

2 Lord, I come to Your awesome presence,
from the shadows into Your radiance;
by the blood I may enter Your brightness;
search me, try me, consume all my darkness,
shine on me, shine on me. [Refrain]

3 As we gaze on Your kingly brightness,
so our faces display Your likeness;
ever changing from glory to glory,
mirrored here may our lives tell Your story,
shine on me, shine on me. [Refrain]

READING: Matthew 13:44-53
Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.

CANTICLE Habakkuk 3:2-4, 13a, 15-19

O Lord, I have heard your renown,
and feared, O Lord, your work.
In the course of the years revive it,
in the course of the years make it known;
in your wrath remember compassion!
God comes from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran.
Covered are the heavens with his glory,
and with his praise the earth is filled.
His splendor spreads like the light;
rays shine forth from beside him,
where his power is concealed.
You come forth to save your people,
to save your anointed one
You tread the sea with your steeds
amid the churning of the deep waters.
I hear, and my body trembles;
at the sound, my lips quiver.
Decay invades my bones,
my legs tremble beneath me.
I await the day of distress
that will come upon the people who attack us.
For though the fig tree blossom not
nor fruit be on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive fail
and the terraces produce no nourishment,
Though the flocks disappear from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord
and exult in my saving God.
God, my Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet swift as those of hinds
and enables me to go upon the heights.

THE PRAYERS BCW
God of glory,
we praise you for your presence in our lives,
and for all goodness that you shower
upon your children in Jesus Christ.
Especially we thank you for
promises kept and hope for tomorrow . . .
the enjoyment of friends . . .
the wonders of your creation . . .
love from our parents, our sisters and brothers, our spouses and children . . .
pleasures of living. . . .

God of grace,
we are one with all your children,
for we are sisters and brothers of Jesus Christ,
and we offer our prayers for all whom we love.
Especially we pray for
those we too often forget . . .
people who have lost hope . . .
victims of tragedy and disaster . . .
those who suffer mental anguish . . .

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.

O sovereign God,
in Jesus Christ you set your holy reign upon this earth
and within your people.
So let its coming be like the mustard seed
that grows into greatness,
and like the leaven
that mixes with the grain
until the whole becomes greater,
to the praise of the triune God,
who lives forevermore. 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.

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 102 is from Lutheran Service Book, Concordia Publishing House, and is from the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg. Psalm 103 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and are sung by Ryland Angel. The canticle is from Liturgy of the Hours as recorded for the Sing the Hours YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/SingtheHours

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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