Antiphon1
Ant. I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord; *
from whatever tribulations they cry out to me,
I will give heed to them; and I will be their Lord for ever.
Ps. Give ear, my people, to my teaching; *
incline your ear to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable *
and utter hidden lessons of the past. cf. Psalm 37; Psalm 78
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: Fred Pratt Green ©
Tune: Ar hyd y nos https://tinyurl.com/58hnx6sw
1 For the fruit of all creation,
thanks be to God.
For the gifts to ev’ry nation,
thanks be to God.
For the plowing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth’s safekeeping,
thanks be to God.
2 In the just reward of labor,
God’s will is done.
In the help we give our neighbor,
God’s will is done.
In our worldwide task of caring
for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvests we are sharing,
God’s will is done.
3 For the harvest of the Spirit,
thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit,
thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all, that love has found us,
thanks be to God.
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: Jonah 3:10-4:11
When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them, and he did not do it.
But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning, for I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment. And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city.
The Lord God appointed a bush and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort, so Jonah was very happy about the bush. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?” And he said, “Yes, angry enough to die.” Then the Lord said, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left and also many animals?”
HYMN: Charles Wesley
Tune: Seymour https://tinyurl.com/mr2p3c6j
1 Depth of mercy! Can there be
mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear?
me, the chief of sinners, spare?
2 I have long withstood His grace,
long provoked Him to His face;
would not hearken to His calls,
grieved Him by a thousand falls.
3 I my Master have denied;
I afresh have crucified,
oft profaned His hallowed name,
put Him to an open shame.
4 There for me the Savior stands,
shows His wounds and spreads His hands.
God is love! I know, I feel;
Jesus weeps, but loves me still!
5 Now incline me to repent,
let me now my fall lament;
now my foul revolt deplore!
weep, believe, and sin no more.
READING: Romans 9:6-16
It is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all those descended from Israel are Israelites, and not all of Abraham’s children are his descendants, but “it is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. For the word of the promise is this: “About this time I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac: even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose of election might continue, not by works but by his call) she was told, “The elder shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.”
What then are we to say? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So it depends not on human will or exertion but on God who shows mercy.
HYMN: William Freeman Lloyd
Tune: Ferguson https://tinyurl.com/23av4wvv
1 Our times are in Thy hand.
O God, we wish them there;
Our life, our friends, our souls we leave
Entirely to Thy care.
2 Our times are in Thy hand;
Whatever they may be,
Pleasing or painful, dark or bright,
As best may seem to Thee.
3 Our times are in Thy hand;
Why should I doubt or fear?
A Father’s hand will never cause
His child a needless tear.
4 Our times are in Thy hand,
Jesus, the Crucified,
The hand our cruel sins have pierced,
Is now our guard and guide.
5 Our times are in Thy hand:
We’ll always trust on Thee,
Till we have left the weary land,
And all Thy glory see.
READING: Matthew 20:1-16
Jesus said, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
CANTICLE Luke 1:46-55
(John Michael Talbot, https://tinyurl.com/mweccsj)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
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.
PRAYERS BCW
God of heaven and earth,
through Jesus Christ you promise to hear us
when we pray to you in his name.
Confident in your love and mercy
we offer our prayer.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Empower the church throughout the world in its life and witness.
Break down the barriers that divide,
that, united in your truth and love,
the church may confess your name,
share one baptism,
sit together at one table,
and serve you in one common ministry.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Guide the rulers of the nations.
Move them to set aside their fear, greed, and vain ambition,
and bow to your sovereign rule.
Inspire them to strive for peace and justice,
that all your children may dwell secure,
free of war and injustice.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hear the cries of the world’s hungry and suffering.
Give us, who consume most of the earth’s resources,
the will to reorder our lives,
that all may have their rightful share of the food,
medical care, and shelter,
and so have the necessities of a life of dignity.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Restore among us a love of the earth you created for our home.
Help us put an end to ravishing its land, air, and waters,
and give us respect for all your creatures,
that, living in harmony with everything you have made,
your whole creation may resound in an anthem of praise
to your glorious name.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Renew our nation in the ways of justice and peace.
Guide those who make and administer our laws
to build a society based on trust and respect.
Erase prejudices that oppress;
free us from crime and violence;
guard our youth from the perils of drugs and materialism.
Give all citizens a new vision of a life of harmony.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Look with compassion on all who suffer.
Support with your love
those with incurable and stigmatized diseases,
those unjustly imprisoned,
those denied dignity,
those who live without hope,
those who are homeless or abandoned.
so lead us to be present with them in their suffering
in the name of Jesus Christ.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
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.
God of miracles and of mercy,
all creation sings your praise.
Like the vineyard owner,
your grace is extravagant and unexpected.
Lead us to repentance
and the acceptance of your grace,
that we may witness to your love,
which embraces both those we call friend
and those we call stranger. 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/ ©
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.
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 