Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/hs9fh5jk
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all within me, his holy name. Psalm 103
Faithful God,
you are hope for the poor and refuge for the oppressed.
Remember your people;
do not hide your face from our troubles.
Give us comfort in times of pain,
that we may proclaim the joyous news of freedom
in your 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: Edward Hayes Plumptre
Tune: Thornbury https://tinyurl.com/bdcud8cu
1 Thy hand, O God, has guided
thy flock, from age to age;
the wondrous tale is written,
full clear, on every page;
our fathers owned thy goodness,
and we their deeds record;
and both of this bear witness:
one Church, one faith, one Lord.
2 Thy heralds brought glad tidings
to greatest, as to least;
they bade men rise, and hasten
to share the great King’s feast;
and this was all their teaching,
in every deed and word,
to all alike proclaiming
one Church, one faith, one Lord.
3 When shadows thick were falling,
and all seemed sunk in night,
thou, Lord, didst send thy servants,
thy chosen sons of light.
On them and on thy people
thy plenteous grace was poured,
and this was still their message:
one church, one faith one Lord.
4 Through many a day of darkness,
through many a scene of strife,
the faithful few fought bravely,
to guard the nation’s life.
Their Gospel of redemption,
sin pardoned, man restored,
was all in this enfolded:
one Church, one faith, one Lord.
5 And we, shall we be faithless?
Shall hearts fail, hands hang down?
Shall we evade the conflict,
and cast away our crown?
Not so: in God’s deep counsels
some better thing is stored;
we will maintain, unflinching,
one church, one faith, one Lord.
6 Thy mercy will not fail us,
nor leave thy work undone;
with thy right hand to help us,
the victory shall be won;
and then, by men and angels,
thy name shall be adored,
and this shall be their anthem:
one Church, one faith, one Lord.
PSALMS
Psalm 9 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yczh7vnk)
1 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart *
I will speak of all thy marvellous works.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee *
yea, my songs will I make of thy Name, O thou most Highest.
3 While mine enemies are driven back *
they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause *
thou art set in the throne that judgest right.
5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, and destroyed the ungodly *
thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end *
even as the cities which thou hast destroyed;
their memorial is perished with them.
7 But the Lord shall endure for ever *
he hath also prepared his seat for judgement.
8 For he shall judge the world in righteousness *
and minister true judgement unto the people.
9 The Lord also will be a defence for the oppressed *
even a refuge in due time of trouble.
10 And they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee *
for thou, Lord, hast never failed them that seek thee.
11 O praise the Lord which dwelleth in Sion *
shew the people of his doings.
12 For, when he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them *
and forgetteth not the complaint of the poor.
13 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider the trouble
which I suffer of them that hate me *
thou that liftest me up from the gates of death.
14 That I may shew all thy praises
within the ports of the daughter of Sion *
I will rejoice in thy salvation.
15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made *
in the same net which they hid privily, is their foot taken.
16 The Lord is known to execute judgement *
the ungodly is trapped in the work of his own hands.
17 The wicked shall be turned into hell *
and all the people that forget God.
18 For the poor shall not alway be forgotten *
the patient abiding of the meek shall not perish for ever.
19 Up, Lord, and let not man have the upper hand *
let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
20 Put them in fear, O Lord *
that the heathen may know themselves to be but men.
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 10 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yakosuxg)
1 Why standest thou so far off, O Lord *
and hidest thy face in the needful time of trouble?
2 The ungodly for his own lust doth persecute the poor *
let them be taken in the crafty wiliness that they have imagined.
3 For the ungodly hath made boast of his own heart’s desire *
and speaketh good of the covetous, whom God abhorreth.
4 The ungodly is so proud, that he careth not for God *
neither is God in all his thoughts.
5 His ways are alway grievous *
thy judgements are far above out of his sight,
and therefore defieth he all his enemies.
6 For he hath said in his heart, Tush, I shall never be cast down *
there shall no harm happen unto me.
7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and fraud *
under his tongue is ungodliness and vanity.
8 He sitteth lurking in the thievish corners of the streets *
and privily in his lurking dens doth he murder the innocent;
his eyes are set against the poor.
9 For he lieth waiting secretly, even as a lion lurketh he in his den *
that he may ravish the poor.
10 He doth ravish the poor *
when he getteth him into his net.
11 He falleth down, and humbleth himself *
that the congregation of the poor may fall into the hands of his captains.
12 He hath said in his heart, Tush, God hath forgotten *
he hideth away his face, and he will never see it.
13 Arise, O Lord God, and lift up thine hand *
forget not the poor.
14 Wherefore should the wicked blaspheme God *
while he doth say in his heart, Tush, thou God carest not for it.
15 Surely thou hast seen it *
for thou beholdest ungodliness and wrong.
16 That thou mayest take the matter into thine hand *
the poor committeth himself unto thee;
for thou art the helper of the friendless.
17 Break thou the power of the ungodly and malicious *
take away his ungodliness, and thou shalt find none.
18 The Lord is King for ever and ever *
and the heathen are perished out of the land.
19 Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the poor *
thou preparest their heart, and thine ear hearkeneth thereto;
20 To help the fatherless and poor unto their right *
that the man of the earth be no more exalted against them.
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 11 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yboxkznx)
1 In the Lord put I my trust *
how say ye then to my soul,
that she should flee as a bird unto the hill?
2 For lo, the ungodly bend their bow,
and make ready their arrows within the quiver *
that they may privily shoot at them which are true of heart.
3 For the foundations will be cast down *
and what hath the righteous done?
4 The Lord is in his holy temple *
the Lord’s seat is in heaven.
5 His eyes consider the poor *
and his eye-lids try the children of men.
6 The Lord alloweth the righteous *
but the ungodly, and him that delighteth in wickedness
doth his soul abhor.
7 Upon the ungodly he shall rain snares,
fire and brimstone, storm and tempest *
this shall be their portion to drink.
8 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness *
his countenance will behold the thing that is just.
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 9
(Gregorian Tone 3, Sing the Hours)
2 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; *
all your wonders I will confess.
3 I will rejoice in you and be glad, *
and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.
4 See how my enemies turn back, *
how they stumble and perish before you.
5 You upheld the justice of my cause; *
you sat enthroned, an upright judge.
6 You have rebuked the nations, destroyed the wicked; *
you have wiped out their names forever and ever.
7 The foe is destroyed eternally ruined. *
You uprooted their cities; their memory has perished.
8 But the LORD sits enthroned forever; *
he has set up his throne for judgement.
9 He will judge the world with righteousness; *
he will govern the peoples with equity.
10 For the oppressed, the LORD will be a stronghold, *
a stronghold in times of distress.
11 Those who know your name will trust you; *
you will not forsake those who seek you, O LORD.
12 Sing psalms to the LORD who dwells in Zion. *
Tell his mighty works among the peoples,
13 for the Avenger of Blood has remembered them *
has not forgotten the cry of the poor.
14 Have mercy on me, O LORD; *
see how I suffer from my foes,
you who raise me from the gates of death, *
15 that I may recount all your praise.
at the gates of daughter Zion, *
and rejoice in your salvation.
16 The nations have fallen in the pit which they have made; *
their feet have been caught in the snare they laid.
17 The LORD has revealed himself; he has given judgement. *
The wicked are snared by the work of their hands.
18 Let the wicked go down to Sheol, *
all the nations forgetful of God:
19 for the needy shall not always be forgotten, *
nor the hopes of the poor ever perish.
20 Arise O LORD, let human strength not prevail! *
Let the nations be judged before you.
21 Strike them with terror, O LORD; *
let the nations know they are but men.
Psalm 10
(Gregorian Tone 3g II, Sing the Hours)
1 Why, O Lord, do you stand afar off, *
and hide yourself in times of distress?
2 The poor are devoured by the pride of the wicked; *
they are caught in the schemes that others have made.
3 For the wicked boasts of his soulʼs desires; *
the covetous blasphemes and spurns the LORD.
4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him. *
All his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
5 His path is ever untroubled; *
your judgments are on high, far removed.
All those who oppose him, he derides. †
6 In his heart he thinks, “Never shall I falter; *
never shall misfortune be my lot.”
7 His mouth is full of cursing, guile, oppression; *
under his tongue are deceit and evil.
8 He sits in ambush in the villages; *
in hidden places, he murders the innocent.
The eyes of the wicked keep watch for the helpless. *
9 He lurks in hiding like a lion in his lair;
he lurks in hiding to seize the poor; *
he seizes the poor one and draws him to his snare.
10 He crouches, preparing to spring, *
and the helpless fall prey to his strength.
11 He says in his heart, “God forgets, *
he hides his face, never will he see.”
12 Arise, O LORD; lift up your hand, O God! *
Do not forget the poor!
13 Why should the wicked man spurn God, *
saying in his heart, “You will not call to account?”
14 But you have seen the trouble and sorrow. *
You note it; you take it in your hands.
The helpless one relies on you, *
for you are the helper of the orphan.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and the sinner! *
Pursue their wickedness till nothing remains!
16 The LORD is king forever and ever. *
The nations shall perish from his land.
17 O LORD, you have heard the desire of the poor. *
You strengthen their hearts; you turn your ear
18 to give right judgment for the orphan and oppressed, *
so that no one on earth may strike terror again.
Psalm 11 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-11.mp3)
1 In the LORD have I taken refuge; *
how then can you say to me,
“Fly away like a bird to the hilltop;
2 For see how the wicked bend the bow
and fit their arrows to the string, *
to shoot from ambush at the true of heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed, *
what can the righteous do?”
4 The LORD is in his holy temple; *
the LORD’S throne is in heaven.
5 His eyes behold the inhabited world; *
his piercing eye weighs our worth.
6 The LORD weighs the righteous as well as the wicked, *
but those who delight in violence he abhors.
7 Upon the wicked he shall rain coals of fire and
burning sulphur; *
a scorching wind shall be their lot.
8 For the LORD is righteous;
he delights in righteous deeds; *
and the just shall see his face.
PRAYER
O God our refuge,
bring an end to violence among nations and peoples,
and shelter those who take refuge in you.
When the foundations are being shaken,
give us a sure confidence that you will uphold us
through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. BCW2018
THE WORD OF GOD
READING: 2 Kings 4:8-37
One day Elisha was passing through Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to have a meal. So whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for a meal. She said to her husband, “Look, I am sure that this man who regularly passes our way is a holy man of God. Let us make a small roof chamber with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”
One day when he came there, he went up to the chamber and lay down there. He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. He said to him, “Say to her: Since you have taken all this trouble for us, what may be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?” She answered, “I live among my own people.” He said, “What then may be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” He said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood at the door. He said, “At this season, in due time, you shall embrace a son.” She replied, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not deceive your servant.”
The woman conceived and bore a son at that season, in due time, as Elisha had declared to her.
When the child was older, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. He complained to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” He carried him and brought him to his mother; the child sat on her lap until noon, and he died. She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, closed the door on him, and left. Then she called to her husband and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.” He said, “Why go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “It will be all right.” Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Urge the animal on; do not hold back for me unless I tell you.” So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite woman; run at once to meet her and say to her: Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is the child all right?” She answered, “It is all right.” When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi approached to push her away, but the man of God said, “Let her alone, for she is in bitter distress; the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.” Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, ‘Do not mislead me?’ ” He said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go. If you meet anyone, give no greeting, and if anyone greets you, do not answer, and lay my staff on the face of the child.” Then the mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave without you.” So he rose up and followed her. Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. He came back to meet him and told him, “The child has not awakened.”
When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. So he went in and closed the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord. Then he got up on the bed and lay upon the child, putting his mouth upon his mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands, and while he lay bent over him, the flesh of the child became warm. He got down, walked once to and fro in the room, then got up again and bent over him; the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” So he called her. When she came to him, he said, “Take your son.” She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground; then she took her son and left.
HYMN: Horatio Gates Spafford
Tune: Ville du Havre https://tinyurl.com/z52m5f7z
1 When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll,
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.
2 Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul. [Refrain]
3 Redeemed! Oh, the bliss of this glorious thought:
My sin—not in part, but the whole—
is nailed to his cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! [Refrain]
4 And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
the trumpet shall sound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul. [Refrain]
READING: 2 Timothy 1:1-7
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands, for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
HYMN: Charles Wesley
Tune: Hereford https://tinyurl.com/yhz8u9fx
1 O Thou who camest from above,
the pure celestial fire to’impart,
kindle a flame of sacred love
upon the altar of my heart.
2 There let it for Thy glory burn
with inextinguishable blaze,
and trembling to its source return,
in humble prayer and fervent praise.
3 Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire
to work and speak and think for Thee,
still let me guard the holy fire,
and still stir up Thy gift in me.
4 Ready for all Thy perfect will,
my acts of faith and love repeat,
till death Thy endless mercies seal,
and make my sacrifice complete.
READING: Luke 14:15-24
One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, “Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” Then Jesus said to him, “Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.’ Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.’ Another said, ‘I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ And the slave said, ‘Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ Then the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.’ ”
CANTICLE 1 Samuel 2:1-10
(Sing the Hours)
My heart exults in the Lord,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory.
There is no Holy One like the Lord;
there is no Rock like our God.
Speak boastfully no longer,
nor let arrogance issue from your mouths.
For an all-knowing God is the Lord,
a God who judges deeds.
The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes.
The Lord puts to death and gives life;
he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich,
he humbles, he also exalts.
He raises the needy from the dust;
from the ash heap he lifts up the poor,
to seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and he has set the world upon them.
He will guard the footsteps of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall perish in the darkness.
For not by strength does man prevail;
the Lord’s foes shall be shattered.
The Most High in heaven thunders;
the Lord judges the ends of the earth.
Now may he give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed!
THE PRAYERS BCW
We lift our voices in prayers of praise, holy God,
for you have lifted us to new life in Jesus Christ,
and your blessings come in generous measure.
Especially we thank you for
the privilege of worship and service in your name . . .
the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ for us . . .
food and drink to share in the Lord’s name . . .
our calling to discipleship. . . .
We hold up before you human needs, God of compassion,
for you have come to us in Jesus Christ and shared our life
so we may share his resurrection. Especially we pray for
the healing of those who are sick . . .
the comfort of the dying . . .
the renewal of those who despair . . .
the Spirit’s power in the church. . . .
(Traditional chant: http://oremus.org/chant/LP-1940.mp3)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord of the feast,
you have prepared a table before all peoples
and poured out life with such abundance
that death cannot claim the triumph over your universe.
Call us again to your banquet where we may receive your holy food,
and strengthened by what is honorable, just, and pure,
be transformed into a people of righteousness and peace.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
The Lord’s Prayer is the traditional chant as set in The Hymnal 1940 and sung by Kathryn Mannyng https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsJ2TB9pLbU
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 versions of Psalms 9 and 10 are from The Abbey Psalms and as sung on the Chants & Rants YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@chantsandrants. Psalm 11 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. The canticle is from Liturgy of the Hours and is from 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.
