From steve.benner at oremus.org  Fri Aug  1 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Fri,  1 Aug 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   2 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080801170000.B24761E42DC@justus2c.anglican.org>


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OREMUS for Saturday, August 2, 2008

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God,
you are our greatest treasure
and the source of our greatest joy:
Your Spirit continues to form us in the likeness of Christ,
that we may know the freedom of your children
and the assurance that nothing in creation
can separate us from your love,
most fully known in Jesus Christ our Lord.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 65

You are to be praised, O God, in Zion;*
 to you shall vows be performed in Jerusalem.
To you that hear prayer shall all flesh come,*
 because of their transgressions.
Our sins are stronger than we are,*
 but you will blot them out.
Happy are they whom you choose
   and draw to your courts to dwell there!*
 they will be satisfied by the beauty of your house,
   by the holiness of your temple.
Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness,
   O God of our salvation,*
 O Hope of all the ends of the earth
   and of the seas that are far away.
You make fast the mountains by your power;*
 they are girded about with might.
You still the roaring of the seas,*
 the roaring of their waves,
   and the clamour of the peoples.
Those who dwell at the ends of the earth
   will tremble at your marvellous signs;*
 you make the dawn and the dusk to sing for joy.
You visit the earth and water it abundantly;
   you make it very plenteous;*
 the river of God is full of water.
You prepare the grain,*
 for so you provide for the earth.
You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges;*
 with heavy rain you soften the ground
   and bless its increase.
You crown the year with your goodness,*
 and your paths overflow with plenty.
May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing,*
 and the hills be clothed with joy.
May the meadows cover themselves with flocks
   and the valleys cloak themselves with grain;*
 let them shout for joy and sing.

Psalm 67

May God be merciful to us and bless us,*
 show us the light of his countenance and come to us.
Let your ways be known upon earth,*
 your saving health among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;*
 let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,*
 for you judge the peoples with equity
   and guide all the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;*
 let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has brought forth her increase;*
 may God, our own God, give us his blessing.
May God give us his blessing,*
 and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.

A Song of God's Herald (Isaiah 40:9-11)

Go up to a high mountain,
herald of good tidings to Zion;
lift up your voice with strength,
herald of good tidings to Jerusalem.

Lift up your voice, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah, 'Behold your God!'

See, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him.

Behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.

God will feed his flock like a shepherd,
and gather the lambs in his arms;

He will carry them in his breast,
and gently lead those that are with young.

Psalm 150

Alleluia!
   Praise God in his holy temple;*
 praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts;*
 praise him for his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the blast of the ram's-horn;*
 praise him with lyre and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance;*
 praise him with strings and pipe.
Praise him with resounding cymbals;*
 praise him with loud-clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath*
 praise the Lord.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Micah 7:14-end]:

Shepherd your people with your staff,
   the flock that belongs to you,
which lives alone in a forest
   in the midst of a garden land;
let them feed in Bashan and Gilead
   as in the days of old.
As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt,
   show us marvellous things.
The nations shall see and be ashamed
   of all their might;
they shall lay their hands on their mouths;
   their ears shall be deaf;
they shall lick dust like a snake,
   like the crawling things of the earth;
they shall come trembling out of their fortresses;
   they shall turn in dread to the Lord our God,
   and they shall stand in fear of you.

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
   and passing over the transgression
   of the remnant of your possession?
He does not retain his anger for ever,
   because he delights in showing clemency.
He will again have compassion upon us;
   he will tread our iniquities under foot.
You will cast all our sins
   into the depths of the sea.
You will show faithfulness to Jacob
   and unswerving loyalty to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our ancestors
   from the days of old. 

HYMN 
Words: Thomas Toke Lynch, 1855
Music: Jesu, Jesu, du mein Hirt 

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/g/g343.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Gracious Spirit, dwell with me;
I myself would gracious be;
and with words that help and heal
would thy life in mine reveal;
and with actions bold and meek
would for Christ my Savior speak.

Truthful Spirit, dwell with me;
I myself would truthful be;
and with wisdom kind and clear
let thy life in mine appear;
and with actions brotherly
speak my Lord's sincerity.

Mighty Spirit, dwell with me;
I myself would mighty be,
mighty so as to prevail
where unaided man must fail;
ever by a mighty hope
pressing on and bearing up.

Holy Spirit, dwell with me;
I myself would holy be;
separate from sin, I would
choose and cherish all things good,
and whatever I can be
give to him who gave me thee!

SECOND READING [Romans 8:1-17]:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his
own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the
flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the
flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the
Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death,
but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set
on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law indeed it cannot, and
those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is
in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of
righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he
who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his
Spirit that dwells in you.
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the
flesh  for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put
to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God
are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is that very
Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then
heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ if, in fact, we suffer with him so that
we may also be glorified with him. 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Blessed are you, eternal God,
to be praised and glorified for ever.

Hear us as we pray for your holy Catholic Church:
make us all one, that the world may believe.

Grant that every member of the Church
may truly and humbly serve you:
that the life of Christ may be revealed in us.

Strengthen all who minister in Christ's name:
give them courage to proclaim your Gospel.

Inspire and lead those who hold authority
in the nations of the world:
guide them in the ways of justice and peace.

Make us alive to the needs of our community:
help us to share each other's joys and burdens.

Look with kindness on our homes and families:
grant that your love may grow in our hearts.

Deepen our compassion for all who suffer 
from sickness, grief or trouble:
in your presence may they find their strength.

We remember those who have died:
may they rest in your peace.

We praise you for all your saints 
who have entered your eternal glory:
bring us all to share in your heavenly kingdom.

Lord God,
joy marks your presence:
beauty, abundance and peace
are the tokens of your work in all creation.
Work also in our lives,
that by these signs we may see the splendor of your love
and praise you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

May we instructed by your heavenly law, O Lord,
that we may embrace the example of your Son
and show it forth in deeds and works of love. Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer and closing sentence are adapted from prayers by Alan Griffiths..

The first collect is from _Daily Prayer_, copyright (c) The Scottish
Episcopal Church, 1998. Used with permission. 
http://www.scottishepiscopal.com


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sat Aug  2 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sat,  2 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   3 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080802170001.51AA81E37BB@justus2c.anglican.org>


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Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Sunday, August 3, 2008
The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God,
beyond all seeing and knowing,
yet we meet you in the night of change and crisis,
and wrestle with you in the darkness of doubt.
You renew us with your your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your true and living bread,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 68 [CCP]

Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered;*
 let those who hate him flee before him. 
Let them vanish like smoke
   when the wind drives it away;*
 as the wax melts at the fire,
   so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.<td
colspan=2>
But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God;*
 let them also be merry and joyful.
Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
   exalt him who rides upon the heavens;*
 Yahweh is his name, rejoice before him!
Father of orphans, defender of widows,*
 God in his holy habitation!
God gives the solitary a home
   and brings forth prisoners into freedom;*
 but the rebels shall live in dry places.
O God, when you went forth before your people,*
 when you marched through the wilderness,
The earth shook and the skies poured down rain,
   at the presence of God, the God of Sinai,*
 at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance;*
 you refreshed the land when it was weary.
Your people found their home in it;*
 in your goodness, O God,
   you have made provision for the poor.
The Lord gave the word;*
 great was the company of women who bore the tidings:
'Kings with their armies are fleeing away;*
 the women at home are dividing the spoils.'
Though you lingered among the sheepfolds,*
 you shall be like a dove
   whose wings are covered with silver,
   whose feathers are like green gold.
When the Almighty scattered kings,*
 it was like snow falling in Zalmon.
O mighty mountain, O hill of Bashan!*
 O rugged mountain, O hill of Bashan!
Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountain,
   at the hill which God chose for his resting place?*
 truly, the Lord will dwell there for ever.
The chariots of God are twenty thousand,
   even thousands of thousands;*
 the Lord comes in holiness from Sinai.
You have gone up on high and led captivity captive;
   you have received gifts even from your enemies,*
 that the Lord God might dwell among them.
Blessed be the Lord day by day,*
 the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.
He is our God, the God of our salvation;*
 God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.
Your procession is seen, O God,*
 your procession into the sanctuary, my God and my King.
The singers go before, musicians follow after,*
 in the midst of maidens playing upon the hand-drums.
Bless God in the congregation;*
 bless the Lord, you that are of the fountain of Israel.
There is Benjamin, least of the tribes, at the head;
   the princes of Judah in a company;*
 and the princes of Zebulon and Naphtali.
Send forth your strength, O God;*
 establish, O God, what you have wrought for us.
Kings shall bring gifts to you,*
 for your temple's sake at Jerusalem.
Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds,*
 and the peoples, a herd of wild bulls with its calves.
Trample down those who lust after silver;*
 scatter the peoples that delight in war.
Let tribute be brought out of Egypt;*
 let Ethiopia stretch out her hands to God.
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;*
 sing praises to the Lord.
He rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;*
 he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God;*
 his majesty is over Israel;
   his strength is in the skies.
How wonderful is God in his holy places!*
 the God of Israel giving strength and power to his people!
   Blessed be God!

Benedicite (The Song of the Three 35-65)

Bless the Lord all you works of the Lord:  
sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 
Bless the Lord you heavens:  
sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 
Bless the Lord you angels of the Lord:  
bless the Lord all you his hosts; 
bless the Lord you waters above the heavens:  
sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 
Bless the Lord sun and moon:  
bless the Lord you stars of heaven; 
bless the Lord all rain and dew:  
sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 
Bless the Lord all winds that blow:  
bless the Lord you fire and heat; 
bless the Lord scorching wind and bitter cold:  
sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 
Bless the Lord dews and falling snows:  
bless the Lord you nights and days; 
bless the Lord light and darkness:  
sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 
Bless the Lord frost and cold:  
bless the Lord you ice and snow; 
bless the Lord lightnings and clouds:  
sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 
O let the earth bless the Lord:  
bless the Lord you mountains and hills; 
bless the Lord all that grows in the ground:  
sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 
Bless the Lord you springs:  
bless the Lord you seas and rivers; 
bless the Lord you whales and all that swim in the waters:  
sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 
Bless the Lord all birds of the air:  
bless the Lord you beasts and cattle; 
bless the Lord all people on earth:  
sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 
O people of God bless the Lord:  
bless the Lord you priests of the Lord; 
bless the Lord you servants of the Lord:  
sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 
Bless the Lord all you of upright spirit:  
bless the Lord you that are holy and humble in heart. 

Psalm 117

Alleluia!
Praise the Lord, all you nations;*
 laud him, all you peoples.
For his loving-kindness towards us is great,*
 and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 35:10-19]:

Be generous when you worship the Lord,
   and do not stint the first fruits of your hands.
With every gift show a cheerful face,
   and dedicate your tithe with gladness.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
   and as generously as you can afford.
For the Lord is the one who repays,
   and he will repay you sevenfold.

Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it;
   and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice;
for the Lord is the judge,
   and with him there is no partiality.
He will not show partiality to the poor;
   but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.
He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan,
   or the widow when she pours out her complaint.
Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek
   as she cries out against the one who causes them to fall? 

HYMN 
Words: John Samuel Bewley Monsell, 1863
Tune: ?ttingen, Dymchurch

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href="http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/w/w584.html">http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/w/w584.ht
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Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness,
bow down before him, his glory proclaim;
gold of obedience and incense of lowliness,
bring and adore him the Lord is his Name.

Low at his feet lay thy burden of carefulness,
high on his heart he will bear it for thee;
comfort thy sorrows and answer thy prayerfulness,
guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.

Fear not to enter his courts in the slenderness
of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine;
truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness,
these are the offerings to lay on his shrine.

These though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness,
he will accept for the Name that is dear,
mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness,
trust for out trembling, and hope for our fear.

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness,
bow down before him, his glory proclaim;
gold of obedience and incense of lowliness,
bring and adore him the Lord is his Name.

SECOND READING [Mark 12:38-end]:

As Jesus taught, he said, 'Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long
robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats
in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! They devour widows' houses and
for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater
condemnation.'

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the
treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two
small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to
them, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are
contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance;
but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.' 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may
follow.

Prayer:
Let us pray to God, the Father of all mercies, to look upon us and our world in kindness and
understanding.

We pray that your mercy will descend upon the Church throughout the world; preserve her in
peace and truth, in harmony and service: that her sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiving may reach
your presence. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

We pray for the world today and especially all those who have been broken or disabled by war or
whose lives have been thrown into disorder by cruelty or loneliness. We pray for all nations who
are exploited, for all who are poor and without legal rights, for all who are maltreated because of
their race or religion. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

We pray for those who lack the vital necessities of life: for health for those who are ill; for new
opportunities for those who have failed; for confidence and energy for those who live in
disappointment. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

We pray for the Lord's blessing on the hospitals of our land and all who work in them: that the
Lord will prosper all that is done for the healing of the sick and the conquest of disease. Merciful
God, hear our prayer.

Almighty Father, whose love cannot be measured, we bless and praise you for all your goodness.
In our darkness be our light; in our sorrows be our comfort and peace. This we ask through Christ
our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, 
your Son Jesus Christ fed the hungry 
with the bread of his life and the word of his kingdom: 
Renew your people with your heavenly grace, 
and in all our weakness sustain us by your true and living bread, 
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever.  Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Refresh us with your grace,
that we may not be weary in well-doing,
for the sake of him who has called us
to hunger and thirst to see right prevail,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer uses phrases from a prayer in _Revised Common Lectionary
Prayers_, copyright (c) 2002 Consultation on Common Texts and from
_Book of Common Worship_, (c) 1993 Westminster / John Knox Press.
The closing prayer uses phrases from _Book of Common Worship_, (c)
1993 Westminster / John Knox Press. 

The petitions are gathered by Redemptorist Publications and are published each Friday on their
website: http://www.rpbooks.co.uk/page.php?page=prayers


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sun Aug  3 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sun,  3 Aug 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   4 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080803170000.B9D881E3964@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Monday, August 4, 2008

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God,
beyond all seeing and knowing,
yet we meet you in the night of change and crisis,
and wrestle with you in the darkness of doubt.
You renew us with your your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your true and living bread,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 77

I will cry aloud to God;*
 I will cry aloud and he will hear me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;*
 my hands were stretched out by night and did not tire;
   I refused to be comforted.
I think of God, I am restless,*
 I ponder and my spirit faints.
You will not let my eyelids close;*
 I am troubled and I cannot speak.
I consider the days of old;*
 I remember the years long past;
I commune with my heart in the night;*
 I ponder and search my mind.
Will the Lord cast me off for ever?*
 will he no more show his favour?
Has his loving-kindness come to an end for ever?*
 has his promise failed for evermore?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?*
 has he, in his anger, withheld his compassion?
And I said, 'My grief is this:*
 the right hand of the Most High has lost its power.'
I will remember the works of the Lord,*
 and call to mind your wonders of old time.
I will meditate on all your acts*
 and ponder your mighty deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy;*
 who is so great a god as our God?
You are the God who works wonders*
 and have declared your power among the peoples.
By your strength you have redeemed your people,*
 the children of Jacob and Joseph.
The waters saw you, O God;
   the waters saw you and trembled;*
 the very depths were shaken.
The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered;*
 your arrows flashed to and fro;
The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
   your lightnings lit up the world;*
 the earth trembled and shook.
Your way was in the sea,
   and your paths in the great waters,*
 yet your footsteps were not seen.
You led your people like a flock*
 by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

A Song of God's Children (Romans 8.2,14,15b-19)

The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus  
has set us free from the law of sin and death. 
All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God;  
for we have received the Spirit that enables us to cry, 'Abba, Father'. 
The Spirit himself bears witness that we are children of God  
and if God's children, then heirs of God; 
If heirs of God, then fellow-heirs with Christ;  
since we suffer with him now, that we may be glorified with him. 
These sufferings that we now endure  
are not worth comparing to the glory that shall be revealed. 
For the creation waits with eager longing  
for the revealing of the children of God.

Psalm 146

Alleluia!
   Praise the Lord, O my soul!*
 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
   I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Put not your trust in rulers,
   nor in any child of earth,*
 for there is no help in them.
When they breathe their last, they return to earth,*
 and in that day their thoughts perish.
Happy are they who have the God of Jacob
   for their help!*
 whose hope is in the Lord their God;
Who made heaven and earth, the seas,
   and all that is in them;*
 who keeps his promise for ever;
Who gives justice to those who are oppressed,*
 and food to those who hunger.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
   the Lord opens the eyes of the blind;*
 the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous;
   the Lord cares for the stranger;*
 he sustains the orphan and widow,
   but frustrates the way of the wicked.
The Lord shall reign for ever,*
 your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Nahum 1:3-8,15]:

The Lord is slow to anger but great in power,
   and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.

His way is in whirlwind and storm,
   and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
He rebukes the sea and makes it dry,
   and he dries up all the rivers;
Bashan and Carmel wither,
   and the bloom of Lebanon fades.
The mountains quake before him,
   and the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
   the world and all who live in it.

Who can stand before his indignation?
   Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
   and by him the rocks are broken in pieces.
The Lord is good,
   a stronghold on a day of trouble;
he protects those who take refuge in him,
   even in a rushing flood.
He will make a full end of his adversaries,
   and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
Look! On the mountains the feet of one
   who brings good tidings,
   who proclaims peace!
Celebrate your festivals, O Judah,
   fulfil your vows,
for never again shall the wicked invade you;
   they are utterly cut off. 

HYMN 
Words: Mary Ann Faulkner Thomson, 1870
Music: Tidings (Angelic Songs)  

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/o/o724.html
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O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling,
to tell to all the world that God is Light;
that he who made all nations is not willing
one soul should fail to know his love and might.
Refrain:
Publish glad tidings: tidings of peace
tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.

Behold how many thousands still are lying
bound in the darksome prison house of sin,
with none to tell them of the Savior's dying,
or of the life he died for them to win. Refrain

'Tis thine to save from peril of perdition
the souls for whom the Lord his life laid down;
beware lest, slothful to fulfill thy mission,
thou lose one jewel that should deck his crown. Refrain

Proclaim to every people, tongue, and nation
that God, in whom they live and move, is Love;
tell how he stooped to save his lost creation,
and died on earth that all might live above. Refrain

Give of thy sons to bear the message glorious;
give of thy wealth to speed them on their way;
pour out thy soul for them in prayer victorious
till God shall bring his kingdom's joyful day. Refrain

He comes again! O Zion, ere thou meet him,
make known to every heart his saving grace;
let none whom he hath ransomed fail to greet him,
through thy neglect, unfit to see his face. Refrain

SECOND READING [Romans 8:18-27]:

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the
glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the
revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its
own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will
be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the
children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains
until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the
Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For
in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is
seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we
ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who
searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes
for the saints according to the will of God.

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Holy God,
we rejoice in the martyrs and prophets, teachers and leaders,
and all the ordinary and extraordinary believers
who have lived and loved the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For their witness and encouragement,
We thank you, Lord.

Recalling their stories and deeds,
we dare to take up our crosses.
For their witness and encouragement,
We thank you, Lord.

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
we plead for the human family and all creation:

For those addicted or tormented:
We pray to you, Lord.

For the victims of terrorism and disaster:
We pray to you, Lord.

For those who despair of life's goodness:
We pray to you, Lord.

For ecumenical councils and church agencies:
We pray to you, Lord.

For a resolution to unresolved matters of this day:
We pray to you, Lord.

Majestic God,
you led your people like a flock
and delivered them by your mighty power in times of old:
do not forget your people in their troubles
and raise up your power
to sustain the poor and helpless,
for the honour of your Name. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Refresh us with your grace,
that we may not be weary in well-doing,
for the sake of him who has called us
to hunger and thirst to see right prevail,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms and collect are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray),
(c) The Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer uses phrases from a prayer in _Revised Common Lectionary
Prayers_, copyright (c) 2002 Consultation on Common Texts and from
_Book of Common Worship_, (c) 1993 Westminster / John Knox Press.
The closing prayer uses phrases from _Book of Common Worship_, (c)
1993 Westminster / John Knox Press. 

The intercession is reprinted from _THE DAILY OFFICE: A Book of Hours of
Daily Prayer after the Use of the Order of Saint Luke_, (c) 1997 by The Order
of Saint Luke. Used by permission.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Mon Aug  4 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Mon,  4 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   5 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080804170001.100E61E401B@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for , 2008
Oswald, King of Northumbria, Martyr, 642

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God,
beyond all seeing and knowing,
yet we meet you in the night of change and crisis,
and wrestle with you in the darkness of doubt.
You renew us with your your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your true and living bread,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 78

Hear my teaching, O my people;*
 incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable;*
 I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.
That which we have heard and known,
   and what our forebears have told us,*
 we will not hide from their children.
We will recount to generations to come
   the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord,*
 and the wonderful works he has done.
He gave his decrees to Jacob
   and established a law for Israel,*
 which he commanded them to teach their children;
That the generations to come might know,
   and the children yet unborn;*
 that they in their turn might tell it to their children;
So that they might put their trust in God,*
 and not forget the deeds of God,
   but keep his commandments;
And not be like their forebears,
   a stubborn and rebellious generation,*
 a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
   and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
The people of Ephraim, armed with the bow,*
 turned back in the day of battle;
They did not keep the covenant of God,*
 and refused to walk in his law;
They forgot what he had done,*
 and the wonders he had shown them.
He worked marvels in the sight of their forebears,*
 in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
He split open the sea and let them pass through;*
 he made the waters stand up like walls.
He led them with a cloud by day,*
 and all the night through with a glow of fire.
He split the hard rocks in the wilderness*
 and gave them drink as from the great deep.
He brought streams out of the cliff,*
 and the waters gushed out like rivers.
But they went on sinning against him,*
 rebelling in the desert against the Most High.
They tested God in their hearts,*
 demanding food for their craving.
They railed against God and said,*
 'Can God set a table in the wilderness?
'True, he struck the rock, the waters gushed out,
   and the gullies overflowed;*
 but is he able to give bread
   or to provide meat for his people?'
When the Lord heard this, he was full of wrath;*
 a fire was kindled against Jacob,
   and his anger mounted against Israel;
For they had no faith in God,*
 nor did they put their trust in his saving power.
So he commanded the clouds above*
 and opened the doors of heaven.
He rained down manna upon them to eat*
 and gave them grain from heaven.
So mortals ate the bread of angels;*
 he provided for them food enough.
He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens*
 and led out the south wind by his might.
He rained down flesh upon them like dust*
 and winged birds like the sand of the sea.
He let it fall in the midst of their camp*
 and round about their dwellings.
So they ate and were well filled,*
 for he gave them what they craved.
But they did not stop their craving,*
 though the food was still in their mouths.
So God's anger mounted against them;*
 he slew their strongest men
   and laid low the youth of Israel.
In spite of all this, they went on sinning*
 and had no faith in his wonderful works.
So he brought their days to an end like a breath*
 and their years in sudden terror.
Whenever he slew them, they would seek him,*
 and repent and diligently search for God.
They would remember that God was their rock,*
 and the Most High God their redeemer.
But they flattered him with their mouths*
 and lied to him with their tongues.
Their heart was not steadfast towards him,*
 and they were not faithful to his covenant.
But he was so merciful that he forgave their sins
   and did not destroy them;*
 many times he held back his anger
   and did not permit his wrath to be roused.
For he remembered that they were but flesh,*
 a breath that goes forth and does not return.
How often the people disobeyed God in the wilderness*
 and offended him in the desert!
Again and again they tempted God*
 and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
They did not remember his power*
 in the day when he ransomed them from the enemy;
How he wrought his signs in Egypt*
 and his omens in the field of Zoan.
He turned their rivers into blood,*
 so that they could not drink of their streams.
He sent swarms of flies among them, which ate them up,*
 and frogs, which destroyed them.
He gave their crops to the caterpillar,*
 the fruit of their toil to the locust.
He killed their vines with hail*
 and their sycamores with frost.
He delivered their cattle to hailstones*
 and their livestock to hot thunderbolts.
He poured out upon them his blazing anger:*
 fury, indignation and distress,
   a troop of destroying angels.
He gave full rein to his anger;
   he did not spare their souls from death;*
 but delivered their lives to the plague.
He struck down all the first-born of Egypt,*
 the flower of manhood in the dwellings of Ham.
He led out his people like sheep*
 and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
He led them to safety and they were not afraid;*
 but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
He brought them to his holy land,*
 the mountain his right hand had won.
He drove out the Canaanites before them
   and apportioned an inheritance to them by lot;*
 he made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
But they tested the Most High God and defied him,*
 and did not keep his commandments.
They turned away and were disloyal like their forebears;*
 they were undependable like a warped bow.
They grieved him with their hill-altars*
 and provoked his displeasure with their idols.
When God heard this, he was angry*
 and utterly rejected Israel.
He forsook the shrine at Shiloh,*
 the tabernacle where he had lived among his people.
He delivered the ark into captivity,*
 his glory into the adversary's hand.
He gave his people to the sword*
 and was angered against his inheritance.
The fire consumed their young men;*
 there were no wedding songs for their maidens.
Their priests fell by the sword,*
 and their widows made no lamentation.
Then the Lord woke as though from sleep,*
 like a warrior refreshed with wine.
He struck his enemies from behind*
 and put them to perpetual shame.
He rejected the tent of Joseph*
 and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;
He chose instead the tribe of Judah*
 and Mount Zion, which he loved.
He built his sanctuary like the heights of heaven,*
 like the earth which he founded for ever.
He chose David his servant,*
 and took him away from the sheepfolds.
He brought him from following the ewes,*
 to be a shepherd over Jacob his people
   and over Israel his inheritance.
So he shepherded them with a faithful and true heart*
 and guided them with the skilfulness of his hands.

A Song of the Holy City (Revelation 21.1-5a)

I saw a new heaven and a new earth,  
for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away 
and the sea was no more. 
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, 
coming down out of heaven from God,  
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 
And I heard a great voice from the throne saying,  
'Behold, the dwelling of God is among mortals. 
'He will dwell with them and they shall be his peoples,  
and God himself will be with them. 
'He will wipe every tear from their eyes,  
and death shall be no more. 
'Neither shall there be mourning, 
nor crying, nor pain any more,  
for the former things have passed away.' 
And the One who sat upon the throne said,  
'Behold, I make all things new.'

Psalm 147:1-12

Alleluia!
   How good it is to sing praises to our God!*
 how pleasant it is to honour him with praise!
The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;*
 he gathers the exiles of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted*
 and binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars*
 and calls them all by their names.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;*
 there is no limit to his wisdom.
The Lord lifts up the lowly,*
 but casts the wicked to the ground.
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;*
 make music to our God upon the harp.
He covers the heavens with clouds*
 and prepares rain for the earth;
He makes grass to grow upon the mountains*
 and green plants to serve us all.
He provides food for flocks and herds*
 and for the young ravens when they cry.
He is not impressed by the might of a horse,*
 he has no pleasure in human strength;
But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him,*
 in those who await his gracious favour.
 Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Nahum 2]:

A shatterer has come up against you.
   Guard the ramparts;
   watch the road;
gird your loins;
   collect all your strength.
<BR
(For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob,
   as well as the majesty of Israel,
though ravagers have ravaged them
   and ruined their branches.)

The shields of his warriors are red;
   his soldiers are clothed in crimson.
The metal on the chariots flashes
   on the day when he musters them;
   the chargers prance.
The chariots race madly through the streets,
   they rush to and fro through the squares;
their appearance is like torches,
   they dart like lightning.
He calls his officers;
   they stumble as they come forward;
they hasten to the wall,
   and the mantelet is set up.
The river gates are opened,
   the palace trembles.
It is decreed that the city be exiled,
   its slave women led away,
moaning like doves
   and beating their breasts.
Nineveh is like a pool
   whose waters run away.
'Halt! Halt!' 
   but no one turns back.
'Plunder the silver,
   plunder the gold!
There is no end of treasure!
   An abundance of every precious thing!'

Devastation, desolation, and destruction!
   Hearts faint and knees tremble,
all loins quake,
   all faces grow pale!
What became of the lions' den,
   the cave of the young lions,
where the lion goes,
   and the lion's cubs, with no one to disturb them?
The lion has torn enough for his whelps
   and strangled prey for his lionesses;
he has filled his caves with prey
   and his dens with torn flesh.

 See, I am against you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke,
and the sword shall devour your young lions; I will cut off your prey from the earth,
and the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more. 

HYMN 
Words: Words: William Henry Burleigh (1812-1871)

Music: Stanstead 

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/s/s354.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Still will we trust, though earth seem dark and dreary,
and the heart faint beneath his chastening rod;
though rough and steep our pathway, worn and weary,
still will we trust in God!

Our eyes see dimly till by faith anointed,
and our blind choosing brings us grief and pain;
through him alone who hath our way appointed,
we find our peace again.

Choose for us, God! Nor let our weak preferring
cheat our poor souls of good thou has designed;
choose for us, God! Thy wisdom is unerring,
and we are fools and blind.

So from our sky the night shall furl her shadows,
and day pour gladness through his golden gates,
our rough path lead to flower-enameled meadows,
where joy our coming waits.

Let us press on, in patient self denial,
accept the hardship, shrink not from the loss;
our portion lies beyond the hour of trial,
our crown beyond the cross.

SECOND READING [Romans 8:28-end]:

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are
called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to
be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a
large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called
he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He
who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him
also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God
who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised,
who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us
from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,
'For your sake we are being killed all day long;
   we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.'
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I
am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor
things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Baptizing God,
you have plunged us into the waters as death to sin
and have raised us to be alive to you in joy and service.

For all whose eager and resolute living in you
makes them saints to us:
We thank you, Lord.

For the community made holy in Christ,
the living and the dead, the near and the far away:
We thank you, Lord.

For the witness of your Church,
We thank you, Lord.

For an awareness of our kinship
to holy and just men and women:
We thank you, Lord.

For reminding us that perfection in you is a journey
of consistent love to you and to others:
We thank you, Lord.

For sustaining us in the faithful use of means of grace,
that we may resolve to live in your love and peace:
We thank you, Lord.

God our deliverer,
you led our forebears through the wilderness
and established them as your people:
renew your covenant with us
that we may rejoice in the signs of your deliverance
and be brought into the kingdom of your beloved Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord God almighty, 
who so kindled the faith of Oswald with your Spirit 
that he set up the sign of the cross in his kingdom
and turned his people to the light of Christ: 
grant that we, being fired by the same Spirit,
may always bear our cross before the world
and be found faithful servants of the gospel; 
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Refresh us with your grace,
that we may not be weary in well-doing,
for the sake of him who has called us
to hunger and thirst to see right prevail,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms and collect are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray),
(c) The Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer uses phrases from a prayer in _Revised Common Lectionary
Prayers_, copyright (c) 2002 Consultation on Common Texts and from
_Book of Common Worship_, (c) 1993 Westminster / John Knox Press.
The closing prayer uses phrases from _Book of Common Worship_, (c)
1993 Westminster / John Knox Press. 

The intercession is reprinted from _THE DAILY OFFICE: A Book of Hours of
Daily Prayer after the Use of the Order of Saint Luke_, (c) 1997 by The Order
of Saint Luke. Used by permission.

The second collect is from _Common Worship: Services and Prayers for
the Church of England_, material from which is included in this service is
copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2000.

Beginning in the year 449, the pagan Germanic peoples known as the Angles,
the Saxons, and the Jutes invaded Britain and drove the native Britons, a
Christian Celtic people, north and west into Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and
Cornwall. They established seven principal kingdoms (the Heptarchy) in
England: The Saxon kingdoms of Essex, Wessex and Sussex (East Saxons,
West Saxons, and South Saxons), the Angle kingdoms of East Anglia, Mercia,
and Northumbria, and the Jute kingdom of Kent (in southeast England, the
London area). To this day, there are seven principal dialects of English spoken
in England, and the seven areas in which they are spoken are substantially the
same as the areas of the seven ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
In 597, Augustine, a missionary from Rome, established a mission in Kent,
where he was favorably received, and became the first Archbishop of
Canterbury. However, his influence was initially confined to the southeast of
England.
In Northumbria (the region north of the Humber River), in the north of
England, in 616, Edwin seized the throne (replacing his sister's husband,
Aethelfrith the Ravager), and Oswald, son of Aethelfrith, fled into Scotland, to
the monastic settlement founded by Columba (see 9 June) in the late 500's on
the island of Iona (off the west coast of southern Scotland). Here Oswald
encountered the Christian faith and was converted and baptised. Edwin married
Ethelburgha, a princess of Kent, who brought with her the missionary Paulinus,
who became first Archbishop of York. Edwin and many of his court accepted
baptism in 627. In 632, King Cadwallon of Wales and the pagan king Penda of
Mercia invaded Northumbria and killed Edwin in battle. The queen and the
archbishop fled south, and Christianity was temporarily suppressed in the
North.
The following year, Oswald returned from exile to claim the throne. He met
Cadwallon (or Cadwalla) in battle near Hexham. The night before the battle,
vastly outnumbered, with a small army of whom not more than a dozen were
Christians, he set up a wooden cross, and asked his soldiers to join him in
prayer. They did so, and promised to be baptised if they won the battle. The
battle was accordingly joined, and Oswald won a victory "as complete as it was
unlikely," defeating and slaying Cadwallon (the victor, as the Welsh bards tell
us, of forty battles and sixty single combats). The battle site was thereafter
known as Heavensfield. Northumbria, now united, became the most powerful
of the Seven Kingdoms, and Oswald was recognized as paramount king of the
Heptarchy.
His concern was for the conversion of his people to Christianity, and he sent
messengers to Iona, where he had himself received the Gospel, asking for a
Christian preacher. The first man sent (a monk named Coorman) was tactless
and a failure, but his replacement, Aidan (see 31 August), was an outstanding
success. Since he did not at first speak the Anglo-Saxon language, Oswald,
who was fully bilingual, stood beside him as he preached and interpreted the
sermon. Aidan was soon joined by other missionaries, and the Church
flourished in Northumbria. Oswald went to Wessex (the second most powerful
of the Seven Kingdoms, and later to be the most powerful, and the nucleus of a
united England) in order to seek a bride. Wessex was at that time largely
pagan, but his bride, Kineburga, agreed to become a Christian, and so did her
father, the King of Wessex. Thus a door was opened for the Gospel in
southwestern England.
However, Penda, the pagan king of Mercia, yet lived, and in 640 war between
Mercia and Northumbria was renewed, with the former followers of Cadwallon
allied once more with Mercia. In 642 Penda killed Oswald in a great battle near
Maserfeld (Salop), on the border between their kingdoms. As he fell dying,
Oswald prayed aloud for the souls of his bodyguards, who died with him, and
for the salvation of the people of Northumbria, and for his pagan enemies.
Penda ordered the corpse of Oswald to be dismembered and its parts set up on
stakes as a sacrifice to Odin. The head was reclaimed by Christians and sent to
Lindisfarne, and is now thought to rest in a tomb in Durham Cathedral (but it
should be noted that because of invasions and tumults it has been moved
several times, making its present location uncertain). [James Kiefer]


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Tue Aug  5 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Tue,  5 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   6 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080805170001.6D76C1E339F@justus2c.anglican.org>


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*******************************************************

OREMUS for Wednesday, August 6, 2008

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
enthroned in majesty,
giver of freedom,
unveiler of light,
tender in mercy,
awesome in holiness.
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 29

Ascribe to the Lord, you gods,*
 ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name;*
 worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
   the God of glory thunders;*
 the Lord is upon the mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice;*
 the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendour.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees;*
 the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,*
 and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire;
   the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;*
 the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe*
 and strips the forests bare.
And in the temple of the Lord*
 all are crying, 'Glory!'
The Lord sits enthroned above the flood;*
 the Lord sits enthroned as king for evermore.
The Lord shall give strength to his people;*
 the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.

Psalm 93

The Lord is king; he has put on splendid apparel;*
 the Lord has put on his apparel
   and girded himself with strength.
He has made the whole world so sure*
 that it cannot be moved;
Ever since the world began,
   your throne has been established;*
 you are from everlasting.
The waters have lifted up, O Lord,
   the waters have lifted up their voice;*
 the waters have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the sound of many waters,
   mightier than the breakers of the sea,*
 mightier is the Lord who dwells on high.
Your testimonies are very sure,*
 and holiness adorns your house, O Lord,
   for ever and for evermore.

A Song of God's Assembled (Hebrews 12:22-24a,28-29)

We have come before God's holy mountain,
to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.

We have come before countless angels making festival,
before the assembly of the firstborn citizens of heaven.

We have come before God, who is judge of all,
before the spirits of the just made perfect.

We have come before Jesus,
the mediator of the new covenant.

We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken:
so let us give thanks and offer to God acceptable worship,

full of reverence and awe;
for our God is a consuming fire.

Psalm 147:13-end

Alleluia!
Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem;*
 praise your God, O Zion;
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;*
 he has blessed your children within you.
He has established peace on your borders;*
 he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
He sends out his command to the earth,*
 and his word runs very swiftly.
He gives snow like wool;*
 he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
He scatters his hail like bread crumbs;*
 who can stand against his cold?
He sends forth his word and melts them;*
 he blows with his wind and the waters flow.
He declares his word to Jacob,*
 his statutes and his judgements to Israel.
He has not done so to any other nation;*
 to them he has not revealed his judgements.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Exodus 24:12-end]:

The Lord said to Moses, 'Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will
give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written
for their instruction.' So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up
into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, 'Wait here for us, until we come
to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.'

Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory
of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the
seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of
the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people
of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the
mountain for forty days and forty nights. 

HYMN 
Words: (c) Alan Gaunt
Tune: Brockham

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t797.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.

Transfigured Christ, none comprehends
your majesty, whose splendor stuns
all waking souls; whose light transcends
the brightness of a thousand suns!

You stand with Moses on the hill,
you speak of your new exodus.
The way through death you will fulfill
by dying helpless on the cross.

You stand here with Elijah too,
by whom the still small voice was heard;
and you, yourself, will prove God true,
made mute in death, incarnate Word.

If we could bear your brightness here
and stay forever in your light,
then we would conquer grief and fear,
and scorn the terrors of the night.

But, from the heights, you bring us down
to share earth's agonies with you,
where piercing thorns are made your crown
and death, accepted, proves love true.

Majestic Christ, God's well-loved Son,
if we must share your grief and loss,
transfigure us, when all is done,
with glory shining from your cross.

SECOND READING [Philippians 3:13-end]:

Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do:
forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on
towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of
us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about
anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have
attained.
Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the
example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often
told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their
god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour,
the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be
conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all
things subject to himself.

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Lord of glory, it is good that we are here.
In peace we make our prayer to you.
In trust we confirm our faith in you.
Help us to set our faces steadfastly where you would go with us.
Lord, look with favour.
Lord, transfigure and heal.

Lord of glory, look with favour on your Church,
proclaiming your beloved Son to the world
and listening to the promptings of his Spirit.
May your Church be renewed in holiness
that may reflect your glory.
Lord, look with favour.
Lord, transfigure and heal.

Lord of glory, look with favour on the nations of the world,
scarred by hatred, strife and war,
and crying out to be changed by the touch of your hand...
May they hear the good news like a lamp shining in a murky place.
Lord, look with favour.
Lord, transfigure and heal.

Lord of glory, look with favour on those in need and distress,
suffering as your Son has suffered
and waiting for the salvation you promise...
May the day break and Christ the Morning Star
bring them the light of his presence.
Lord, look with favour.
Lord, transfigure and heal.

Lord of glory, it is good if we suffer with you
so that we shall be glorified with you.
According to your promise bring all Christ's brothers and sisters...
to see him with their own eyes in majesty
and to be changed into his likeness from glory to glory.

To him be praise, dominion and worship
now and for all eternity. Amen.

O God,
in the transfiguration of your Son
you confirmed the mysteries of the faith
by the witness of Moses and Elijah;
and in the voice from the cloud
you foreshadowed our adoption as your children
Make us, with Christ, heirs of your glory,
and bring us to enjoy its fullness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Christ Jesus,
the splendor of the Father
and the image of his being,
draw us to himself
that we may live in his light
and share his glory
now and for ever. Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer of thanksgiving is by Stephen Benner and is based on a
form in _Enriching the Christian Year_  SPCK, compilation
(c)Michael Perham 1993. The intercession and the closing sentence are
also adapted from that book.

Hymn (c) 1991 by Stainer & Bell Ltd. 
(admin. by Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188).  
All rights reserved.  Used by permission.
For permission to reproduce this hymn, contact:
In US & Canada:  Hope Publishing Company, 
www.hopepublishing.com
Rest of the World:  Stainer & Bell Ltd., 
www.stainer.co.uk

The collect is from _Book of Common Worship_, (c) 1993
Westminster / John Knox Press. 
                

From steve.benner at oremus.org  Wed Aug  6 17:00:05 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Wed,  6 Aug 2008 17:00:05 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   7 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080806170005.EC9451E4277@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Thursday, August 7, 2008
John Mason Neale, Priest, Hymn Writer, 1866

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God,
beyond all seeing and knowing,
yet we meet you in the night of change and crisis,
and wrestle with you in the darkness of doubt.
You renew us with your your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your true and living bread,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 90

Lord, you have been our refuge*
 from one generation to another.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
   or the land and the earth were born,*
 from age to age you are God.
You turn us back to the dust and say,*
 'Go back, O child of earth.'
For a thousand years in your sight
   are like yesterday when it is past*
 and like a watch in the night.
You sweep us away like a dream;*
 we fade away suddenly like the grass.
In the morning it is green and flourishes;*
 in the evening it is dried up and withered.
For we consume away in your displeasure;*
 we are afraid because of your wrathful indignation.
Our iniquities you have set before you,*
 and our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
When you are angry, all our days are gone;*
 we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
The span of our life is seventy years,
   perhaps in strength even eighty;*
 yet the sum of them is but labour and sorrow,
   for they pass away quickly and we are gone.
Who regards the power of your wrath?*
 who rightly fears your indignation?
So teach us to number our days*
 that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
Return, O Lord; how long will you tarry?*
 be gracious to your servants.
Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning;*
 so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
Make us glad by the measure of the days
   that you afflicted us*
 and the years in which we suffered adversity.
Show your servants your works*
 and your splendour to their children.
May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us;*
 prosper the work of our hands;
   prosper our handiwork.

A Song of God's Herald (Isaiah 40. 9-11)

Go up to a high mountain, 
herald of good tidings to Zion;  
lift up your voice with strength, 
herald of good tidings to Jerusalem. 
Lift up your voice, fear not;  
say to the cities of Judah, 'Behold your God!' 
See, the Lord God comes with might,  
and his arm rules for him. 
Behold, his reward is with him,  
and his recompense before him. 
God will feed his flock like a shepherd,  
and gather the lambs in his arms; 
He will carry them in his breast,  
and gently lead those that are with young. 

Psalm 148

Alleluia!
   Praise the Lord from the heavens;*
 praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all you angels of his;*
 praise him, all his host.
Praise him, sun and moon;*
 praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, heaven of heavens,*
 and you waters above the heavens.
Let them praise the name of the Lord;*
 for he commanded and they were created.
He made them stand fast for ever and ever;*
 he gave them a law which shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth,*
 you sea-monsters and all deeps;
Fire and hail, snow and fog,*
 tempestuous wind, doing his will;
Mountains and all hills,*
 fruit trees and all cedars;
Wild beasts and all cattle,*
 creeping things and winged birds;
Kings of the earth and all peoples,*
 princes and all rulers of the world;
Young men and maidens,*
 old and young together.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,*
 for his name only is exalted,
   his splendour is over earth and heaven.
He has raised up strength for his people
   and praise for all his loyal servants,*
 the children of Israel, a people who are near him.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Habakkuk 1:2-4,12-end;2:1-4]:

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
   and you will not listen?
Or cry to you 'Violence!'
   and you will not save?
Why do you make me see wrongdoing
   and look at trouble?
Destruction and violence are before me;
   strife and contention arise.
So the law becomes slack
   and justice never prevails.
The wicked surround the righteous 
   therefore judgement comes forth perverted.

Are you not from of old,
   O Lord my God, my Holy One?
   You shall not die.
O Lord, you have marked them for judgement;
   and you, O Rock, have established them for punishment.
Your eyes are too pure to behold evil,
   and you cannot look on wrongdoing;
why do you look on the treacherous,
   and are silent when the wicked swallow
   those more righteous than they?
You have made people like the fish of the sea,
   like crawling things that have no ruler.

The enemy brings all of them up with a hook;
   he drags them out with his net,
he gathers them in his seine;
   so he rejoices and exults.
Therefore he sacrifices to his net
   and makes offerings to his seine;
for by them his portion is lavish,
   and his food is rich.
Is he then to keep on emptying his net,
   and destroying nations without mercy?

I will stand at my watch-post,
   and station myself on the rampart;
I will keep watch to see what he will say to me,
   and what he will answer concerning my complaint.
Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write the vision;
   make it plain on tablets,
   so that a runner may read it.
For there is still a vision for the appointed time;
   it speaks of the end, and does not lie.
If it seems to tarry, wait for it;
   it will surely come, it will not delay.
Look at the proud!
   Their spirit is not right in them,
   but the righteous live by their faith.

HYMN 
Words: John Mason Neale, 1862
Tune: Stephanos, Cuttle Mills, Bullinger      

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/a/a312.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.

Art thou weary, art thou languid,
art thou sore distressed?
"Come to Me," saith One, "and coming,
be at rest. "

Hath he marks to lead me to him,
if he be my guide?
In his feet and hands are wound prints
and his side.

Is there diadem, as monarch,
that his brow adorns?
Yes, a crown in very surety,
but of thorns.

If I find him, if I follow,
what his guerdon here?
Many a sorrow, many a labor,
many a tear.

If I still hold closely to him,
what hath he at last?
Sorrow vanquished, labor ended,
Jordan passed.

If I ask him to receive me,
will he say me nay?
Not till earth and not till heaven
pass away.

Finding, following, keeping, struggling,
is He sure to bless?
Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs,
answer, yes!

SECOND READING [Romans 10]:

Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be
saved. I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For, being
ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own,
they have not submitted to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law so
that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that 'the person
who does these things will live by them.' But the righteousness that comes from faith
says, 'Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?" ' (that is, to bring
Christ down) 'or "Who will descend into the abyss?" ' (that is, to bring Christ up from
the dead). But what does it say?
'The word is near you,
   on your lips and in your heart'
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that
Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the
mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, 'No one who believes in him will be put to
shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of
all and is generous to all who call on him. For, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord shall be saved.'

 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to
believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without
someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As
it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!' But not all
have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed our message?'
So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of
Christ.

But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for
'Their voice has gone out to all the earth,
   and their words to the ends of the world.'
Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,
'I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;
   with a foolish nation I will make you angry.'
Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,
'I have been found by those who did not seek me;
   I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.'
But of Israel he says, 'All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and
contrary people.' 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Almighty and gracious God,
we bless you for your mercy in Christ
and your nearness by the Word and the Spirit.

Hear us as we embrace in the circle of love:

the life and witness of your Church,
Generous God, hear us.

the world and its longing,
especially for peace in India and Pakistan,
Afghanistan, Israel and Palestine and wherever conflict persists.
Generous God, hear us.

the cares of our own lives,
Generous God, hear us.

and those particular concerns your Spirit awakens in us,
Generous God, hear us.

Eternal Father,
our refuge from generation to generation,
in Christ your salvation has dawned for your people:
prosper the work of our hands
that the promise of your glorious kingdom
may be fulfilled in our midst;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, 
beautiful in majesty, majestic in holiness, 
you have shown us the splendor of creation 
in the work of your servant John Mason Neale: 
Teach us to drive from the world 
the ugliness of chaos and disorder 
that our eyes may not be blind to your glory, 
and that at length everyone may know 
the inexhaustible richness of your new creation 
in Jesus Christ our Lord;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Refresh us with your grace,
that we may not be weary in well-doing,
for the sake of him who has called us
to hunger and thirst to see right prevail,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer uses phrases from a prayer in _Revised Common Lectionary
Prayers_, copyright (c) 2002 Consultation on Common Texts and from
_Book of Common Worship_, (c) 1993 Westminster / John Knox Press.
The closing prayer uses phrases from _Book of Common Worship_, (c)
1993 Westminster / John Knox Press. 

John Mason Neale was born in London in 1818, studied at Cambridge, and was ordained
to the priesthood in 1842. He was offered a parish, but chronic ill health, which was to
continue throughout his life, prevented him from taking it. In 1846 he was made warden of
Sackville College, a position he held for the rest of his life. Sackville College was not an
educational institution, but an almshouse, a charitable residence for the poor. 
In 1854 Neale co-founded the Sisterhood of St. Margaret, an order of women in the
Anglican Church dedicated to nursing the sick. Many Anglicans in his day, however, were
very suspicious of anything suggestive of Roman Catholicism. Only nine years earlier,
John H. Newman had encouraged Romish practices in the Anglican Church, and had
ended up joining the Romanists himself. This encouraged the suspicion that anyone like
Neale was an agent of the Vatican, assigned to destroy the Anglican Church by subverting
it from within. Once Neale was attacked and mauled at a funeral of one of the Sisters.
>From time to time unruly crowds threatened to stone him or to burn his house. He
received no honor or preferment in England, and his doctorate was bestowed by an
American college (Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut). However, his basic goodness
eventually won the confidence of many who had fiercely opposed him, and the Sisterhood
of St. Margaret survived and prospered. 
Neale translated the Eastern liturgies into English, and wrote a mystical and devotional
commentary on the Psalms. However, he is best known as a hymn writer and translator,
having enriched English hymnody with many ancient and mediaeval hymns translated from
Latin and Greek. [James Kiefer, abridged]


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Thu Aug  7 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Thu,  7 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   8 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080807170001.BF5841E43C1@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Friday, August 8, 2008
Dominic, Priest, Founder of the Order of Preachers, 1221

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God,
beyond all seeing and knowing,
yet we meet you in the night of change and crisis,
and wrestle with you in the darkness of doubt.
You renew us with your your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your true and living bread,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, O my soul,*
 and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,*
 and forget not all his benefits.
He forgives all your sins*
 and heals all your infirmities;
He redeems your life from the grave*
 and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;
He satisfies you with good things,*
 and your youth is renewed like an eagle's.
The Lord executes righteousness*
 and judgement for all who are oppressed.
He made his ways known to Moses*
 and his works to the children of Israel.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy,*
 slow to anger and of great kindness.
He will not always accuse us,*
 nor will he keep his anger for ever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,*
 nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,*
 so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,*
 so far has he removed our sins from us.
As a father cares for his children,*
 so does the Lord care for those who fear him.
For he himself knows whereof we are made;*
 he remembers that we are but dust.
Our days are like the grass;*
 we flourish like a flower of the field;
When the wind goes over it, it is gone,*
 and its place shall know it no more.
But the merciful goodness of the Lord
   endures for ever on those who fear him,*
 and his righteousness on children's children;
On those who keep his covenant*
 and remember his commandments and do them.
The Lord has set his throne in heaven,*
 and his kingship has dominion over all.
Bless the Lord, you angels of his,
   you mighty ones who do his bidding,*
 and hearken to the voice of his word.
Bless the Lord, all you his hosts,*
 you ministers of his who do his will.
Bless the Lord, all you works of his,
   in all places of his dominion;*
 bless the Lord, O my soul.

A Song of Praise (Revelation 4.11; 5.9b,10)

You are worthy, our Lord and God,  
to receive glory and honour and power. 
For you have created all things,  
and by your will they have their being. 
You are worthy, O Lamb, for you were slain,  
and by your blood you ransomed for God 
saints from every tribe and language and nation. 
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests 
serving our God,  
and they will reign with you on earth.

Psalm 149

Alleluia!
   Sing to the Lord a new song;*
 sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in his maker;*
 let the children of Zion be joyful in their king.
Let them praise his name in the dance;*
 let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people*
 and adorns the poor with victory.
Let the faithful rejoice in triumph;*
 let them be joyful on their beds.
Let the praises of God be in their throat*
 and a two-edged sword in their hand;
To wreak vengeance on the nations*
 and punishment on the peoples;
To bind their kings in chains*
 and their nobles with links of iron;
To inflict on them the judgement decreed;*
 this is glory for all his faithful people.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Habakkuk 2:9-14,19-20]:

'Alas for you who get evil gain for your houses,
   setting your nest on high
   to be safe from the reach of harm!'
You have devised shame for your house
   by cutting off many peoples;
   you have forfeited your life.
The very stones will cry out from the wall,
   and the plaster will respond from the woodwork.

'Alas for you who build a town by bloodshed,
   and found a city on iniquity!'
Is it not from the Lord of hosts
   that peoples labour only to feed the flames,
   and nations weary themselves for nothing?
But the earth will be filled
   with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
   as the waters cover the sea.

Alas for you who say to the wood, 'Wake up!'
   to silent stone, 'Rouse yourself!'
   Can it teach?
See, it is plated with gold and silver,
   and there is no breath in it at all.

But the Lord is in his holy temple;
   let all the earth keep silence before him! 

HYMN 
Words: Pamphlet at St. Oswald's, Durham, nineteenth century
Music: Old 124th 

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/o/o524.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

O praise the Lord, ye servants of the Lord,
into his courts your joyful homage bring,
ye that within his holy temple stand
lift up your hands, lift up your voice and sing:
so shall ye have the blessing from your King.

He that hath made all heaven and all the worlds,
shall from that Zion where his saints adore
look down with favor, sanctify his Church,
bless them that tread his sanctuary floor,
and keep them in his ways for evermore.

All glory now to God the Father's Name;
Son everlasting, glory unto thee;
and, Holy Spirit, glory thine the same;
one God eternal, bless?d Trinity,
as ever was and evermore shall be.

SECOND READING [Romans 11:1-21]:

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a
descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his
people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he
pleads with God against Israel? 'Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have
demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.' But what is the
divine reply to him? 'I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the
knee to Baal.' So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it
is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be
grace.

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the
rest were hardened, as it is written,
'God gave them a sluggish spirit,
   eyes that would not see
   and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.'
And David says,
'Let their table become a snare and a trap,
   a stumbling-block and a retribution for them;
let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
   and keep their backs for ever bent.'

So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling
salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their stumbling
means riches for the world, and if their defeat means riches for Gentiles, how much
more will their full inclusion mean!

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles,
I glorify my ministry in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of
them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance
be but life from the dead! If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the
whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted
in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, do not vaunt yourselves over the
branches. If you do vaunt yourselves, remember that it is not you that support the
root, but the root that supports you. You will say, 'Branches were broken off so that I
might be grafted in.' That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but
you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God
did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Great are you, Lord, and greatly to be praised!
There is no end to your greatness.
Let your Spirit shape and make new our character,
encourage us in constant prayer,
direct us in the way of love
and bring us at last to heaven with all your saints in light.

All that is unfinished in us and in the world,
we entrust to you, Lord.

Every aspiration, longing and dream
crushed by temptation, sin and dullness of heart,
we entrust to you, Lord.

Holy Church seeking to offer you worship
in every place and culture.
we entrust to you, Lord.

Every people and tribe oppressed
by the greed and prejudice of others,
we entrust to you, Lord.

The empty and hungry places in our spirits
and in our relationships with others,
we entrust to you, Lord.

God of infinite mercy and forgiveness,
by the cross and resurrection of Jesus your Son,
wash away our sins and deliver us
from our infirmities of body and spirit,
that we may live with him his risen life,
to the praise and glory of your holy Name. Amen.

Almighty God,
whose servant Dominic grew 
in the knowledge of your truth
and formed an order of preachers 
to proclaim the faith of Christ:
by your grace give to all your people
a love for your word
and a longing to share the gospel,
so that the whole world may come to know you
and your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Refresh us with your grace,
that we may not be weary in well-doing,
for the sake of him who has called us
to hunger and thirst to see right prevail,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer uses phrases from a prayer in _Revised Common Lectionary
Prayers_, copyright (c) 2002 Consultation on Common Texts and from
_Book of Common Worship_, (c) 1993 Westminster / John Knox Press.
The closing prayer uses phrases from _Book of Common Worship_, (c)
1993 Westminster / John Knox Press. 

The intercession is reprinted from _THE DAILY OFFICE: A Book of Hours of
Daily Prayer after the Use of the Order of Saint Luke_, (c) 1997 by The Order
of Saint Luke. Used by permission.

The first collect is from _Daily Prayer_, copyright (c) The Scottish
Episcopal Church, 1998. Used with permission. 
http://www.scottishepiscopal.com

Dominic was born in Castile, in Spain, in 1170. He entered the priesthood, and eventually
became prior of the canons of the cathedral chapter at Osma. The turning point of his life
came in 1206, when he was chosen to accompany the bishop on a visit to southern France,
to an area held by the Albigenses. These were a heretical sect more or less directly
descended from the early Gnostics and Manichees. They were dualists, holding that there
are two gods, one the god of goodness, light, truth, and spirit, and the other the god of
evil, darkness, error, and matter. The material universe is the creation of the bad god. The
good god made the souls of men, and the bad god kidnapped them and imprisoned them in
bodies of flesh. On their first night in Albigensian country, they stayed at an inn where the
innkeeper was an Albigensian. Dominic engaged him in conversation, they sat up all night
talking, and by dawn the man was ready to become an orthodox Christian. From then on,
Dominic knew what his calling in life was. Dominic and his bishop undertook to study the
Albigensian beliefs and to engage in public debates with their opponents. They seemed to
be making some progress, but in 1207 the bishop died, and in the same year the murder by
Albigenses of the papal legate moved the pope to declare a crusade against the Albigenses,
which lasted about five years.
Dominic continued to preach and to debate where he could, and in 1215 he founded an
order of preachers, who were to live in poverty, and devote themselves to studying
philosophy and theology and to combatting false doctrine by logical argument rather than
by the use of force. He was convinced that a major obstacle to the conversion of heretics
was the material wealth of some of the clergy, which made plausible the accusation that
they were concerned for their purses and not for the glory of God, and made workers
indisposed to hear them. He therefore determined that the brothers of his order should live
lives of poverty and simplicity, being no better off materially than those they sought to
convert. When he was in Rome, seeking authorization for his order from the Pope, the
Pope gave him a tour of the treasures of the Vatican, and remarked complacently
(referring to Acts 3:6), "Peter can no longer say, 'Silver and gold have I none.'" Dominic
turned and looked straight at the Pope, and said, "No, and neither can he say, 'Rise and
walk.'" He got the permission he was seeking, and the order grew and flourished.
Officially known as the Order of Preachers (hence the letters O.P. after the name of a
member), it was informally known as the Dominicans, or the Blackfriars (from the color of
their cloaks). Two of their best-known members are Albertus Magnus (Albert the Great,
1200-1280), who was famous for his learning in numerous fields, and his pupil Thomas
Aquinas (1225-1274), who wrote reconciling Christian theology with the philosophy of
Aristotle, which was then being rediscovered in western Europe, and was thought by many
to be a threat to Christianity. In later years, the Order forgot its commitment to "logic and
persuasion, not force" as the means of bringing men to Christian truth, and many of its
members were active in the Inquisition.
Dominic was three times offered a bishopric, and refused, believing that he was called to
another work. He died in 1220 in Bologna, Italy, after a preaching mission to Hungary.
[James Kiefer]

From steve.benner at oremus.org  Fri Aug  8 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Fri,  8 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   9 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080808170001.888A41E3D6D@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Saturday, August 9, 2008
Mary Sumner, Founder of the Mothers' Union, 1921

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God,
beyond all seeing and knowing,
yet we meet you in the night of change and crisis,
and wrestle with you in the darkness of doubt.
You renew us with your your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your true and living bread,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 112

Alleluia!
   Happy are they who fear the Lord*
 and have great delight in his commandments!
Their descendants will be mighty in the land;*
 the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches will be in their house,*
 and their righteousness will last for ever.
Light shines in the darkness for the upright;*
 the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.
It is good for them to be generous in lending*
 and to manage their affairs with justice.
For they will never be shaken;*
 the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.
They will not be afraid of any evil rumours;*
 their heart is right;
   they put their trust in the Lord.
Their heart is established and will not shrink,*
 until they see their desire upon their enemies.
They have given freely to the poor,*
 and their righteousness stands fast for ever;
   they will hold up their head with honour.
The wicked will see it and be angry;
   they will gnash their teeth and pine away;*
 the desires of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 113

Alleluia!
   Give praise, you servants of the Lord;*
 praise the name of the Lord.
Let the name of the Lord be blessed,*
 from this time forth for evermore.
>From the rising of the sun to its going down*
 let the name of the Lord be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations,*
 and his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the Lord our God,
   who sits enthroned on high,*
 but stoops to behold the heavens and the earth?
He takes up the weak out of the dust*
 and lifts up the poor from the ashes.
He sets them with the princes,*
 with the princes of his people.
He makes the woman of a childless house*
 to be a joyful mother of children.

A Song of Pilgrimage (Ecclesiasticus 51.13a,13c-17,20,21a,22b)

While I was still young,  
I sought Wisdom openly in my prayer. 
Before the temple I asked for her,  
and I will search for her until the end. 
>From the first blossom to the ripening grape,  
my heart delighted in her. 
My foot walked on the straight path,  
from my youth I followed her steps. 
I inclined my ear a little and received her,  
I found for myself much instruction. 
I made progress in Wisdom;  
to the One who sent her, I will give glory. 
I directed my soul to Wisdom,  
and in purity have I found her. 
With her, I gained understanding from the first,  
therefore will I never be forsaken. 
My heart was stirred to seek her,  
with my tongue will I sing God's praise. 

Psalm 150

Alleluia!
   Praise God in his holy temple;*
 praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts;*
 praise him for his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the blast of the ram's-horn;*
 praise him with lyre and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance;*
 praise him with strings and pipe.
Praise him with resounding cymbals;*
 praise him with loud-clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath*
 praise the Lord.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Habakkuk 3:2-6,10-13,18-19a]:

O Lord, I have heard of your renown,
   and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work.
In our own time revive it;
   in our own time make it known;
   in wrath may you remember mercy.
God came from Teman,
   the Holy One from Mount Paran.
          Selah
His glory covered the heavens,
   and the earth was full of his praise.
The brightness was like the sun;
   rays came forth from his hand,
   where his power lay hidden.
Before him went pestilence,
   and plague followed close behind.
He stopped and shook the earth;
   he looked and made the nations tremble.
The eternal mountains were shattered;
   along his ancient pathways
   the everlasting hills sank low.
The mountains saw you, and writhed;
   a torrent of water swept by;
the deep gave forth its voice.
   The sun raised high its hands;
the moon stood still in its exalted place,
   at the light of your arrows speeding by,
   at the gleam of your flashing spear.
In fury you trod the earth,
   in anger you trampled nations.
You came forth to save your people,
   to save your anointed.
You crushed the head of the wicked house,
   laying it bare from foundation to roof.
          Selah
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
   I will exult in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
   he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
   and makes me tread upon the heights. 

HYMN 
Words: Words: William Williams, 1745; trans. Peter Williams, 1771

Music: Cwm Rhondda

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/g/g401.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim though this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more,
feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through;
strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer.
be thou still my Strength and Shield,
be thou still my Strength and Shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
bear me through the swelling current,
land me safe on Canaan's side;
songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee,
I will ever give to thee.

SECOND READING [Romans 11:22-end]:

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity towards those who have
fallen, but God's kindness towards you, provided you continue in his kindness;
otherwise you also will be cut off. And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in
unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you
have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature,
into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back
into their own olive tree.

 So that you may not claim to be wiser than you are, brothers and sisters, I want you
to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full
number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved; as it is
written,
'Out of Zion will come the Deliverer;
   he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.'
'And this is my covenant with them,
   when I take away their sins.'
As regards the gospel they are enemies of God for your sake; but as regards election
they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors; for the gifts and the calling of God
are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received
mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that,
by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned
all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

 O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are
his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!
'For who has known the mind of the Lord?
   Or who has been his counsellor?'
'Or who has given a gift to him,
   to receive a gift in return?'
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever.
Amen. 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Blessed are you, eternal God,
to be praised and glorified for ever.

Hear us as we pray for your holy Catholic Church:
make us all one, that the world may believe.

Grant that every member of the Church
may truly and humbly serve you:
that the life of Christ may be revealed in us.

Strengthen all who minister in Christ's name:
give them courage to proclaim your Gospel.

Inspire and lead those who hold authority
in the nations of the world:
guide them in the ways of justice and peace.

Make us alive to the needs of our community:
help us to share each other's joys and burdens.

Look with kindness on our homes and families:
grant that your love may grow in our hearts.

Deepen our compassion for all who suffer 
from sickness, grief or trouble:
in your presence may they find their strength.

We remember those who have died:
may they rest in your peace.

We praise you for all your saints 
who have entered your eternal glory:
bring us all to share in your heavenly kingdom.

God of light,
teach us to love each other as you love us,
that we may bring peace and joy to the world,
and rejoice in the kingdom of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Faithful and loving God,
who called Mary Sumner to strive 
for the renewal of family life:
give us the gift of your Holy Spirit,
that through word, prayer and deed
your family may be strengthened and your people saved;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen. 
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Refresh us with your grace,
that we may not be weary in well-doing,
for the sake of him who has called us
to hunger and thirst to see right prevail,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer uses phrases from a prayer in _Revised Common Lectionary
Prayers_, copyright (c) 2002 Consultation on Common Texts and from
_Book of Common Worship_, (c) 1993 Westminster / John Knox Press.
The closing prayer uses phrases from _Book of Common Worship_, (c)
1993 Westminster / John Knox Press. 

The first collect is from _Daily Prayer_, copyright (c) The Scottish
Episcopal Church, 1998. Used with permission. 
http://www.scottishepiscopal.com

The second collect is from _Common Worship: Services and Prayers for
the Church of England_, material from which is included in this service is
copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2000.

Mary Elizabeth Sumner (n e Heywood) was born in 1828 at Swinton. In 1848,
she married a young curate, George Henry Sumner, nephew of Archbishop
Sumner, who was himself to become Bishop of Guildford in 1888. A mother of
three children, Mary called a meeting in 1876 at which the Mothers' Union was
founded, providing a forum in which to unite mothers of all classes in the aim
of bringing up children in the Christian faith. Baptism and parental example
were its two basic principles. At first a parochial organisation, it grew steadily
into an international concern, encouraging the ideal of a Christian home. Mary
died on this day in 1921. [Exciting Holiness]


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sat Aug  9 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sat,  9 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  10 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080809170001.BB7AB1E4297@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Sunday, August 10, 2008
The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O Lord,
from the rising of the sun to its going down,
your Name is praised,
for you have raised us from the dust and set before us
the vision of your glory.
As you bestowed upon us the dignity of a royal priesthood,
you lift up our hearts to celebrate your praise.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
   whom then shall I fear?*
 the Lord is the strength of my life;
   of whom then shall I be afraid?
When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh,*
 it was they, my foes and my adversaries,
   who stumbled and fell.
Though an army should encamp against me,*
 yet my heart shall not be afraid;
And though war should rise up against me,*
 yet will I put my trust in him.
One thing have I asked of the Lord;
   one thing I seek;*
 that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
   all the days of my life;
To behold the fair beauty of the Lord*
 and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
   he shall keep me safe in his shelter;*
 he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling
   and set me high upon a rock.
Even now he lifts up my head*
 above my enemies round about me;
Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation
   with sounds of great gladness;*
 I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call;*
 have mercy on me and answer me.
You speak in my heart and say, 'Seek my face.'*
 Your face, Lord, will I seek.
Hide not your face from me,*
 nor turn away your servant in displeasure.
You have been my helper;
   cast me not away;*
 do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.
Though my father and my mother forsake me,*
 the Lord will sustain me.
Show me your way, O Lord;*
 lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.
Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries,*
 for false witnesses have risen up against me,
   and also those who speak malice.
What if I had not believed
   that I should see the goodness of the Lord*
 in the land of the living!
O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure;
   be strong and he shall comfort your heart;*
 wait patiently for the Lord.

A Song of Redemption (Colossians 1.13-18a,19,20a)

The Father has delivered us from the dominion of darkness,  
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son; 
In whom we have redemption,  
the forgiveness of our sins. 
He is the image of the invisible God,  
the firstborn of all creation. 
For in him all things were created,  
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. 
All things were created through him and for him,  
he is before all things and in him all things hold together. 
He is the head of the body, the Church,  
he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. 
In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell;  
and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things. 

Psalm 117

Alleluia!
Praise the Lord, all you nations;*
 laud him, all you peoples.
For his loving-kindness towards us is great,*
 and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Tobit 13:1b-5,7-11]:

Tobit said:
'Blessed be God who lives for ever,
   because his kingdom lasts throughout all ages.
For he afflicts, and he shows mercy;
   he leads down to Hades in the lowest regions of the earth,
   and he brings up from the great abyss,
   and there is nothing that can escape his hand.
Acknowledge him before the nations, O children of Israel;
   for he has scattered you among them.
   He has shown you his greatness even there.
Exalt him in the presence of every living being,
   because he is our Lord and he is our God;
   he is our Father and he is God for ever.
He will afflict you for your iniquities,
   but he will again show mercy on all of you.
He will gather you from all the nations
   among whom you have been scattered.
As for me, I exalt my God,
   and my soul rejoices in the King of heaven.
Let all people speak of his majesty,
   and acknowledge him in Jerusalem.
O Jerusalem, the holy city,
   he afflicted you for the deeds of your hands,
   but will again have mercy on the children of the righteous.
Acknowledge the Lord, for he is good,
   and bless the King of the ages,
   so that his tent may be rebuilt in you in joy.
May he cheer all those within you who are captives,
   and love all those within you who are distressed,
   to all generations for ever. heaven.
Generation after generation will give joyful praise in you;
   the name of the chosen city will endure for ever.
A bright light will shine to all the ends of the earth;
   many nations will come to you from far away,
the inhabitants of the remotest parts of the earth to your holy name,
   bearing gifts in their hands for the King.

HYMN 
Words: John Greenleaf Whittier, 1872
Music: Herr Jesu Christ

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/a/a176.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

All things are thine; no gift have we,
Lord of all gifts, to offer thee:
and hence with grateful hearts today
thine own before thy feet we lay.

Thy will was in the builders' thought;
thy hand unseen amidst us wrought;
through mortal motive, scheme and plan,
thy wise eternal purpose ran.

In weakness and in want we call
on thee for whom the heavens are small;
thy glory is thy children's good,
thy joy thy tender Fatherhood.

O Father, deign these walls to bless;
fill with thy love their emptiness;
and let their door a gateway be
to lead us from ourselves to thee.

SECOND READING [Romans 15:14-21]:

I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full
of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. Nevertheless,
on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder, because of the
grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly
service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable,
sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work
for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has
accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, by
the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from
Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of
Christ. Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has
already been named, so that I do not build on someone else's foundation, but as it is
written,
'Those who have never been told of him shall see,
   and those who have never heard of him shall understand.' 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Let us pray for the whole people of God 
and for all people according to their needs, 
saying: "Hear our prayer." 

For the whole church, that, true to its calling, 
it may witness to the radical and boundless love of God 
and proclaim God's love in word and deed. 
O God of love and mercy, 
Hear our prayer. 

For all the people of our church, for our bishops, 
for all pastors and teachers, that strengthened by Word and Sacrament, 
our witness in this land may be full of faith and love. 
O God of love and mercy, 
Hear our prayer. 

For all the baptized, that we may embrace our lives 
and the lives of others with courage and compassion, 
unafraid of joy and pain, sickness and health. 
May our care be a sign of God's care. 
O God of love and mercy, 
Hear our prayer. 

For those who govern the nations of the world, 
that they may use their authority in wisdom, kindness and peacefulness. 
Awaken in all who govern a thirst for justice 
that embodies your care for the human community. 
O God of love and mercy, 
Hear our prayer. 

For all those who suffer poverty, injustice or oppression, 
that you would rescue them when they cry out. 
Open the ears of our hearts to hear,
and quicken in us the fire to respond in love. 
O God of love and mercy, 
Hear our prayer. 

For all who suffer illness, distress or grief, 
especially those we name silently or aloud ... , 
that you would grant them comfort, healing and release. 
Awaken in us boundless compassion 
and use us as agents of lovingkindness. 
O God of love and mercy, 
Hear our prayer. 

For the saints of every time and generation, 
that you would keep us all in the bonds of love 
and bring us to the fullness of your reign. 
O God, of love and mercy, 
Hear our prayer. 

O God of Love, hear the prayers of your people. 
Enliven us by your Spirit to live into the fullness of your reign. 
We pray through Jesus, our life and our hope. Amen. 

Almighty God, 
you sent your Holy Spirit 
to be the life and light of your Church: 
Open our hearts to the riches of your grace, 
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love, joy, and peace; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. Amen. 
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Calm our fears and strengthen our faith
that we may never doubt the presence of Jesus Christ our Lord,
but proclaim him as your Son, risen from the dead, living for ever and ever.
Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The closing sentence uses phrases from a prayer in _Revised Common Lectionary
Prayers_, copyright (c) 2002 Consultation on Common Texts. The opening
prayer uses phrases from _Opening Prayers: Collects in Contemporary
Language_. Canterbury Press, Norwich, 1999.

The intercession is Copyright:   1995, 1999 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
(Lift Up Your Hearts,  http://www.worship.ca/)


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Mon Aug 11 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  12 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080811170001.D5BFA1E4047@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Tuesday, August 12, 2008
John Henry Newman, Priest, Tractarian, 1890

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O Lord,
from the rising of the sun to its going down,
your Name is praised,
for you have raised us from the dust and set before us
the vision of your glory.
As you bestowed upon us the dignity of a royal priesthood,
you lift up our hearts to celebrate your praise.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 116

I love the Lord,
   because he has heard the voice of my supplication,*
 because he has inclined his ear to me
   whenever I called upon him.
The cords of death entangled me;
   the grip of the grave took hold of me;*
 I came to grief and sorrow.
Then I called upon the name of the Lord:*
 'O Lord, I pray you, save my life.'
Gracious is the Lord and righteous;*
 our God is full of compassion.
The Lord watches over the innocent;*
 I was brought very low and he helped me.
Turn again to your rest, O my soul,*
 for the Lord has treated you well.
For you have rescued my life from death,*
 my eyes from tears and my feet from stumbling.
I will walk in the presence of the Lord*
 in the land of the living.
I believed, even when I said,
   'I have been brought very low.'*
 In my distress I said, 'No one can be trusted.'
How shall I repay the Lord*
 for all the good things he has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation*
 and call upon the name of the Lord.
I will fulfil my vows to the Lord*
 in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord*
 is the death of his servants.
O Lord, I am your servant;*
 I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;
   you have freed me from my bonds.
I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving*
 and call upon the name of the Lord.
I will fulfil my vows to the Lord*
 in the presence of all his people.
In the courts of the Lord's house,*
 in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
   Alleluia!

A Song of God's Chosen One (Isaiah 11.1,2,3b-4a,6,9)

There shall come forth a shoot from the stock of Jesse,  
and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,  
the spirit of wisdom and understanding, 
The spirit of counsel and might,  
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,  
or decide by what his ears hear, 
But with righteousness he shall judge the poor,  
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. 
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,  
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid. 
The calf, the lion and the fatling together,  
with a little child to lead them. 
They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,  
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord 
as the waters cover the sea.

Psalm 147:1-12

Alleluia!
   How good it is to sing praises to our God!*
 how pleasant it is to honour him with praise!
The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;*
 he gathers the exiles of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted*
 and binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars*
 and calls them all by their names.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;*
 there is no limit to his wisdom.
The Lord lifts up the lowly,*
 but casts the wicked to the ground.
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;*
 make music to our God upon the harp.
He covers the heavens with clouds*
 and prepares rain for the earth;
He makes grass to grow upon the mountains*
 and green plants to serve us all.
He provides food for flocks and herds*
 and for the young ravens when they cry.
He is not impressed by the might of a horse,*
 he has no pleasure in human strength;
But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him,*
 in those who await his gracious favour.
 Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Zephaniah 3:1-8]:

Ah, soiled, defiled,
   oppressing city!
It has listened to no voice;
   it has accepted no correction.
It has not trusted in the Lord;
   it has not drawn near to its God.

The officials within it
   are roaring lions;
its judges are evening wolves
   that leave nothing until the morning.
Its prophets are reckless,
   faithless persons;
its priests have profaned what is sacred,
   they have done violence to the law.
The Lord within it is righteous;
   he does no wrong.
Every morning he renders his judgement,
   each dawn without fail;
   but the unjust knows no shame.

I have cut off nations;
   their battlements are in ruins;
I have laid waste their streets
   so that no one walks in them;
their cities have been made desolate,
   without people, without inhabitants.
I said, 'Surely the city will fear me,
   it will accept correction;
it will not lose sight
   of all that I have brought upon it.'
But they were the more eager
   to make all their deeds corrupt.

Therefore wait for me, says the Lord,
   for the day when I arise as a witness.
For my decision is to gather nations,
   to assemble kingdoms,
to pour out upon them my indignation,
   all the heat of my anger;
for in the fire of my passion
   all the earth shall be consumed. 

HYMN 
Words: John Henry Newman, 1833
Tune: Lux Benigna, Sandon, Alberta

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/l/l014.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.

Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom,
lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
the distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
lead thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
pride ruled my will: remember not past years!

So long thy power hath blessed me, sure it still
will lead me on.
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!

SECOND READING [Romans 13]:

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority
except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.
Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who
resist will incur judgement. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do
you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive
its approval; for it is God's servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you
should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of
God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject, not only
because of wrath but also because of conscience. For the same reason you also pay
taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, busy with this very thing. Pay to all what
is due to them taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due,
respect to whom respect is due, honour to whom honour is due.
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has
fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery; You shall not
murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet'; and any other commandment, are
summed up in this word, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a
neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake
from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the
night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put
on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and
drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy.
Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify
its desires. 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
God our Father,
you gave your Son, Jesus Christ
to share our life on earth,
to grow in wisdom,
to toil with his hands,
and to make known the ways of your kingdom.

We pray for the community
those who work....
the unemployed....
those in education....
those in research....
those in communications....
those who maintain the life of the community....
the Church, especially 

God our Father, we give you thanks
for Christ's revelation of yourself,
his care for people,
and his joy in obedience....
for the value he gave to human labour,
the strength he promised us for service,
the call to follow in his way....
for all opportunities of work and of leisure,
all truth that we have learned,
and all discoveries that we have made....

Give us growing reverence for the truth,
and such wisdom in the use of knowledge
that your kingdom may be advanced
and your name glorified;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I may never know it in this life
but I shall be told it in the next.
I am a link in a chain
a bond of connection between persons.
He has not created me for naught.
I shall do good - I shall do his work.
I shall be an angel of peace
a preacher of truth in my own place
while not intending it
if I do but keep his commandments.
he does nothing in vain.
He knows what he is about.
He may take away my friends.
He may throw me among strangers.
He may make me feel desolate
make my spirits sink
hide my future from me - still
he knows what he is about. Amen. 

God of power and might,
give us grace to follow the example 
of your servant John Henry Newman
and seek inward conversion 
and put aside external conformity for its own sake,
that we may serve God and do good without thinking about it,
without any calculation or reasoning,
from love of the good and hatred of evil,
dwelling in the full light of the Gospel
of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Calm our fears and strengthen our faith
that we may never doubt the presence of Jesus Christ our Lord,
but proclaim him as your Son, risen from the dead, living for ever and ever.
Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The closing sentence uses phrases from a prayer in _Revised Common Lectionary
Prayers_, copyright (c) 2002 Consultation on Common Texts. The opening
prayer uses phrases from _Opening Prayers: Collects in Contemporary
Language_. Canterbury Press, Norwich, 1999.

The first collect is by Cardinal Newman.

The second collect is by Stephen Benner, 2003, and is based on phrases from a
sermon by John Henry Newman.

John Henry Newman began his career as an Anglican churchman and scholar
and ended it as a Roman Catholic cardinal. He was born in London on
February 21, 1801, and at the age of fifteen, he enrolled in Trinity College,
beginning an association with Oxford University that would last for nearly
thirty years.
Newman moved from Trinity to Oriel College after receiving his bachelor's
degree in 1820, becoming a fellow in 1822 and a tutor in 1826. Two years
later, Edward Hawkins became the new provost of Oriel. Newman supported
Hawkins' candidacy, but it soon became clear that the two held different views
about the responsibilities of a college tutor: Newman believed that the
tutorship carried some pastoral duties, while Hawkins maintained that the
tutor/student relationship should be strictly academic. When Newman objected
to this view, Hawkins cut off his supply of new students, leaving him little
choice but to resign his post, which he did in 1832.
Newman's work in Oxford did not end with his resignation from the Oriel
tutorship. He had held academic and pastoral assignments simultaneously for
several years, serving first as both fellow of Oriel and curate of St. Clement's
and later as both tutor and vicar of St. Mary's. He remained in his pastoral
office until 1843, attracting hundreds of students, university officials, and
townspeople to St. Mary's with his scholarly yet earnest preaching.
The high point of Newman's Anglican career was his influential role in the
Oxford Movement, a High Church effort to return to the foundations of the
faith--the sacraments, episcopal governance, and apostolic succession--and to
affirm the Church's status as the via media, the middle ground between Roman
Catholicism's unfounded claims to authority and infallibility and the Dissenters'
equally unfounded emphasis upon spiritual liberty and private judgment. The
Movement began on July 14, 1833, when John Keble delivered a sermon
entitled "National Apostasy" from the pulpit of St. Mary's. Newman became
involved a few months later and was the Movement's primary spokesman,
promoting its doctrinal and moral concerns through his editorship of the British
Critic, his contributions to Tracts for the Times, and his weekly sermons at St.
Mary's.
In 1839, Newman began to lose confidence in the cause. The study of the
Monophysites he undertook that summer raised doubts about the validity of
the via media, and he soon became convinced that Rome, not Canterbury, was
the home of the true Church. He expressed his new views in Tract Ninety, in
which he argued that the Thirty-Nine Articles, the doctrinal statement of the
Church of England, could be interpreted in a way that supported Roman
Catholic doctrine. The Tract was published on February 27, 1841; its censure
by the Oxford authorities on March 15 was a severe blow to the Movement
and led to Newman's rapid withdrawal from Anglican life. Between July 1841
and September 1843, he left the British Critic, moved from Oxford to a
semi-monastic community at Littlemore, retracted the anti-Catholic statements
he had published, and resigned his position at St. Mary's.
Two years after leaving St. Mary's, Newman began a new life as a Roman
Catholic. He was officially received into the Church on October 9, 1845 and
was ordained to the priesthood the next year. His work with the Church
included establishing the Oratory of St. Philip Neri near Birmingham in 1848
and helping to create the Catholic University of Ireland, which he served as
rector from 1854 to 1858. He continued to write as well; some of the major
publications of his Catholic years were Parochial and Plain Sermons (1868), a
new edition of his Anglican discourses; The Idea of University (1852), a
collection of the inaugural lectures for the Catholic University and other
academic essays; An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent (1870), a treatise on
the philosophy of religion; and Apologia Pro Vita Sua (1864), his classic work
of spiritual autobiography.
The 1870s brought Newman special recognition for his work as both an
Anglican and a Roman Catholic. In 1877 he became the first person elected to
an honorary fellowship of Trinity College; two years later, Pope Leo XIII
awarded him a place in the College of Cardinals. He died on August 11, 1890,
and was buried in Warwickshire.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Tue Aug 12 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  13 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080812170001.2E7801E3AF0@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Down and Connor, Teacher of the Faith, 1667

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O Lord,
from the rising of the sun to its going down,
your Name is praised,
for you have raised us from the dust and set before us
the vision of your glory.
As you bestowed upon us the dignity of a royal priesthood,
you lift up our hearts to celebrate your praise.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills;*
 from where is my help to come?
My help comes from the Lord,*
 the maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved*
 and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.
Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel*
 shall neither slumber nor sleep;
The Lord himself watches over you;*
 the Lord is your shade at your right hand,
So that the sun shall not strike you by day,*
 nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;*
 it is he who shall keep you safe.
The Lord shall watch over your going out
   and your coming in,*
 from this time forth for evermore.

Psalm 123

To you I lift up my eyes,*
 to you enthroned in the heavens.
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,*
 and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God,*
 until he show us his mercy.
Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy,*
 for we have had more than enough of contempt,
Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich,*
 and of the derision of the proud.

Psalm 124

If the Lord had not been on our side,*
 let Israel now say;
If the Lord had not been on our side,*
 when enemies rose up against us;
Then would they have swallowed us up alive*
 in their fierce anger towards us;
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us*
 and the torrent gone over us;
Then would the raging waters*
 have gone right over us.
Blessed be the Lord!*
 he has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird
   from the snare of the fowler;*
 the snare is broken and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,*
 the maker of heaven and earth.

A Song of the Bride (Isaiah 61.10,11; 62.1-3)

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,  
my soul shall exult in my God; 
Who has clothed me with the garments of salvation,  
and has covered me with the cloak of integrity, 
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,  
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 
For as the earth puts forth her blossom,  
and as seeds in the garden spring up, 
So shall God make righteousness and praise  
blossom before all the nations. 
For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,  
and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, 
Until her deliverance shines out like the dawn,  
and her salvation as a burning torch. 
The nations shall see your deliverance,  
and all rulers shall see your glory; 
Then you shall be called by a new name  
which the mouth of God will give. 
You shall be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord,  
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Psalm 147:13-end

Alleluia!
Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem;*
 praise your God, O Zion;
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;*
 he has blessed your children within you.
He has established peace on your borders;*
 he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
He sends out his command to the earth,*
 and his word runs very swiftly.
He gives snow like wool;*
 he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
He scatters his hail like bread crumbs;*
 who can stand against his cold?
He sends forth his word and melts them;*
 he blows with his wind and the waters flow.
He declares his word to Jacob,*
 his statutes and his judgements to Israel.
He has not done so to any other nation;*
 to them he has not revealed his judgements.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Zephaniah 3:9-end]:

At that time I will change the speech of the peoples
   to a pure speech,
that all of them may call on the name of the Lord
   and serve him with one accord.
>From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
   my suppliants, my scattered ones,
   shall bring my offering.

On that day you shall not be put to shame
   because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
   your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
   in my holy mountain.
For I will leave in the midst of you
   a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord 
   the remnant of Israel;
they shall do no wrong
   and utter no lies,
nor shall a deceitful tongue
   be found in their mouths.
Then they will pasture and lie down,
   and no one shall make them afraid.

Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
   shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
   O daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgements against you,
   he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
   you shall fear disaster no more.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
   do not let your hands grow weak.
The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
   a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
   he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
   as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you,
   so that you will not bear reproach for it.
I will deal with all your oppressors
   at that time.
And I will save the lame
   and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
   and renown in all the earth.
At that time I will bring you home,
   at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you renowned and praised
   among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
   before your eyes, says the Lord. 

HYMN 
Words: adapted from Jeremy Taylor, 1655

Music: Farley Castle  

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/r/r056.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Ride on triumphantly! Behold, we lay
our lusts and sins and proud will in thy way:
the road is ready, and thy paths made straight
with longing expectation seem to wait.

Hosanna! Welcome to our hearts! for here
thou hast a temple too, as Zion dear:
enter, O Lord, and cleanse that holy place
where thou dost choose to set thy beauteous face.

SECOND READING [Romans 14:1-12]:

Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarrelling over
opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those
who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass
judgement on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass
judgement on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall.
And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike.
Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it
in honour of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honour of the Lord, since they give
thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honour of the Lord and give thanks
to God.

We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the
Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die,
we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be
Lord of both the dead and the living.

Why do you pass judgement on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise
your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God. For it is
written,
'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
   and every tongue shall give praise to God.'
So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Holy Father,
you have reconciled us to yourself in Christ;
by your Spirit
you enable us to live as your children.

We pray for personal relationships
the home, and family life....
children deprived of home....
friends, relations and neighbours....
relationships in daily life and work....
those who are estranged....
ministries of care and healing...

Holy Father, we give you thanks
for the obedience of Christ fulfilled in the cross,
his bearing of the sin of the world,
his mercy for the world, which never fails....

for the joy of human love and friendship,
the lives to which our own are bound,
the gift of peace with you and each other....

for the communities in whose life we share
and all relationships
in which reconciliation may be known....

Help us to share in Christ's ministry
and to love and serve one another in peace;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
who in the unity of the Spirit
is one with you for ever. Amen.

Let no riches make me ever forget myself, 
no poverty ever make me to forget thee: 
let no hope or fear, no pleasure or pain, 
no accident without, no weakness within, 
hinder or discompose my duty, or turn me 
from the ways of thy commandments. 
O, let thy Spirit dwell with me for ever, 
and make my soul just and charitable, 
full of honesty, full of religion, 
resolute and constant in holy purposes, 
but inflexible to evil. 
Make me humble and obedient, peaceable and pious; 
let me never envy any man's goods, 
nor deserve to be despised myself: 
and if I be, teach me to bear it with meekness and charity. Amen.

Holy and loving God,
you dwell in the human heart
and make us partakers of the divine nature
in Christ our great high priest:
help us who remember your servant Jeremy Taylor
to put our trust in your heavenly promises
and follow a holy life in virtue and true godliness;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Calm our fears and strengthen our faith
that we may never doubt the presence of Jesus Christ our Lord,
but proclaim him as your Son, risen from the dead, living for ever and ever.
Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The closing sentence uses phrases from a prayer in _Revised Common Lectionary
Prayers_, copyright (c) 2002 Consultation on Common Texts. The opening
prayer uses phrases from _Opening Prayers: Collects in Contemporary
Language_. Canterbury Press, Norwich, 1999.

The first collect is by Jeremy Taylor.

The second collect is from _Common Worship: Services and Prayers for
the Church of England_, material from which is included in this service is
copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2000.

Jeremy Taylor was born at Cambridge in 1613 and ordained in 1633. In the
years between 1633 and the ascendency of the Puritans in 1645, he was a
Fellow of two Cambridge colleges, and chaplain to Archbishop Laud and to
King Charles. Under Puritan rule, he was imprisoned three times, and forced
into retirement as a family chaplain in Wales. After the Restoration, in 1661, he
became Bishop of Down and Connor in Ireland. Among his many books on
theological, moral, and devotional subjects, the best known are The Rule and
Exercises of Holy Living (1650) and The Rule and Exercises of Holy Dying
(1651), usually cited simply as Holy Living and Holy Dying. Many readers,
including Charles Wesley a century later, have reported finding these books of
great spiritual benefit. Another work of his, Liberty of Prophesying, argues for
freedom of conscience and freedom of speech in a religious context. Being
stationed in an area that was largely Roman Catholic, he was, perhaps
inevitably, drawn into controversy, and he wrote a book called Dissuasion (or
Dissuasive) Against Popery. [James Kiefer]

From steve.benner at oremus.org  Wed Aug 13 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  14 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080813170001.4AD751E3842@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Thursday, August 14, 2008
Maximilian Kolbe, Friar, Martyr, 1941, and All Martyrs of World War II

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O Lord,
from the rising of the sun to its going down,
your Name is praised,
for you have raised us from the dust and set before us
the vision of your glory.
As you bestowed upon us the dignity of a royal priesthood,
you lift up our hearts to celebrate your praise.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 144

Blessed be the Lord my rock!*
 who trains my hands to fight and my fingers to battle;
My help and my fortress,
   my stronghold and my deliverer,*
 my shield in whom I trust,
   who subdues the peoples under me.
O Lord, what are we that you should care for us?*
 mere mortals that you should think of us?
We are like a puff of wind;*
 our days are like a passing shadow.
Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down;*
 touch the mountains and they shall smoke.
Hurl the lightning and scatter them;*
 shoot out your arrows and rout them.
Stretch out your hand from on high;*
 rescue me and deliver me from the great waters,
   from the hand of foreign peoples,
Whose mouths speak deceitfully*
 and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.
O God, I will sing to you a new song;*
 I will play to you on a ten-stringed lyre.
You give victory to kings*
 and have rescued David your servant.
Rescue me from the hurtful sword*
 and deliver me from the hand of foreign peoples,
Whose mouths speak deceitfully*
 and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.
May our sons be like plants
   well nurtured from their youth,*
 and our daughters like sculptured corners of a palace.
May our barns be filled to overflowing*
 with all manner of crops;
May the flocks in our pastures
   increase by thousands and tens of thousands;*
 may our cattle be fat and sleek.
May there be no breaching of the walls,
   no going into exile,*
 no wailing in the public squares.
Happy are the people of whom this is so!*
 happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

A Song of Christ's Appearing (1 Timothy 3.16;6.15,16)

Christ Jesus was revealed in the flesh  
and vindicated in the spirit. 
He was seen by angels  
and proclaimed among the nations. 
Believed in throughout the world,  
he was taken up in glory. 
This will be made manifest at the proper time  
by the blessed and only Sovereign, 
Who alone has immortality,  
and dwells in unapproachable light. 
To the King of kings and Lord of lords  
be honour and eternal dominion. Amen. 

Psalm 148

Alleluia!
   Praise the Lord from the heavens;*
 praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all you angels of his;*
 praise him, all his host.
Praise him, sun and moon;*
 praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, heaven of heavens,*
 and you waters above the heavens.
Let them praise the name of the Lord;*
 for he commanded and they were created.
He made them stand fast for ever and ever;*
 he gave them a law which shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth,*
 you sea-monsters and all deeps;
Fire and hail, snow and fog,*
 tempestuous wind, doing his will;
Mountains and all hills,*
 fruit trees and all cedars;
Wild beasts and all cattle,*
 creeping things and winged birds;
Kings of the earth and all peoples,*
 princes and all rulers of the world;
Young men and maidens,*
 old and young together.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,*
 for his name only is exalted,
   his splendour is over earth and heaven.
He has raised up strength for his people
   and praise for all his loyal servants,*
 the children of Israel, a people who are near him.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10]:

All wisdom is from the Lord,
   and with him it remains for ever.
The sand of the sea, the drops of rain,
   and the days of eternity who can count them?
The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth,
   the abyss, and wisdom who can search them out?
Wisdom was created before all other things,
   and prudent understanding from eternity.
The root of wisdom to whom has it been revealed?
   Her subtleties who knows them?
There is but one who is wise, greatly to be feared,
   seated upon his throne the Lord.
It is he who created her;
   he saw her and took her measure;
   he poured her out upon all his works,
upon all the living according to his gift;
   he lavished her upon those who love him. 

HYMN 
Words: William Watkins Reid, Jr. (c)
Tune: Llangloffan

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/o/o175.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

O God of every nation,
of every race and land,
redeem the whole creation
with your almighty hand;
where hate and fear divide us
and bitter threats are hurled,
in love and mercy guide us
and heal our strife-torn world.

>From search for wealth and power
and scorn of truth and right,
from trust in bombs that shower
destruction through the night,
from pride of race and nation
and blindness to your way,
deliver every nation,
eternal God, we pray!

Lord, strengthen all who labor
that we may find release
from fear of rattling saber,
from dread of war's increase;
when hope and courage falter,
your still small voice be heard;
with faith that none can alter,
your servants undergird.

Keep bright in us the vision
of days when war shall cease,
when hatred and division
give way to love and peace,
till dawns the morning glorious
when truth and justice reign
and Christ shall rule victorious
o'er all the world's domain.

SECOND READING [Romans 14:13-end]:

Let us therefore no longer pass judgement on one another, but resolve instead never to
put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of another. I know and am persuaded in
the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks
it unclean. If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer
walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died.
So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not food and
drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The one who thus serves
Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. Let us then pursue what makes
for peace and for mutual edification. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of
God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what
you eat; it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your
brother or sister stumble. The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before
God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what
they approve. But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do
not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Eternal God,
you have raised Jesus Christ from the dead
and exalted him to your right hand in glory,
and through him called your Church into being,
that your people might know you,
and that they might make your name known.

We pray for the church
the Church universal, and local, especially....
the unity of the Church....
the ministries of the Church....
the mission of the Church....
the renewal of the Church....
all Christians in this place....

Eternal God, we give you thanks

for the apostolic gospel committed to your Church,
the continuing presence and power of your Spirit,
the ministry of Word, Sacrament and Prayer....

for the divine mission in which we are called to share,
the will to unity and its fruit in common action,
the faithful witness of those who are true to Christ....

for all works of compassion
and every service that proclaims your love.

In peace and unity
may your people offer the unfailing sacrifice of praise,
and make your glory known;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eternal God,
whose Son struggled against the forces
which enfeeble and enslave your people:
shield us from evil and all deception,
that we may enter your truth
and enjoy the abundance of his risen life;
who with you and the Holy Spirit
is alive and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

O God,
we bless you for the witness of your martyrs
who walked in the bitter path of the Cross
and gave their lives that others might live.
Grant that our devotion may issue in the deeds of love,
and our confession of your holy Name
in a readiness for justice;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Calm our fears and strengthen our faith
that we may never doubt the presence of Jesus Christ our Lord,
but proclaim him as your Son, risen from the dead, living for ever and ever.
Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The closing sentence uses phrases from a prayer in _Revised Common Lectionary
Prayers_, copyright (c) 2002 Consultation on Common Texts. The opening
prayer uses phrases from _Opening Prayers: Collects in Contemporary
Language_. Canterbury Press, Norwich, 1999.

Hymn (c) 1958, Renewed 1986 by The Hymn Society (admin. by Hope Publishing
Co., Carol Stream, IL  60188).  
All rights reserved.  Used by permission.
For permission to reproduce this hymn, contact:  Hope Publishing Company, 
www.hopepublishing.com

 Raymond Kolbe (who took the name Maximilian when he became a friar) is known
chiefly for the manner of his death, but his life was also noteworthy. He was born in 1894
near Lodz (51:49 N 19:28 E) in a part of Poland then under Russian rule, of parents who
worked at home as weavers. In 1910 he became a Franciscan, taking the name
Maximilian. His parents then undertook the monastic life, his mother as a Benedictine
and his father as a Franciscan. His father left the order (I assume before taking life vows)
to run a religious bookstore, and then enlisted with Pilsudski's army to fight the Russians.
He was captured and hanged as a traitor in 1914.

Maximilian studied at Rome and was ordained in 1919. He returned to Poland and taught
Church history in a seminary. He left the seminary (1) to found an association named for
the Virgin Mary and dedicated to spreading the Roman Catholic faith and assisting those
who held it to learn more about it; and (2) to establish a printing press and publish a
periodical for the members of his association, consisting largely of Christian apologetics.
He built a friary just west of Warsaw (52:15 N 21:00 E), which eventually housed 762
Franciscans and printed eleven periodicals (one with a circulation of over a million),
including a daily newspaper. In 1930 he went to Asia, where he founded friaries in
Nagasaki (34:25 N 129:52 E) and in India. In 1936 he was recalled to supervise the
original friary near Warsaw. When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, he knew that the
friary would be seized, and sent most of the friars home. He was imprisoned briefly and
then released, and returned to the friary, where he and the other friars sheltered 3000
Poles and 1500 Jews, and continued to publish a newspaper encouraging its readers.

In May 1941 the friary was closed down and Maximilian and four companions were taken
to Auschwitz, where they worked with the other prisoners, chiefly at carrying logs.
Maximilian carried on his priestly work surreptitiously, hearing confessions in unlikely
places and celebrating the Lord's Supper with bread and wine smuggled in for that
purpose.

In order to discourage escapes, the camp had a rule that if a man escaped, ten men would
be killed in retaliation. In July 1941 a man from Kolbe's bunker escaped. The remaining
men of the bunker were led out and ten were selected, including a Sergeant Francis
Gajowniczek. When he uttered a cry of dismay, Maximilian stepped forward and said, "I
am a Catholic priest. Let me take his place. I am old. He has a wife and children." The
officer had more use for a young worker than for an old one, and was happy to make the
exchange. The ten men were placed in a large cell and left there to starve. Maximilian
encouraged the others with prayers, psalms, and meditations on the Passion of Christ.
After two weeks, only four were alive, and only Maximilian was fully conscious. The
four were killed with injections of carbolic acid on 14 August 1941. [James Kiefer]

From steve.benner at oremus.org  Thu Aug 14 19:46:42 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:46:42 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  15 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080814194642.426911E3052@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Friday, August 15, 2008
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Our Lord

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, God of all grace,
for Jesus Christ, our Light and our Life.
You have given your living Word to Mary, Birth-Giver,
that through the Holy Spirit,
she might bear the Word made flesh,
who brings light out of darkness,
and with your Spirit renews the face of the earth.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 98

Sing to the Lord a new song,*
 for he has done marvellous things.
With his right hand and his holy arm*
 has he won for himself the victory.
The Lord has made known his victory;*
 his righteousness has he openly shown
   in the sight of the nations.
He remembers his mercy and faithfulness
   to the house of Israel,*
 and all the ends of the earth have seen
   the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands;*
 lift up your voice, rejoice and sing.
Sing to the Lord with the harp,*
 with the harp and the voice of song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn*
 shout with joy before the King, the Lord.
Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it,*
 the lands and those who dwell therein.
Let the rivers clap their hands,*
 and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord,
   when he comes to judge the earth.
In righteousness shall he judge the world,*
 and the peoples with equity.

Psalm 138

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart;*
 before the gods I will sing your praise.
I will bow down towards your holy temple
   and praise your name,*
 because of your love and faithfulness;
For you have glorified your name*
 and your word above all things.
When I called, you answered me;*
 you increased my strength within me.
All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Lord,*
 when they have heard the words of your mouth.
They will sing of the ways of the Lord,*
 that great is the glory of the Lord.
Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly;*
 he perceives the haughty from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
   you keep me safe;*
 you stretch forth your hand
   against the fury of my enemies;
   your right hand shall save me.
The Lord will make good his purpose for me;*
 O Lord, your love endures for ever;
   do not abandon the works of your hands.

A Song of Hannah (1 Samuel 2.1-2,3b-5,7-8)

My soul exults in the Lord;
my strength is exalted in my God.

My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.

There is no Holy One like you, O Lord,
nor any Rock like you, our God.

For you are a God of knowledge
and by you our actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble gird on strength.

Those who were full now hire themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry are well fed.

The barren woman has borne sevenfold,
but she who has many children is forlorn.

Both the poor and the rich are of your making;
you bring low and you also exalt.

You raise up the poor from the dust,
and lift the needy from the ash heap.

You make them sit with the rulers
and inherit a place of honour.

For the pillars of the earth are yours
and on them you have set the world.

Psalm 149

Alleluia!
   Sing to the Lord a new song;*
 sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in his maker;*
 let the children of Zion be joyful in their king.
Let them praise his name in the dance;*
 let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people*
 and adorns the poor with victory.
Let the faithful rejoice in triumph;*
 let them be joyful on their beds.
Let the praises of God be in their throat*
 and a two-edged sword in their hand;
To wreak vengeance on the nations*
 and punishment on the peoples;
To bind their kings in chains*
 and their nobles with links of iron;
To inflict on them the judgement decreed;*
 this is glory for all his faithful people.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Isaiah 7:10-15]:

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep
as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord
to the test. Then Isaiah said: 'Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to
weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you
a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him
Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil
and choose the good.

HYMN 
Words: Roland Ford Palmer, 1914
Tune: Pleading Savior

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/s/s174.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.

Sing of Mary, pure and lowly,
virgin mother undefiled;
sing of God's own Son most holy,
who became her little child.
Fairest child of fairest mother,
God the Lord who came to earth,
Word made flesh, our very brother,
takes our nature by his birth.

Sing of Jesus, son of Mary,
in the home at Nazareth,
toil and labor cannot weary
love enduring unto death.
Constant was the love he gave her,
though he went forth from her side,
forth to preach, and heal, and suffer
till on Calvary he died.

Sing of Mary, sing of Jesus,
holy Mother's holier Son.
>From his throne in heaven he sees us,
thither calls us every one,
where he welcomes home his Mother
to a place at his right hand,
there his faithful servants gather,
there the crown d victors stand.

Joyful Mother, full of gladness,
in thine arms thy Lord was borne.
Mournful Mother, full of sadness,
all thy heart with pain was torn.
Glorious Mother, now rewarded
with a crown at Jesus' hand,
age to age thy name recorded
shall be blessed in every land.

Glory be to God the Father;
glory be to God the Son;
glory be to God the Spirit;
glory to the Three in One.
>From the heart of blessed Mary,
from all saints the song ascends,
and the Church the strain reechoes
unto earth's remotest ends.

SECOND READING [Luke 11:27-28]:

While Jesus was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him,
'Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!' But he said,
'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!'

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Following the example of Mary's patient love,
we pray for grace to follow God's will.

We pray for the Church.
May it follow Mary's example of patience, humility and trust.
God of love,
hear our prayer.

We pray for women
who serve as bishops, priests, deacons and ministers in your Church.
Open our ears to their witness and teaching.
God of love,
hear our prayer.

We pray for the world.
Teach us to honor the wholeness of God's creation
in both male and female.
God of love,
hear our prayer.

We pray for mothers.
May the knowledge of your love
ease the burden of those who live with poverty or anxiety.
God of love,
hear our prayer.

We pray for women
suffering from cruelty and indifference.
Give us strength to give them comfort and relief.
God of love,
hear our prayer.

We pray for the departed,
joining our prayers with those of Mary.
In the hour of death, save us by the love of Christ.
God of love,
hear our prayer.

Redeeming God,
whose daughter Mary trusted angelic voices,
rejoiced with a song of praise,
and wept at the foot of the cross:
Give us such courage, faith and hope as hers,
that we, too, may praise you, trust you and receive you
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Receiving the Holy Spirit,
bearing the child of God,
pondering the mystery of Christ,
witnessing and following in the Way,
so Mary witnessed to your saving grace.
May we, O God, be as faithful and strong. Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer of thanksgiving, the collect and the closing sentence are
adapted from prayers reprinted from _THE DAILY OFFICE: A Book of
Hours of Daily Prayer after the Use of the Order of Saint Luke_, (c)
1997 by The Order of Saint Luke. Used by permission.

The intercession is by Stephen Benner and uses phrases from a prayer in
_Leading Intercessions_, (c) 2000, Canterbury Press.

The honor paid to Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and God,
goes back to the earliest days of the Church. Indeed, it goes back further, for
even before the birth of her Son, Mary prophesied, "From this time forth, all
generations shall call me blessed."
The New Testament records several incidents from the life of the Virgin: her
betrothal to Joseph, the Annunciation by the angel Gabriel that she was to bear
the Messiah, her Visitation to Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist, the
Nativity of our Lord, the visits of the shepherds and the magi, the Presentation
of the infant Jesus in the Temple at the age of forty days, the flight into Egypt,
the Passover visit to the Temple when Jesus was twelve, [Matthew 1:16,18-25;
2; Luke 1:26-56; 2]; the wedding at Cana in Galilee and the performance of her
Son's first miracle at her intercession [John 2:1-11], the occasions when
observers said, "How can this man be special? We know his family!" [Matthew
13:54-56 = Mark 6:1-3 = Luke 4:22; also John 6:42], an occasion when she
came with others to see him while he was preaching [Matthew 12:46-50 =
Mark 3:31-35 = Luke 8:19-21], her presence at the foot of the Cross, where
Jesus commends her to the care of the Beloved Disciple [John 19:25-27], and
her presence with the apostles in the upper room after the Ascension, waiting
for the promised Spirit [Acts 1:14]. She is thus seen to be present at most of
the chief events of her Son's life.
Besides Jesus himself, only two humans are mentioned by name in the Creeds.
One is Pontius Pilate, Roman procurator of Judea from 26 to 36 AD. That
Jesus was crucified by order of Pontius Pilate pins down the date of his death
within a few years, and certifies that we are not talking, like the worshippers of
Tammuz or Adonis, about a personification or symbol of the annual death and
resurrection of the crops. His death is an event in history, something that really
happened. The other name is that of Mary. The Creeds say that Christ was
"born of the virgin Mary." That is to say, they assert on the one hand that he
was truly and fully human, born of a woman and not descended from the skies
like an angel. On the other hand, by telling us that his mother was a virgin they
exclude the theory that he was simply an ordinary man who was so virtuous
that he eventually, at his baptism, became filled with the Spirit of God. His
virgin birth attests to the fact that he was always more than merely human,
always one whose presence among us was in itself a miracle, from the first
moment of his earthly existence. In Mary, Virgin and Mother, God gives us a
sign that Jesus is both truly God and truly Man.
Little is known of the life of the Virgin Mary except insofar as it intersects with
the life of her Son, and there is an appropriateness in this. The Scriptures
record her words to the angel Gabriel, to her kinswoman Elizabeth, to her Son
on two occasions. But the only recorded saying of hers to what may be called
ordinary, run-of-the-mill hearers is her instruction to the servants at the
wedding feast, to whom she says simply, indicating her Son, "Whatever he says
to you, do it."
This we may take to be the summation of her message to the world. If we
listen to her, she will tell us, "Listen to Him. Listen to my Son. Do what He
tells you." When we see her, we see her pointing to her Son. If our regard for
the Blessed Virgin does not have the immediate effect of turning our attention
from her to the One whom she carried in her womb for nine months and
suckled at her breast, to the Incarnate God, the Word made flesh, then we may
be sure that it is not the kind of regard that she seeks. A right regard for her
will always direct us to Him Who found in her His first earthly dwelling-place.
[James Kiefer, abridged]


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Fri Aug 15 17:00:04 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:00:04 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  16 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080815170004.44A3D1E4453@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Saturday, August 16, 2008

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O Lord,
from the rising of the sun to its going down,
your Name is praised,
for you have raised us from the dust and set before us
the vision of your glory.
As you bestowed upon us the dignity of a royal priesthood,
you lift up our hearts to celebrate your praise.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 145

I will exalt you, O God my King,*
 and bless your name for ever and ever.
Every day will I bless you*
 and praise your name for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;*
 there is no end to his greatness.
One generation shall praise your works to another*
 and shall declare your power.
I will ponder the glorious splendour of your majesty*
 and all your marvellous works.
They shall speak of the might of your wondrous acts,*
 and I will tell of your greatness.
They shall publish the remembrance
   of your great goodness;*
 they shall sing of your righteous deeds.
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,*
 slow to anger and of great kindness.
The Lord is loving to everyone*
 and his compassion is over all his works.
All your works praise you, O Lord,*
 and your faithful servants bless you.
They make known the glory of your kingdom*
 and speak of your power;
That the peoples may know of your power*
 and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;*
 your dominion endures throughout all ages.
The Lord is faithful in all his words*
 and merciful in all his deeds.
The Lord upholds all those who fall;*
 he lifts up those who are bowed down.
The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord,*
 and you give them their food in due season.
You open wide your hand*
 and satisfy the needs of every living creature.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways*
 and loving in all his works.
The Lord is near to those who call upon him,*
 to all who call upon him faithfully.
He fulfils the desire of those who fear him,*
 he hears their cry and helps them.
The Lord preserves all those who love him,*
 but he destroys all the wicked.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord;*
 let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

A Song of the Lord's Gracious Deeds (Isaiah 63.1-3a,7-9)

Who is this that comes from Edom,  
coming from Bozrah, his garments stained crimson? 
Who is this in glorious apparel,  
marching in the greatness of his strength? 
'It is I, who announce that right has won the day,  
it is I,' says the Lord, 'for I am mighty to save.' 
Why are your robes all red, O Lord,  
and your garments like theirs who tread the winepress? 
'I have trodden the winepress alone,  
and from the peoples no one was with me.' 
I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord,  
the praises of the Most High; 
All that God has done for us in his mercy,  
by his many acts of love. 
For God said, 'Surely, they are my people, 
my children who will not deal falsely,'  
and he became their Saviour in all their distress. 
So God redeemed them by his love and pity;  
he lifted them up and carried them 
through all the days of old.

Psalm 150

Alleluia!
   Praise God in his holy temple;*
 praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts;*
 praise him for his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the blast of the ram's-horn;*
 praise him with lyre and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance;*
 praise him with strings and pipe.
Praise him with resounding cymbals;*
 praise him with loud-clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath*
 praise the Lord.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 2]:

My child, when you come to serve the Lord,
   prepare yourself for testing.
Set your heart right and be steadfast,
   and do not be impetuous in time of calamity.
Cling to him and do not depart,
   so that your last days may be prosperous.
Accept whatever befalls you,
   and in times of humiliation be patient.
For gold is tested in the fire,
   and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation.
Trust in him, and he will help you;
   make your ways straight, and hope in him.

You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy;
   do not stray, or else you may fall.
You who fear the Lord, trust in him,
   and your reward will not be lost.
You who fear the Lord, hope for good things,
   for lasting joy and mercy.
Consider the generations of old and see:
   has anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed?
Or has anyone persevered in the fear of the Lord and been forsaken?
   Or has anyone called upon him and been neglected?
For the Lord is compassionate and merciful;
   he forgives sins and saves in time of distress.

Woe to timid hearts and to slack hands,
   and to the sinner who walks a double path!
Woe to the faint-hearted who have no trust!
   Therefore they will have no shelter.
Woe to you who have lost your nerve!
   What will you do when the Lord's reckoning comes?

Those who fear the Lord do not disobey his words,
   and those who love him keep his ways.
Those who fear the Lord seek to please him,
   and those who love him are filled with his law.
Those who fear the Lord prepare their hearts,
   and humble themselves before him.
Let us fall into the hands of the Lord,
   but not into the hands of mortals;
for equal to his majesty is his mercy,
   and equal to his name are his works. 

HYMN 
Words: John Newton, 1780 
Tune: Song 13

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/c/c251.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Come, my soul, thy suit prepare:
Jesus loves to answer prayer;
he himself has bid thee pray,
therefore will not say thee nay.

Thou art coming to a King,
large petitions with thee bring;
for his grace and power are such,
none can ever ask too much.

With my burden I begin:
Lord, remove this load of sin;
let thy blood, for sinners spilt,
set my conscience free from guilt.

Lord, I come to thee for rest,
take possession of my breast;
there thy blood bought right maintain,
and without a rival reign.

Show me what I have to do,
every hour my strength renew:
let me live a life of faith,
let me die thy people's death.

While I am a pilgrim here,
let thy love my spirit cheer;
as my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,
lead me to my journey's end.

SECOND READING [Romans 15:17-end]:

In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. For I will not
venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win
obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders,
by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and as far around as
Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ. Thus I make it my
ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that
I do not build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written,
'Those who have never been told of him shall see,
   and those who have never heard of him shall understand.'

This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now,
with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to
come to you when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be
sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while. At present,
however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints; for Macedonia and
Achaia have been pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at
Jerusalem. They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them; for if the
Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of
service to them in material things. So, when I have completed this, and have delivered
to them what has been collected, I will set out by way of you to Spain; and I know that
when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the
Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf, that I may be rescued from
the unbelievers in Judea, and that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the
saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your
company. The God of peace be with all of you. Amen. 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Eternal God,
you have declared in Christ
the completion of all your purpose of love.

We pray for those in need:
the tempted and despairing....
the sick and handicapped....
the aged...
and the dying....
the ministries of care and healing....
those who mourn....

Eternal God, we give thanks
for the triumphs of the gospel that herald your salvation
the signs of renewal that declare
the coming of your kingdom,
the human lives that reveal your work of grace....

for all those who have died in faith....

for the unceasing praise of the company of heaven,
the promise to those who mourn
that all tears shall be wiped away,
the pledge of death destroyed and victory won....

for our foretaste of eternal life
through baptism and eucharist,
our hope in the Spirit,
and the communion of saints....

May we live by faith, walk in hope and be renewed in love,
until the world reflects your glory
and you are all in all.
Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.

Lord God, King of the Universe,
you show the bright glory of your reign
in acts of mercy and enduring love:
raise the spirits of the downcast
and restore those who have fallen away,
that your Church may continually sing of your saving help;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Calm our fears and strengthen our faith
that we may never doubt the presence of Jesus Christ our Lord,
but proclaim him as your Son, risen from the dead, living for ever and ever.
Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The closing sentence uses phrases from a prayer in _Revised Common Lectionary
Prayers_, copyright (c) 2002 Consultation on Common Texts. The opening
prayer uses phrases from _Opening Prayers: Collects in Contemporary
Language_. Canterbury Press, Norwich, 1999.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sat Aug 16 17:00:41 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:00:41 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  17 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080816170043.66ED91E4432@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Sunday, August 17, 2008
The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, everloving Father,
your care extends beyond
the boundaries of race and nation,
to the hearts of all who live.
Your Spirit fills us with a living faith,
that we may receive your gift of mercy
and come to sit at the table of your heavenly banquet.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 11

In the Lord have I taken refuge;*
 how then can you say to me,
   'Fly away like a bird to the hilltop;
'For see how the wicked bend the bow
   and fit their arrows to the string,*
 to shoot from ambush at the true of heart.
'When the foundations are being destroyed,*
 what can the righteous do?'
The Lord is in his holy temple;*
 the Lord's throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold the inhabited world;*
 his piercing eye weighs our worth.
The Lord weighs the righteous as well as the wicked,*
 but those who delight in violence he abhors.
Upon the wicked he shall rain coals of fire
   and burning sulphur;*
 a scorching wind shall be their lot.
For the Lord is righteous;
   he delights in righteous deeds;*
 and the just shall see his face.

Psalm 12

Help me, Lord, for there is no godly one left;*
 the faithful have vanished from among us.
Everyone speaks falsely with their neighbour;*
 with a smooth tongue they speak from a double heart.
O that the Lord would cut off all smooth tongues,*
 and close the lips that utter proud boasts!
Those who say, 'With our tongue will we prevail;*
 our lips are our own; who is lord over us?'
'Because the needy are oppressed,
   and the poor cry out in misery,*
 I will rise up', says the Lord,
   'and give them the help they long for.'
The words of the Lord are pure words,*
 like silver refined from ore
   and purified seven times in the fire.
O Lord, watch over us*
 and save us from this generation for ever.
The wicked prowl on every side,*
 and that which is worthless is highly prized by everyone.

Bless the Lord (The Song of the Three 29-34)

Blessed are you, the God of our ancestors,  
worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. 
Blessed is your holy and glorious name,  
worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. 
Blessed are you, in your holy and glorious temple,  
worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. 
Blessed are you who look into the depths,  
worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. 
Blessed are you, enthroned on the cherubim,  
worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. 
Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,  
worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. 
Blessed are you in the heights of heaven,  
worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.

Psalm 117

Alleluia!
Praise the Lord, all you nations;*
 laud him, all you peoples.
For his loving-kindness towards us is great,*
 and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Deuteronomy 15:7-15]:

If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your
towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or
tight-fisted towards your needy neighbour. You should rather open your hand,
willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be. Be careful that you do
not entertain a mean thought, thinking, 'The seventh year, the year of remission, is
near', and therefore view your needy neighbour with hostility and give nothing; your
neighbour might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt. Give liberally
and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless
you in all your work and in all that you undertake. Since there will never cease to be
some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, 'Open your hand to the poor and
needy neighbour in your land.'
If a member of your community, whether a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold
to you and works for you for six years, in the seventh year you shall set that person
free. And when you send a male slave out from you a free person, you shall not send
him out empty-handed. Provide liberally out of your flock, your threshing-floor, and
your wine press, thus giving to him some of the bounty with which the Lord your God
has blessed you. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord
your God redeemed you; for this reason I lay this command upon you today. 

HYMN 
Words: Brian Wren   1993 by Hope Publishing Co. Used with permission
Tune: Megerran

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/a/a039.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

A prophet-woman broke a jar
by Love's divine appointing.
With rare perfume she filled the room,
presiding and anointing.
A prophet-woman broke a jar,
the sneers of scorn defying.
With rare perfume she filled the room,
preparing Christ for dying.

A faithful woman left a tomb
by Love's divine commission.
She saw, she heard, she preached the word,
arising from submission.
A faithful woman left a tomb
with resurrection gospel.
She saw, she heard, she preached the word,
apostle to apostles.

Though woman-wisdom, woman-truth
for centuries were hidden,
unsung, unwritten, and unheard,
derided and forbidden,
the Spirit's breath, the Spirit's fire,
on free and slave, descending,
can tumble our diving walls,
our shame and sadness mending.

The Spirit knows, the Spirit calls,
by Love's divine ordaining,
the friends we need, to serve and lead,
their powers and gifts unchaining.
The Spirit knows, the Spirit calls
from women, men, and children
the friends we need, to serve and lead.
Rejoice and make them welcome! 

SECOND READING [Matthew 26:6-13]:

Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to
him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he
sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, 'Why this
waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given
to the poor.' But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, 'Why do you trouble the woman?
She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, but
you will not always have me. By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared
me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole
world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.' 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Let us pray to the Lord, the one from whom all good things come.
For a successful resolution to the conflict between Georgia and Russia; in a world
plagued with arguments that cost lives, let us pray that diplomatic efforts will bring a
swift end to violence, and that the current US intervention will help broker a genuine
and a lasting ceasefire. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For Xi Zhou and her boyfriend Zhen Xing Yang, who were murdered earlier this
week in a flat in Newcastle; that after such an horrific death on earth, they may find
eternal solace and peace in a new and everlasting life in the heavenly kingdom. Lord,
in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For the families and friends of all those who have been taken from us in an untimely
manner; that they will find comfort in Christ, who is full of compassion. Lord, in your
mercy, hear our prayer.

For the continuing political and social unrest in Zimbabwe; let us continue to pray for
an end to the suffering and oppression of the people, and for all who work tirelessly to
bring this about. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For all who have received exam results this week; whether they continue on to further
education, or enter the world of work, let us pray that they will know the presence of
God with them as they start a new chapter in life. Lord, in your mercy, hear
our prayer.

We make these prayers, as always, in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
Amen.

Almighty God, 
you have given your only Son 
to be for us a sacrifice for sin, 
and also an example of godly life:  
Give us grace to receive thankfully 
the fruits of this redeeming work, 
and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; 
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, 
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and for ever.  Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Grant us so fully to manifest Christ in our lives
that people of all races and creeds 
may be drawn to him who is their whole salvation, 
our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer is by Stephen Benner. The closing prayer is a sentence from
_Uniting in Worship_, The Uniting Church in Australia.

The petitions are gathered by Redemptorist Publications and are published each Friday on
their website: http://www.rpbooks.co.uk/page.php?page=prayers

The collect is from The Book of Common Prayer According to the Use of The
Episcopal Church_.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sun Aug 17 21:14:33 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:14:33 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  18 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080817211433.1FD761E405C@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Monday, August 18, 2008
William Porcher DuBose, Priest, 1918

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, everloving Father,
your care extends beyond
the boundaries of race and nation,
to the hearts of all who live.
Your Spirit fills us with a living faith,
that we may receive your gift of mercy
and come to sit at the table of your heavenly banquet.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 4

Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause;*
 you set me free when I am hard-pressed;
   have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
'You mortals, how long will you dishonour my glory;*
 how long will you worship dumb idols
   and run after false gods?'
Know that the Lord does wonders for the faithful;*
 when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
Tremble, then, and do not sin;*
 speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.
Offer the appointed sacrifices*
 and put your trust in the Lord.
Many are saying,
'O that we might see better times!'*
 Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O Lord.
You have put gladness in my heart,*
 more than when grain and wine and oil increase.
I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep;*
 for only you, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 8

O Lord our governor,*
 how exalted is your name in all the world!
Out of the mouths of infants and children*
 your majesty is praised above the heavens.
You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries,*
 to quell the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,*
 the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,
What are mortals, that you should be mindful of them?*
 mere human beings, that you should seek them out?
You have made them little lower than the angels;*
 you adorn them with glory and honour.
You give them mastery over the works of your hands;*
 and put all things under their feet,
All sheep and oxen,*
 even the wild beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fish of the sea,*
 and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.
O Lord our governor,*
 how exalted is your name in all the world!

A Song of the Blessed (Matthew 5.3-10)

Blessed are the poor in spirit,  
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
Blessed are those who mourn,  
for they shall be comforted. 
Blessed are the meek,  
for they shall inherit the earth. 
Blessed are those who hunger 
and thirst after righteousness,  
for they shall be satisfied. 
Blessed are the merciful,  
for they shall obtain mercy. 
Blessed are the pure in heart,  
for they shall see God. 
Blessed are the peacemakers,  
for they shall be called children of God. 
Blessed are those who suffer persecution 
for righteousness' sake,  
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Rejoice and be glad 
for you are the light of the world, 
and great is your reward in heaven. 

Psalm 146

Alleluia!
   Praise the Lord, O my soul!*
 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
   I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Put not your trust in rulers,
   nor in any child of earth,*
 for there is no help in them.
When they breathe their last, they return to earth,*
 and in that day their thoughts perish.
Happy are they who have the God of Jacob
   for their help!*
 whose hope is in the Lord their God;
Who made heaven and earth, the seas,
   and all that is in them;*
 who keeps his promise for ever;
Who gives justice to those who are oppressed,*
 and food to those who hunger.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
   the Lord opens the eyes of the blind;*
 the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous;
   the Lord cares for the stranger;*
 he sustains the orphan and widow,
   but frustrates the way of the wicked.
The Lord shall reign for ever,*
 your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 3:17-end]:

My child, perform your tasks with humility;
   then you will be loved by those whom God accepts.
The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself;
   so you will find favour in the sight of the Lord.
For great is the might of the Lord;
   but by the humble he is glorified.
Neither seek what is too difficult for you,
   nor investigate what is beyond your power.
Reflect upon what you have been commanded,
   for what is hidden is not your concern.
Do not meddle in matters that are beyond you,
   for more than you can understand has been shown to you.
For their conceit has led many astray,
   and wrong opinion has impaired their judgement.

Without eyes there is no light;
   without knowledge there is no wisdom.
A stubborn mind will fare badly at the end,
   and whoever loves danger will perish in it.
A stubborn mind will be burdened by troubles,
   and the sinner adds sin to sins.
When calamity befalls the proud, there is no healing,
   for an evil plant has taken root in him.
The mind of the intelligent appreciates proverbs,
   and an attentive ear is the desire of the wise.

As water extinguishes a blazing fire,
   so almsgiving atones for sin.
Those who repay favours give thought to the future;
   when they fall they will find support. 

HYMN 
Words: Words: Isaac Watts, 1707 
Tune: St. Thomas

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/c/c330.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Come, we that love the Lord,
and let our joys be known;
join in a song with sweet accord,
and thus surround the throne.

Let those refuse to sing,
who never knew our God;
but favorites of the heavenly King,
may speak their joys abroad.

The men of grace have found,
glory begun below.
celestial fruits on earthly ground
from faith and hope may grow.

Then let our songs abound,
and every tear be dry;
we're marching through Emmanuel's ground,
to fairer worlds on high.

SECOND READING [Matthew 1:18-end]:

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had
been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child
from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to
expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had
resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph,
son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in
her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he
will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfil what had been
spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
'Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
   and they shall name him Emmanuel',
which means, 'God is with us.' When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of
the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with
her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
High and holy God,
robed in majesty,
Lord of heaven and earth,
we pray that you bring justice, faith
and salvation to all peoples.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

You chose us in Christ to be your people
and to be the temple of your Holy Spirit;
we pray that you will fill your Church with vision and hope.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Your Spirit enables us to cry, "Abba! Father!",
affirms that we are fellow-heirs with Christ
and pleads for us in our weakness;
we pray for all who are in need or distress.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

In the baptism and birth of Jesus,
you have opened heaven to us
and enabled us to share in your glory:
the joy of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
from before the world was made.
May your Church, living and departed,
come to a joyful resurrection in your city of light.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Faithful Defender,
do not let our hearts be troubled,
but fill us with such confidence and joy
that we may sleep in peace and rise in your light;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Almighty God, 
you gave to your servant William Porcher DuBose 
special gifts of grace to understand the Scriptures 
and to teach the truth as it is in Christ Jesus: 
Grant that by this teaching we may know you, 
the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent; 
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Grant us so fully to manifest Christ in our lives
that people of all races and creeds 
may be drawn to him who is their whole salvation, 
our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer is by Stephen Benner. The closing prayer is a sentence from
_Uniting in Worship_, The Uniting Church in Australia.

The intercession is fro m_New Patterns for Worship_, copyright (c) The
Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The first collect is from _Daily Prayer_, copyright (c) The Scottish
Episcopal Church, 1998. Used with permission. 
http://www.scottishepiscopal.com

The second collect is from _The Proper for the Lesser Feasts and
Fasts_, 3rd edition, (c) 1980 The Church Pension Fund.

William Porcher DuBose is a serious candidate for the title of "greatest
theologian that the Episcopal Church in the USA has produced." He was born
in South Carolina in 1836, and attended the Military College of South Carolina
(now the Citadel) in Charleston (32:48 N 79:58 W), and the University of
Virginia in Charlottesville (38:02 N 78:29 W). He served as a chaplain in the
Confederate Army, and after the War of 1861-1865 served as a parish priest.
In 1871 he became a professor at the University of the South (an Episcopal
institution) in Sewanee, Tennessee, became Dean of the School of Theology in
1894, retired in 1908, and died in 1918.
He was fluent in Greek, and well-read both in Greek philosophy and in the
early Christian fathers. Among his numerous books, the best known are The
Soteriology of The New Testament, The Gospel in The Gospels, and The
Reason of Life. (Soter is the Greek word for "Savior", and soteriology is the
branch of theology that deals with such questions as, "What does it mean to
say that Christ saves us?" "How does his death and resurrection do us any
good?" "How are the benefits of Christ's work applied to the individual?" and
so on.) A quote from one of his articles follows:
"God has placed forever before our eyes, not the image but the very Person of
the Spiritual Man. We have not to ascend into Heaven to bring Him down, nor
to descend into the abyss to bring Him up, for He is with us, and near us, and
in us. We have only to confess with our mouths that He is Lord, and believe in
our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead--and raised us in Him-- and
we shall live." [James Kiefer]


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Mon Aug 18 20:37:18 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:37:18 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  19 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080818203718.1D8E11E41A2@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Tuesday, August 19, 2008

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, everloving Father,
your care extends beyond
the boundaries of race and nation,
to the hearts of all who live.
Your Spirit fills us with a living faith,
that we may receive your gift of mercy
and come to sit at the table of your heavenly banquet.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 13

How long, O Lord;
   will you forget me for ever?*
 how long will you hide your face from me?
How long shall I have perplexity in my mind,
   and grief in my heart, day after day?*
 how long shall my enemy triumph over me?
Look upon me and answer me, O Lord my God;*
 give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
Lest my enemy say, 'I have prevailed over him',*
 and my foes rejoice that I have fallen.
But I put my trust in your mercy;*
 my heart is joyful because of your saving help.
I will sing to the Lord,
   for he has dealt with me richly;*
 I will praise the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 14

The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'*
 All are corrupt and commit abominable acts;
   there is none who does any good.
The Lord looks down from heaven upon us all,*
 to see if there is any who is wise,
   if there is one who seeks after God.
Everyone has proved faithless;
   all alike have turned bad;*
 there is none who does good; no, not one.
Have they no knowledge, all those evildoers*
 who eat up my people like bread
   and do not call upon the Lord?
See how they tremble with fear,*
 because God is in the company of the righteous.
Their aim is to confound the plans of the afflicted,*
 but the Lord is their refuge.
O that Israel's deliverance would come out of Zion!*
 when the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
   Jacob will rejoice and Israel be glad.

A Song of the Lamb (Revelation 19.1b,2a,5b,6b,7,9b)

Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, . 
whose judgements are true and just. 
Praise our God, all you his servants, . 
all who fear him, both small and great. 
The Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns: . 
let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory. 
For the marriage of the Lamb has come . 
and his bride has made herself ready. 
Blessed are those who are invited . 
to the wedding banquet of the Lamb.

Psalm 147:1-12

Alleluia!
   How good it is to sing praises to our God!*
 how pleasant it is to honour him with praise!
The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;*
 he gathers the exiles of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted*
 and binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars*
 and calls them all by their names.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;*
 there is no limit to his wisdom.
The Lord lifts up the lowly,*
 but casts the wicked to the ground.
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;*
 make music to our God upon the harp.
He covers the heavens with clouds*
 and prepares rain for the earth;
He makes grass to grow upon the mountains*
 and green plants to serve us all.
He provides food for flocks and herds*
 and for the young ravens when they cry.
He is not impressed by the might of a horse,*
 he has no pleasure in human strength;
But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him,*
 in those who await his gracious favour.
 Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 4:1-18]:

My child, do not cheat the poor of their living,
   and do not keep needy eyes waiting.
Do not grieve the hungry,
   or anger one in need.
Do not add to the troubles of the desperate,
   or delay giving to the needy.
Do not reject a suppliant in distress,
   or turn your face away from the poor.
Do not avert your eye from the needy,
   and give no one reason to curse you;
for if in bitterness of soul some should curse you,
   their Creator will hear their prayer.

Endear yourself to the congregation;
   bow your head low to the great.
Give a hearing to the poor,
   and return their greeting politely.
Rescue the oppressed from the oppressor;
   and do not be hesitant in giving a verdict.
Be a father to orphans,
   and be like a husband to their mother;
you will then be like a son of the Most High,
   and he will love you more than does your mother.

Wisdom teaches her children
   and gives help to those who seek her.
Whoever loves her loves life,
   and those who seek her from early morning are filled with joy.
Whoever holds her fast inherits glory,
   and the Lord blesses the place she enters.
Those who serve her minister to the Holy One;
   the Lord loves those who love her.
Those who obey her will judge the nations,
   and all who listen to her will live secure.
If they remain faithful, they will inherit her;
   their descendants will also obtain her.
For at first she will walk with them on tortuous paths;
   she will bring fear and dread upon them,
and will torment them by her discipline
   until she trusts them,
and she will test them with her ordinances.
Then she will come straight back to them again and gladden them,
   and will reveal her secrets to them. 

HYMN 
Words: Samuel Longfellow, 1864

Music: Lew Trenchard 

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/h/h329.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Holy Spirit, Truth divine,
dawn upon this soul of mine;
Breath of God and inward Light
wake my spirit, clear my sight.

Holy Spirit, Love divine,
glow within this heart of mine;
kindle every high desire;
perish self in thy pure fire.

Holy Spirit, Power divine
fill and nerve this will of mine;
by thee may I strongly live,
bravely bear and nobly strive.

Holy Spirit, Right divine,
King within my conscience reign;
be my Lord, and I shall be
firmly bound, forever free.

Holy Spirit, Peace divine,
still this restless heart of mine;
speak to calm this tossing sea,
stayed in thy tranquility.

Holy Spirit, Joy divine,
gladden thou this heart of mine;
in the desert ways I sing,
"Spring, O Well, forever spring."

SECOND READING [Matthew 2:1-12]:

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men
from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, 'Where is the child who has been born king
of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him
homage.' When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with
him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of
them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, 'In Bethlehem of Judea; for
so it has been written by the prophet:
"And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
   are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
   who is to shepherd my people Israel." '

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time
when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 'Go and search
diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may
also go and pay him homage.' When they had heard the king, they set out; and there,
ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the
place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were
overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his
mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their
treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having
been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by
another road. 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Let us pray for our own needs and for the needs of others,
following the pattern which Jesus gave
when he taught us to pray to God our Father.

Through our love of the countryside,
through our care for animals,
through our respect for property and tools,
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

On our farms and in our homes,
in our colleges and schools,
where machinery is made, and where policy is planned,
Father, your kingdom come.

By our seeking your guidance,
by our keeping your commandments,
by our living true to our consciences,
Father, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

For the millions who live in poverty and hunger,
for our own needs, and the requirements of our neighbours,
by co-operation, sympathy, and generosity,
Give us today our daily bread.

Because we have broken your commandments, 
doing what we ought not to do,
and neglecting what we ought to do,
Forgive us our sins.

If any have injured us by injustice, double dealing or exploitation,
We forgive those who sin against us.

When prosperity lulls us to false security, 
or adversity prompts us to despair,
when success makes us boastful, 
or failure makes us bitter,
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.

In the assurance of faith,
in the confidence of hope,
in the will to serve,
help us to love Christ as Lord, 
and our neighbour as ourselves.
For the kingdom, the power, 
and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

Loving and merciful God,
hear the prayers of those who cry to you,
and shine with the light of your presence
on those who live in the shadow of death.
May we rejoice in your saving help
and sing you songs of praise
in the Name of our risen Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Grant us so fully to manifest Christ in our lives
that people of all races and creeds 
may be drawn to him who is their whole salvation, 
our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer is by Stephen Benner. The closing prayer is a sentence from
_Uniting in Worship_, The Uniting Church in Australia.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Tue Aug 19 17:00:51 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:00:51 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  20 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080819170051.18A071E3F8C@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, Teacher of the Faith, 1153

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, everloving Father,
your care extends beyond
the boundaries of race and nation,
to the hearts of all who live.
Your Spirit fills us with a living faith,
that we may receive your gift of mercy
and come to sit at the table of your heavenly banquet.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 18:1-20

I love you, O Lord my strength,*
 O Lord my stronghold, my crag and my haven.
My God, my rock in whom I put my trust,*
 my shield, the horn of my salvation and my refuge;
   you are worthy of praise.
I will call upon the Lord,*
 and so shall I be saved from my enemies.
The breakers of death rolled over me,*
 and the torrents of oblivion made me afraid.
The cords of hell entangled me,*
 and the snares of death were set for me.
I called upon the Lord in my distress*
 and cried out to my God for help.
He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling;*
 my cry of anguish came to his ears.
The earth reeled and rocked;*
 the roots of the mountains shook;
   they reeled because of his anger.
Smoke rose from his nostrils
   and a consuming fire out of his mouth;*
 hot burning coals blazed forth from him.
He parted the heavens and came down*
 with a storm cloud under his feet.
He mounted on cherubim and flew;*
 he swooped on the wings of the wind.
He wrapped darkness about him;*
 he made dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion.
>From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds,*
 burst hailstones and coals of fire.
The Lord thundered out of heaven;*
 the Most High uttered his voice.
He loosed his arrows and scattered them;*
 he hurled thunderbolts and routed them.
The beds of the seas were uncovered,
   and the foundations of the world laid bare,*
 at your battle cry, O Lord,
   at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
He reached down from on high and grasped me;*
 he drew me out of great waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemies
   and from those who hated me;*
 for they were too mighty for me.
They confronted me in the day of my disaster;*
 but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into an open place;*
 he rescued me because he delighted in me.

A Song of Redemption (Colossians 1.13-18a,19,20a)

The Father has delivered us from the dominion of darkness,  
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son; 
In whom we have redemption,  
the forgiveness of our sins. 
He is the image of the invisible God,  
the firstborn of all creation. 
For in him all things were created,  
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. 
All things were created through him and for him,  
he is before all things and in him all things hold together. 
He is the head of the body, the Church,  
he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. 
In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell;  
and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things. 

Psalm 147:13-end

Alleluia!
Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem;*
 praise your God, O Zion;
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;*
 he has blessed your children within you.
He has established peace on your borders;*
 he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
He sends out his command to the earth,*
 and his word runs very swiftly.
He gives snow like wool;*
 he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
He scatters his hail like bread crumbs;*
 who can stand against his cold?
He sends forth his word and melts them;*
 he blows with his wind and the waters flow.
He declares his word to Jacob,*
 his statutes and his judgements to Israel.
He has not done so to any other nation;*
 to them he has not revealed his judgements.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 4:20-5:7]:

Watch for the opportune time, and beware of evil,
   and do not be ashamed to be yourself.
For there is a shame that leads to sin,
   and there is a shame that is glory and favour.
Do not show partiality, to your own harm,
   or deference, to your downfall.
Do not refrain from speaking at the proper moment,
   and do not hide your wisdom.
For wisdom becomes known through speech,
   and education through the words of the tongue.
Never speak against the truth,
   but be ashamed of your ignorance.
Do not be ashamed to confess your sins,
   and do not try to stop the current of a river.
Do not subject yourself to a fool,
   or show partiality to a ruler.
Fight to the death for truth,
   and the Lord God will fight for you.

Do not be reckless in your speech,
   or sluggish and remiss in your deeds.
Do not be like a lion in your home,
   or suspicious of your servants.
Do not let your hand be stretched out to receive
   and closed when it is time to give.

Do not rely on your wealth,
   or say, 'I have enough.'
Do not follow your inclination and strength
   in pursuing the desires of your heart.
Do not say, 'Who can have power over me?'
   for the Lord will surely punish you.

Do not say, 'I sinned, yet what has happened to me?'
   for the Lord is slow to anger.
Do not be so confident of forgiveness
   that you add sin to sin.
Do not say, 'His mercy is great,
   he will forgive the multitude of my sins',
for both mercy and wrath are with him,
   and his anger will rest on sinners.
Do not delay to turn back to the Lord,
   and do not postpone it from day to day;
for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come upon you,
   and at the time of punishment you will perish. 

HYMN 
Words: Bernard of Clairvaux, twelfth century; trans. Edward Caswall, 1849
Tune: Metzler's Redhead, St. Botolph, Bawley, Windsor (Rhythmic), St. Agnes,
Dalehurst

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/j/j189.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Jesus, the very thought of thee
with sweetness fills the breast;
but sweeter far thy face to see,
and in thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
nor can the memory find,
a sweeter sound than Jesus' Name,
the Savior of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
to those who fall, how kind thou art:
how good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah, this
nor tongue nor pen can show;
the love of Jesus, what it is,
none but who love him know.

Jesus, our only joy be thou,
as thou our prize wilt be;
in thee be all our glory now,
and through eternity.

SECOND READING [Matthew 2:13-end]:

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
'Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell
you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.' Then Joseph got up,
took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until
the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the
prophet, 'Out of Egypt I have called my son.'

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he
sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or
under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was
fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
'A voice was heard in Ramah,
   wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
   she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.'

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in
Egypt and said, 'Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for
those who were seeking the child's life are dead.' Then Joseph got up, took the child
and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was
ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after
being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his
home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets
might be fulfilled, 'He will be called a Nazorean.' 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Let us pray to God the almighty, the King of creation.

Eternal God, we thank you for your light and your truth.
We praise you for your fatherly care
in creating a universe which proclaims your glory.
Inspire us to worship you, the creator of all,
and let your light shine upon our world.
God of life: hear our prayer.

We thank you for the vastness of the universe
and the mysteries of space.
We pray for all scientists and astronomers
who extend the boundaries of our knowledge.
As we contemplate the wonder of the heavens,
confirm us in the truth that every human being is
known and loved by you.
God of life: hear our prayer.

We thank you for the beauty of the earth,
for the diversity of land and sea,
for the resources of the earth.
Give us the will to cherish this planet
and to use its riches for the good and welfare of all.
God of life: hear our prayer.

We thank you for the warmth of the sun,
the light of the moon, the glory of the stars.
We praise you for the formations of clouds,
the radiance of dawn and sunset.
Save us from wasting or abusing the energy
on which all life depends.
Open our eyes to behold your beauty,
and our lips to praise your name.
God of life: hear our prayer.

We thank you for the teeming life of the seas,
and the flight of the birds.
Help us to protect the environment
so that all life may flourish.
God of life: hear our prayer.

We rejoice in the variety of animal life.
Grant us grace to treat all animals with respect and care;
to protect endangered species,
to preserve the variety of habitats,
and to honour the delicate balance of nature.
God of life: hear our prayer.

We pray for the human family.
We exult in its diversity and giftedness,
we repent of its sins, divisions and violence.
By the power of your Spirit, restore your image within us,
through Christ who came to remake us
by his death and resurrection.
God of life: hear our prayer.

Let your goodness, Lord, appear to us,
that we, made in your image,
may conform ourselves to it.
In our own strength we cannot imitate 
your majesty, power and wonder;
nor is it fitting for us to try.
But your mercy reaches from the heavens,
through the clouds, to the earth below.
You have come to us as a small child,
but you have brought the greatest of all gifts,
the gift of eternal love.
Caress us with your tiny hands,
embrace us with your tiny arms,
and piece our hearts with your soft, sweet cries. Amen.

Merciful Redeemer, 
who, by the life and preaching of your servant Bernard, 
rekindled the radiant light of your Church: 
grant us, in our generation, 
to be inflamed with the same spirit of discipline and love, 
and ever walk before you as children of light; 
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Grant us so fully to manifest Christ in our lives
that people of all races and creeds 
may be drawn to him who is their whole salvation, 
our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer is by Stephen Benner. The closing prayer is a sentence from
_Uniting in Worship_, The Uniting Church in Australia.

The first collect is by Bernard of Clairvaux.

The intercession is from _Common Worship: Times and Seasons_, material
from which is included in this service is copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council,
2004.

Bernard, third son of a Burgundian nobleman, was born in 1090. His brothers
were trained as soldiers, but Bernard from youth was destined for scholarship.
One Christmas Eve as a child he had a dream about the infant Christ in the
manger; and the memory of it, and consequent devotion to the mystery of the
Word made flesh, remained with him throughout his life.
Bernard had good prospects of success as a secular scholar, but he began to
believe that he was called to the monastic life, and after a period of prayer for
guidance, he decided at age 22 to enter the monastery of Citeaux, an offshoot
of the Benedictines which had adopted a much stricter rule than theirs, and
became the founding house of the Cistercian order. He persuaded four of his
brothers, one uncle, and 26 other men to join him. They were the first novices
that Citeaux had had for several years. After three years, the abbot ordered
Bernard to take twelve monks and found a new house at La Ferte. The first
year was one of great hardship. They had no stores and lived chiefly on roots
and barley bread. Bernard imposed such severe discipline that his monks
became discouraged, but he realized his error and became more lenient. The
reputation of the monastery, known as Clairvaux, spread across Europe. Many
new monks joined it, and many persons wrote letters or came in person to seek
spiritual advice. By the time of his death, 60 new monasteries of the Cistercian
order were established under his direction.
For four years after 1130 Bernard was deeply involved with a disputed papal
election, championing the claims of Innocent II against his rival Anacletus II.
He travelled throughout France, Germany, and Italy mustering support for his
candidate (and, it should be added, preaching sermons denouncing injustices
done to Jews), and returned from one of these journeys with Peter Bernard of
Paganelli as a postulant for the monastery. The future Pope Eugenius III spent
the next year stoking the monastery fires. Years later, Bernard wrote a major
treatise of advice to Eugenius on the spiritual temptations of spiritual power.

The papal election was not the only dispute in which Bernard became involved.
He was highly critical of Peter Abelard, one of the most brilliant theologians of
the day. Bernard believed that Abelard was too rationalistic in his approach,
and failed to allow sufficiently for the element of mystery in the faith. When
Abelard rejected some of the ways of stating Christian doctrines to which
Bernard was accustomed, Bernard concluded, perhaps too hastily, that this was
equivalent to rejecting the doctrine itself. A conference was scheduled at Sens,
where Abelard's views were to be examined, but soon after it began Abelard
decided that he was not about to get a fair hearing, announced that he was
appealing to Rome, and left. He set out for Rome and got as far as Cluny,
where he stopped. Peter the Venerable, the abbot, was a friend of both Abelard
and Bernard, and managed to reconcile them before they died.
One of Bernard's most influential acts, for better or worse, was his preaching
of the Second Crusade. The First Crusade had given the Christian forces
control of a few areas in Palestine, including the city of Edessa. When Moslem
forces captured Edessa (now called Urfa and located in eastern Turkey) in
1144, King Louis VII of France (not to be confused with St. Louis IX, also a
Crusader, but more than a century later) was eager to launch a crusade to
retake Edessa and prevent a Moslem recapture of Jerusalem. He asked Bernard
for help, and Bernard refused. He then asked the Pope to order Bernard to
preach a Crusade. The pope gave the order, and Bernard preached, with
spectacular results. Whole villages were emptied of able-bodied males as
Bernard preached and his listeners vowed on the spot to head for Palestine and
defend the Sacred Shrines with their lives.
As for the Crusade, things went wrong from the start. The various rulers
leading the movement were distrustful of one another and not disposed to
work together. Of the soldiers who set out (contemporary estimates vary from
100,000 to 1,500,000), most died of disease and starvation before reaching
their goal, and most of the remainder were killed or captured soon after their
arrival. The impact on Bernard was devastating, and so was the impact on
Europe.
In 1153, Bernard journeyed to reconcile the warring provinces Metz and
Lorraine. He persuaded them to peace and to an agreement drawn up under his
mediation, and then, in failing health, returned home to die.
If Bernard in controversy was fierce and not always fair, it partly because he
was a man of intense feeling and dedication, quick to respond to any real or
supposed threat to what he held sacred. It is his devotional writings, not his
polemical ones, that are still read today. Among the hymns attributed to him
are the Latin originals of "O Sacred Head, sore wounded," "Jesus, the very
thought of Thee," "O Jesus, joy of loving hearts," "Wide open are Thy hands
(to pay with more than gold the awful debt of guilt and sin, forever and of
old--see the Lutheran Book of Worship et alibi)," and "O Jesus, King most
wonderful." His sermons on the Song of Songs, treated as an allegory of the
love of Christ, are his best-known long work. [James Kiefer, abridged]


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Wed Aug 20 17:00:23 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:00:23 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  21 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080820170023.7613B1E821B@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Thursday, August 21, 2008

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, everloving Father,
your care extends beyond
the boundaries of race and nation,
to the hearts of all who live.
Your Spirit fills us with a living faith,
that we may receive your gift of mercy
and come to sit at the table of your heavenly banquet.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
   whom then shall I fear?*
 the Lord is the strength of my life;
   of whom then shall I be afraid?
When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh,*
 it was they, my foes and my adversaries,
   who stumbled and fell.
Though an army should encamp against me,*
 yet my heart shall not be afraid;
And though war should rise up against me,*
 yet will I put my trust in him.
One thing have I asked of the Lord;
   one thing I seek;*
 that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
   all the days of my life;
To behold the fair beauty of the Lord*
 and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
   he shall keep me safe in his shelter;*
 he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling
   and set me high upon a rock.
Even now he lifts up my head*
 above my enemies round about me;
Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation
   with sounds of great gladness;*
 I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call;*
 have mercy on me and answer me.
You speak in my heart and say, 'Seek my face.'*
 Your face, Lord, will I seek.
Hide not your face from me,*
 nor turn away your servant in displeasure.
You have been my helper;
   cast me not away;*
 do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.
Though my father and my mother forsake me,*
 the Lord will sustain me.
Show me your way, O Lord;*
 lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.
Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries,*
 for false witnesses have risen up against me,
   and also those who speak malice.
What if I had not believed
   that I should see the goodness of the Lord*
 in the land of the living!
O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure;
   be strong and he shall comfort your heart;*
 wait patiently for the Lord.

A Song of Trust (Isaiah 26.1-4,7-9,12)

We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.  
Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith 
may enter in. 
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you,  
because he trusts in you. 
Trust in the Lord for ever,  
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. 
The way of the righteous is level;  
you who are upright make smooth the path of the righteous. 
In the path of your judgements, O Lord, we wait for you;  
your name and renown is the desire of our soul. 
My soul yearns for you in the night,  
my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. 
For when your judgements are in the earth,  
the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. 
O Lord, you will ordain peace for us,  
for indeed all that we have done you have done for us. 

Psalm 148

Alleluia!
   Praise the Lord from the heavens;*
 praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all you angels of his;*
 praise him, all his host.
Praise him, sun and moon;*
 praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, heaven of heavens,*
 and you waters above the heavens.
Let them praise the name of the Lord;*
 for he commanded and they were created.
He made them stand fast for ever and ever;*
 he gave them a law which shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth,*
 you sea-monsters and all deeps;
Fire and hail, snow and fog,*
 tempestuous wind, doing his will;
Mountains and all hills,*
 fruit trees and all cedars;
Wild beasts and all cattle,*
 creeping things and winged birds;
Kings of the earth and all peoples,*
 princes and all rulers of the world;
Young men and maidens,*
 old and young together.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,*
 for his name only is exalted,
   his splendour is over earth and heaven.
He has raised up strength for his people
   and praise for all his loyal servants,*
 the children of Israel, a people who are near him.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 15:11-end]:

Do not say, 'It was the Lord's doing that I fell away';
   for he does not do what he hates.
Do not say, 'It was he who led me astray';
   for he has no need of the sinful.
The Lord hates all abominations;
   such things are not loved by those who fear him.
It was he who created humankind in the beginning,
   and he left them in the power of their own free choice.
If you choose, you can keep the commandments,
   and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.
He has placed before you fire and water;
   stretch out your hand for whichever you choose.
Before each person are life and death,
   and whichever one chooses will be given.
For great is the wisdom of the Lord;
   he is mighty in power and sees everything;
his eyes are on those who fear him,
   and he knows every human action.
He has not commanded anyone to be wicked,
   and he has not given anyone permission to sin. 

HYMN 
Words: Christopher Smart, 1765;
as altered in Songs of Praise, 1925
Music: Magdalen College

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/w/w144.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

We sing of God, the mighty source
of all things; the stupendous force
on which all strength depends;
from whose right arm, beneath whose eyes,
all period, power and enterprise
commences, reigns and ends.

Tell them I AM, the Lord God said,
to Moses while on earth in dread
and smitten to the heart,
at once, above, beneath, around,
all nature without voice or sound
replied, O Lord, thou art.

Glorious the sun in mid career;
glorious the assembled fires appear;
glorious the comet's train:
glorious the trumpet and alarm;
glorious the almighty stretched-out arm;
glorious the enraptured main:

Glorious, most glorious, is the crown
of him that brought salvation down
by meekness, called man's son;
seers that stupendous truth believed,
and now the matchless deeds achieved,
determined, dared and done.

SECOND READING [Matthew 3]:

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,
'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.' This is the one of whom the
prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
'The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
"Prepare the way of the Lord,
   make his paths straight." '
Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his
food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were
going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him
in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them,
'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit
worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our
ancestor"; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to
Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that
does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

'I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is
coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his
threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn
with unquenchable fire.'

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John
would have prevented him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to
me?' But Jesus answered him, 'Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to
fulfil all righteousness.' Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just
as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw
the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from
heaven said, 'This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.' 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
In your glory, Lord, protect us by the power of your name,
that we may be one as you are one.

We are in the world but not of it.
Protect us from the evil one.

Give us your word and the full measure of your joy.
Sanctify us by your truth.

May your Spirit unite us in the love and glory of Father and Son.
May we be one that the world may believe.

As you sent your Son into the world
so send us, to make your glory known.

Faithful God,
the shelter of all who hope in you,
may those who seek your face
be set free from fear and distress,
and come to see your goodness
in the land of the living;
through Jesus Christ, our Light and our Salvation. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Grant us so fully to manifest Christ in our lives
that people of all races and creeds 
may be drawn to him who is their whole salvation, 
our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer is by Stephen Benner. The closing prayer is a sentence from
_Uniting in Worship_, The Uniting Church in Australia.

The first collect is from _Daily Prayer_, copyright (c) The Scottish
Episcopal Church, 1998. Used with permission. 
http://www.scottishepiscopal.com

The intercession is from _New Patterns for Worship_, copyright (c) The
Archbishops' Council, 2002.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Thu Aug 21 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  22 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080821170001.B08291E3D50@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Friday, August 22, 2008

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, everloving Father,
your care extends beyond
the boundaries of race and nation,
to the hearts of all who live.
Your Spirit fills us with a living faith,
that we may receive your gift of mercy
and come to sit at the table of your heavenly banquet.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 22

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?*
 and are so far from my cry
   and from the words of my distress?
O my God, I cry in the daytime,
   but you do not answer;*
 by night as well, but I find no rest.
Yet you are the Holy One,*
 enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
Our forebears put their trust in you;*
 they trusted and you delivered them.
They cried out to you and were delivered;*
 they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
But as for me, I am a worm and no man,*
 scorned by all and despised by the people.
All who see me laugh me to scorn;*
 they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
'He trusted in the Lord; let him deliver him;*
 let him rescue him, if he delights in him.'
Yet you are he who took me out of the womb,*
 and kept me safe upon my mother's breast.
I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born;*
 you were my God
   when I was still in my mother's womb.
Be not far from me, for trouble is near,*
 and there is none to help.
Many young bulls encircle me;*
 strong bulls of Bashan surround me.
They open wide their jaws at me,*
 like a ravening and a roaring lion.
I am poured out like water;
   all my bones are out of joint;*
 my heart within my breast is melting wax.
My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd;
   my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;*
 and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.
Packs of dogs close me in,
   and gangs of evildoers circle around me;*
 they pierce my hands and my feet;
   I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;*
 they divide my garments among them;
   they cast lots for my clothing.
Be not far away, O Lord;*
 you are my strength; hasten to help me.
Save me from the sword,*
 my life from the power of the dog.
Save me from the lion's mouth,*
 my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.
I will declare your name to my people;*
 in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.
Praise the Lord, you that fear him;*
 stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel;
   all you of Jacob's line, give glory.
For he does not despise nor abhor
   the poor in their poverty;
   neither does he hide his face from them;*
 but when they cry to him he hears them.
My praise is of him in the great assembly;*
 I will perform my vows
   in the presence of those who worship him.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied,
   and those who seek the Lord shall praise him:*
 'May your heart live for ever!'
All the ends of the earth
   shall remember and turn to the Lord,*
 and all the families of the nations
   shall bow before him.
For kingship belongs to the Lord;*
 he rules over the nations.
To him alone all who sleep in the earth
   bow down in worship;*
 all who go down to the dust fall before him.
My soul shall live for him;
   my descendants shall serve him;*
 they shall be known as the Lord's for ever.
They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn*
 the saving deeds that he has done.

A Song of Wisdom (Wisdom 9.1-5a,c,6,9-11)

O God of our ancestors and Lord of mercy,  
you have made all things by your word. 
By your wisdom you have formed us  
to have dominion over the creatures you have made; 
To rule the world in holiness and righteousness  
and to pronounce judgement in uprightness of soul. 
Give us the Wisdom that sits by your throne;  
do not reject us from among your servants, 
For we are your servants,  
with little understanding of judgement and laws. 
Even one who is perfect among us  
will be regarded as nothing 
without the wisdom that comes from you. 
With you is Wisdom, she who knows your works,  
and was present when you made the world. 
She understands what is pleasing in your sight  
and what is right according to your commandments. 
Send her forth from the holy heavens,  
from the throne of your glory send her. 
That she may labour at our side  
and that we may learn what is pleasing to you. 
For she knows and understands all things,  
she will guide us wisely in our actions 
and guard us with her glory.

Psalm 149

Alleluia!
   Sing to the Lord a new song;*
 sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in his maker;*
 let the children of Zion be joyful in their king.
Let them praise his name in the dance;*
 let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people*
 and adorns the poor with victory.
Let the faithful rejoice in triumph;*
 let them be joyful on their beds.
Let the praises of God be in their throat*
 and a two-edged sword in their hand;
To wreak vengeance on the nations*
 and punishment on the peoples;
To bind their kings in chains*
 and their nobles with links of iron;
To inflict on them the judgement decreed;*
 this is glory for all his faithful people.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 16:17-end]:

Do not say, 'I am hidden from the Lord,
   and who from on high has me in mind?
Among so many people I am unknown,
   for what am I in a boundless creation?
Lo, heaven and the highest heaven,
   the abyss and the earth, tremble at his visitation!
The very mountains and the foundations of the earth
   quiver and quake when he looks upon them.
But no human mind can grasp this,
   and who can comprehend his ways?
Like a tempest that no one can see,
   so most of his works are concealed.
Who is to announce his acts of justice?
   Or who can await them? For his decree is far off.'
Such are the thoughts of one devoid of understanding;
   a senseless and misguided person thinks foolishly.

Listen to me, my child, and acquire knowledge,
   and pay close attention to my words.
I will impart discipline precisely
   and declare knowledge accurately.

When the Lord created his works from the beginning,
   and, in making them, determined their boundaries,
he arranged his works in an eternal order,
   and their dominion for all generations.
They neither hunger nor grow weary,
   and they do not abandon their tasks.
They do not crowd one another,
   and they never disobey his word.
Then the Lord looked upon the earth,
   and filled it with his good things.
With all kinds of living beings he covered its surface,
   and into it they must return. 

HYMN 
Words: John Greenleaf Whittier, 1872
Music: Herr Jesu Christ

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/a/a176.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

All things are thine; no gift have we,
Lord of all gifts, to offer thee:
and hence with grateful hearts today
thine own before thy feet we lay.

Thy will was in the builders' thought;
thy hand unseen amidst us wrought;
through mortal motive, scheme and plan,
thy wise eternal purpose ran.

In weakness and in want we call
on thee for whom the heavens are small;
thy glory is thy children's good,
thy joy thy tender Fatherhood.

O Father, deign these walls to bless;
fill with thy love their emptiness;
and let their door a gateway be
to lead us from ourselves to thee.

SECOND READING [Matthew 4:1-11]:

Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted
for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and
said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of
bread.' But he answered, 'It is written,
"One does not live by bread alone,
   but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." '

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple,
saying to him, 'If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
"He will command his angels concerning you",
   and "On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone." '
Jesus said to him, 'Again it is written, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."
'

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of
the world and their splendour; and he said to him, 'All these I will give you, if you will
fall down and worship me.' Jesus said to him, 'Away with you, Satan! for it is
written,
"Worship the Lord your God,
   and serve only him." '
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Blessed are you, eternal God,
to be praised and glorified for ever.

Hear us as we pray for your holy catholic Church, 
make us all one, that the world may believe.

Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you:
that the life of Christ may be revealed in us.

Strengthen all who minister in Christ's name:
give them courage to proclaim your Gospel.

Inspire and lead those who hold authority in the nations of the world:
guide them in the ways of justice and peace.

Make us alive to the needs of our community:
help us to share each other's joys and burdens.

Look with kindness on our homes and families:
grant that your love may grow in our hearts.

Deepen our compassion for all who suffer from sickness, grief or trouble:
in your presence may they find their strength.

We remember those who have died:
Father, into your hands we commend them.

We praise you for all your saints who have entered your eternal glory:
bring us all to share in your heavenly kingdom.

Merciful God,
your Son came to free us from sin,
overcoming death and rising in triumph:
may we, who are redeemed by his blood
be made ready to meet you face to face;
this we ask for Jesus' sake. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Grant us so fully to manifest Christ in our lives
that people of all races and creeds 
may be drawn to him who is their whole salvation, 
our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer is by Stephen Benner. The closing prayer is a sentence from
_Uniting in Worship_, The Uniting Church in Australia.

The intercession is from _New Patterns for Worship_, copyright (c) The
Archbishops' Council, 2002. Used with permission.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Fri Aug 22 17:30:04 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:30:04 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  23 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080822173007.59CAD1E4178@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Saturday, August 23, 2008

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, everloving Father,
your care extends beyond
the boundaries of race and nation,
to the hearts of all who live.
Your Spirit fills us with a living faith,
that we may receive your gift of mercy
and come to sit at the table of your heavenly banquet.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 29

Ascribe to the Lord, you gods,*
 ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name;*
 worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
   the God of glory thunders;*
 the Lord is upon the mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice;*
 the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendour.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees;*
 the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,*
 and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire;
   the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;*
 the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe*
 and strips the forests bare.
And in the temple of the Lord*
 all are crying, 'Glory!'
The Lord sits enthroned above the flood;*
 the Lord sits enthroned as king for evermore.
The Lord shall give strength to his people;*
 the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.

Psalm 30

I will exalt you, O Lord,
   because you have lifted me up*
 and have not let my enemies triumph over me.
O Lord my God, I cried out to you,*
 and you restored me to health.
You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead;*
 you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.
Sing to the Lord, you servants of his;*
 give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.
For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye,*
 his favour for a lifetime.
Weeping may spend the night,*
 but joy comes in the morning.
While I felt secure, I said,
   'I shall never be disturbed.*
 You, Lord, with your favour,
   made me as strong as the mountains.'
Then you hid your face,*
 and I was filled with fear.
I cried to you, O Lord;*
 I pleaded with the Lord, saying,
'What profit is there in my blood,
   if I go down to the Pit?*
 will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?
'Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me;*
 O Lord, be my helper.'
You have turned my wailing into dancing;*
 you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy;
Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing;*
 O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever.

A Song of Hannah (1 Samuel 2.1,2,3b-5,7,8)

My heart exults in the Lord;  
my strength is exalted in my God. 
My mouth derides my enemies,  
because I rejoice in your salvation. 
There is no Holy One like you, O Lord,  
nor any Rock like you, our God. 
For you are a God of knowledge  
and by you our actions are weighed. 
The bows of the mighty are broken,  
but the feeble gird on strength. 
Those who were full now hire themselves out for bread,  
but those who were hungry are well fed. 
The barren woman has borne sevenfold,  
but she who has many children is forlorn. 
Both the poor and the rich are of your making;  
you bring low and you also exalt. 
You raise up the poor from the dust,  
and lift the needy from the ash heap. 
You make them sit with the rulers  
and inherit a place of honour. 
For the pillars of the earth are yours  
and on them you have set the world.

Psalm 150

Alleluia!
   Praise God in his holy temple;*
 praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts;*
 praise him for his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the blast of the ram's-horn;*
 praise him with lyre and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance;*
 praise him with strings and pipe.
Praise him with resounding cymbals;*
 praise him with loud-clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath*
 praise the Lord.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 19:4-18]:

One who trusts others too quickly has a shallow mind,
   and one who sins does wrong to himself.
One who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned,
   but one who hates gossip has less evil.
Never repeat a conversation,
   and you will lose nothing at all.
With friend or foe do not report it,
   and unless it would be a sin for you, do not reveal it;
for someone may have heard you and watched you,
   and in time will hate you.
Have you heard something? Let it die with you.
   Be brave, it will not make you burst!
Having heard something, the fool suffers birth-pangs
   like a woman in labour with a child.
Like an arrow stuck in a person's thigh,
   so is gossip inside a fool.

Question a friend; perhaps he did not do it;
   or if he did, so that he may not do it again.
Question a neighbour; perhaps he did not say it;
   or if he said it, so that he may not repeat it.
Question a friend, for often it is slander;
   so do not believe everything you hear.
A person may make a slip without intending it.
   Who has not sinned with his tongue?
Question your neighbour before you threaten him;
   and let the law of the Most High take its course. 

HYMN 
Words: Lionel B.C.L. Muirhead, 1899
Tune: Capel

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t090.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

The Church of God a kingdom is,
where Christ in power doth reign,
where spirits yearn till seen in bliss
their Lord shall come again.

Glad companies of saints possess
this Church below, above;
and God's perpetual calm doth bless
their paradise of love.

An altar stands within the shrine
whereon, once sacrificed,
is set, immaculate, divine,
the Lamb of God, the Christ.

There rich and poor, from countless lands,
praise Christ on mystic rood;
there nations reach forth holy hands
to take God's holy food.

There pure life-giving streams o'erflow
the sower's garden ground;
and faith and hope fair blossoms show,
and fruits of love abound.

O King, O Christ, this endless grace
to us and all men bring,
to see the vision of thy face
in joy, O Christ, our King.

SECOND READING [Matthew 4:12-end]:

Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left
Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and
Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be
fulfilled:
'Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
   on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles 
the people who sat in darkness
   have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
   light has dawned.'
>From that time Jesus began to proclaim, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come
near.'

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter,
and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake for they were fishermen. And he
said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.' Immediately they left
their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James
son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending
their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and
followed him.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good
news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those
who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and
paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the
Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Make your ways known upon earth, Lord God,
your saving power among all peoples.

Renew your Church in holiness,
and help us to serve you with joy.

Guide the leaders of this and every nation,
that justice may prevail throughout the world.

Let not the needy be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

Make us instruments of your peace
and let your glory be over all the earth.

God of mystery and power,
open our eyes to the flame of your love,
and open our ears to the thunder of your justice,
that we may receive your gifts of blessing and peace,
to the glory of your Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Grant us so fully to manifest Christ in our lives
that people of all races and creeds 
may be drawn to him who is their whole salvation, 
our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer is by Stephen Benner. The closing prayer is a sentence from
_Uniting in Worship_, The Uniting Church in Australia.

The intercession is from _New Patterns for Worship_, copyright (c) The
Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The first collect is from _Daily Prayer_, copyright (c) The Scottish
Episcopal Church, 1998. Used with permission. 
http://www.scottishepiscopal.com


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sat Aug 23 19:03:30 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:03:30 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  24 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080823190330.AC15E1E4673@justus2c.anglican.org>


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OREMUS for Sunday, August 24, 2008 
Saint Bartholomew the Apostle

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, God of mystery,
for your servant Bartholomew, 
the apostle whom we know only by name:
even though death and time will take away
the memory of our work and life,
our faith will remain always in your sight, O Lord.
For this and all your mercies, we praise you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 86

Bow down your ear, O Lord, and answer me,*
 for I am poor and in misery.
Keep watch over my life, for I am faithful;*
 save your servant who trusts in you.
Be merciful to me, O Lord, for you are my God;*
 I call upon you all the day long.
Gladden the soul of your servant,*
 for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,*
 and great is your love towards all who call upon you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer,*
 and attend to the voice of my supplications.
In the time of my trouble I will call upon you,*
 for you will answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord,*
 nor anything like your works.
All nations you have made
   will come and worship you, O Lord,*
 and glorify your name.
For you are great; you do wondrous things;*
 and you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
   and I will walk in your truth;*
 knit my heart to you that I may fear your name.
I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart,*
 and glorify your name for evermore.
For great is your love towards me;*
 you have delivered me from the nethermost Pit.
The arrogant rise up against me, O God,
   and a violent band seeks my life;*
 they have not set you before their eyes.
But you, O Lord, are gracious and full of compassion,*
 slow to anger and full of kindness and truth.
Turn to me and have mercy upon me;*
 give your strength to your servant;
   and save the child of your handmaid.
Show me a sign of your favour,
   so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed;*
 because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

A Song of the Blessed (Matthew 5:3-10)
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst after righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are those who suffer persecution
for righteousness' sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Psalm 117

Alleluia!
Praise the Lord, all you nations;*
 laud him, all you peoples.
For his loving-kindness towards us is great,*
 and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 38:34b-39:10]:

How different the one who devotes himself
   to the study of the law of the Most High!
He seeks out the wisdom of all the ancients,
   and is concerned with prophecies;
he preserves the sayings of the famous
   and penetrates the subtleties of parables;
he seeks out the hidden meanings of proverbs
   and is at home with the obscurities of parables.
He serves among the great
   and appears before rulers;
he travels in foreign lands
   and learns what is good and evil in the human lot.
He sets his heart on rising early
   to seek the Lord who made him,
   and to petition the Most High;
he opens his mouth in prayer
   and asks pardon for his sins.

If the great Lord is willing,
   he will be filled with the spirit of
understanding;
he will pour forth words of wisdom of his own
   and give thanks to the Lord in prayer.
The Lord will direct his counsel and knowledge,
   as he meditates on his mysteries.
He will show the wisdom of what he has learned,
   and will glory in the law of the Lord's covenant.
Many will praise his understanding;
   it will never be blotted out.
His memory will not disappear,
   and his name will live through all generations.
Nations will speak of his wisdom,
   and the congregation will proclaim his praise.

HYMN 
Words: Latin; trans. Richard Mant, 1837, as modified in Hymns Anicent & Modern 
Tune: Rex gloriose martyrum
<a
href="http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/l/l028.html">http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/l/l028.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.

Let all on earth their voices raise,
re-echoing heaven's triumphant praise,
to him who gave the apostles grace
to run on earth their glorious race.

Thou art whose word they bore the light
of Gospel truth o'er heathen night,
to us that heavenly light impart,
to glad our eyes and cheer our heart.

Thou art whose will to them was given
to bind and loose in earth and heaven,
our chains unbind, our sins undo,
and in our hearts thy grace renew.

Thou in whose might they spake the word
which cured disease and health restored,
to us its healing power prolong,
support the weak, confirm the strong.

And when the thrones are set on high,
and judgment's awful hour draws nigh,
then, Lord, with them pronounce us blessed,
and take us to thine endless rest.

SECOND READING [Matthew 10:1-14]:

Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them
out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles:
first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother
John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus,
and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. 
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: 'Go nowhere among the Gentiles,
and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you
go, proclaim the good news, "The kingdom of heaven has come near." Cure the sick, raise the
dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.
Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or
sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out
who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is
worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If
anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you
leave that house or town.'

The Benedictus (Morning),
the 
Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may
follow.

Prayer:
Let us pray to God, 
whose word was entrusted to the Apostles
and has spread to all the world.

Empower your Church
to proclaim the saving message of Jesus Christ.
Lord of mercy,
spread your word.

Give us courage and strength
to spread the Gospel in places
where it has not been preached.
Lord of mercy,
spread your word.

Bless us in our personal lives
that we may live fully according to Jesus' example.
Lord of mercy,
spread your word.

Open our eyes to your Word in the Holy Scriptures
that we find new paths of understanding.
Lord of mercy,
spread your word.

Remember, in your mercy, those who have gone before
marked with the sign of faith and led by the Gospel.
Lord of mercy,
spread your word.

Almighty and everlasting God, 
who gave to your apostle Bartholomew grace 
truly to believe and to preach your word:
grant that your Church
may love that word which he believed 
and may faithfully preach and receive the same;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms and the invitation to the Lord's Prayer are from _Celebrating
Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The Society of Saint Francis
1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer of thanksgiving is by Stephen Benner and is inspired
by a hymn by Jan Struther, 1931.

The intercession is by Stephen Benner and is inspired and uses a few phrases
from a prayer by Raymond Chapman in _Leading Intercessions_,
(c) 2000, Canterbury Press.

The collect is from _Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the
Church of England_, material from which is included in this service
is copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2000.

The closing sentence uses phrases from a collect in _Common Worship:
Services and Prayers for the Church of England_, material from which is
included in this service is copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2000.

The name "Bartholomew" appears in the New Testament only on lists of the
names of the twelve apostles. This list normally is given as six pairs, and the
third pair in each of the Synoptics is "Philip and Bartholomew".
John gives no list of the Twelve, but refers to more of them individually than
the writers of the synoptic Gospels. He does not name Bartholomew, but early
in his account he tells of the call to discipleship of a Nathaniel who is often
supposed to be the same person. The reasoning is as follows: John's Nathanael
is introduced as one of the earliest followers of Jesus, and in terms which
suggest that he became one of the Twelve. He is clearly not the same as Peter,
Andrew, James, John, Philip, Thomas, Judas Iscariot, Judas (not Iscariot, also
called Lebbaeus or Thaddeus), all of whom John names separately. He is not
Matthew, whose call is described differently. This leaves Bartholomew, James
the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes. Of these, Bartholomew is the leading
candidate for two reasons:
(1) "Bar-tholomew" is a patronymic, meaning "son of Tolmai (or Talmai)." It
is therefore likely that he had another name."Nathanael son of Tolmai" seems
more likely than "Nathanael also called James (or Simon)."
(2) Nathanael is introduced in John's narrative as a friend of Philip. Since
Bartholomew is paired with Philip on three of our four lists of Apostles, it
seems likely that they were associated.
We have no certain information about Bartholomew's later life. Some writers,
including the historian Eusebius of Caesarea, say that he preached in India. The
majority tradition, with varying details, is that Bartholomew preached in
Armenia, and was finally skinned alive and beheaded to Albanus or Albanopolis
on the Caspian Sea. His emblem in art is a flaying knife. The flayed
Bartholomew can be seen in Michelangelo's Sistine painting of the Last
Judgement. He is holding his skin. The face on the skin is generally considered
to be a self-portrait of Michelangelo.

From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sun Aug 24 20:57:04 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2008 20:57:04 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  25 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080824205704.292581E3136@justus2c.anglican.org>


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OREMUS for Monday, August 25, 2008

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God,
like fireworks in the night
the Holy Spirit came
to lift our spirits, to inspire fresh daring,
that our lives might be spent in honor
of our Savior, God's only Son.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 33

Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous;*
 it is good for the just to sing praises.
Praise the Lord with the harp;*
 play to him upon the psaltery and lyre.
Sing for him a new song;*
 sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.
For the word of the Lord is right,*
 and all his works are sure.
He loves righteousness and justice;*
 the loving-kindness of the Lord fills the whole earth.
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made,*
 by the breath of his mouth all the heavenly hosts.
He gathers up the waters of the ocean
   as in a water-skin*
 and stores up the depths of the sea.
Let all the earth fear the Lord;*
 let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him.
For he spoke and it came to pass;*
 he commanded and it stood fast.
The Lord brings the will of the nations to naught;*
 he thwarts the designs of the peoples.
But the Lord's will stands fast for ever,*
 and the designs of his heart from age to age.
Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord!*
 happy the people he has chosen to be his own!
The Lord looks down from heaven,*
 and beholds all the people in the world.
>From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze*
 on all who dwell on the earth.
He fashions all the hearts of them*
 and understands all their works.
There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army;*
 the strong are not delivered by great strength.nbsp;
The horse is a vain hope for deliverance;*
 for all its strength it cannot save.
Behold, the eye of the Lord
   is upon those who fear him,*
 on those who wait upon his love,
To pluck their lives from death,*
 and to feed them in time of famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord;*
 he is our help and our shield.
Indeed, our heart rejoices in him,*
 for in his holy name we put our trust.
Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us,*
 as we have put our trust in you.

A Song of Solomon (cf Song of Solomon 8.6,7)

Set me as a seal upon your heart,  
as a seal upon your arm; 
For love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave;  
its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. 
Many waters cannot quench love,  
neither can the floods drown it. 
If all the wealth of our house were offered for love,  
it would be utterly scorned.

Psalm 146

Alleluia!
   Praise the Lord, O my soul!*
 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
   I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Put not your trust in rulers,
   nor in any child of earth,*
 for there is no help in them.
When they breathe their last, they return to earth,*
 and in that day their thoughts perish.
Happy are they who have the God of Jacob
   for their help!*
 whose hope is in the Lord their God;
Who made heaven and earth, the seas,
   and all that is in them;*
 who keeps his promise for ever;
Who gives justice to those who are oppressed,*
 and food to those who hunger.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
   the Lord opens the eyes of the blind;*
 the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous;
   the Lord cares for the stranger;*
 he sustains the orphan and widow,
   but frustrates the way of the wicked.
The Lord shall reign for ever,*
 your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 19:20-end]:

The whole of wisdom is fear of the Lord,
   and in all wisdom there is the fulfilment of the law.
The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom,
   nor is there prudence in the counsel of sinners.
There is a cleverness that is detestable,
   and there is a fool who merely lacks wisdom.
Better are the God-fearing who lack understanding
   than the highly intelligent who transgress the law.
There is a cleverness that is exact but unjust,
   and there are people who abuse favours to gain a verdict.
There is the villain bowed down in mourning,
but inwardly he is full of deceit.
He hides his face and pretends not to hear,
   but when no one notices, he will take advantage of you.
Even if lack of strength keeps him from sinning,
   he will nevertheless do evil when he finds the opportunity.
A person is known by his appearance,
   and a sensible person is known when first met face to face.
A person's attire and hearty laughter,
   and the way he walks, show what he is. 

HYMN 
Words: stanzas 1 & 3, John Keble (1792-1866), 1818;
stanzas 2 & 4, William John Hall (1793-1861) 
Tune: Franconia

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/b/b144.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Blest are the pure in heart,
for they shall see our God;
the secret of the Lord is theirs,
their soul is Christ's abode.

The Lord, who left the heavens
our life and peace to bring,
to dwell in lowliness with men,
their Pattern and their King;

still to the lowly soul
he doth himself impart
and for his dwelling and his throne
chooseth the pure in heart.

Lord, we thy presence seek;
may ours this blessing be;
give us a pure and lowly heart,
a temple meet for thee. 

SECOND READING [Matthew 5:1-16]:

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his
disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

'Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

'Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be
filled.

'Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

'Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.

'Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil
against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in
heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

'You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be
restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under
foot.

'You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after
lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light
to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may
see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.' 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
We praise you, God our creator, for your handiwork in
shaping and sustaining your wondrous creation. Especially
we thank you for
     the miracle of life and the wonder of living...
                         (We thank you, Lord.)
     particular blessings coming to us in this day...
     the resources of the earth...
     gifts of creative vision and skillful craft...
     the treasure stored in every human life...

We dare to pray for others, God our Savior, claiming your
love in Jesus Christ for the whole world, committing
ourselves to care for those around us in his name.
Especially we pray for
     those who work for the benefit of others... 
                         (Lord, hear our prayer.)
     those who cannot work today...
     those who teach and those who learn...
     people who are poor...
     the Church in Europe...

Blessed are you, Creator of the universe:
In your loving kindness you watch over your chosen people.
Make us witnesses to your truth
and instruments of your peace
that all may know you as the God of justice,
and praise your holy Name;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

May the word of God dwell richly in our heart from hour to hour, 
so that all may see the triumph through Jesus' power and love. 
Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer is by Stephen Benner and uses phrases from hymns by Ian Fraser and
John Bell. The closing prayer is based on a verse from a hymn by Katie Wilkinson.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Mon Aug 25 19:51:31 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:51:31 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  26 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080825195131.BB2391E4839@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for , 2008

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God,
like fireworks in the night
the Holy Spirit came
to lift our spirits, to inspire fresh daring,
that our lives might be spent in honor
of our Savior, God's only Son.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 36:5-end [CCP]

Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,*
 and your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the strong mountains,
   your justice like the great deep;*
 you save both human and beast, O Lord.
How priceless is your love, O God!*
 your people take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
They feast upon the abundance of your house;*
 you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the well of life,*
 and in your light we see light.
Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you,*
 and your favour to those who are true of heart.
Let not the foot of the proud come near me,*
 nor the hand of the wicked push me aside.
See how they are fallen, those who work wickedness!*
 they are cast down and shall not be able to rise.

Psalm 47

Clap your hands, all you peoples;*
 shout to God with a cry of joy.
For the Lord Most High is to be feared;*
 he is the great king over all the earth.
He subdues the peoples under us,*
 and the nations under our feet.
He chooses our inheritance for us,*
 the pride of Jacob whom he loves.
God has gone up with a shout,*
 the Lord with the sound of the ram's-horn.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;*
 sing praises to our king, sing praises.
For God is king of all the earth;*
 sing praises with all your skill.
God reigns over the nations;*
 God sits upon his holy throne.
The nobles of the peoples have gathered together*
 with the people of the God of Abraham.
The rulers of the earth belong to God,*
 and he is highly exalted.

Great and Wonderful (Revelation 15.3,4)

Great and wonderful are your deeds, . 
Lord God the Almighty. 
Just and true are your ways, . 
O ruler of the nations. 
Who shall not revere and praise your name, O Lord? . 
for you alone are holy. 
All nations shall come and worship in your presence: . 
for your just dealings have been revealed.

Psalm 147:1-12

Alleluia!
   How good it is to sing praises to our God!*
 how pleasant it is to honour him with praise!
The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;*
 he gathers the exiles of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted*
 and binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars*
 and calls them all by their names.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;*
 there is no limit to his wisdom.
The Lord lifts up the lowly,*
 but casts the wicked to the ground.
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;*
 make music to our God upon the harp.
He covers the heavens with clouds*
 and prepares rain for the earth;
He makes grass to grow upon the mountains*
 and green plants to serve us all.
He provides food for flocks and herds*
 and for the young ravens when they cry.
He is not impressed by the might of a horse,*
 he has no pleasure in human strength;
But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him,*
 in those who await his gracious favour.
 Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 20:9-20]:

There may be good fortune for a person in adversity,
   but a windfall may result in a loss.
There is the gift that profits you nothing,
   and the gift to be paid back double.
There are losses for the sake of glory,
   and there are some who have raised their heads from humble circumstances.
Some buy much for little,
   but pay for it seven times over.
The wise make themselves beloved by only few words,
   but the courtesies of fools are wasted.
A fool's gift will profit you nothing,
   for he looks for recompense sevenfold.
He gives little and upbraids much;
   he opens his mouth like a town crier.
Today he lends and tomorrow he asks for it back;
   such a one is hateful to God and humans.
The fool says, 'I have no friends,
   and I get no thanks for my good deeds.
   Those who eat my bread are evil-tongued.'
How many will ridicule him, and how often!

A slip on the pavement is better than a slip of the tongue;
   the downfall of the wicked will occur just as speedily.
A coarse person is like an inappropriate story
   continually on the lips of the ignorant.
A proverb from a fool's lips will be rejected,
   for he does not tell it at the proper time. 

HYMN 
Words: John Ellerton (1826-1893), 1870 
Tune: St. Peter, St. Stephen, St. Flavian

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/b/b085.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Behold us, Lord, a little space
from daily tasks set free,
and met within thy holy place
to rest awhile with thee.

Around us rolls the ceaseless tide
of business, toil, and care;
and scarcely can we turn aside
for one brief hour of prayer.

Yet these are not the only walls
wherein thou may'st be sought:
on homeliest work thy blessing falls,
in truth and patience wrought.

Thine is the loom, the forge, the mart,
the wealth of land and sea;
the worlds of science and of art,
revealed and ruled by thee.

Then let us prove our heavenly birth
in all we do and know;
and claim the kingdom of the earth
for thee, and not thy foe.

Work shall be prayer, if all be wrought
as thou wouldst have it done;
and prayer, by thee inspired and taught,
itself with work be one.

SECOND READING [Matthew 5:17-26]:

Jesus said, 'Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have
come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is
accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments,
and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but
whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you
will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

'You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, "You shall not murder";
and "whoever murders shall be liable to judgement." But I say to you that if you are
angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult a
brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, "You fool", you will
be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you
remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there
before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and
offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to
court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the
guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until
you have paid the last penny.' 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Eternal God, we rejoice today in the gift of life, which
we have received by your grace, and the new life you give
in Jesus Christ. Especially we thank you for
     the love of our families...
                         (We thank you, Lord.)
     the affection of our friends...
     strength and abilities to serve your purpose today...
     this community in which we live...
     opportunities to give as we have received...

God of grace, we offer our prayers for the needs of
others and commit ourselves to serve them as we have been
served in Jesus Christ. Especially we pray for
     those closest to us, families, friends, neighbors...
                         (Lord, hear our prayer.)
     refugees and homeless men, women and children...
     the outcast and persecuted...
     those from whom we are estranged...
     the church in Africa...

Blessed are you, God of all the earth:
you have called us out of every people and nation
to be a royal priesthood and citizens of your holy city.
May our words of praise call the world to turn
to the joy of fellowship with you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

May the word of God dwell richly in our heart from hour to hour, 
so that all may see the triumph through Jesus' power and love. 
Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer is by Stephen Benner and uses phrases from hymns by Ian Fraser and
John Bell. The closing prayer is based on a verse from a hymn by Katie Wilkinson.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Tue Aug 26 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  27 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080826170001.8954D1E37CF@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Wednesday, August 27, 2008

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God,
like fireworks in the night
the Holy Spirit comes
to lift our spirits, to inspire fresh daring,
that our lives might be spent in honor
of our Savior, God's only Son.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 62

For God alone my soul in silence waits;*
 from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,*
 my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly shaken.
How long will you assail me to crush me,
   all of you together,*
 as if you were a leaning fence, a toppling wall?
They seek only to bring me down
   from my place of honour;*
 lies are their chief delight.
They bless with their lips,*
 but in their hearts they curse.
For God alone my soul in silence waits;*
 truly, my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,*
 my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.
In God is my safety and my honour;*
 God is my strong rock and my refuge.
Put your trust in him always, O people,*
 pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.
Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath,*
 even those of low estate cannot be trusted.
On the scales they are lighter than a breath,*
 all of them together.
Put no trust in extortion;
   in robbery take no empty pride;*
 though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.
God has spoken once, twice have I heard it,*
 that power belongs to God.
Steadfast love is yours, O Lord,*
 for you repay everyone according to his deeds.

Psalm 63

O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you;*
 my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,
   as in a barren and dry land where there is no water;
Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place,*
 that I might behold your power and your glory.
For your loving-kindness is better than life itself;*
 my lips shall give you praise.
So will I bless you as long as I live*
 and lift up my hands in your name.
My soul is content, as with marrow and fatness,*
 and my mouth praises you with joyful lips,
When I remember you upon my bed,*
 and meditate on you in the night watches.
For you have been my helper,*
 and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.
My soul clings to you;*
 your right hand holds me fast.

A Song of Judith (Judith 16.13-16)

I will sing a new song to my God,  
for you are great and glorious, 
truly strong and invincible. 
May your whole creation serve you,  
for you spoke and all things came to be. 
You sent forth your Spirit and they were formed,  
for no one can resist your voice. 
Mountains and seas are stirred to their depths;  
at your presence rocks shall melt like wax. 
But to those who fear you,  
you continue to show mercy. 
No sacrifice, however fragrant, can please you,  
but whoever fears the Lord 
shall stand in your sight for ever.

Psalm 147:1-12

Alleluia!
   How good it is to sing praises to our God!*
 how pleasant it is to honour him with praise!
The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;*
 he gathers the exiles of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted*
 and binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars*
 and calls them all by their names.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;*
 there is no limit to his wisdom.
The Lord lifts up the lowly,*
 but casts the wicked to the ground.
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;*
 make music to our God upon the harp.
He covers the heavens with clouds*
 and prepares rain for the earth;
He makes grass to grow upon the mountains*
 and green plants to serve us all.
He provides food for flocks and herds*
 and for the young ravens when they cry.
He is not impressed by the might of a horse,*
 he has no pleasure in human strength;
But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him,*
 in those who await his gracious favour.
 Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 24:1-9,18-22]:

Wisdom praises herself,
   and tells of her glory in the midst of her people.
In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth,
   and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory:
'I came forth from the mouth of the Most High,
   and covered the earth like a mist.
I dwelt in the highest heavens,
   and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.
Alone I compassed the vault of heaven
   and traversed the depths of the abyss.
Over waves of the sea, over all the earth,
   and over every people and nation I have held sway.
Among all these I sought a resting-place;
   in whose territory should I abide?

'Then the Creator of all things gave me a command,
   and my Creator chose the place for my tent.
He said, "Make your dwelling in Jacob,
   and in Israel receive your inheritance."
Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me,
   and for all the ages I shall not cease to be.
'Come to me, you who desire me,
   and eat your fill of my fruits.
For the memory of me is sweeter than honey,
   and the possession of me sweeter than the honeycomb.
Those who eat of me will hunger for more,
   and those who drink of me will thirst for more.
Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame,
   and those who work with me will not sin.' 

HYMN 
Words: Words: Bernard of Clairvaux, twelfth century;
trans. John Mason Neale and Hymns Ancient & Modern
Music: Jesu, dulcis memoria

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/j/j188.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Jesus! the very thought is sweet;
in that dear name all heart-joys meet;
but O, than honey sweeter far
the glimpses of his presence are.

No word is sung more sweet than this,
no sound is heard more full of bliss,
no thought brings sweeter comfort nigh,
than Jesus, Son of God most high.

Jesus, the hope of souls forlorn,
how good to them for sin that mourn!
To them that seek the, O how kind!
But what art thou to them that find?

No tongue of mortal can express,
no pen can write, the blessedness:
he only who hath proved it knows
what bliss from love of Jesus flows.

O Jesus, King of wondrous might!
O Victor, glorious from the fight!
Sweetness that may not be expressed,
and altogether loveliest!

Abide with us, O Lord, today,
fulfill us with thy grace, we pray;
and with thine own true sweetness feed
our souls from sin and darkness freed.

SECOND READING [Matthew 5:27-37]:

Jesus said,  'You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery." But I
say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed
adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw
it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to
be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it
away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go
into hell.
'It was also said, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce."
But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of
unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman
commits adultery.
'Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, "You shall not swear
falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord." But I say to you, Do not
swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his
footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by
your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be "Yes, Yes"
or "No, No"; anything more than this comes from the evil one.'

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Prayer:
God of all mercies, we praise you that you have brought
us to this day, brightening our lives with the dawn
of promise and hope in Jesus Christ. Especially we thank
you for
     the warmth of sunlight, the wetness of rain and
     snow, and all that nourishes the earth...
                           (We thank you, Lord.)
     the presence and power of your Spirit...
     the support and encouragement we receive from others...
     those who provide for public safety and well-being...
     the mission of the church around the world...

Merciful God, strengthen us in prayer that we may lift up
the brokenness of this world for your healing, and share
the saving love of Jesus Christ. Especially we pray for
     those in positions of authority over others...
                           (Lord, hear our prayer.)
     the lonely and forgotten...
     children without family or homes...
     agents of caring and relief...
     the church in Asia and the Middle East...

Eternal Love,
our hearts are restless until they rest in you.
Let your glory shine on us,
that our lives may proclaim your goodness,
our work give you honour,
and our voices praise you forever;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

May the word of God dwell richly in our heart from hour to hour, 
so that all may see the triumph through Jesus' power and love. 
Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer is by Stephen Benner and uses phrases from hymns by Ian Fraser and
John Bell. The closing prayer is based on a verse from a hymn by Katie Wilkinson.

The intercession is from _Book of Common Worship_, (c) 1993
Westminster / John Knox Press. 

The first collect is from _Daily Prayer_, copyright (c) The Scottish
Episcopal Church, 1998. Used with permission. 
http://www.scottishepiscopal.com


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Wed Aug 27 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  28 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080827170001.A90D21E454B@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Thursday, August 28, 2008
Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, Teacher of the Faith, 430

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God,
like fireworks in the night
the Holy Spirit comes
to lift our spirits, to inspire fresh daring,
that our lives might be spent in honor
of our Savior, God's only Son.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 66

Be joyful in God, all you lands;*
 sing the glory of his name;
   sing the glory of his praise.
Say to God, 'How awesome are your deeds!*
 because of your great strength
   your enemies cringe before you.
'All the earth bows down before you,*
 sings to you, sings out your name.'
Come now and see the works of God,*
 how wonderful he is in his doing towards all people.
He turned the sea into dry land,
   so that they went through the water on foot,*
 and there we rejoiced in him.
In his might he rules for ever;
   his eyes keep watch over the nations;*
 let no rebel rise up against him.
Bless our God, you peoples;*
 make the voice of his praise to be heard;
Who holds our souls in life,*
 and will not allow our feet to slip.
For you, O God, have proved us;*
 you have tried us just as silver is tried.
You brought us into the snare;*
 you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.
You let enemies ride over our heads;
   we went through fire and water;*
 but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.
I will enter your house with burnt-offerings
   and will pay you my vows,*
 which I promised with my lips
   and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.
I will offer you sacrifices of fat beasts
   with the smoke of rams;*
 I will give you oxen and goats.
Come and listen, all you who fear God,*
 and I will tell you what he has done for me.
I called out to him with my mouth,*
 and his praise was on my tongue.
If I had found evil in my heart,*
 the Lord would not have heard me;
But in truth God has heard me;*
 he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer,*
 nor withheld his love from me.

A Song of Baruch (Baruch 5.5,6c,7-9)

Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height:  
look to the east and see your children, 
Gathered from the west and the east  
at the word of the Holy One. 
They rejoice that God has remembered them  
and has brought them back to you. 
For God has ordered that every high mountain  
and the everlasting hills be made low, 
And the valleys filled up to make level ground  
so that they may walk safely in the glory of God. 
The woods and every fragrant tree  
have shaded them at God's command. 
For God will lead his people with joy 
in the light of his glory  
with the mercy and righteousness that comes from God. 

Psalm 148

Alleluia!
   Praise the Lord from the heavens;*
 praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all you angels of his;*
 praise him, all his host.
Praise him, sun and moon;*
 praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, heaven of heavens,*
 and you waters above the heavens.
Let them praise the name of the Lord;*
 for he commanded and they were created.
He made them stand fast for ever and ever;*
 he gave them a law which shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth,*
 you sea-monsters and all deeps;
Fire and hail, snow and fog,*
 tempestuous wind, doing his will;
Mountains and all hills,*
 fruit trees and all cedars;
Wild beasts and all cattle,*
 creeping things and winged birds;
Kings of the earth and all peoples,*
 princes and all rulers of the world;
Young men and maidens,*
 old and young together.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,*
 for his name only is exalted,
   his splendour is over earth and heaven.
He has raised up strength for his people
   and praise for all his loyal servants,*
 the children of Israel, a people who are near him.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 28:13-end]:

Curse the gossips and the double-tongued,
   for they destroy the peace of many.
Slander has shaken many,
   and scattered them from nation to nation;
it has destroyed strong cities,
   and overturned the houses of the great.
Slander has driven virtuous women from their homes,
   and deprived them of the fruit of their toil.
Those who pay heed to slander will not find rest,
   nor will they settle down in peace.
The blow of a whip raises a welt,
   but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.
Many have fallen by the edge of the sword,
   but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.
Happy is one who is protected from it,
   who has not been exposed to its anger,
who has not borne its yoke,
   and has not been bound with its fetters.
For its yoke is a yoke of iron,
   and its fetters are fetters of bronze;
its death is an evil death,
   and Hades is preferable to it.
It has no power over the godly;
   they will not be burned in its flame.
Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power;
   it will burn among them and will not be put out.
It will be sent out against them like a lion;
   like a leopard it will mangle them.
As you fence in your property with thorns,
   so make a door and a bolt for your mouth.
As you lock up your silver and gold,
   so make balances and scales for your words.
Take care not to err with your tongue,
   and fall victim to one lying in wait. 

HYMN 
Words: Timothy Dudley-Smith (c), based on a prayer by Augustine
Tune: Genevan Psalm 130, Llangloffan, Moville, King's Lynn, Aurelia

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/l/l145.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Light of the minds that know him,
may Christ be light to mine!
My sun in risen splendor,
my light of truth divine;
my guide in doubt and darkness,
my true and living way,
my clear light ever shining,
my dawn of heaven's day.

Life of the souls that love him,
may Christ be ours indeed!
The living Bread from heaven
on whom our spirits feed;
who died for love of sinners
to bear our guilty load,
and make of life's journey
a new Emmaus road.

Strength of the wills that serve him,
may Christ be strength to me,
who stilled the storm and tempest,
who calmed the tossing sea;
his Spirit's power to move me,
his will to master mine,
his cross to carry daily
and conquer in his sign.

May it be ours to know him
that we may truly love,
and loving, fully serve him
as serve the saints above;
till in that home of glory
with fadeless splendor bright,
we serve in perfect freedom
our strength, our life, our light.

SECOND READING [Matthew 5:38-end]:

Jesus said, 'You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth." But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the
right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat,
give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second
mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to
borrow from you.
'You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbour and hate your
enemy." But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the
evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if
you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the
tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more
are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect,
therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.'

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Loving God, as the rising sun chases away the night, so
you have scattered the power of death in the rising of
Jesus Christ, and you bring us all blessings in him.
Especially we thank you for
     the community of faith in our church...
                (We thank you, Lord.)
     those with whom we work or share common concerns...
     the diversity of your children...
     indications of your love at work in the world...
     those who work for reconciliation...

Mighty God, with the dawn of your love you reveal your
victory over all that would destroy or harm, and you
brighten the lives of all who need you. Especially we pray
for
     families suffering separation...
                (Lord, hear our prayer)
     people different from ourselves...
     those isolated by sickness or sorrow...
     the victims of violence or warfare...
     the church in the Pacific region...

Eternal Love,
our hearts are restless until they rest in you.
Let your glory shine on us,
that our lives may proclaim your goodness,
our work give you honour,
and our voices praise you forever;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Merciful Lord, 
who turned Augustine from his sins 
to be a faithful bishop and teacher: 
grant that we may follow him in penitence and discipline 
till our restless hearts find their rest in you; 
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

May the word of God dwell richly in our heart from hour to hour, 
so that all may see the triumph through Jesus' power and love. 
Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer is by Stephen Benner and uses phrases from hymns by Ian Fraser and
John Bell. The closing prayer is based on a verse from a hymn by Katie Wilkinson.

Hymn (c) 1984 by Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL  60188. All rights reserved. 
Used by permission. For permission to reproduce this text in all territories except the UK,
Europe & Africa, contact: Hope Publishing Company,  www.hopepublishing.com
For UK, Europe & Africa: contact: Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith, 9 Ashlands, Ford,
Salisbury, Wiltshire  SP4 6DY  England

The second collect is from _Common Worship: Services and Prayers for
the Church of England_, material from which is included in this service is
copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2000.

Augustine (Aurelius Augustinus) was one of the greatest theologians of
Western Christianity. He was born 13 November 354 in North Africa, about 45
miles south of the Mediterranean, in the town of Tagaste in Numidia (now
Souk-Ahras in Algeria), near ancient Carthage (modern Tunis, 36:50 N 10:13
E). His mother, Monnica, was a Christian, and his father for many years a
pagan (although he became a Christian before his death). His mother
undertook to bring him up as a Christian, and on one level he always found
something attractive about Christ, but in the short run he was more interested
in the attractions of sex, fame, and pride in his own cleverness. After a
moderate amount of running around as a teenager, he took a mistress, who
bore him a son when he was about eighteen. Theirs was a long-term
relationship, apparently with faithfulness on both sides, and the modern reader
is left wondering why he did not simply marry the girl. He never tells us this
(and in fact never tells us her name), so that we can only guess. It seems likely
that she was a freedwoman, and the laws forbade marriage between a free-born
Roman citizen and a slave, or an ex-slave.
When He was 19 and a student at Carthage, he read a treatise by Cicero that
opened his eyes to the delights of philosophy.
He was from the beginning a brilliant student, with an eager intellectual
curiosity, but he never mastered Greek -- he tells us that his first Greek teacher
was a brutal man who constantly beat his students, and Augustine rebelled and
vowed never to learn Greek. By the time he realized that he really needed to
know Greek, it was too late; and although he acquired a smattering of the
language, he was never really at home in it. However, his mastery of Latin was
another matter. He became an expert both in the eloquent use of the language
and in the use of clever arguments to make his points. He became a teacher of
rhetoric in Carthage, but was dissatisfied. It was the custom for students to pay
their fees to the professor on the last day of the term, and many students
attended faithfully all term, and then did not pay. In his late twenties,
Augustine decided to leave Africa and seek his fortune in Rome.
For a long time Augustine was attracted by the teachings of Manicheeism,
named for Mani, a Persian who had preached a kind of synthesis of Christianity
with Zoroastrianism, the dominant religion of Persia. Zoroaster had taught the
existence of a power of light, God, the supreme Creator, and of a dark and evil
power that opposed him. On the Zoroastrian (Parsi) view, the dark power was
a rebel against his creator, and doomed to ultimate defeat. Mani, on the other
hand, was a thoroughgoing dualist, who taught that there are two gods of
equal power and eternity, and that the universe is the scene of an unending
battle between light and darkness, good and evil, knowledge and ignorance,
soul and body, etc. The Manichees as they moved west into the Roman Empire
adopted many traits of what is generically called Gnosticism. In particular, they
advertised themselves as being not an alternative to Christianity but as the
advanced version of Christianity, as the faith for the spiritually mature, the
intellectually gifted. They claimed that their beliefs were based on reason rather
than authority, and that they had answers for everything, at least as soon as the
learner was sufficiently advanced to comprehend them. They differed from the
classical Gnostics by not contrasting spirit with matter. On their view,
everything was composed of material particles, but these were either light or
dark. Since the mind was composed of light particles, imprisoned in the body, a
cage made of dark particles, something like the Gnostic contrast between spirit
and matter was there. Members were divided into an inner circle, the "elect,"
who were expected to be celibate and vegetarian, so as to avoid all those dark
particles, and the "learners," of whom considerably less was expected.
Augustine signed up as a learner. He was at first completely captivated, but
then met with a series of disappointments. The rank and file of the movement
did not seem to be very clear thinkers. He met the leaders, who were
advertised as the Towering Intellects of the Ages, and was not impressed.
Augustine prospered in Rome, and was eventually appointed chief professor of
rhetoric for the city of Milan, at that time the capital city of the Empire in the
West. It should be noted that this was an extremely prestigious appointment. In
classical times, when laws were often made and issues voted on by huge public
assemblies, when even juries typically had several hundred members, and when
a man's public influence, or even on occasion his life, depended on his ability to
sway large audiences, rhetoric -- the art of manipulating an audience -- was a
skill that few men thought they could afford to neglect. (Socrates was one of
the few, and we know what happened to him!) The art, at first intensely
practical, had by Augustine's day become a display form admired for its own
sake. However, the admiration was there. Every lawyer, arguing a case, was
expected to give an eloquent speech, full of classical allusions and standard
rhetorical flourishes. And Augustine was at the top of the field.
In Milan Augustine met the bishop Ambrose, and was startled to find in him a
reasonableness of mind and belief, a keenness of thought, and an integrity of
character far in excess of what he had found elsewhere. For the first time,
Augustine saw Christianity as a religion fit for a philosopher.
Soon after his arrival in Milan, Augustine was plunged into two crises.
First, his mother arrived from Africa, and persuaded him that he ought to give
up his mistress and get married. He agreed to a betrothal to a suitable young
lady; but his betrothed was too young for immediate marriage, and so the
actual wedding was postponed for two years. Meanwhile the mistress had been
sent back to Africa. Augustine, not ready for two years of sexual abstinence,
lapsed back into promiscuity.
The second crisis was that Augustine became a neo-Platonist. Plato, as
interpreted by his later spokesmen, in particular by Plotinus, taught that only
God is fully real, and that all other things are degenerations in varying degrees
from the One--things are progressively less good, less spiritual, and less real as
one goes rung by rung down the cosmic ladder. By contemplating spiritual
realities, directing one's attention first to one's own mind and then moving up
the ladder rung by one to the contemplation of God, one acquires true wisdom,
true self-fulfilment, true spirituality, and union with God, or the One.
Augustine undertook this approach, and believed that he had in fact had an
experience of the presence of God, but found that this only made him more
aware of the gulf between what he was and what he realized that he ought to
be.
Meanwhile, he continued to hear Bishop Ambrose. And finally, partly because
Ambrose had answers for his questions, partly because he admired Ambrose
personally, and chiefly (or so he believed) because God touched his heart, he
was converted to Christianity in 386 and was baptized by Ambrose at Easter of
387. About 12 years later he wrote an account of his life up to a time shortly
after his conversion, a book called the Confessions, a highly readable work
available in English. Ostensibly an autobiography, it is more an outpouring of
penitence and thanksgiving.
After his conversion, Augustine went back to his native Africa in 387, where
he was ordained a priest in 391 and consecrated bishop of Hippo in 396. It was
not his intention to become a priest. He was visiting the town of Hippo, was in
church hearing a sermon, and the bishop, without warning, said, "This
congregation is in need of more priests, and I believe that the ordination of
Augustine would be to the glory of God." Willing hands dragged Augustine
forward, and the bishop together with his council of priests laid hands on
Augustine and ordained him to the priesthood. (The experience may have
colored Augustine's perception of such questions as, "Does a man come to
God because he has chosen to do so, or because God has chosen him, and
drawn him to Himself?") A few years later, when the Bishop of Hippo died,
Augustine was chosen to succeed him.
He was a diligent shepherd of his flock, but he also found time to write
extensively. He was an admirer of Jerome, and wrote him a letter hoping to
establish a friendship, but the letter went astray. (In those days there was no
public post office, and if you wanted to send a letter to a friend in Athens, you
entrusted it to someone you knew who was traveling to Athens, or at least in
that general direction, with instructions to deliver it or pass it on to someone
else who would oblige.) Jerome did not get the letter, and the contents became
public knowledge before he heard of it. Augustine, in addition to saying how
much he admired Jerome, had offered some criticisms of something Jerome
had written. Jerome was furious, and came close to writing Augustine off
altogether. However, Augustine wrote him a second letter, apologizing and
explaining what had happened, and Jerome was mollified. They had a long and
intellectually substantial correspondence.
Near the end of his life, the Vandals, a barbarian people with a reputation for
wanton destructiveness (hence our modern term "vandal"), who had earlier
invaded Spain from the north and settled down there (hence the province of
Spain called "Andalusia"), became involved in a civil war in Northern Africa,
and their troops invaded Africa in huge numbers. The leader of the losing side
took refuge in the town of Hippo, and the Vandals were besieging the town
(which they ultimately captured) when Augustine, bishop of Hippo, died 28
August 430, aged 75. [James Kiefer, abridged]


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Thu Aug 28 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  29 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080828170001.240471E42CA@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Friday, August 29, 2008
The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, God of power and might,
for John the Baptist,
who revealed the Lamb, the Redeemer of the world
and bore witness to Christ
by the shedding of his own blood;
for these and all your mercies, we praise you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 11

In the Lord have I taken refuge;*
 how then can you say to me,
   'Fly away like a bird to the hilltop;
'For see how the wicked bend the bow
   and fit their arrows to the string,*
 to shoot from ambush at the true of heart.
'When the foundations are being destroyed,*
 what can the righteous do?'
The Lord is in his holy temple;*
 the Lord's throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold the inhabited world;*
 his piercing eye weighs our worth.
The Lord weighs the righteous as well as the wicked,*
 but those who delight in violence he abhors.
Upon the wicked he shall rain coals of fire
   and burning sulphur;*
 a scorching wind shall be their lot.
For the Lord is righteous;
   he delights in righteous deeds;*
 and the just shall see his face.

A Song of Faith (1 Peter 1.3-4,18-21)

Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ!

By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading,
kept in heaven for you.

Who are being protected by the power of God
through faith for a salvation,
ready to be revealed in the last time.

You were ransomed from the futile ways of your ancestors
not with perishable things like silver or gold

But with the precious blood of Christ
like that of a lamb without spot or stain.

Through him you have confidence in God,
who raised him from the dead and gave him glory,
so that your faith and hope are set on God.

Psalm 149

Alleluia!
   Sing to the Lord a new song;*
 sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in his maker;*
 let the children of Zion be joyful in their king.
Let them praise his name in the dance;*
 let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people*
 and adorns the poor with victory.
Let the faithful rejoice in triumph;*
 let them be joyful on their beds.
Let the praises of God be in their throat*
 and a two-edged sword in their hand;
To wreak vengeance on the nations*
 and punishment on the peoples;
To bind their kings in chains*
 and their nobles with links of iron;
To inflict on them the judgement decreed;*
 this is glory for all his faithful people.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Jeremiah 4:1-10]:

If you return, O Israel, 
says the Lord,
   if you return to me,
if you remove your abominations from my presence,
   and do not waver, 
and if you swear, 'As the Lord lives!'
   in truth, in justice, and in uprightness,
then nations shall be blessed by him,
   and by him they shall boast. 

For thus says the Lord to the people of Judah and to the inhabitants of
Jerusalem:
Break up your fallow ground,
   and do not sow among thorns. 
Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
   remove the foreskin of your hearts,
   O people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
or else my wrath will go forth like fire,
   and burn with no one to quench it,
   because of the evil of your doings. 

Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say:
Blow the trumpet through the land;
   shout aloud and say,
'Gather together, and let us go
   into the fortified cities!' 
Raise a standard towards Zion,
   flee for safety, do not delay,
for I am bringing evil from the north,
   and a great destruction. 
A lion has gone up from its thicket,
   a destroyer of nations has set out;
   he has gone out from his place
to make your land a waste;
   your cities will be ruins
   without inhabitant. 
Because of this put on sackcloth,
   lament and wail:
'The fierce anger of the Lord
   has not turned away from us.' 

On that day, says the Lord, courage shall fail the king and the officials; the priests shall
be appalled and the prophets astounded. Then I said, 'Ah, Lord God, how utterly you
have deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, "It shall be well with you", even
while the sword is at the throat!'

HYMN 
Words: Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)   2000 Stainer & Bell Ltd Used with permission
Tune: Charlestown (87 87)

To a world so torn and tortured
Came the voice of one who knew
What it cost to lift oppression,
Challenge the accepted view.

John convicted crowds before him,
Charged hypocrisy with God;
Opened up the way for Jesus
Who would follow where he trod.

Then, imprisoned, John was silenced;
Yet a voice more powerful still
Challenged in and out of season
All who heard to do God's will.

Living, Christ would lift oppression,
Dying, he would seem to fail,
Crying out in desolation,
Yet God's love would still prevail.

SECOND READING [Matthew 14:1-12]:

At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus;
and he said to his servants, 'This is John the Baptist;
he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason
these powers are at work in him.' For Herod had arrested
John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of
Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because John had
been telling him, 'It is not lawful for you to have her.'
Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the
crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. But when
Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced
before the company, and she pleased Herod so much that he
promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask.
Prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me the head of
John the Baptist here on a platter.' The king was
grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the
guests, he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John
beheaded in the prison. The head was brought on a platter
and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. His
disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they
went and told Jesus.

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ,
let us pray to the Father, saying
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.

Lord God,
who promised Zechariah a son
filled with with the spirit and power of Elijah,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord
we pray for reconciliation among all people..
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.

Lord God,
when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting
the baby leapt in her womb
may we bless among women she who believed your promise,
and proclaim with joy the good news of your Christ.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.

Lord God,
at John's birth Zechariah proclaimed
he would be the prophet of the Most High
we pray for all who preach the Good News.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.

Lord God,
when your Son came to the Jordan and was baptized by John
he saw the heavens open and the Spirit descending as a dove
may we who are baptized into your Church
faithfully proclaim in the world the words of your beloved Son.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.

Lord God,
John proclaimed your Son as 'the Lamb of God'
and John's disciples followed Jesus
help us to follow him too,
and by our words and deeds
to bring our families and friends closer to you.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.

Lord God,
who sent John to witness to the light,
to be the voice of one crying in the wilderness
and to make straight the way of the Lord
comfort your people
and bring your healing to the sick and needy,
to the broken-hearted and the oppressed,
to prisoners and captives.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.

Lord God,
John preached the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins
and suffered imprisonment and death for proclaiming your Law
we pray with and for all who have died in your service,
joining our prayers with John the Baptist, and all the saints,
and grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.

In the tender compassion of our God,
the dawn from on high shall break upon us
Shine, Lord, on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death
and guide our feet into the way of peace.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Almighty God,
who called your servant John the Baptist
to be the forerunner of your Son in birth and death
strengthen us by your grace
that, as he suffered for the truth,
so we may boldly resist corruption and vice
and receive with him the unfading crown of glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
    
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

May the word of God dwell richly in our heart from hour to hour, 
so that all may see the triumph through Jesus' power and love. 
Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer of thanksgiving is adapted by Stephen Benner from
_We Give You Thanks and Praise: The Ambrosian Eucharistic
Prefaces_, translated by Alan Griffiths, (c) The Canterbury Press
Norwich, 1999.

The intercession is by Simon Kershaw.

The collect is from _Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the
Church of England_, material from which is included in this service is
copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2000.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Fri Aug 29 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  30 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080829170001.622901E3AF1@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Saturday, August 30, 2008

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God,
like fireworks in the night
the Holy Spirit comes
to lift our spirits, to inspire fresh daring,
that our lives might be spent in honor
of our Savior, God's only Son.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 67

May God be merciful to us and bless us,*
 show us the light of his countenance and come to us.
Let your ways be known upon earth,*
 your saving health among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;*
 let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,*
 for you judge the peoples with equity
   and guide all the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;*
 let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has brought forth her increase;*
 may God, our own God, give us his blessing.
May God give us his blessing,*
 and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.

Psalm 93

The Lord is king; he has put on splendid apparel;*
 the Lord has put on his apparel
   and girded himself with strength.
He has made the whole world so sure*
 that it cannot be moved;
Ever since the world began,
   your throne has been established;*
 you are from everlasting.
The waters have lifted up, O Lord,
   the waters have lifted up their voice;*
 the waters have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the sound of many waters,
   mightier than the breakers of the sea,*
 mightier is the Lord who dwells on high.
Your testimonies are very sure,*
 and holiness adorns your house, O Lord,
   for ever and for evermore.

A Song of the Righteous (Wisdom 3.1,2a,3b-8)

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God  
and no torment will ever touch them. 
In the eyes of the foolish, they seem to have died;  
but they are at peace. 
For though, in the sight of others, they were punished,  
their hope is full of immortality. 
Having been disciplined a little, 
they will receive great good,  
because God tested them and found them worthy. 
Like gold in the furnace, God tried them  
and, like a sacrificial burnt offering, accepted them. 
In the time of their visitation, they will shine forth  
and will run like sparks through the stubble. 
They will govern nations and rule over peoples  
and God will reign over them for ever.

Psalm 150

Alleluia!
   Praise God in his holy temple;*
 praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts;*
 praise him for his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the blast of the ram's-horn;*
 praise him with lyre and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance;*
 praise him with strings and pipe.
Praise him with resounding cymbals;*
 praise him with loud-clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath*
 praise the Lord.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 34:1-8]:

The senseless have vain and false hopes,
   and dreams give wings to fools.
As one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind,
   so is anyone who believes in dreams.
What is seen in dreams is but a reflection,
   the likeness of a face looking at itself.
>From an unclean thing what can be clean?
   And from something false what can be true?
Divinations and omens and dreams are unreal,
   and like a woman in labour, the mind has fantasies.
Unless they are sent by intervention from the Most High,
   pay no attention to them.
For dreams have deceived many,
   and those who put their hope in them have perished.
Without such deceptions the law will be fulfilled,
   and wisdom is complete in the mouth of the faithful. 

HYMN 
Words: John Keble, 1822

Music: Melcombe, Kedron 

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/n/n013.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

New every morning is the love
our wakening and uprising prove;
through sleep and darkness safely brought,
restored to life and power and thought.

New mercies, each returning day,
hover around us while we pray;
new perils past, new sins forgiven,
new thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven.

If on our daily course our mind
be set to hallow all we find,
new treasures still, of countless price,
God will provide for sacrifice.

Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be,
as more of heaven in each we see;
some softening gleam of love and prayer
shall dawn on every cross and care.

The trivial round, the common task,
will furnish all we ought to ask:
room to deny ourselves; a road
to bring us daily nearer God.

Only, O Lord, in thy dear love,
fit us for perfect rest above;
and help us, this and every day,
to live more nearly as we pray.

SECOND READING [Matthew 6:19-end]:

Jesus said, 'Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and
steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

'The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be
full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If
then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

'No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other,
or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will
drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the
body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor
gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value
than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And
why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they
neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like
one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and
tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you you of little
faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink?"
or "What will we wear?" For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and
indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for
the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as
well.

'So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.
Today's trouble is enough for today.'

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Great and wonderful God, we praise and thank you for the
gift of renewal in Jesus Christ. Especially we thank you
for
     opportunities for rest and recreation...
                         (We thank you, Lord.)
     the regenerating gifts of the Holy Spirit...
     activities shared by young and old...
     fun and laughter...
     every service that proclaims your love...

You make all things new, O God, and we offer our prayers
for the renewal of the whole world and the healing of its
wounds. Especially we pray for
     those who have no leisure...
                         (Lord, hear our prayer.)
     people enslaved by addictions...
     those who entertain and enlighten...
     those confronted with temptation...
     the church in North America...

Blessed are you, Lord our God,
light of the earth and health of the nations:
you lead us in the way of justice and mercy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

May the word of God dwell richly in our heart from hour to hour, 
so that all may see the triumph through Jesus' power and love. 
Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer is by Stephen Benner and uses phrases from hymns by Ian Fraser and
John Bell. The closing prayer is based on a verse from a hymn by Katie Wilkinson.

The intercession is from _Book of Common Worship_, (c) 1993
Westminster / John Knox Press. 

The first collect is from _Daily Prayer_, copyright (c) The Scottish
Episcopal Church, 1998. Used with permission. 
http://www.scottishepiscopal.com


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sat Aug 30 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  31 August 2008
Message-ID: <20080830170001.3B1271E3D85@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Sunday, August 31, 2008
The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God,
the One whome we seek together,
the Life which is part of us all,
the Truth and the mark of mystery,
the Love and the Joy that makes us whole.
Blessed are you, O God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 26

Give judgement for me, O Lord,
   for I have lived with integrity;*
 I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.
Test me, O Lord, and try me;*
 examine my heart and my mind.
For your love is before my eyes;*
 I have walked faithfully with you.
I have not sat with the worthless,*
 nor do I consort with the deceitful.
I have hated the company of evildoers;*
 I will not sit down with the wicked.
I will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord,*
 that I may go in procession round your altar,
Singing aloud a song of thanksgiving*
 and recounting all your wonderful deeds.
Lord, I love the house in which you dwell*
 and the place where your glory abides.
Do not sweep me away with sinners,*
 nor my life with those who thirst for blood,
Whose hands are full of evil plots,*
 and their right hand full of bribes.
As for me, I will live with integrity;*
 redeem me, O Lord, and have pity on me.
My foot stands on level ground;*
 in the full assembly I will bless the Lord.

Psalm 128

Happy are they all who fear the Lord,*
 and who follow in his ways!
You shall eat the fruit of your labour;*
 happiness and prosperity shall be yours.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
   within your house,*
 your children like olive shoots round about your table.
Whoever fears the Lord*
 shall thus indeed be blessed.
The Lord bless you from Zion,*
 and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
   all the days of your life.
May you live to see your children's children;*
 may peace be upon Israel.

A Song of David (1 Chronicles 29.10b-13,14b)

Blessed are you, God of Israel, for ever and ever,  
for yours is the greatness, the power, 
the glory, the splendour and the majesty. 
Everything in heaven and on earth is yours;  
yours is the kingdom, O Lord, 
and you are exalted as head over all. 
Riches and honour come from you  
and you rule over all. 
In your hand are power and might;  
yours it is to give power and strength to all. 
And now we give you thanks, our God,  
and praise your glorious name. 
For all things come from you,  
and of your own have we given you.

Psalm 117

Alleluia!
Praise the Lord, all you nations;*
 laud him, all you peoples.
For his loving-kindness towards us is great,*
 and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiastes 5:8-end]:

If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and
right, do not be amazed at the matter; for the high official is watched by a higher, and
there are yet higher ones over them. But all things considered, this is an advantage for
a land: a king for a ploughed field.

The lover of money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth, with
gain. This also is vanity.

When goods increase, those who eat them increase; and what gain has their owner but
to see them with his eyes?

Sweet is the sleep of labourers, whether they eat little or much; but the surfeit of the
rich will not let them sleep.

There is a grievous ill that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owners
to their hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture; though they are parents of
children, they have nothing in their hands. As they came from their mother's womb, so
they shall go again, naked as they came; they shall take nothing for their toil, which
they may carry away with their hands. This also is a grievous ill: just as they came, so
shall they go; and what gain do they have from toiling for the wind? Besides, all their
days they eat in darkness, in much vexation and sickness and resentment.

This is what I have seen to be good: it is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in
all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of the life God gives us; for
this is our lot. Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he
enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil this is
the gift of God. For they will scarcely brood over the days of their lives, because God
keeps them occupied with the joy of their hearts. 

HYMN 
Words: Frances Ridley Havergal, 1874

Music: Mozart, Hollingside

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t007.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee;
take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love;
take my feet, and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing
always, only, for my King;
take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee.

Take my silver and my gold,
not a mite would I withhold;
take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store;
take my self, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.

SECOND READING [1 Timothy 6:1-10]:

Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honour,
so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed. Those who have
believing masters must not be disrespectful to them on the ground that they are
members of the church; rather they must serve them all the more, since those who
benefit by their service are believers and beloved.

Teach and urge these duties. Whoever teaches otherwise and does not agree with the
sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is in accordance with
godliness, is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for
controversy and for disputes about words. From these come envy, dissension, slander,
base suspicions, and wrangling among those who are depraved in mind and bereft of
the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. Of course, there is great gain in
godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that
we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content
with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many
senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love
of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have
wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Let us bring our concerns for the world and the Church to the Lord our God, who
promises to respond to all our prayers. Lord, in your mercy, hear our
prayer.

For those who are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina three years later; and for all
those who have suffered personal disasters this week; that the Lord's presence will be
made known to them and guide them through the dark times to the new light of
resurrection. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For all those who spend their lives caring for others and who are worrying about
making ends meet; that they will find strength in the Lord, their model of compassion,
and be assured of the Lord's protecting presence in their lives.  Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

For all those killed in the Russia-Georgia conflict; that they will now be at rest in the
heavenly kingdom, and that those working to bring closure to this situation will do so
in memory of those who gave their lives.  Lord, in your mercy, hear our
prayer.

For those continuing to bring about a peaceful resolution to this unsettled situation;
that they will be granted the gifts of wisdom and understanding, available to all those
who follow the promptings of the Spirit.  Lord, in your mercy, hear our
prayer.

For those involved in gun crime, and those who have been victims of it, and all those
who seek to dominate others through use of force; that through the work of the
Church lives will be transformed and communities renewed.  Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

For the people of the United States as they enter the final phase of the presidential
election season, that a spirit of respect may prevail, that justice and freedom may be
available to all.  Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We make these prayers, as always, in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Almighty God, 
you alone can order unruly wills and affections: 
Help us to love what you command, 
and desire what you promise; 
that in the midst of this changing world, 
our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, forever and ever.  Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Faithful God, hope of the oppressed, source of freedom:
make us strong to witness to your liberating power,
in generosity of life and in humility of spirit,
that all the world may delight in your goodness.  Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer uses phrases from a hymn by Colin Gibson.

The closing prayer is based on a prayer from _Revised Common Lectionary
Prayers_, copyright (c) 2002 Consultation on Common Texts

The petitions are gathered by Redemptorist Publications and are published each Friday on
their website: http://www.rpbooks.co.uk/page.php?page=prayers. Stephen Benner added
two petitions this week.

The collect is from _Book of Common Worship_, (c) 1993 Westminster /
John Knox Press. 


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sun Aug 31 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   1 September 2008
Message-ID: <20080831170001.9A35F1E41F1@justus2c.anglican.org>


*******************************************************
Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
*******************************************************

OREMUS for Monday, September 1, 2008
[Labor Day, US]

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God,
the One whome we seek together,
the Life which is part of us all,
the Truth and the mark of mystery,
the Love and the Joy that makes us whole.
Blessed are you, O God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

http://www.oremus.org/ocan.html

Psalm 71

In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge;*
 let me never be ashamed.
In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free;*
 incline your ear to me and save me.
Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe;*
 you are my crag and my stronghold.
Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,*
 from the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
For you are my hope, O Lord God,*
 my confidence since I was young.
I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;
   from my mother's womb you have been my strength;*
 my praise shall be always of you.
I have become a portent to many;*
 but you are my refuge and my strength.
Let my mouth be full of your praise*
 and your glory all the day long.
Do not cast me off in my old age;*
 forsake me not when my strength fails.
For my enemies are talking against me,*
 and those who lie in wait for my life
   take counsel together.
They say, 'God has forsaken him;
   go after him and seize him;*
 because there is none who will save.'
O God, be not far from me;*
 come quickly to help me, O my God.
Let those who set themselves against me
   be put to shame and be disgraced;*
 let those who seek to do me evil
   be covered with scorn and reproach.
But I shall always wait in patience,*
 and shall praise you more and more.
My mouth shall recount your mighty acts
   and saving deeds all day long;*
 though I cannot know the number of them.
I will begin with the mighty works of the Lord God;*
 I will recall your righteousness, yours alone.
O God, you have taught me since I was young,*
 and to this day I tell of your wonderful works.
And now that I am old and grey-headed, O God,
   do not forsake me,*
 till I make known your strength to this generation
   and your power to all who are to come.
Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens;*
 you have done great things; who is like you, O God?
You have showed me great troubles and adversities,*
 but you will restore my life and bring me up again
   from the deep places of the earth.
You strengthen me more and more;*
 you enfold and comfort me,
Therefore I will praise you upon the lyre
   for your faithfulness, O my God;*
 I will sing to you with the harp, O Holy One of Israel.
My lips will sing with joy when I play to you,*
 and so will my soul, which you have redeemed.
My tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long,*
 for they are ashamed and disgraced
   who sought to do me harm.

A Song of the Blessed (Matthew 5.3-10)

Blessed are the poor in spirit,  
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
Blessed are those who mourn,  
for they shall be comforted. 
Blessed are the meek,  
for they shall inherit the earth. 
Blessed are those who hunger 
and thirst after righteousness,  
for they shall be satisfied. 
Blessed are the merciful,  
for they shall obtain mercy. 
Blessed are the pure in heart,  
for they shall see God. 
Blessed are the peacemakers,  
for they shall be called children of God. 
Blessed are those who suffer persecution 
for righteousness' sake,  
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Rejoice and be glad 
for you are the light of the world, 
and great is your reward in heaven. 

Psalm 146

Alleluia!
   Praise the Lord, O my soul!*
 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
   I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Put not your trust in rulers,
   nor in any child of earth,*
 for there is no help in them.
When they breathe their last, they return to earth,*
 and in that day their thoughts perish.
Happy are they who have the God of Jacob
   for their help!*
 whose hope is in the Lord their God;
Who made heaven and earth, the seas,
   and all that is in them;*
 who keeps his promise for ever;
Who gives justice to those who are oppressed,*
 and food to those who hunger.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
   the Lord opens the eyes of the blind;*
 the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous;
   the Lord cares for the stranger;*
 he sustains the orphan and widow,
   but frustrates the way of the wicked.
The Lord shall reign for ever,*
 your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
   Alleluia!

FIRST READING [Ecclesiasticus 34:18-35:3]:

To whom does he look? And who is his support?
The eyes of the Lord are on those who love him,
   a mighty shield and strong support,
a shelter from scorching wind and a shade from noonday sun,
   a guard against stumbling and a help against falling.
He lifts up the soul and makes the eyes sparkle;
   he gives health and life and blessing.

If one sacrifices ill-gotten goods, the offering is blemished;
   the gifts of the lawless are not acceptable.
The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of the ungodly,
   nor for a multitude of sacrifices does he forgive sins.
Like one who kills a son before his father's eyes
   is the person who offers a sacrifice from the property of the poor.
The bread of the needy is the life of the poor;
   whoever deprives them of it is a murderer.
To take away a neighbour's living is to commit murder;
   to deprive an employee of wages is to shed blood.

When one builds and another tears down,
   what do they gain but hard work?
When one prays and another curses,
   to whose voice will the Lord listen?
If one washes after touching a corpse, and touches it again,
   what has been gained by washing?
So if someone fasts for his sins,
   and goes again and does the same things,
who will listen to his prayer?
   And what has he gained by humbling himself?

One who keeps the law makes many offerings;
   one who heeds the commandments makes an offering of well-being.

HYMN 
Words: John Oxenham, 1920 
Tune: Labor

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/a/a130.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

All labor gained new dignity
since he who all creation made
toiled with his hands for daily bread
right manfully.

No work is commonplace, if all
be done as unto him alone;
life's simplest toil to him is known
who knoweth all.

Each smallest common thing he makes
serves him with its minutest part;
man only with his wand'ring heart
his way forsakes.

His service is life's highest joy,
it yields fair fruit a hundred fold:
be this our prayer--"Not fame, nor gold,
but--thine employ!" 

SECOND READING [Matthew 7:1-12]:

Jesus said, 'Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you
make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why
do you see the speck in your neighbour's eye, but do not notice the log in your own
eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, "Let me take the speck out of your eye",
while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own
eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour's eye.

'Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they
will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.

'Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be
opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds,
and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you
who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will
give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

'In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and
the prophets.' 

The Benedictus (Morning), 
the Magnificat (Evening), or 
Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow.

Prayer:
Let us offer our prayers to God, who pronounced
all creation good, who sent his Son to live and
work as one like us, and who calls us to serve the poor and
those oppressed. 

For all those who work:
Lord, give success to the work of our hands.

For those who are unemployed or underemployed, or have lost their jobs
because of changing economic conditions, let us pray:
Lord, give success to the work of our hands.

For those who work in hazardous conditions without sufficient protection, let us
pray:
Lord, give success to the work of our hands.

For migrant workers and all who work the land, let us pray:
Lord, give success to the work of our hands.

For all employers that they may seek to provide a just work environment:
Lord, give success to the work of our hands.

For those who face discrimination, harassment, or abuse in the workplace, let us
pray:
Lord, give success to the work of our hands.

For those who must balance job commitments with the needs of their family, let us
pray:
Lord, give success to the work of our hands.

Loving God,
through your Son you gave us an example to love one another as he loved us. 
Give us the strength to continue working to bring forth your kingdom here on
earth
a kingdom of justice and peace, kindness and compassion, grace and mercy. 
Grant this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, 
whose Son Jesus Christ in his earthly life 
shared our toil and hallowed our labor: 
Be present with your people where they work; 
make those who carry on the industries and commerce of this land 
responsive to your will;
and give to us all a pride in what we do, 
and a just return for our labor;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns with you, 
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Faithful God, hope of the oppressed, source of freedom:
make us strong to witness to your liberating power,
in generosity of life and in humility of spirit,
that all the world may delight in your goodness.  Amen.

*******************************************************
The psalms are from _Celebrating Common Prayer_ (Mowbray), (c) The
Society of Saint Francis 1992, which is used with permission.

The canticle is from _Common Worship: Daily Prayer, Preliminary
Edition_, copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2002.

The biblical passage is from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized
Edition), copyright (c) 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education
of  the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

The opening prayer uses phrases from a hymn by Colin Gibson.

The closing prayer is based on a prayer from _Revised Common Lectionary
Prayers_, copyright (c) 2002 Consultation on Common Texts