From steve.benner at oremus.org Mon Dec 1 17:00:00 2008 From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner) Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT) Subject: OREMUS: 2 December 2008 Message-ID: <20081201170000.C0E8A313D40@justus2.anglican.org> ******************************************************* Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org ******************************************************* OREMUS for Tuesday, December 2, 2008 Lord, open our lips, and our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Blessed are you, loving God, ever faithful to your promises and ever close to your church. The earth rejoices in hope of the Savior's coming and looks forward with longing to his return at the end of time. You call us to prepare our hearts and remove that which hinders us from the joy and hope his presence will bestow. 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 7 O Lord my God, I take refuge in you;* save and deliver me from all who pursue me; Lest like a lion they tear me in pieces* and snatch me away with none to deliver me. O Lord my God, if I have done these things:* if there is any wickedness in my hands, If I have repaid my friend with evil,* or plundered one who without cause is my enemy; Then let my enemy pursue and overtake me,* trample my life into the ground, and lay my honour in the dust. Stand up, O Lord, in your wrath;* rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, O my God, decree justice;* let the assembly of the peoples gather round you. Be seated on your lofty throne, O Most High;* O Lord, judge the nations. Give judgement for me according to my righteousness, O Lord,* and according to my innocence, O Most High. Let the malice of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;* for you test the mind and heart, O righteous God. God is my shield and defence;* he is the saviour of the true in heart. God is a righteous judge;* God sits in judgement every day. If they will not repent, God will whet his sword;* he will bend his bow and make it ready. He has prepared his weapons of death;* he makes his arrows shafts of fire. Look at those who are in labour with wickedness,* who conceive evil and give birth to a lie. They dig a pit and make it deep* and fall into the hole that they have made. Their malice turns back upon their own head;* their violence falls on their own scalp. I will bear witness that the Lord is righteous;* I will praise the name of the Lord Most High. 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 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 [Isaiah 1:21-28]: How the faithful city has become a whore! She that was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her but now murderers! Your silver has become dross, your wine is mixed with water. Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not defend the orphan, and the widow's cause does not come before them. Therefore says the Sovereign, the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah, I will pour out my wrath on my enemies, and avenge myself on my foes! I will turn my hand against you; I will smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your alloy. And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counsellors as at the beginning. Afterwards you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness. But rebels and sinners shall be destroyed together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed. HYMN Words: Marnie Barrell, 1996. Used with permission Music: Auckland, Michael Come now where we least expect you, Christ our hope and longing, come. Show us where we still reject you in the world you made your home. Look around! Christ is found far beyond our sacred ground. Come where we have tried to own you locked within the distant past, where your church has scarcely known you, where the least remain the last. Enter still where you will, come to challenge and fulfil. Christ-child, come in loving kindness; come, great Judge whom angels praise! heal us of our pride and blindness, purge our hearts and change our ways. God's own Word, love outpoured, come to us, O Christ our Lord! SECOND READING [Mark 1:14-28]: Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.' As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me and I will make you fish for people.' And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 'What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.' But Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be silent, and come out of him!' And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, 'What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.' At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee. The Benedictus (Morning), the Magnificat (Evening), or Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow. Prayer: Let us turn our eyes to the Lord of glory and enthrone him on our praises, saying: Lord, have mercy. Jesus, servant of God, you bring justice to the peoples: Lord, have mercy. You love your people with a faithful love: Lord, have mercy. You were lifted up on the cross that you might draw all people to yourself: Lord, have mercy. You bring hope and joy to those who walk in the valley and shadow of death: Lord, have mercy. You have liberated us so that we might be free for ever: Lord, have mercy. You, O Christ, are our justice, our peace and our redemption: Lord, have mercy. Jesus, Coming One, we cannot know the day of your appearing; help us to keep awake, to look patiently for you, ready to embrace your reign of peace; in your name we pray. Amen. Awaiting his coming in glory, let us pray as our Savior has taught us: - The Lord's Prayer O Son of God, our Savior, today we await your coming, and tomorrow we shall see your glory. Reveal the good news to all of us who long for your arrival. Come, Love incarnate, do not delay. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen. ******************************************************* The psalms and intercession 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 and the closing sentence are adapted from _Chalice Worship_, (c) Chalice Press, 1997. Reproduced with permission. The collect is from _Uniting in Worship 2 ******************************************************* Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org ******************************************************* OREMUS for Wednesday, December 3, 2008 John of Damascus, Monk, Teacher of the Faith, c.749 Lord, open our lips, and our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Blessed are you, loving God, ever faithful to your promises and ever close to your church. The earth rejoices in hope of the Savior's coming and looks forward with longing to his return at the end of time. You call us to prepare our hearts and remove that which hinders us from the joy and hope his presence will bestow. 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 9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart;* I will tell of all your marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in you;* I will sing to your name, O Most High. When my enemies are driven back,* they will stumble and perish at your presence. For you have maintained my right and my cause;* you sit upon your throne judging right. You have rebuked the ungodly and destroyed the wicked;* you have blotted out their name for ever and ever. As for the enemy, they are finished, in perpetual ruin,* their cities ploughed under, the memory of them perished; But the Lord is enthroned for ever;* he has set up his throne for judgement. It is he who rules the world with righteousness;* he judges the peoples with equity. The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed,* a refuge in time of trouble. Those who know your name will put their trust in you,* for you never forsake those who seek you, O Lord. Sing praise to the Lord who dwells in Zion;* proclaim to the peoples the things he has done. The avenger of blood will remember them;* he will not forget the cry of the afflicted. Have pity on me, O Lord;* see the misery I suffer from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gate of death; So that I may tell of all your praises and rejoice in your salvation* in the gates of the city of Zion. The ungodly have fallen into the pit they dug,* and in the snare they set is their own foot caught. The Lord is known by his acts of justice;* the wicked are trapped in the works of their own hands. The wicked shall be given over to the grave,* and also all the peoples that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten,* and the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever. Rise up, O Lord, let not the ungodly have the upper hand;* let them be judged before you. Put fear upon them, O Lord;* let the ungodly know they are but mortal. 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 147:13-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 [Isaiah 2:6-19]: For you have forsaken the ways of your people, O house of Jacob. Indeed they are full of diviners from the east and of soothsayers like the Philistines, and they clasp hands with foreigners. Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made. And so people are humbled, and everyone is brought low do not forgive them! Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust from the terror of the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty. The haughty eyes of people shall be brought low, and the pride of everyone shall be humbled; and the Lord alone will be exalted on that day. For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up and high; against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan; against all the high mountains, and against all the lofty hills; against every high tower, and against every fortified wall; against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft. The haughtiness of people shall be humbled, and the pride of everyone shall be brought low; and the Lord alone will be exalted on that day. The idols shall utterly pass away. Enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from the terror of the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. HYMN Words: John of Damascus, eighth century; trans. John Mason Neale, 1862 Tune: St. Alban's http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t568.html Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus. Those eternal bowers, man hath never trod, those unfading flowers round the throne of God: who may hope to gain them after weary fight? who at length attain them, clad in robes of white? He who wakes from slumber at the Spirit's voice, daring here to number things unseen his choice: he who casts his burden down at Jesus' cross-- Christ' reproach his guerdon, all beside but loss. He who gladly barters all on earthly ground; he who, like the martyrs, says "I will be crowned;" he whose one oblation is a life of love, knit in God's salvation to the blest above. Shame upon you, legions of the heavenly King, citizens of regions past imagining! Why with pipe and tabor waste the hours of light, when he bids you labor, when he tells you, "Fight"? Jesus, Lord of glory, as we breast the tide, whisper thou the story of the other side; where the saints are casting crowns before thy feet, safe for everlasting, in thyself complete. SECOND READING [Mark 1:29-39]: As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, 'Everyone is searching for you.' He answered, 'Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.' And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. The Benedictus (Morning), the Magnificat (Evening), or Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow. Prayer: >From the rising of the sun to its setting, let us pray to the Lord. That the people of God in all the world may worship in spirit and in truth, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. That the Church may discover again that unity which is your gift, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. That the nations of the earth may seek after the ways that make for peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. That the whole creation, groaning in travail, may be set free to enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. That all who with Christ have entered the shadow of death may find the fulfilment of life and peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. With all the saints in light, let us offer eternal praise to the Lord made manifest: God of the future, help us to live with our eyes open, and remember your faithfulness; may we entrust our lives into the hands of Jesus, whose coming is certain, whose day draws near, and in whose name we pray. Amen. Confirm our minds, O Lord, in the mysteries of the true faith, set forth with power by your servant John of Damascus; that we, with him, confessing Jesus to be truly God and truly Human, and singing the praises of the risen Lord, may, by the power of the resurrection, attain to eternal joy; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Awaiting his coming in glory, let us pray as our Savior has taught us: - The Lord's Prayer O Son of God, our Savior, today we await your coming, and tomorrow we shall see your glory. Reveal the good news to all of us who long for your arrival. Come, Love incarnate, do not delay. Come, Lord Jesus! 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 and the closing sentence are adapted from _Chalice Worship_, (c) Chalice Press, 1997. Reproduced with permission. The first collect is from _Uniting in Worship 2 ******************************************************* Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org for more resources, a link to our store in association with Amazon and other opportunities to support this ministry. This ministry can only continue with your support. ******************************************************* OREMUS for Thursday, December 4, 2008 Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, Founder of the Little Gidding Community, 1637 Lord, open our lips, and our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Blessed are you, loving God, ever faithful to your promises and ever close to your church. The earth rejoices in hope of the Savior's coming and looks forward with longing to his return at the end of time. You call us to prepare our hearts and remove that which hinders us from the joy and hope his presence will bestow. 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 10 Why do you stand so far off, O Lord,* and hide yourself in time of trouble? The wicked arrogantly persecute the poor,* but they are trapped in the schemes they have devised. The wicked boast of their heart's desire;* the covetous curse and revile the Lord. The wicked are so proud that they care not for God;* their only thought is, 'God does not matter.' Their ways are devious at all times; your judgements are far above out of their sight;* they defy all their enemies. They say in their heart, 'I shall not be shaken;* no harm shall happen to me ever.' Their mouth is full of cursing, deceit and oppression;* under their tongue are mischief and wrong. They lurk in ambush in public squares and in secret places they murder the innocent;* they spy out the helpless. They lie in wait, like a lion in a covert; they lie in wait to seize upon the lowly;* they seize the lowly and drag them away in their net. The innocent are broken and humbled before them;* the helpless fall before their power. They say in their heart, 'God has forgotten;* he hides his face; he will never notice.' Rise up, O Lord; lift up your hand, O God;* do not forget the afflicted. Why should the wicked revile God?* why should they say in their heart, 'You do not care'? Surely, you behold trouble and misery;* you see it and take it into your own hand. The helpless commit themselves to you,* for you are the helper of orphans. Break the power of the wicked and evil;* search out their wickedness until you find none. The Lord is king for ever and ever;* the ungodly shall perish from his land. The Lord will hear the desire of the humble;* you will strengthen their heart and your ears shall hear; To give justice to the orphan and oppressed,* so that mere mortals may strike terror no more. 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 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 [Isaiah 4:2-end]: On that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel. Whoever is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, once the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgement and by a spirit of burning. Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over its places of assembly a cloud by day and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night. Indeed, over all the glory there will be a canopy. It will serve as a pavilion, a shade by day from the heat, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain. HYMN Words: Ancient Irish hymn; trans. Mary Byrne, 1905, and versified by Eleanor Hull, 1912 Music: Slane (Irish) http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/b/b021.html Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus. Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart, be all else but naught to me, save that thou art; be thou my best thought in the day and the night, both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light. Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word, be thou ever with me, and I with thee Lord; be thou my great Father, and I thy true son; be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one. Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight; be thou my whole armor, be thou my true might; be thou my soul's shelter, be thou my strong tower: O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power. Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise: be thou mine inheritance now and always; be thou and thou only the first in my heart; O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art. High King of heaven, thou heaven's bright sun, O grant me its joys after victory is won; great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all. SECOND READING [Mark 1:40-end]: A leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling he said to him, 'If you choose, you can make me clean.' Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, 'I do choose. Be made clean!' Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, 'See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.' But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter. The Benedictus (Morning), the Magnificat (Evening), or Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow. Prayer: O Lord, answer us in the day of trouble, Send us help from your holy place. Show us the path of life, For in your presence is joy. Give justice to the orphan and oppressed And break the power of wickedness and evil. Look upon the hungry and sorrowful And grant them the help for which they long. Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; May your glory endure for ever. Your kingship has dominion over all And with you is our redemption. Jesus, Coming One, we cannot know the day of your appearing; help us to keep awake, to look patiently for you, ready to embrace your reign of peace; in your name we pray. Amen. God of peace, make us worthy of your perfect love that, with your servant Nicholas Ferrar and his household, we may rule ourselves after your Word and serve you with our whole heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Awaiting his coming in glory, let us pray as our Savior has taught us: - The Lord's Prayer O Son of God, our Savior, today we await your coming, and tomorrow we shall see your glory. Reveal the good news to all of us who long for your arrival. Come, Love incarnate, do not delay. Come, Lord Jesus! 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 and the closing sentence are adapted from _Chalice Worship_, (c) Chalice Press, 1997. Reproduced with permission. The first collect is _Uniting in Worship 2 ******************************************************* Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org for more resources, a link to our store in association with Amazon and other opportunities to support this ministry. This ministry can only continue with your support. ******************************************************* OREMUS for Friday, December 5, 2008 Lord, open our lips, and our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Blessed are you, loving God, ever faithful to your promises and ever close to your church. The earth rejoices in hope of the Savior's coming and looks forward with longing to his return at the end of time. You call us to prepare our hearts and remove that which hinders us from the joy and hope his presence will bestow. 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. The Song of Christ's Glory (Philippians 2.5-11) Christ Jesus was in the form of God, but he did not cling to equality with God. He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and was born in our human likeness. Being found in human form he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name above every name, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth; And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 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 5:8-29]: Ah, you who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is room for no one but you, and you are left to live alone in the midst of the land! The Lord of hosts has sworn in my hearing: Surely many houses shall be desolate, large and beautiful houses, without inhabitant. For ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath, and a homer of seed shall yield a mere ephah. Ah, you who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger in the evening to be inflamed by wine, whose feasts consist of lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine, but who do not regard the deeds of the Lord, or see the work of his hands! Therefore my people go into exile without knowledge; their nobles are dying of hunger, and their multitude is parched with thirst. Therefore Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure; the nobility of Jerusalem and her multitude go down, her throng and all who exult in her. People are bowed down, everyone is brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are humbled. But the Lord of hosts is exalted by justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy by righteousness. Then the lambs shall graze as in their pasture, fatlings and kids shall feed among the ruins. Ah, you who drag iniquity along with cords of falsehood, who drag sin along as with cart-ropes, who say, 'Let him make haste, let him speed his work that we may see it; let the plan of the Holy One of Israel hasten to fulfilment, that we may know it!' Ah, you who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Ah, you who are wise in your own eyes, and shrewd in your own sight! Ah, you who are heroes in drinking wine and valiant at mixing drink, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of their rights! Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will become rotten, and their blossom go up like dust; for they have rejected the instruction of the Lord of hosts, and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people, and he stretched out his hand against them and struck them; the mountains quaked, and their corpses were like refuse in the streets. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. He will raise a signal for a nation far away, and whistle for a people at the ends of the earth; Here they come, swiftly, speedily! None of them is weary, none stumbles, none slumbers or sleeps, not a loincloth is loose, not a sandal-thong broken; their arrows are sharp, all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs seem like flint, and their wheels like the whirlwind. Their roaring is like a lion, like young lions they roar; they growl and seize their prey, they carry it off, and no one can rescue. HYMN Words: F.B.P., sixteenth century Music: Materna http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/o/o498.html Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus. O mother dear, Jerusalem, when shall I come to thee? When shall my sorrows have an end, thy joys when shall I see? O happy harbor of the saints! O sweet and pleasant soil! In thee no sorrow may be found, no grief, no care, no toil. No murky cloud o'ershadows thee, nor gloom, nor darksome night; but every soul shines as the sun, for God Himself gives light. there lust and lucre cannot dwell, there envy bears no sway; there is no hunger, heat, nor cold, but pleasure every way. Thy gardens and thy gallant walks continually are green; there grow such sweet and pleasant flow'rs, as nowhere else are seen; quite through the streets, with silver sound, the flood of life doth flow, upon whose banks on every side, the wood of life doth grow. There trees forevermore bear fruit, and evermore do spring, there evermore the angels sit, and evermore do sing. Jerusalem, my happy home, would God I were in thee! Would God my woes were at an end, thy joys that I might see! SECOND READING [Mark 2:1-12]: When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.' Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 'Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?' At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, 'Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven", or to say, "Stand up and take your mat and walk"? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins' he said to the paralytic 'I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.' And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!' The Benedictus (Morning), the Magnificat (Evening), or Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow. Prayer: In joyful hope, we pray to you, O Lord: Come, Lord Jesus! Come to your Church as Lord and Judge and give us a longing for your loving rule. We pray especially for : Come, Lord Jesus! Come to your world as King of the nations and let righteousness and peace prevail: Come, Lord Jesus! Come to us as Savior and Comforter, breaking into our failure and freeing us to serve you: Come, Lord Jesus! Come to us with power and great joy, that our hearts may be lifted to meet you in joy: Come, Lord Jesus! Almighty God, you have promised to make all things new. Graciously enable us to prepare for the coming of Christ your Son, that he may find us waiting eagerly in joyful prayer. He lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Awaiting his coming in glory, let us pray as our Savior has taught us: - The Lord's Prayer O Son of God, our Savior, today we await your coming, and tomorrow we shall see your glory. Reveal the good news to all of us who long for your arrival. Come, Love incarnate, do not delay. Come, Lord Jesus! 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 and the closing sentence are adapted from _Chalice Worship_, (c) Chalice Press, 1997. Reproduced with permission. The intercession is from a prayer by the Durham Diocesan Liturgical Commitee and the collect is from _Uniting in Worship 2 ******************************************************* Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org for more resources, a link to our store in association with Amazon and other opportunities to support this ministry. This ministry can only continue with your support. ******************************************************* OREMUS for Saturday, December 6, 2008 Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.326 Lord, open our lips, and our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Blessed are you, loving God, ever faithful to your promises and ever close to your church. The earth rejoices in hope of the Savior's coming and looks forward with longing to his return at the end of time. You call us to prepare our hearts and remove that which hinders us from the joy and hope his presence will bestow. 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 28 O Lord, I call to you; my rock, do not be deaf to my cry;* lest, if you do not hear me, I become like those who go down to the Pit. Hear the voice of my prayer when I cry out to you,* when I lift up my hands to your holy of holies. Do not snatch me away with the wicked or with the evildoers,* who speak peaceably with their neighbours, while strife is in their hearts. Repay them according to their deeds,* and according to the wickedness of their actions. According to the work of their hands repay them,* and give them their just deserts. They have no understanding of the Lord's doings, nor of the works of his hands;* therefore he will break them down and not build them up. Blessed is the Lord!* for he has heard the voice of my prayer. The Lord is my strength and my shield;* my heart trusts in him and I have been helped; Therefore my heart dances for joy,* and in my song will I praise him. The Lord is the strength of his people,* a safe refuge for his anointed. Save your people and bless your inheritance;* shepherd them and carry them for ever. 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. 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 [Isaiah 7:1-9]: In the days of Ahaz son of Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel went up to attack Jerusalem, but could not mount an attack against it. When the house of David heard that Aram had allied itself with Ephraim, the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. Then the Lord said to Isaiah, Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Fuller's Field, and say to him, Take heed, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smouldering stumps of firebrands, because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah. Because Aram with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah has plotted evil against you, saying, Let us go up against Judah and cut off Jerusalem and conquer it for ourselves and make the son of Tabeel king in it; therefore thus says the Lord God: It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass. For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. (Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered, no longer a people.) The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all. HYMN Words: William H Savile (1859-1925) Tune: Saint Nicolas (LM) Far-shining names from age to age Enrich the Church's heritage, The loyal liegemen of the Lord, Who found in thee their great reward. One name from that immortal throng Inspires to-day our festal song: In loving memory we hold The bishop and the saint of old, Who, far away in eastern land, With gentle heart and open hand Loved all things living, shared his store With homeless men who sought his door. Friend of the poor, no less was he The guardian saint of those at sea; O'er wave-swept rock and sheltered bay God's churches bear his name to-day. And his the skill, the tender art That wins the trustful, child-like heart: His dearest title to the end 'Saint Nicolas, the children's friend.' To thee, O Lord, the praise be given For this true citizen of heaven: A star above the stormy sea To lead the wanderer home to thee. SECOND READING [Mark 2:13-22]: Jesus went out again beside the lake; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in Levi's house, many tax-collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples for there were many who followed him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax-collectors, they said to his disciples, 'Why does he eat with tax-collectors and sinners?' When Jesus heard this, he said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.' Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, 'Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?' Jesus said to them, 'The wedding-guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. 'No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.' The Benedictus (Morning), the Magnificat (Evening), or Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow. Prayer: O Lord, answer us in the day of trouble, Send us help from your holy place. Show us the path of life, For in your presence is joy. Give justice to the orphan and oppressed And break the power of wickedness and evil. Look upon the hungry and sorrowful And grant them the help for which they long. Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; May your glory endure for ever. Your kingship has dominion over all And with you is our redemption. We pray for your Church, especially Lord, have mercy. O God the Word and Son of God, exalted is your name in all creation, yet you have stooped to become one with us: as you have ordained humanity the steward of your creation, so minister through us the mystery of your salvation; to the glory of your holy Name. Amen. Almighty Father, lover of souls, who chose your servant Nicholas to be a bishop in the Church, that he might give freely out of the treasures of your grace: make us mindful of the needs of others and, as we have received, so teach us also to give; 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. Awaiting his coming in glory, let us pray as our Savior has taught us: - The Lord's Prayer O Son of God, our Savior, today we await your coming, and tomorrow we shall see your glory. Reveal the good news to all of us who long for your arrival. Come, Love incarnate, do not delay. Come, Lord Jesus! 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 and the closing sentence are adapted from _Chalice Worship_, (c) Chalice Press, 1997. Reproduced with permission. Nicholas was a native of the western part of what is now Asiatic Turkey. He became Bishop of Myra in the fourth century, and there are many stories of his love for God and for his neighbor. The best-known story involves a man with three unmarried daughters, and not enough money to provide them with suitable dowries. This meant that they could not marry, and were likely to end up as prostitutes. Nicholas walked by the man's house on three successive nights, and each time threw a bag of gold in through a window (or, when the story came to be told in colder climates, down the chimney). Thus, the daughters were saved from a life of shame, and all got married and lived happily ever after. Because of this and similar stories, Nicholas became a symbol of anonymous gift-giving. [James Kiefer, abridged] From steve.benner at oremus.org Sat Dec 6 17:00:00 2008 From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner) Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT) Subject: OREMUS: 7 December 2008 Message-ID: <20081206170000.BE7D6313D10@justus2.anglican.org> ******************************************************* Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org for more resources, a link to our store in association with Amazon and other opportunities to support this ministry. This ministry can only continue with your support. ******************************************************* OREMUS for Sunday, December 7, 2008 The Second Sunday of Advent Lord, open our lips, and our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Blessed are you, God of eternity! When the voice of the prophet was silent and the faith of your people low; when darkness had obscured light and indifferenced displaced zeal: you saw that the time was right, and prepared to send yoiur Son to set us free from fear and despair that we may be ready to welcome him who comes as Savior and 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 119:89-104 O Lord, your word is everlasting;* it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another;* you established the earth and it abides. By your decree these continue to this day,* for all things are your servants. If my delight had not been in your law,* I should have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your commandments,* because by them you give me life. I am yours; O that you would save me!* for I study your commandments. Though the wicked lie in wait for me to destroy me,* I will apply my mind to your decrees. I see that all things come to an end,* but your commandment has no bounds. O how I love your law!* all the day long it is in my mind. Your commandment has made me wiser than my enemies,* and it is always with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers,* for your decrees are my study. I am wiser than the elders,* because I observe your commandments. I restrain my feet from every evil way,* that I may keep your word. I do not shrink from your judgements,* because you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste!* they are sweeter than honey to my mouth. Through your commandments I gain understanding;* therefore I hate every lying way. A Song of the Spirit (Revelation 22:12-14,16,17) 'Behold, I am coming soon', says the Lord, 'and bringing my reward with me, . to give to everyone according to their deeds. 'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, . the beginning and the end.' Blessed are those who do God's commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, . and may enter into the city through the gates. 'I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you, . with this testimony for all the churches. 'I am the root and the offspring of David, . I am the bright morning star.' 'Come!' say the Spirit and the Bride; . 'Come!' let each hearer reply. Come forward, you who are thirsty, . let those who desire take the water of life as a gift. 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 [Isaiah 52:1-10]: Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion! Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for the uncircumcised and the unclean shall enter you no more. Shake yourself from the dust, rise up, O captive Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter Zion! For thus says the Lord: You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money. For thus says the Lord God: Long ago, my people went down into Egypt to reside there as aliens; the Assyrian, too, has oppressed them without cause. Now therefore, what am I doing here, says the Lord, seeing that my people are taken away without cause? Their rulers howl, says the Lord, and continually, all day long, my name is despised. Therefore my people shall know my name; therefore on that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here am I. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.' Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. HYMN Words: Johann G. Olearius, 1671; trans. Catherine Winkworth, 1863 Music: Psalm 42 http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/c/c358.html Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus. Comfort, comfort ye my people, speak ye peace, thus saith our God; comfort those who sit in darkness, mourning 'neath their sorrow's load; speak ye to Jerusalem of the peace that waits for them; tell her that her sins I cover, and her warfare now is over. For the herald's voice is crying in the desert far and near, bidding all men to repentance, since the kingdom now is here. O that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way! Let the valleys rise to meet him, and the hills bow down to greet him. Make ye straight what long was crooked, make the rougher places plain: let your hearts be true and humble, as befits his holy reign, For the glory of the Lord now o'er the earth is shed abroad, and all flesh shall see the token that his word is never broken. SECOND READING [2 Timothy 3]: You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them! For among them are those who make their way into households and captivate silly women, overwhelmed by their sins and swayed by all kinds of desires, who are always being instructed and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth. As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth. But they will not make much progress, because, as in the case of those two men, their folly will become plain to everyone. Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, and my suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. The Benedictus (Morning), the Magnificat (Evening), or Nunc dimittis (Night) may follow. Prayer: My brothers and sisters, as we wait in hope for the coming again of the Word-made-flesh, let us offer our prayers for the world he came to save. We pray for peace and reconciliation among the people of India and Pakistan amid the current tensions in that part of the world; we pray too for all those who have been killed, injured or bereaved as a result of the recent terrorist violence. We pray for the people of Zimbabwe in the face of the epidemic of cholera in their country: that they may be given the aid they need, and that they may know peace, justice and freedom. We pray for the people of Somalia and Nigeria, in the continuing violence and unrest; and for all who seek to bring peace in their land. We pray for those throughout the world who are persecuted or imprisoned for their faith: that they may know the strength and comfort of the Holy Spirit. We pray, in this winter season, for all who struggle to keep warm; for those who are homeless; for those who cannot afford to heat their homes: may we all be generous in our concern for our neighbours. We pray for a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the word of God: that through reading the scriptures we may be inspired to prepare the way of the Lord in our lives and our world. Almighty Father, help us in this Advent season as we seek to prepare our hearts and our world for the coming of your Son. We make our prayers through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. God of our salvation, you straighten the winding ways of our hearts and smooth the paths made rough by sin: Keep our hearts watchful in holiness, and bring to perfection the good you have begun in us. We ask this through him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near; your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Awaiting his coming in glory, let us pray as our Savior has taught us: - The Lord's Prayer Remove those things which hinder love of you, O God, that when your Son comes he may find us waiting in awe and wonder. 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 and the closing sentence are adapted from _Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland_, (c) 1994, Panel on Worship of the Church of Scotland. 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 _A Prayer Book for Australia_. (c) 1995, The Anglican Church of Australia Trust Corporation. From steve.benner at oremus.org Sun Dec 7 17:00:00 2008 From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner) Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT) Subject: OREMUS: 8 December 2008 Message-ID: <20081207170000.E61B7313CF8@justus2.anglican.org>