From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sat Nov  1 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sat,  1 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   2 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081101170000.8A23E31486E@justus2c.anglican.org>

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OREMUS for Sunday, November 2, 2008
The Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God.
the hope of the nations,
the builder of the city that is to come.
Your love made visible in Jesus Christ
brings home the lost,
restores the sinner
and gives dignity to the despised.
In his face your light shines out,
flooding lives with goodness and truth,
gathering into one in your kingdom
a divided and broken humanity.
Therefore with all who can give voice in your creation
we glorify your name,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

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

Psalm 139

Lord, you have searched me out and known me;*
 you know my sitting down and my rising up;
   you discern my thoughts from afar.
You trace my journeys and my resting-places*
 and are acquainted with all my ways.
Indeed, there is not a word on my lips,*
 but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
You press upon me behind and before*
 and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;*
 it is so high that I cannot attain to it.
Where can I go then from your Spirit?*
 where can I flee from your presence?
If I climb up to heaven, you are there;*
 if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
If I take the wings of the morning*
 and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there your hand will lead me*
 and your right hand hold me fast.
If I say, 'Surely the darkness will cover me,*
 and the light around me turn to night',
Darkness is not dark to you;
   the night is as bright as the day;*
 darkness and light to you are both alike.
For you yourself created my inmost parts;*
 you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I will thank you because I am marvellously made;*
 your works are wonderful and I know it well.
My body was not hidden from you,*
 while I was being made in secret
   and woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb;
   all of them were written in your book;*
 they were fashioned day by day,
   when as yet there was none of them.
How deep I find your thoughts, O God!*
 how great is the sum of them!
If I were to count them,
   they would be more in number than the sand;*
 to count them all,
   my life span would need to be like yours.
Search me out, O God, and know my heart;*
 try me and know my restless thoughts.
Look well whether there be any wickedness in me*
 and lead me in the way that is everlasting.

A Song of Divine Love (1 Corinthians 13.4-13)

Love is patient and kind,  
love is not jealous or boastful, 
it is not arrogant or rude. 
Love does not insist on its own way,  
it is not angry or resentful. 
It does not rejoice in wrongdoing  
but rejoices in the truth. 
Love bears all things and believes all things;  
love hopes all things and endures all things. 
Love will never come to an end,  
but prophecy will vanish, 
tongues cease and knowledge pass away. 
Now we know only in part  
and we prophesy only in part, 
But when the perfect comes,  
the partial shall pass away. 
When I was a child, I spoke like a child,  
I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. 
But when I became mature,  
I put an end to childish ways. 
For now we see only puzzling reflections in a mirror,  
but then we will see face to face. 
Now I know only in part;  
then I shall know fully, 
even as I have been fully known. 
There are three things that last for ever, 
faith, hope and love,  
but the greatest of these is love.

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 33:1-3, 26-29]:

This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the Israelites before his
death. He said:
The Lord came from Sinai,
   and dawned from Seir upon us;
   he shone forth from Mount Paran.
With him were myriads of holy ones;
   at his right, a host of his own.
Indeed, O favourite among peoples,
   all his holy ones were in your charge;
they marched at your heels,
   accepted direction from you.
There is none like God, O Jeshurun,
   who rides through the heavens to your help,
   majestic through the skies.
He subdues the ancient gods,
   shatters the forces of old;
he drove out the enemy before you,
   and said, 'Destroy!'
So Israel lives in safety,
   untroubled is Jacob's abode
in a land of grain and wine,
   where the heavens drop down dew.
Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you,
   a people saved by the Lord,
the shield of your help,
   and the sword of your triumph!
Your enemies shall come fawning to you,
   and you shall tread on their backs. 

HYMN 
Words: Johann Franck (1618-1677) translated Catherine Winkworth (1827-1898)
Tune: Jesu meine Freude 

Jesu, priceless treasure,
Source of purest pleasure,
Truest friend to me;
Ah! How long I've panted,
And my heart hath fainted,
Thirsting, Lord, for thee!
Thine I am, O spotless Lamb,
I will suffer nought to hide thee,
Nought I ask beside thee.

In thine arm I rest me;
Foes who would molest me
Cannot reach me here;
Though the earth be shaking,
Every heart be quaking,
Jesus calms my fear;
Sin and hell in conflict fell
With their bitter storms assail me;
Jesus will not fail me.

Hence, all fears and sadness!
For the Lord of gladness,
Jesus enters in;
Those who love the Father,
Though the storms may gather
Still have peace within;
Yea, what'er I here must bear,
Still in thee lies purest pleasure,
Jesu, priceless treasure!

SECOND READING [Jude 1-4, 17-25]:

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,

To those who are called, who are beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus
Christ:

May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.

Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it
necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all
entrusted to the saints. For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long
ago were designated for this condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our
God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus
Christ; for they said to you, 'In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own
ungodly lusts.' It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions.
But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit;
keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by
snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the
tunic defiled by their bodies.

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without
blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Saviour, through
Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now
and for ever. Amen. 

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

Prayer:
The Lord is our shepherd and our king. Let us bring our cares and concerns to him.

For all Christians, called to minister in some of the world's most dangerous places; that
they will have courage to follow their calling, and know the companionship of the Lord
in the trials that come with their work. Lord, in your mercy, hear our
prayer.

For people of all faiths; that we will seek to understand each other, aim to like each
other and cease to see each other as the enemy. Lord, in your mercy, hear our
prayer.

For people worried about financial difficulties, as the sink into recession looks
increasingly likely; that we will have wisdom and discernment to make sensible choices,
and the presence of mind to stay calm in the midst of media hype. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

For the people of America as they approach the presidential election; let us pray that the
people will choose a wise and gifted leader in whom the world can place confidence and
trust. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, trusting in your great love we bring our prayers to you through your
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Creator God, 
you have filled the world with beauty: 
Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; 
that, rejoicing in your whole creation, 
we may learn to serve you with gladness; 
for the sake of him by whom all things were made, 
your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, 
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

May the God of peace sanctify us:
may God so strengthen our hearts in holiness
that we may be blameless before God
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with his saints. 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 adapted from _Common Worship: Times and Seasons_,
material from which is included in this service is copyright (c) The Archbishops'
Council, 2004. Used with permission. The closing prayer is 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 3:13

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 _Book of Common Worship_, (c) 1993 Westminster /
John Knox Press. 


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sun Nov  2 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sun,  2 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   3 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081102170000.4B489314222@justus2c.anglican.org>

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OREMUS for Monday, November 3, 2008
All Souls (transferred)

Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord,
and let light perpetual shine upon them.

Blessed are you, O God,
for your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who desired that his Virgin Mother and all the saints
should be sharers with him in his passion,
so that where he has gone before,
as head of the mystical body,
there also the members, given life by him,
should follow in his glory.
Thus we have the sure and joyful hope
of the inheritance of eternal life
given to us by your 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 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.

Psalm 130

Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord;
   Lord, hear my voice;*
 let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.
If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss,*
 O Lord, who could stand?
For there is forgiveness with you;*
 therefore you shall be feared.
I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him;*
 in his word is my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord,
   more than the night-watch for the morning,*
 more than the night-watch for the morning.
O Israel, wait for the Lord,*
 for with the Lord there is mercy;
With him there is plenteous redemption,*
 and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.

A Song of Jonah (Jonah 2:2-7,9)

I called to you, O God, out of my distress
and you answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
and you heard my voice.

You cast me into the deep,
into the heart of the seas,
and the flood surrounded me,
all your waves and billows passed over me.

Then I said, I am driven away from your sight;
how shall I ever look again upon your holy temple?

The waters closed in over me,
the deep was round about me;
weeds were wrapped around my head
at the roots of the mountains.

I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me for ever,
yet you brought up my life from the depths, O God.

As my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, O God,
and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.

With the voice of thanksgiving, I will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay,
deliverance belongs to the Lord!

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 44:1-15]:

Let us now sing the praises of famous men,
   our ancestors in their generations.
The Lord apportioned to them great glory,
   his majesty from the beginning.
There were those who ruled in their kingdoms,
   and made a name for themselves by their valour;
those who gave counsel because they were intelligent;
   those who spoke in prophetic oracles;
those who led the people by their counsels
   and by their knowledge of the people's lore;
   they were wise in their words of instruction;
those who composed musical tunes,
   or put verses in writing;
rich men endowed with resources,
   living peacefully in their homes 
all these were honoured in their generations,
   and were the pride of their times.
Some of them have left behind a name,
   so that others declare their praise.
But of others there is no memory;
   they have perished as though they had never existed;
they have become as though they had never been born,
   they and their children after them.
But these also were godly men,
   whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;
their wealth will remain with their descendants,
   and their inheritance with their children's children.
Their descendants stand by the covenants;
   their children also, for their sake.
Their offspring will continue for ever,
   and their glory will never be blotted out.
Their bodies are buried in peace,
   but their name lives on generation after generation.
The assembly declares their wisdom,
   and the congregation proclaims their praise. 

HYMN 
Words: John Ellerton
Tune: Old 112th

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/g/g235.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.

God of the living, in whose eyes
unveiled thy whole creation lies,
all souls are thine; we must not say
that those are dead who pass away,
from this our world of flesh set free;
we know them living unto thee.

Released from earthly toil and strife,
with thee is hidden still their life;
thine are their thoughts, their works, their powers,
all thine, and yet most truly ours;
for well we know, where'er they be,
our dead are living unto thee.

Not spilled like water on the ground,
not wrapped in dreamless sleep profound,
not wandering in unknown despair
beyond thy voice, thine arm, thy care;
not left to lie like fallen tree;
not dead, but living unto thee.

Thy word is true, thy will is just;
to thee we leave them, Lord, in trust;
and bless thee for the love which gave
thy Son to fill a human grave,
that none might fear that world to see
where all are living unto thee.

O Breather into man of breath,
O Holder of the keys of death,
O Giver of the life within,
save us from death, the death of sin;
that body, soul and spirit be
for ever living unto thee.

SECOND READING [Hebrews 11:32-12:2]:

And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak,
Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets  who through faith
conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of
lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of
weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their
dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to
obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains
and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed
by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted,
tormented  of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and
mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was
promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, without
us, be made perfect.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay
aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance
the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,
who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its
shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 

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

Prayer:
Eternal God,
we acknowledge the uncertainty of our life on earth.
We are given a mere handful of days,
and our span of life seems nothing in your sight.
All flesh is as grass;
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades;
but your word will stand forever.
In this our hope,
for you are our God.
Even in the valley of the shadow of death,
you are with us.

O Lord, let us know our end
and the number of our days,
that we may learn how fleeting life is.
Turn your ear to our cry, and hear our prayer.
Do not be silent at our tears,
for we live as strangers before you,
wandering pilgrims as all our ancestors were.
But you are the same 
and your years shall have no end. Amen.

Eternal God, our maker and redeemer,
grant us, with all the faithful departed,
the sure benefits of your Son's saving passion
and glorious resurrection
that, in the last day,
when you gather up all things in Christ,
we may with them enjoy the fullness of your promises;
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.

Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven,
we pray as our Savior has taught us:

- The Lord's Prayer

What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, 
nor human heart conceived, 
God has prepared for those who love him.

We remember those who have died, especially...

God of all consolation,
in your unending love and mercy
you turn the darkness of death
into the dawn of new life.

Show compassion to your people in their sorrow.
Be our refuge and our strength
to lift us from the darkness of grief
to the peace and light of your presence.

Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
by dying for us, conquered death
and by rising again, restored life.

May we then go forward eagerly to meet him,
and after our life on earth
be reunited with our brothers and sisters
where every tear will be wiped away.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Kontakion
<a
href="http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/g/g026.html">http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/g
/g026.html

Give rest, O Christ, to thy servants with thy saints:
where sorrow and pain are no more;
neither sighing but life everlasting.
Thou only art immortal, the creator and maker of man:
and we are mortal formed from the dust of the earth,
and unto earth shall we return:
for so thou didst ordain,
when thou created me saying:
"Dust thou art und unto dust shalt thou return."
All we go down to the dust;
and weeping o'er the grace we make our song:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. 

May God give to us and all whom we love
his comfort and his peace,
his light and his joy,
in this world and the next. Amen.

May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. 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 first two prayers before the Lord's Prayer are from _Book of
Common Worship_, (c) 1993 Westminster / John Knox Press. 

The commemoration after the Lord's Prayer and the penultimate sentence are
from _The Promise of His Glory_ (Mowbray), (c) The Central
Board of Finance  of the Church of England 1990, 1991, which is used with
permission.

The Kontakion was translated by W. J. Birkbeck (1869-1916).


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Mon Nov  3 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Mon,  3 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   4 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081103170001.0C5BC314DE6@justus2c.anglican.org>

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Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
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OREMUS for Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God.
the hope of the nations,
the builder of the city that is to come.
Your love made visible in Jesus Christ
brings home the lost,
restores the sinner
and gives dignity to the despised.
In his face your light shines out,
flooding lives with goodness and truth,
gathering into one in your kingdom
a divided and broken humanity.
Therefore with all who can give voice in your creation
we glorify your name,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

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

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,*
 a very present help in trouble;
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved,*
 and though the mountains be toppled
   into the depths of the sea;
Though its waters rage and foam,*
 and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.
The Lord of hosts is with us;*
 the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
There is a river whose streams
   make glad the city of God,*
 the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her;
   she shall not be overthrown;*
 God shall help her at the break of day.
The nations make much ado
   and the kingdoms are shaken;*
 God has spoken and the earth shall melt away.
The Lord of hosts is with us;*
 the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Come now and look upon the works of the Lord,*
 what awesome things he has done on earth.
It is he who makes war to cease in all the world;*
 he breaks the bow and shatters the spear
   and burns the shields with fire.
'Be still, then, and know that I am God;*
 I will be exalted among the nations;
   I will be exalted in the earth.'
The Lord of hosts is with us;*
 the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

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.

A Song of the New Jerusalem (Isaiah 60.1-3,11a,18,19,14b)

Arise, shine out, for your light has come,  
the glory of the Lord is rising upon you. 
Though night still covers the earth,  
and darkness the peoples; 
Above you the Holy One arises,  
and above you God's glory appears. 
The nations will come to your light,  
and kings to your dawning brightness. 
Your gates will lie open continually,  
shut neither by day nor by night. 
The sound of violence shall be heard no longer in your land,  
or ruin and devastation within your borders. 
You will call your walls, Salvation,  
and your gates, Praise. 
No more will the sun give you daylight,  
nor moonlight shine upon you; 
But the Lord will be your everlasting light,  
your God will be your splendour. 
For you shall be called the city of God,  
the dwelling of the Holy One of Israel.

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 25:1-9; 26:1-4]:

O Lord, you are my God;
   I will exalt you, I will praise your name;
for you have done wonderful things,
   plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
For you have made the city a heap,
   the fortified city a ruin;
the palace of aliens is a city no more,
   it will never be rebuilt.
Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;
   cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
For you have been a refuge to the poor,
   a refuge to the needy in their distress,
   a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.
When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,
   the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place,
you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds;
   the song of the ruthless was stilled.

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
   a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines,
   of rich food filled with marrow, of well-matured wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain
   the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
   the sheet that is spread over all nations;
he will swallow up death for ever.
Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
   and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
   for the Lord has spoken.
It will be said on that day,
   Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
   This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
   let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
We have a strong city;
   he sets up victory
   like walls and bulwarks.
Open the gates,
   so that the righteous nation that keeps faith
   may enter in.
Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace 
   in peace because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord for ever,
   for in the Lord God
   you have an everlasting rock. 

HYMN 
Words: Daniel Crane Roberts, 1876
Music: National Hymn 
http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/g/g230.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
leads forth in beauty all the starry band
of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
our grateful songs before thy throne arise.

Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
in this free land by thee our lot is cast;
be thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay,
thy word our law, thy paths our chosen way.

>From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence,
be thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
thy true religion in our hearts increase,
thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

Refresh thy people on their toilsome way,
lead us from night to never-ending day;
fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
and glory, laud, and praise be ever thine.

SECOND READING [Hebrews 11:8-16; 12:28-end]:

 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to
receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he
stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents,
as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked
forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith
he received power of procreation, even though he was too old and Sarah herself was
barren because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one
person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, 'as many as the stars of
heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.'

All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance
they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on
the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a
homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would
have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a
heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has
prepared a city for them. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be
shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with
reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire. 

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

Prayer:
As we listen to the world's concerns,
hear the cry of the oppressed,
and learn of new discoveries,
give us knowledge,
teach us to respond with maturity,
and give us courage to act with integrity.
As citizens, we acknowledge the Spirit's work in human government
for the welfare of the people,
for justice among the poor,
for mercy toward the prisoner,
against inhuman oppression of humanity.
Help us to obey you above all rulers;
fill us with the patience of Christ
as we wait upon the Spirit.
We pray for the fruit of the Spirit of Christ
who works for peace on earth,
commands us to love our enemies,
and calls for patience among the nations.
We give thanks for your work among governments,
seeking to resolve disputes by means other than war,
placing human kindness above national pride,
replacing the curse of war with international self-control.
We hear the Spirit's call to love one another,
opposing discrimination of race or sex,
inviting us to accept one another,
and to share at every level
in work and play, in church and state,
in marriage and family, and so to fulfill the love of Christ.
Enable us to accept that call and be agents of renewal in our work
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the
people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives; that, by
faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation
be enabled to fulfill your purposes; 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 God of peace sanctify us:
may God so strengthen our hearts in holiness
that we may be blameless before God
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with his saints. 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 adapted from _Common Worship: Times and Seasons_,
material from which is included in this service is copyright (c) The Archbishops'
Council, 2004. Used with permission. The closing prayer is 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 3:13

The intercession is reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook,   2004, CRC
Publications. The collect is from The Book of Common Prayer According to the
Use of The Episcopal Church_.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Tue Nov  4 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Tue,  4 Nov 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   5 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081104170001.24BD3314DAD@justus2c.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God.
the hope of the nations,
the builder of the city that is to come.
Your love made visible in Jesus Christ
brings home the lost,
restores the sinner
and gives dignity to the despised.
In his face your light shines out,
flooding lives with goodness and truth,
gathering into one in your kingdom
a divided and broken humanity.
Therefore with all who can give voice in your creation
we glorify your name,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

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

Psalm 72

Give the king your justice, O God,*
 and your righteousness to the king's son;
That he may rule your people righteously*
 and the poor with justice;
That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people,*
 and the little hills bring righteousness.
He shall defend the needy among the people;*
 he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.
He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure,*
 from one generation to another.
He shall come down like rain upon the mown field,*
 like showers that water the earth.
In his time shall the righteous flourish;*
 there shall be abundance of peace
   till the moon shall be no more.
He shall rule from sea to sea,*
 and from the River to the ends of the earth.
His foes shall bow down before him,*
 and his enemies lick the dust.
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute,*
 and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts.
All kings shall bow down before him,*
 and all the nations do him service.
For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress,*
 and the oppressed who has no helper.
He shall have pity on the lowly and poor;*
 he shall preserve the lives of the needy.
He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence,*
 and dear shall their blood be in his sight.
Long may he live,
   and may there be given to him gold from Arabia;*
 may prayer be made for him always,
   and may they bless him all the day long.
May there be abundance of grain on the earth,
   growing thick even on the hilltops;*
 may its fruit flourish like Lebanon,
   and its grain like grass upon the earth.
May his name remain for ever
   and be established as long as the sun endures;*
 may all the nations bless themselves in him
   and call him blessed.
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,*
 who alone does wondrous deeds!
And blessed be his glorious name for ever!*
 and may all the earth be filled with his glory.
   Amen. Amen.

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 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 [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: Fred Kaan (c) Hope Publishing Co. Used with permission
Tune: Alleluia dulce carmen, Westminster Abbey, Picardy

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/f/f212.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord,
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords.
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.

Lead us forward into freedom,
from despair your world release,
that, redeemed from war and hatred,
all may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase.

All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned:
pride of status, race or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow brief life's span.

You, Creator God, have written
your great name on humankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind;
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find.

SECOND READING [Matthew 27:45-56]:

>From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And
about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' that is,
'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' When some of the bystanders heard
it, they said, 'This man is calling for Elijah.' At once one of them ran and got a sponge,
filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others
said, 'Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.' Then Jesus cried again
with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was
torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs
also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and
appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping
watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and
said, 'Truly this man was God's Son!'

Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus
from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary
the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. 

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.

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son:
Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and
hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds
of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on
earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around
your heavenly throne; 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 God of peace sanctify us:
may God so strengthen our hearts in holiness
that we may be blameless before God
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with his saints. 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 adapted from _Common Worship: Times and Seasons_,
material from which is included in this service is copyright (c) The Archbishops'
Council, 2004. Used with permission. The closing prayer is 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 3:13

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


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Wed Nov  5 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Wed,  5 Nov 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   6 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081105170001.02DEA314627@justus2c.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Thursday, November 6, 2008
William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher of the Faith, 1944

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God.
the hope of the nations,
the builder of the city that is to come.
Your love made visible in Jesus Christ
brings home the lost,
restores the sinner
and gives dignity to the despised.
In his face your light shines out,
flooding lives with goodness and truth,
gathering into one in your kingdom
a divided and broken humanity.
Therefore with all who can give voice in your creation
we glorify your name,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

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

Psalm 74 [CCP]

O God, why have you utterly cast us off?*
 why is your wrath so hot
   against the sheep of your pasture?
Remember your congregation that you purchased long ago,*
 the tribe you redeemed to be your inheritance,
   and Mount Zion where you dwell.
Turn your steps towards the endless ruins;*
 the enemy has laid waste everything in your sanctuary.
Your adversaries roared in your holy place;*
 they set up their banners as tokens of victory.
They were like men coming up with axes
   to a grove of trees;*
 they broke down all your carved work
   with hatchets and hammers.
They set fire to your holy place;*
 they defiled the dwelling-place of your name
   and razed it to the ground.
They said to themselves, 'Let us destroy them altogether.'*
 They burned down all the meeting-places of God
   in the land.
There are no signs for us to see;
   there is no prophet left;*
 there is not one among us who knows how long.
How long, O God, will the adversary scoff?*
 will the enemy blaspheme your name for ever?
Why do you draw back your hand?*
 why is your right hand hidden in your bosom?
Yet God is my king from ancient times,*
 victorious in the midst of the earth.
You divided the sea by your might*
 and shattered the heads of the dragons upon the waters;
You crushed the heads of Leviathan*
 and gave him to the people of the desert for food.
You split open spring and torrent;*
 you dried up ever-flowing rivers.
Yours is the day, yours also the night;*
 you established the moon and the sun.
You fixed all the boundaries of the earth;*
 you made both summer and winter.
Remember, O Lord, how the enemy scoffed,*
 how a foolish people despised your name.
Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts;*
 never forget the lives of your poor.
Look upon your covenant;*
 the dark places of the earth are haunts of violence.
Let not the oppressed turn away ashamed;*
 let the poor and needy praise your name.
Arise, O God, maintain your cause;*
 remember how fools revile you all day long.
Forget not the clamour of your adversaries,*
 the unending tumult of those who rise up against you.

A Song of Faith (1 Peter 1.3-5,18,19,21)

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 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 [Deuteronomy 17:14-end]:

When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and have
taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, 'I will set a king over me, like all
the nations that are around me', you may indeed set over you a king whom the Lord
your God will choose. One of your own community you may set as king over you; you
are not permitted to put a foreigner over you, who is not of your own community.
Even so, he must not acquire many horses for himself, or return the people to Egypt in
order to acquire more horses, since the Lord has said to you, 'You must never return
that way again.' And he must not acquire many wives for himself, or else his heart will
turn away; also silver and gold he must not acquire in great quantity for himself. When
he has taken the throne of his kingdom, he shall have a copy of this law written for him
in the presence of the levitical priests. It shall remain with him and he shall read in it all
the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, diligently observing
all the words of this law and these statutes, neither exalting himself above other
members of the community nor turning aside from the commandment, either to the
right or to the left, so that he and his descendants may reign long over his kingdom in
Israel. 

HYMN 
Words: James Weldon Johnson, 1899
Music: Lift every voice 

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/l/l117.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Lift every voice and sing
till earth and heaven ring,
ring with the harmonies of liberty.
Let our rejoicing rise
high as the listening skies;
let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us;
sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
facing the rising sun
of our new day begun,
let us march on, till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod,
bitter the chastening rod,
felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
yet, with a steady beat,
have not our weary feet
come to the place for which our parents sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears have been watered;
we have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
out from the gloomy past,
till now we stand at last
where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;
thou who hast by thy might led us into the light;
keep us for ever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee;
lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee;
shadowed beneath thy hand
may we for ever stand,
true to our God, true to our native land.

SECOND READING [Matthew 27:57-end]:

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was
also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate
ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen
cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a
great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other
Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees
gathered before Pilate and said, 'Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he
was still alive, "After three days I will rise again." Therefore command that the tomb
be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away,
and tell the people, "He has been raised from the dead", and the last deception would
be worse than the first.' Pilate said to them, 'You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it
as secure as you can.' So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by
sealing the stone. 

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

Prayer:
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech
thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do
thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners.
Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from
every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes
brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom
those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be
justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth
thy praise among the nations of the earth In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with
thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we
ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart
and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we
may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our
struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness,
and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, 
who founded the Church as the Body of Christ,
that as your Son Jesus of Nazareth
used the body of flesh and blood
to live the life which interprets to us your very being,
so the Church exists on earth to do the same.
We thank you for the witness of your servant William Temple
who called the Church to return to its true purpose,
the Word of God going forth to conquer
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

May the God of peace sanctify us:
may God so strengthen our hearts in holiness
that we may be blameless before God
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with his saints. 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 adapted from _Common Worship: Times and Seasons_,
material from which is included in this service is copyright (c) The Archbishops'
Council, 2004. Used with permission. The closing prayer is 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 3:13

The second collect is by Stephen Benner and is based on a passage from the
writings of William Temple.
 asc
Temple's admirers have called him "a philosopher, theologian, social teacher,
educational reformer, and the leader of the ecumenical movement of his
generation," "the most significant Anglican churchman of the twentieth
century," "the most renowned Primate in the Church of England since the
English Reformation," "Anglican's most creative and comprehensive
contribution to the theological enterprise of the West." One of his biographers
lists him (along with Richard Hooker, Joseph Butler, and Frederick Denison
Maurice) as one of the Four Great Doctors of the Anglican Communion.

William Temple, 98th Archbishop of Canterbury, was born in 1881, the second
son of Frederick Temple. At the age of two, he had the first attack of the gout
that would be with him throughout life and eventually kill him. His eyesight
was bad, and a cataract, present from infancy, left him completely blind in the
right eye when he was 40. However, he was an avid reader, with a
near-photographic memory, and once he had read a book, it was his. He was a
passionate lover of the music of Bach. In literature, his special enthusiasms
were poetry (Browning and Shelley), drama (the Greeks and Shakespeare), and
a few novels, especially The Brothers Karamazov. He believed that theological
ideas were often explored most effectively by writers who were not explicitly
writing theology.

He was at Oxford (Balliol) from 1900 to 1904, and was president of the
Oxford Union (the debating society of the University). Here he developed a
remarkable ability to sum up an issue, expressing the pros and cons so clearly
and fairly that the original opponents often ended up agreeing with each other.
This ability served him in good stead later when he moderated conferences on
theological and social issues. However, it was not just a useful talent for
settling disputes. It was, or developed into, an important part of his
philosophy, a belief in Dialectic, derived from Hegel and from Plato. He
thought that beliefs and ideas reach their full maturity through their response to
opposing ideas.

In 1906, he applied for ordination, but the Bishop of Oxford would not ordain
him because he admitted that his belief in the Virgin Birth and the Bodily
Resurrection of Jesus was shaky. However, Davidson, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, after a careful examination, decided that Temple's thought was
developing in a direction that would inevitably bring him into an orthodox
position, and decided to take a chance on ordaining him (deacon 1909, priest
1910). He may be said to have won his bet, in that by 1913 Temple had indeed
committed himself fully to the orthodox position, and could write: "I believe in
the Virgin Birth...it wonderfully holds before the imagination the truth of Our
Lord's Deity and so I am glad that it is in the Creed. Similarly I believe in our
Lord's Bodily Resurrection."

In 1908 he became president of the Workers' Educational Association
(founded by Frederick Denison Maurice), and in 1918 joined the British
Labour Party, and worked actively for the implementing of its platform. He
also became vigorously involved in movements for Christian co-operation and
unity, in missions, in the British Council of Churches, in the World Council of
Churches, in the Church of South India (a merger of Anglican,
Congregationalist, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches into a single church,
with provisions for safeguarding what each group thought essential).

In 1916 he married Frances Anson, and the night before the wedding he stayed
up late to finish writing his first major theological treatise, Mens Creatrix (the
Creative Mind). Eight years later he published a companion volume, expanding
and clarifying the ideas of the first, called Christus Veritas (Christ the Truth).
In 1921 he was made Bishop of Manchester, a heavily industrial city. In 1926
Britain experienced what was known as the General Strike, in which most
workmen in all trades and industries went on strike, not against their particular
employers, but against the social and economic policies of the country as a
whole. In Manchester this meant primarily a coal stoppage. Temple worked
extensively to mediate between the parties, and helped to bring about a
settlement that both sides regarded as basically fair. He excelled, it would
seem, not as a scholar, but as a moderator, and above all as a teacher and
preacher.

Temple became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1942, when a German invasion
seemed likely. He worked for the relief of Jewish refugees from Naziism, and
publicly supported a negotiated peace, as opposed to the unconditional
surrender that the Allied leaders were demanding.

His gout worsened. His last public appearance was at a clergy retreat (a time
spent in a secluded place, with silence, prayer, meditation, reading, and
listening to sermons), where he was taken by ambulance and spoke standing on
his one good foot. He died on 26 October 1944. A number of his writings are
still in print. [James Kiefer]


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Thu Nov  6 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Thu,  6 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   7 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081106170000.8A67B3146E0@justus2c.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Friday, November 7, 2008
Willibrord of York, Bishop, Apostle of Frisia, 739

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God.
the hope of the nations,
the builder of the city that is to come.
Your love made visible in Jesus Christ
brings home the lost,
restores the sinner
and gives dignity to the despised.
In his face your light shines out,
flooding lives with goodness and truth,
gathering into one in your kingdom
a divided and broken humanity.
Therefore with all who can give voice in your creation
we glorify your name,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

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

Psalm 69:1-22, 30-37

Save me, O God,*
 for the waters have risen up to my neck.
I am sinking in deep mire,*
 and there is no firm ground for my feet.
I have come into deep waters,*
 and the torrent washes over me.
I have grown weary with my crying;
   my throat is inflamed;*
 my eyes have failed from looking for my God.
Those who hate me without a cause
   are more than the hairs of my head;
   my lying foes who would destroy me are mighty.*
 Must I then give back what I never stole?
O God, you know my foolishness,*
 and my faults are not hidden from you.
Let not those who hope in you
   be put to shame through me, Lord God of hosts;*
 let not those who seek you be disgraced because of me,
   O God of Israel.
Surely, for your sake have I suffered reproach,*
 and shame has covered my face.
I have become a stranger to my own kindred,*
 an alien to my mother's children.
Zeal for your house has eaten me up;*
 the scorn of those who scorn you has fallen upon me.
I humbled myself with fasting,*
 but that was turned to my reproach.
I put on sack-cloth also,*
 and became a byword among them.
Those who sit at the gate murmur against me,*
 and the drunkards make songs about me.
But as for me, this is my prayer to you,*
 at the time you have set, O Lord:
'In your great mercy, O God,*
 answer me with your unfailing help.
'Save me from the mire; do not let me sink;*
 let me be rescued from those who hate me
   and out of the deep waters.
'Let not the torrent of waters wash over me,
   neither let the deep swallow me up;*
 do not let the Pit shut its mouth upon me.
'Answer me, O Lord, for your love is kind;*
 in your great compassion, turn to me.
'Hide not your face from your servant;*
 be swift and answer me, for I am in distress.
'Draw near to me and redeem me;*
 because of my enemies deliver me.
'You know my reproach, my shame and my dishonour;*
 my adversaries are all in your sight.'
Reproach has broken my heart and it cannot be healed;*
 I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
   for comforters, but I could find no one.
They gave me gall to eat,*
 and when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink.
As for me, I am afflicted and in pain;*
 your help, O God, will lift me up on high.
I will praise the name of God in song;*
 I will proclaim his greatness with thanksgiving.
This will please the Lord more than an offering of oxen,*
 more than bullocks with horns and hoofs.
The afflicted shall see and be glad;*
 you who seek God, your heart shall live.
For the Lord listens to the needy,*
 and his prisoners he does not despise.
Let the heavens and the earth praise him,*
 the seas and all that moves in them;
For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah;*
 they shall live there and have it in possession.
The children of his servants will inherit it,*
 and those who love his name will dwell therein.

A Song of Christ the Servant 1 Peter 2.21b-25 

Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,  
that you should follow in his steps. 
He committed no sin, no guile was found on his lips,  
when he was reviled, he did not revile in turn. 
When he suffered, he did not threaten,  
but he trusted himself to God who judges justly. 
Christ himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,  
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. 
By his wounds, you have been healed, 
for you were straying like sheep,  
but have now returned 
to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

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 [Deuteronomy 18:15-end]:

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own
people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your
God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: 'If I hear the voice of the
Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.' Then the Lord
replied to me: 'They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet
like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the
prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not
heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold
accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes
to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak that
prophet shall die.' You may say to yourself, 'How can we recognize a word that the
Lord has not spoken?' If a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord but the thing does
not take place or prove true, it is a word that the Lord has not spoken. The prophet
has spoken it presumptuously; do not be frightened by it. 

HYMN 
Words: Carl P. Daw. Jr.   1989 by Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Music: Kingsfold (English)  

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/b/b122.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Blest be the God of Israel
who comes to set us free
and raises new hope for us:
a Branch from David's tree.
So have the prophets long declared
that with a mighty arm
God would turn back our enemies
and all who wish us harm.

With promised mercy will God still
the covenant recall:
the oath once sworn to Abraham,
from foes to save us all;
that we might worship without fear
and offer lives of praise,
in holiness and righteousness
before God all our days.

My child, as prophet of the Lord,
you will prepare the way,
to tell God's people they are saved
from sin's eternal sway.
Then shall God's mercy from on high
shine forth and never cease
to drive away the gloom of death
and lead us into peace.

SECOND READING [Matthew 28:1-10]:

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the
other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an
angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on
it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him
the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, 'Do not
be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for
he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and
tell his disciples, "He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of
you to Galilee; there you will see him." This is my message for you.' So they left the
tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met
them and said, 'Greetings!' And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and
worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to
go to Galilee; there they will see me.' 

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

Prayer:
Gracious God and Father,
you have given your Son for us all,
that his death might be our life
and his affliction our peace.

We pray for the suffering...
the hungry....
the refugees....
the prisoners....
the persecuted....
all who bring sin and suffering to others....
ministries of care and relief....
the Church in all its work, especially

Gracious God and Father, we give you thanks

for the cross of Christ at the heart of creation,
the presence of Christ in our weakness and strength,
the power of Christ to transform our suffering....

for all ministries of healing,
all agencies of relief,
all that sets men free from pain, fear and distress....

for the assurance that your mercy knows no limit,
and for the privilege of sharing
your work of renewal through prayer.

In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us to trust your love, to serve your purpose
and to praise your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bless our beautiful land, O Lord,
with its wonderful variety of people,
of races, cultures and languages.
May we be a nation
of laughter and joy,
of justice and reconciliation,
of peace and unity,
of compassion, caring and sharing.
We pray this prayer for a true patriotism,
in the powerful name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
       
God, the Saviour of all,
you sent your bishop Willibrord from this land
to proclaim the good news to many peoples
and confirm them in their faith:
help us also to witness to your steadfast love
by word and deed
so that your Church may increase
and grow strong in holiness;
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 God of peace sanctify us:
may God so strengthen our hearts in holiness
that we may be blameless before God
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with his saints. 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 adapted from _Common Worship: Times and Seasons_,
material from which is included in this service is copyright (c) The Archbishops'
Council, 2004. Used with permission. The closing prayer is 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 3:13

The intercessions are (c) 2000, The Church of Ireland Central Communications
Board. The first collect is by Desmond Tutu. 

 Willibrord, first Archbishop of Utrecht, is one of the missionaries sent out by the
Anglo-Saxon Christians about a century after they had themselves been Christianized by
missionaries in the south and east of England from Rome and the Continent, and in the
north and west from the Celtic peoples of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

Our information about Willibrord comes to us from the Venerable Bede (History of the
English Church and People) and from a biography by his younger kinsman Alcuin,
Minister of Education under the Emperor Charlemagne. Willibrord was born in
Northumbria in England about 658, and studied in France and Ireland. In 690 he set out
with 12 companions to preach to the pagans of Frisia (a region roughly coextensive with
the province of Friesland in the Netherlands, including some adjacent territories and the
Frisian islands in the North Sea). His work was interrupted several times by wars, and he
left for a while to preach to the Danes instead. He died 7 November 739. [James Kiefer]

From oremus at insight.rr.com  Fri Nov  7 15:37:24 2008
From: oremus at insight.rr.com (Steve Benner)
Date: Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:37:24 -0500
Subject: OREMUS: How You Can Help Oremus
Message-ID: <6.0.0.22.2.20081107102905.01deb788@pop-server.insight.rr.com>

Dear Oremus subscribers,

As we approach the fifteenth anniversary of Oremus next week, I would like 
to ask for your help so that we can continue this service to the Church and 
wider internet community. You can make a gift to support our ministry by 
going to our website at http://www.oremus.org.

Also, if you have used religious, theological and liturgical books in need 
of new home, I am accepting donations at this time. I have several outlets 
for your books; some will be sold online to support my ministry at Oremus 
and others will be donated to other non-profits. I will reimburse you for 
any shipping costs (within the US). If you are interested in donating 
books, please contact me at oremus at insight.rr.com and I will give you 
further details.

Simon Kershaw and I thank you for your continued support and interest in 
our ministry. Much of this has been possible because of your generous 
support and because I am not currently employed in a parish.

Thank you for your continued prayers and blessings on you as you go on your 
journey through this life.
Steve Benner+

Steve Benner
Oremus -- http://www.oremus.org  


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Fri Nov  7 17:21:32 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Fri,  7 Nov 2008 17:21:32 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   8 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081107172132.07E0C314415@justus2c.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Saturday, November 8, 2008

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God.
the hope of the nations,
the builder of the city that is to come.
Your love made visible in Jesus Christ
brings home the lost,
restores the sinner
and gives dignity to the despised.
In his face your light shines out,
flooding lives with goodness and truth,
gathering into one in your kingdom
a divided and broken humanity.
Therefore with all who can give voice in your creation
we glorify your name,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung. 

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

Psalm 79

O God, the heathen have come into your inheritance;
   they have profaned your holy temple;*
 they have made Jerusalem a heap of rubble.
They have given the bodies of your servants
   as food for the birds of the air,*
 and the flesh of your faithful ones
   to the beasts of the field.
They have shed their blood like water
   on every side of Jerusalem,*
 and there was no one to bury them.
We have become a reproach to our neighbours,*
 an object of scorn and derision to those around us.
How long will you be angry, O Lord?*
 will your fury blaze like fire for ever?
Pour out your wrath upon the heathen
   who have not known you*
 and upon the kingdoms
   that have not called upon your name.
For they have devoured Jacob*
 and made his dwelling a ruin.
Remember not our past sins;
   let your compassion be swift to meet us;*
 for we have been brought very low.
Help us, O God our Saviour, for the glory of your name;*
 deliver us and forgive us our sins, for your name's sake.<!-- v10
     [
Why should the heathen say, 'Where is their God?'*
 Let it be known among the heathen and in our sight
   that you avenge the shedding
   of your servants' blood.]
Let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners
   come before you,*
 and by your great might
   spare those who are condemned to die.<!-- v12
     [
May the revilings with which
   they reviled you, O Lord,*
 return sevenfold into their bosoms.]
We are your people and the sheep of your pasture;*
 we will give you thanks for ever
   and show forth your praise from age to age.

A Song of the Redeemed (Revelation 7.9,10,14b-17)

Behold, a great multitude
which no one could number, 
>From every nation, 
from all tribes and peoples and tongues,
standing before the throne and the Lamb. 
They were clothed in white robes 
and had palms in their hands, 
and they cried with a loud voice, saying, 
'Salvation belongs to our God 
who sits on the throne,  
and to the Lamb.' 
These are they 
who have come out of the great tribulation, 
they have washed their robes 
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; 
Therefore they stand before the throne of God,
whom they serve day and night within the temple. 
And the One who sits upon the throne . 
will shelter them with his presence. 
They shall never again feel hunger or thirst, . 
the sun shall not strike them, 
nor any scorching heat. 
For the Lamb at the heart of the throne 
will be their Shepherd, 
He will guide them to springs of living water, 
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. 

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 [Deuteronomy 19:11-end]:

But if someone at enmity with another lies in wait and attacks and takes the life of that
person, and flees into one of these cities, then the elders of the killer's city shall send
to have the culprit taken from there and handed over to the avenger of blood to be put
to death. Show no pity; you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, so that
it may go well with you.

You must not move your neighbour's boundary marker, set up by former generations,
on the property that will be allotted to you in the land that the Lord your God is giving
you to possess.

A single witness shall not suffice to convict a person of any crime or wrongdoing in
connection with any offence that may be committed. Only on the evidence of two or
three witnesses shall a charge be sustained. If a malicious witness comes forward to
accuse someone of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before
the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days, and the
judges shall make a thorough inquiry. If the witness is a false witness, having testified
falsely against another, then you shall do to the false witness just as the false witness
had meant to do to the other. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. The rest
shall hear and be afraid, and a crime such as this shall never again be committed among
you. Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for
foot. 

HYMN 
Words: Gerhard Tersteegen, 1729;
trans. Frederick William Foster and John Miller, 1789;
alt. William Mercer, 1854
Music: Arnsberg 
http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/g/g250.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

God reveals his presence:
let us now adore him,
and with awe appear before him.
God is in his temple:
all within keep silence,
prostrate lie with deepest reverence.
Him alone,
God we own,
him our God and Savior:
praise his Name for ever.

God reveals his presence:
hear the harps resounding!
See the hosts the throne surrounding!
"Holy, holy, holy,"
hear the hymn ascending,
angels saints, their voices blending!
Bow thine ear
to us here:
hear, O Christ, the praises
that thy Church now raises.

O thou Font of blessing,
purify my spirit,
trusting only in thy merit.
Like the holy angels
who behold thy glory,
may I ceaselessly adore thee.
Let thy will
ever still
rule thy Church terrestrial,
as the hosts celestial.

SECOND READING [Matthew 28:11-end]:

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests
everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders, they
devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, 'You must
say, "His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep." If this
comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.' So
they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among
the Jews to this day.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed
them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came
and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go
therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I
have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'

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.

Eternal God,
conceiver and shaper,
ruler and saviour of the world,
we bless you that, awake and aware,
we are free to praise you.
Bound in the family of Christ
to worshippers in every land,
we worship you in our mother tongue
as others do in theirs.
Deepen our resolve and strengthen our hands
that we might be part of your pattern and praise. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

May the God of peace sanctify us:
may God so strengthen our hearts in holiness
that we may be blameless before God
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with his saints. 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 adapted from _Common Worship: Times and Seasons_,
material from which is included in this service is copyright (c) The Archbishops'
Council, 2004. Used with permission. The closing prayer is 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 3:13

The intercessions are (c) 2000, The Church of Ireland Central Communications
Board. The collect is from Gathering for Worship, The Baptist Union of Great
Britain.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sat Nov  8 19:47:34 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sat,  8 Nov 2008 19:47:34 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   9 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081108194734.16EFC313C21@justus2c.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Sunday, November 9, 2008
The Third Sunday before Advent

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God.
for all the saints
who have gone before us,
who have spoken to our hearts,
and have touched us with your fire.
Blessed are you, O God,
for all the saints
who live beside us,
whose weakness and strengths
are woven with our own.
Blessed are you, O God,
who live beyond us,
who challenge us
to change the world with them.
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 21

The king rejoices in your strength, O Lord;*
 how greatly he exults in your victory!
You have given him his heart's desire;*
 you have not denied him the request of his lips.
For you meet him with blessings of prosperity,*
 and set a crown of fine gold upon his head.
He asked you for life and you gave it to him;*
 length of days, for ever and ever.
His honour is great, because of your victory;*
 splendour and majesty have you bestowed upon him.
For you will give him everlasting felicity*
 and will make him glad with the joy of your presence.
For the king puts his trust in the Lord;*
 because of the loving-kindness of the Most High,
   he will not fall.
Your hand will lay hold upon all your enemies;*
 your right hand will seize all those who hate you.
You will make them like a fiery furnace*
 at the time of your appearing, O Lord;
You will swallow them up in your wrath,*
 and fire shall consume them.
You will destroy their offspring from the land*
 and their descendants
   from among the peoples of the earth.
Though they intend evil against you
   and devise wicked schemes,*
 yet they shall not prevail.
For you will put them to flight*
 and aim your arrows at them.
Be exalted, O Lord, in your might;*
 we will sing and praise your power.

Psalm 22:22-end

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 Tobit (Tobit 13.1,3,4-6a)

Blessed be God, who lives for ever,  
whose reign endures throughout all ages. 
Declare God's praise before the nations,  
you who are the children of Israel. 
For if our God has scattered you among them,  
there too has he shown you his greatness. 
Exalt him in the sight of the living,  
because he is our Lord and God and our Father for ever. 
Though God punishes you for your wickedness,  
mercy will be shown to you all. 
God will gather you from every nation,  
from wherever you have been scattered. 
When you turn to the Lord 
with all your heart and soul,  
God will hide his face from you no more. 
See what the Lord has done for you  
and give thanks with a loud voice. 
Praise the Lord of righteousness  
and exalt the King of the ages. 

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 [Joel 3:9-17]:

Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare war,
   stir up the warriors.
Let all the soldiers draw near,
   let them come up.
Beat your ploughshares into swords,
   and your pruning-hooks into spears;
   let the weakling say, 'I am a warrior.'

Come quickly,
   all you nations all around,
   gather yourselves there.
Bring down your warriors, O Lord.
Let the nations rouse themselves,
   and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat;
for there I will sit to judge
   all the neighbouring nations.

Put in the sickle,
   for the harvest is ripe.
Go in, tread,
   for the wine press is full.
The vats overflow,
   for their wickedness is great.

Multitudes, multitudes,
   in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
   in the valley of decision.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
   and the stars withdraw their shining.

The Lord roars from Zion,
   and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
   and the heavens and the earth shake.
But the Lord is a refuge for his people,
   a stronghold for the people of Israel.

So you shall know that I, the Lord your God,
   dwell in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
   and strangers shall never again pass through it. 

HYMN 
Words: Scottish Paraphrases, 1781
Music: Bishopthorpe

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/b/b074.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Behold! the mountain of the Lord
in latter days shall rise
on mountain tops above the hills,
and draw the wondering eyes.

To this the joyful nations round,
all tribes and tongues, shall flow;
up to the hill of God, they'll say,
and to his house we'll go.

The beam that shines from Zion hill
shall lighten every land;
the King who reigns in Salem's towers
shall all the world command.

Among the nations he shall judge;
his judgments truth shall guide;
his scepter shall protect the just,
and quell the sinner's pride.

No strife shall vex Messiah's reign
or mar the peaceful years;
to plowshares men shall beat their swords,
to pruning-hooks their spears.

No longer hosts, encountering hosts,
shall crowds of slain deplore;
they hang the trumpet in the hall,
and study war no more.

Come then, O come, from every land
to worship at his shrine;
and, walking in the light of God,
with holy beauties shine.

Alternate versions of verses 5-7:

No strife shall rage/vex, nor hostile feuds
disturb those peaceful years;
to ploughshares men shall beat their swords,
to pruning-hooks their spears.

No longer hosts, encountering hosts,
their millions slain deplore;
they hang the trumpet in the hall,
and study war no more.

Come then, O house of Jacob! come
to worship at his shrine;
and, walking in the light of God,
with holy beauties shine.

SECOND READING [Matthew 13:36-52]:

Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him,
saying, 'Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.' He answered, 'The one
who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed
are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the
enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers
are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the
end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his
kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace
of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will
shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

'The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and
hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

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

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

'Have you understood all this?' They answered, 'Yes.' And he said to them,
'Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the
master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.' 

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

Prayer:
God is for us a refuge and strength. In faith let us bring our prayers to the Lord.

We pray on this feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica for the Church
throughout the world, and especially for Pope Benedict: that, filled with the power of
the Holy Spirit, we may together fulfil our calling to live as the body of Christ. Lord,
in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray on this Remembrance Sunday for all those who have died in war, that they
may rest in peace; as we remember this week the 90th anniversary of the end of the
First World War, we pray for an end to conflict and violence in our world today.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for President-elect Barack Obama and his family, as he prepares to take up
office in the United States: that he may be filled with wisdom and strength to face the
many challenges that await him, and that he may bring new hope of peace, justice and
equality to an eager world. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, suffering as a result of
the conflict in their country: that there may be reconciliation and an end to violence
among the peoples of that land, and that the relief agencies seeking to bring aid to
those in need may have the necessary resources and support. 
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, you promise to be close to us when we call upon you. We ask you to
hear the prayers that we make through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Eternal God, 
you have taught us that the night is far spent 
and the day is at hand: 
Keep us awake and alert, watching for your kingdom, 
so that when Christ, the bridegroom, 
comes we may go out joyfully to meet him, 
and with him enter into the marriage feast 
that you have prepared for all who truly love you; 
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

God beyond answers,
Lord beyond words,
Spirit beyond imagining,
move us today. 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 adapted from a prayer by Janet Morley. The closing prayer is from
the Pray Now website, http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/wpprayer9.htm

The collect is 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 Nov  9 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sun,  9 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  10 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081109170000.DD724314299@justus2c.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Monday, November 10, 2008
Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, Teacher of the Faith, 461

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God.
for all the saints
who have gone before us,
who have spoken to our hearts,
and have touched us with your fire.
Blessed are you, O God,
for all the saints
who live beside us,
whose weakness and strengths
are woven with our own.
Blessed are you, O God,
who live beyond us,
who challenge us
to change the world with them.
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 the New Creation (Isaiah 43.15,16,18,19,20c,21)

'I am the Lord, your Holy One,  
the Creator of Israel, your King.' 
Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea,  
a path in the mighty waters, 
'Remember not the former things,  
nor consider the things of old. 
'Behold, I am doing a new thing;  
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? 
'I will make a way in the wilderness 
and rivers in the desert,  
to give drink to my chosen people, 
'The people whom I formed for myself,  
that they might declare my praise.' 

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 [Deuteronomy 24:10-18]:

When you make your neighbour a loan of any kind, you shall not go into the house to
take the pledge. You shall wait outside, while the person to whom you are making the
loan brings the pledge out to you. If the person is poor, you shall not sleep in the
garment given you as the pledge. You shall give the pledge back by sunset, so that
your neighbour may sleep in the cloak and bless you; and it will be to your credit
before the Lord your God.

You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy labourers, whether other
Israelites or aliens who reside in your land in one of your towns. You shall pay them
their wages daily before sunset, because they are poor and their livelihood depends on
them; otherwise they might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt.

Parents shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death
for their parents; only for their own crimes may persons be put to death.

You shall not deprive a resident alien or an orphan of justice; you shall not take a
widow's garment in pledge. Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord
your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this. 

HYMN 
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 [1 Thessalonians 1]:

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers,
constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of
love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and
sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel
came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full
conviction; just as you know what kind of people we proved to be among you for your
sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you
received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example
to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded
forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place where your faith
in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people
of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how
you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son
from heaven, whom he raised from the dead Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath
that is coming. 

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

Prayer:
Sovereign King,
we praise you for your just and righteous reign over the cosmos:
for the order you give to creation . . .
for your sovereign rule over the nations . . .
for your faithfulness to your church . . .
for your lordship in our lives . . .

You are at once King and servant, willing to give your life
and caring even for what we might count as insignificant.
So we approach your throne knowing you will listen to our prayers
for creation and its care . . .
for the nations of the world . . .
for our nation and its leaders . . .
for this community and those who are in authority . . .
for the church universal as it works on your behalf . . .
for this local church in its ministry . . .
for persons with particular needs . . .
We pray in your name, O Christ, our sovereign servant King.
Amen.

Mighty and tender God,
voice of the voiceless,
power of the powerless:
we praise you for your vision
of a community of wholeness,
a realm of peace,
in which all hunger and thirst are nourished,
in which the stranger is welcomed,
the hurting are healed,
and the captive is set free.
Guide us by your truth and love
until we and all your people
make manifest your reign of justice and compassion.
We pray in the name of your anointed one, our servant-king,
to whom with you and the Spirit, one Holy God,
be honor, glory, and blessing,
this day and forever.  Amen.

O Lord our God, 
grant that your Church, 
following the example of your servant Leo of Rome, 
may hold fast the great mystery of our redemption, 
and adore the one true Christ, 
truly God and truly Human, 
neither divided from our human nature 
nor separate from your divine Being;
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

God beyond answers,
Lord beyond words,
Spirit beyond imagining,
move us today. 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 adapted from a prayer by Janet Morley. The closing prayer is from
the Pray Now website, http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/wpprayer9.htm

The first collect and  intercession is reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook,  
2004, CRC Publications.

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

Leo I (440-461) and Gregory I (590-604) are the only two bishops of Rome
commonly called "the Great." Leo, at a time when the capital of the Empire
had been moved to Constantinople, and the government even in Italy no longer
had its headquarters at Rome, was the most important official in the city. To
him fell such prosaic tasks as supervising the distribution of grain imports and
reorganizing the municipal fire department. When Attila and the Huns invaded
Italy in 452, he negotiated their withdrawal, and when Gaiseric (or Genseric)
the Vandal captured Rome three years later, it was Leo who prevented the
total destruction of the city. It is perhaps not surprising that the theory of papal
supremacy gained much ground in his day.
In his day there were disgreements about the correct way to state the truth that
Jesus Christ is both God and man. In 449 Leo wrote a letter (known as the
Tome of Leo) to Bishop Flavian of Constantinople, in which he affirmed that
Christ has two Natures in one Person. The letter was read in 451 by the
Council of Chalcedon (the fourth Ecumenical Council), and judged by them to
be sound doctrine. It contributed much to the creedal statements of that
council.
Leo's influence on church government will naturally get mixed reviews. But for
his defense of the belief that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto
himself, all Christians may thank God.
>From a sermon by Leo the Great:
"Although the universal Church of God is constituted of distinct orders of
members, still, in spite of the many parts of its holy body, the Church subsists
as an integral whole, just as the Apostle says: we are all one in Christ. . . For
all, regenerated in Christ, are made kings by the sign of the cross; they are
consecrated priests by the oil of the Holy Spirit, so that beyond the special
service of our ministry as priests, all spiritual and mature Christians know that
they are a royal race and are sharers in the office of the priesthood. For what is
more king-like that to find yourself ruler over your body after having
surrendered your soul to God? And what is more priestly than to promise the
Lord a pure conscience and to offer him in love unblemished victims on the
altar of one's heart? "


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Mon Nov 10 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  11 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081110170000.5BAB8314686@justus2c.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Martin, Bishop of Tours, c.397
Remembrance Day

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God.
for all the saints
who have gone before us,
who have spoken to our hearts,
and have touched us with your fire.
Blessed are you, O God,
for all the saints
who live beside us,
whose weakness and strengths
are woven with our own.
Blessed are you, O God,
who live beyond us,
who challenge us
to change the world with them.
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 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,*
 abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
He shall say to the Lord,
   'You are my refuge and my stronghold,*
 my God in whom I put my trust.'
He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter*
 and from the deadly pestilence.
He shall cover you with his pinions,
   and you shall find refuge under his wings;*
 his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of any terror by night,*
 nor of the arrow that flies by day;
Of the plague that stalks in the darkness,*
 nor of the sickness that lays waste at midday.
A thousand shall fall at your side
   and ten thousand at your right hand,*
 but it shall not come near you.
Your eyes have only to behold*
 to see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord your refuge,*
 and the Most High your habitation.
There shall no evil happen to you,*
 neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over you,*
 to keep you in all your ways.
They shall bear you in their hands,*
 lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and adder;*
 you shall trample the young lion and the serpent
   under your feet.
Because he is bound to me in love,
   therefore will I deliver him;*
 I will protect him, because he knows my name.
He shall call upon me and I will answer him;*
 I am with him in trouble,
   I will rescue him and bring him to honour.
With long life will I satisfy him,*
 and show him my salvation.

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 147:1-12

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 [Deuteronomy 25:1-3, 13-16]:

Suppose two persons have a dispute and enter into litigation, and the judges decide
between them, declaring one to be in the right and the other to be in the wrong. If the
one in the wrong deserves to be flogged, the judge shall make that person lie down
and be beaten in his presence with the number of lashes proportionate to the offence.
Forty lashes may be given but not more; if more lashes than these are given, your
neighbour will be degraded in your sight.

You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, large and small. You shall not
have in your house two kinds of measures, large and small. You shall have only a full
and honest weight; you shall have only a full and honest measure, so that your days
may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. For all who do such
things, all who act dishonestly, are abhorrent to the Lord your God. 

HYMN 
Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748), 1719
Tune: St. Anne

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/o/o196.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:

Under the shadow of thy throne,
thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received her frame,
from everlasting thou art God,
to endless years the same.

A thousand ages in thy sight
are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
bears all its sons away;
they fly, forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.

O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
be thou our guide while troubles last,
and our eternal home!

SECOND READING [1 Thessalonians 2:1-16]:

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain,
but though we had already suffered and been shamefully maltreated at Philippi, as you
know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great
opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery,
but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the
gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our
hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery
or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or
from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were
gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we
care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but
also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

You remember our labour and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so
that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was
towards you believers. As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with
his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you should lead a life
worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of
God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really
is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers. For you, brothers and sisters,
became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you
suffered the same things from your own compatriots as they did from the Jews, who
killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out; they displease God and
oppose everyone by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be
saved. Thus they have constantly been filling up the measure of their sins; but God's
wrath has overtaken them at last.

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

Prayer:
Let us pray for the peace of the world:
for statesmen and rulers,
that they may have wisdom to know 
and courage to do what is right ...

for all who work to improve international relationships, 
that they may find the true way to reconcile people 
of different race, colour, and creed ...

and for men and women the world over, 
that they may have justice and freedom, 
and live in security and peace ...

Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Most gracious God and Father,
in whose will is our peace:
turn our hearts and the hearts of all to yourself,
that by the power of your Spirit
the peace which is founded on righteousness
may be established throughout the whole world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray for all who suffer as a result of war:

for the injured and the disabled,
for the mentally distressed,
and for those whose faith in God and man has been
weakened or destroyed ...

for the homeless and refugees,
for those who are hungry,
and for all who have lost their livelihood and security ...

for those who mourn their dead,
those who have lost husband or wife,
children or parents,
and especially for those who have no hope in Christ
to sustain them in their grief ...

Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
infinite in wisdom, love, and power:
have compassion on those for whom we pray;
and help us to use all suffering
in the cause of your kingdom;
through him who gave himself for us on the cross,
Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. Amen. 

Living Lord,
you have made this day your own
and called us out of darkness into your marvellous light;
open the gates of righteousness
that your pilgrim people may enter
and be built into a living temple
on the cornerstone of our salvation,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
       
God all powerful, 
who called Martin from the armies of this world 
to be a faithful soldier of Christ: 
give us grace to follow him 
in his love and compassion for the needy 
and enable your Church to claim for all people 
their inheritance as children of God; 
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

Let us pledge ourselves anew to the service of God
and our fellow men and women:
that we may help, encourage, and comfort others,
and support those working for the relief of the needy
and for the peace and welfare of the nations:

Lord God our Father,
we pledge ourselves
to serve you and all humankind,
in the cause of peace,
for the relief of want and suffering,
and for the praise of your name.
Guide us by your Spirit;
give us wisdom;
give us courage;
give us hope;
and keep us faithful
now and always. 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 adapted from a prayer by Janet Morley. The intercession and
closing prayer are from Remembrance Day services found in _Common Worship:
Times and Seasons (draft)_, material from which is included in this service is
copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2004.

Martin was born around 330 of pagan parents. His father was a soldier, who enlisted
Martin in the army at the age of fifteen. One winter day he saw an ill-clad beggar at the
gate of the city of Amiens. Martin had no money to give, but he cut his cloak in half and
gave half to the beggar. (Paintings of the scene, such as that by El Greco, show Martin,
even without the cloak, more warmly clad than the beggar, which rather misses the point.)
In a dream that night, Martin saw Christ wearing the half-cloak. He had for some time
considered becoming a Christian, and this ended his wavering. He was promptly baptized.
At the end of his next military campaign, he asked to be released from the army, saying:
"Hitherto I have faithfully served Caesar. Let me now serve Christ." He was accused of
cowardice, and offered to stand unarmed between the contending armies. He was
imprisoned, but released when peace was signed.

He became a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers, a chief opponent in the West of the Arians, who
denied the full deity of Christ, and who had the favor of the emperor Constantius.
Returning to his parents' home in Illyricum (Yugoslavia, approximately), he opposed the
Arians with such effectiveness that he was publicly scourged and exiled. He was
subsequently driven from Milan, and eventually returned to Gaul. There he founded the
first monastary in Gaul, which lasted until the French Revolution.

In 371 he was elected bishop of Tours. His was a mainly pagan diocese, but his instruction
and personal manner of life prevailed. In one instance, the pagan priests agreed to fell their
idol, a large fir tree, if Martin would stand directly in the path of its fall. He did so, and it
missed him very narrowly. When an officer of the Imperial Guard arrived with a batch of
prisoners who were to be tortured and executed the next day, Martin intervened and
secured their release.

In the year 384, the heretic (Gnostic) Priscillian and six companions had been condemned
to death by the emperor Maximus. The bishops who had found them guilty in the
ecclesiastical court pressed for their execution. Martin contended that the secular power
had no authority to punish heresy, and that the excommunication by the bishops was an
adequate sentence. In this he was upheld by Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. He refused to
leave Treves until the emperor promised to reprieve them. No sooner was his back turned
than the bishops persuaded the emperor to break his promise; Priscillian and his followers
were executed. This was the first time that heresy was punished by death.

Martin was furious, and excommunicated the bishops responsible. But afterwards, he took
them back into communion in exchange for a pardon from Maximus for certain men
condemned to death, and for the emperor's promise to end the persecution of the
remaining Priscillianists. He never felt easy in his mind about this concession, and
thereafter avoided assmblies of bishops where he might encounter some of those
concerned in this affair. He died on or about 11 November 397 and his shrine at Tours
became a sanctuary for those seeking justice.

The Feast of Martin, a soldier who fought bravely and faithfully in the service of an earthly
sovereign, and then elisted in the service of Christ, is also the day of the Armistice which
marked the end of the First World War. On it we remember those who have risked or lost
their lives in what they perceived as the pursuit of justice and peace. [James Kiefer]

From steve.benner at oremus.org  Tue Nov 11 20:55:58 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:55:58 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  12 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081111205558.B077F313DCF@justus2c.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God.
for all the saints
who have gone before us,
who have spoken to our hearts,
and have touched us with your fire.
Blessed are you, O God,
for all the saints
who live beside us,
whose weakness and strengths
are woven with our own.
Blessed are you, O God,
who live beyond us,
who challenge us
to change the world with them.
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 92

It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord,*
 and to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning*
 and of your faithfulness in the night season;
On the psaltery and on the lyre*
 and to the melody of the harp.
For you have made me glad by your acts, O Lord;*
 and I shout for joy because of the works of your hands.
Lord, how great are your works!*
 your thoughts are very deep.
The dullard does not know,
   nor does the fool understand,*
 that though the wicked grow like weeds,
   and all the workers of iniquity flourish,
They flourish only to be destroyed for ever;*
 but you, O Lord, are exalted for evermore.
For lo, your enemies, O Lord,
   lo, your enemies shall perish,*
 and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
But my horn you have exalted
   like the horns of wild bulls;*
 I am anointed with fresh oil.
My eyes also gloat over my enemies,*
 and my ears rejoice to hear the doom of the wicked
   who rise up against me.
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,*
 and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon.
Those who are planted in the house of the Lord*
 shall flourish in the courts of our God;
They shall still bear fruit in old age;*
 they shall be green and succulent;
That they may show how upright the Lord is,*
 my rock, in whom there is no fault.

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 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 [Deuteronomy 26:1-13]:

When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an
inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the
first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your
God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord
your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in
office at that time, and say to him, 'Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have
come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.' When the priest
takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your
God, you shall make this response before the Lord your God: 'A wandering Aramean
was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number,
and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated
us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labour on us, we cried to the Lord, the
God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and
our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an
outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and
he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.'
You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your
God. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall
celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your
house.

When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year (which is
the year of the tithe), giving it to the Levites, the aliens, the orphans, and the widows,
so that they may eat their fill within your towns, then you shall say before the Lord
your God: 'I have removed the sacred portion from the house, and I have given it to
the Levites, the resident aliens, the orphans, and the widows, in accordance with your
entire commandment that you commanded me; I have neither transgressed nor
forgotten any of your commandments.'

HYMN 
Words: Henry Alford, 1867
Music: Alford

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t039.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Ten thousand times ten thousand
in sparkling raiment bright,
the armies of the ransomed saints
throng up the steeps of light;
'tis finished, all is finished,
their fight with death and sin;
fling open wide the golden gates,
and let the victors in.

What rush of alleluias
fills all the earth and sky!
what ringing of a thousand harps
bespeaks the triumph nigh!
O day, for which creation
and all its tribes were made;
O joy, for all its former woes
a thousandfold repaid!

O then what raptured greetings
on Canaan's happy shore;
what knitting severed friendships up
where partings are no more!
Then eyes with joy shall sparkle,
that brimmed with tears of late;
orphans no longer fatherless,
nor widows desolate.

Bring near thy great salvation,
thou Lamb for sinners slain;
fill up the roll of thine elect,
then take thy power, and reign;
appear, Desire of nations,
thine exiles long for home;
show in the heaven thy promised sign;
thou Prince and Savior, come.

SECOND READING [1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13]:

As for us, brothers and sisters, when, for a short time, we were made orphans by being
separated from you in person, not in heart we longed with great eagerness to see
you face to face. For we wanted to come to you certainly I, Paul, wanted to again
and again but Satan blocked our way. For what is our hope or joy or crown of
boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? Yes, you are our glory
and joy!

Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens; and
we sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in proclaiming the gospel of
Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, so that no one
would be shaken by these persecutions. Indeed, you yourselves know that this is what
we are destined for. In fact, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we
were to suffer persecution; so it turned out, as you know. For this reason, when I
could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that somehow
the tempter had tempted you and that our labour had been in vain.

But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of
your faith and love. He has told us also that you always remember us kindly and long
to see us just as we long to see you. For this reason, brothers and sisters, during all
our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith.
For we now live, if you continue to stand firm in the Lord. How can we thank God
enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?
Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore
whatever is lacking in your faith.

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And
may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as
we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you
may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all
his saints. 

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

Prayer:
Jesus our exalted Lord has been given all authority.
Let us seek his intercession,
that our prayers may be perfected by his prayer.
Jesus Christ, great high priest, living for ever to intercede for us:
pray for your Church, your broken body in the world  
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus Christ, King of righteousness,
enthroned at the right hand of the majesty on high:
pray for the world, and make it subject to your gentle rule  
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus Christ, Son of man, drawing humanity into the life of God:
pray for your brothers and sisters in need, distress or sorrow  
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus Christ, pioneer of our salvation,
bringing us to your glory through your death and resurrection:
pray for all who are dying,
that they may trust in your promises  
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus Christ, Lord of all things,
ascended far above from the heavens and filling the universe:
pray for us who receive the gifts you give us for
work in your service  
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus Christ, first-fruits of the new creation,
keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit
and in the bond of peace,
until you bring the whole created order to worship at your feet;
for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

God the Father,
help us to hear the call of Christ the King
and to follow in his service,
whose kingdom has no end;
for he reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, one glory. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

God beyond answers,
Lord beyond words,
Spirit beyond imagining,
move us today. 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 adapted from a prayer by Janet Morley. The closing prayer is from
the Pray Now website, http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/wpprayer9.htm

The intercession and collect are from _Common Worship: Times and Seasons_,
material from which is included in this service is copyright (c) The Archbishops'
Council, 2006. Used with permission.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Wed Nov 12 17:17:54 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:17:54 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  13 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081112171754.C4194314084@justus2c.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Thursday, November 13, 2008
Charles Simeon, Pastor, Evangelical Divine, 1836

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God.
for all the saints
who have gone before us,
who have spoken to our hearts,
and have touched us with your fire.
Blessed are you, O God,
for all the saints
who live beside us,
whose weakness and strengths
are woven with our own.
Blessed are you, O God,
who live beyond us,
who challenge us
to change the world with them.
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 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 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 [Deuteronomy 28:1-14]:

If you will only obey the Lord your God, by diligently observing all his commandments
that I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the
nations of the earth; all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you
obey the Lord your God:

Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.

Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your
livestock, both the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock.

Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading-bowl.

Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you; they
shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways. The Lord will
command the blessing upon you in your barns, and in all that you undertake; he will
bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord will establish you
as his holy people, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord
your God and walk in his ways. All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are
called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. The Lord will make
you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and
in the fruit of your ground in the land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to give
you. The Lord will open for you his rich storehouse, the heavens, to give the rain of
your land in its season and to bless all your undertakings. You will lend to many
nations, but you will not borrow. The Lord will make you the head, and not the tail;
you shall be only at the top, and not at the bottom if you obey the commandments of
the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today, by diligently observing them,
and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I am commanding you today,
either to the right or to the left, following other gods to serve them. 

HYMN 
Words: Timothy Dudley-Smith
Tune: Bridegroom

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/n/n056.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Not for tongues of heaven's angels,
not for wisdom to discern,
not for faith that masters mountains,
for this better gift we yearn:
may love be ours, O Lord.

Love is humble, love is gentle,
love is tender, true, and kind;
love is gracious, ever patient,
generous of heart and mind:
may love be ours, O Lord.

Never jealous, never selfish,
love will not rejoice in wrong;
never boastful nor resentful,
love believes and suffers long:
may love be ours, O Lord.

In the day this world is fading,
faith and hope will play their part;
but when Christ is seen in glory,
love shall reign in every heart:
may love be ours, O Lord.

SECOND READING [1 Thessalonians 4:1-12]:

Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you
learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing),
you should do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you
through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you
abstain from fornication; that each one of you knows how to control your own body in
holiness and honour, not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
that no one wrongs or exploits a brother or sister in this matter, because the Lord is an
avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly
warned you. For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. Therefore whoever
rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone
write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; and
indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge
you, beloved, to do so more and more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own
affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, so that you may behave
properly towards outsiders and be dependent on no one. 

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...

O God,
you create order out of our chaos,
you turn over our neatly-ordered plans:
Send your revolutionary Holy Spirit into our lives,
that in all we do we may follow you;
through Jesus Christ, the giver of true freedom. Amen.

Eternal God,
who raised up Charles Simeon
to preach the good news of Jesus Christ
and inspire your people in service and mission:
grant that we with all your Church may worship the Saviour,
turn in sorrow from our sins and walk in the way of holiness;
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

God beyond answers,
Lord beyond words,
Spirit beyond imagining,
move us today. 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 adapted from a prayer by Janet Morley. The closing prayer is from
the Pray Now website, http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/wpprayer9.htm

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

The first collect is by Stephen Benner, 2004. 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.

Two hundred years ago, students at the English Universities were required to
attend church regularly, and to receive the Holy Communion at least once a
year. This latter requirement often had bad effects, in that it encouraged
hypocrisy and an irreverent reception of the sacrament. Occasionally, however,
it had a very good effect, as with the Cambridge student Charles Simeon. He
wrote:
"On 29 January 1779 I came to college. On 2 February I understood that at
division of term I must attend the Lord's Supper. The Provost absolutely
required it. Conscience told me that, if I must go, I must repent and turn to
God."
By this experience his life was transformed. Upon finishing his college work he
was ordained, and shortly appointed chaplain of Holy Trinity, Cambridge,
where he remained for 55 years, until shortly before his death on 12 November
1836. His ministry helped to transform the lives of many undergraduates, of
whom we may mention two in particular. Henry Martyn, inspired by Simeon,
abandoned his intention of going into law and instead devoted his life and his
considerable talents to preaching the Gospel in India and Persia. William
Wilberforce, also led in part by Simeon's ministry of teaching and example,
devoted his life to the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire.
Simeon's enthusiasm and zeal brought him much ridicule and abuse, which he
bore uncomplainingly. Though he himself remained in one place, his influence
extended through the Anglican world. [James Kiefer]


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Thu Nov 13 17:00:01 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:00:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  14 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081113170001.A9C893140FC@justus2c.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Friday, November 14, 2008
Samuel Seabury, First Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA, 1796

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God.
for all the saints
who have gone before us,
who have spoken to our hearts,
and have touched us with your fire.
Blessed are you, O God,
for all the saints
who live beside us,
whose weakness and strengths
are woven with our own.
Blessed are you, O God,
who live beyond us,
who challenge us
to change the world with them.
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 102

Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come before you;*
 hide not your face from me in the day of my trouble.
Incline your ear to me;*
 when I call, make haste to answer me,
For my days drift away like smoke,*
 and my bones are hot as burning coals.
My heart is smitten like grass and withered,*
 so that I forget to eat my bread.
Because of the voice of my groaning*
 I am but skin and bones.
I have become like a vulture in the wilderness,*
 like an owl among the ruins.
I lie awake and groan;*
 I am like a sparrow, lonely on a house-top.
My enemies revile me all day long,*
 and those who scoff at me
   have taken an oath against me.
For I have eaten ashes for bread*
 and mingled my drink with weeping.
Because of your indignation and wrath*
 you have lifted me up and thrown me away.
My days pass away like a shadow,*
 and I wither like the grass.
But you, O Lord, endure for ever,*
 and your name from age to age.
You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
   for it is time to have mercy upon her;*
 indeed, the appointed time has come.
For your servants love her very rubble,*
 and are moved to pity even for her dust.
The nations shall fear your name, O Lord,*
 and all the kings of the earth your glory.
For the Lord will build up Zion,*
 and his glory will appear.
He will look with favour on the prayer of the homeless;*
 he will not despise their plea.
Let this be written for a future generation,*
 so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord.
For the Lord looked down from his holy place on high;*
 from the heavens he beheld the earth;
That he might hear the groan of the captive*
 and set free those condemned to die;
That they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord,*
 and his praise in Jerusalem;
When the peoples are gathered together,*
 and the kingdoms also, to serve the Lord.
He has brought down my strength before my time;*
 he has shortened the number of my days;
And I said, 'O my God,
   do not take me away in the midst of my days;*
 your years endure throughout all generations.
'In the beginning, O Lord,
   you laid the foundations of the earth,*
 and the heavens are the work of your hands;
'They shall perish, but you will endure;
   they all shall wear out like a garment;*
 as clothing you will change them,
   and they shall be changed;
'But you are always the same,*
 and your years will never end.
'The children of your servants shall continue,*
 and their offspring shall stand fast in your sight.'

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 [Deuteronomy 29:9-21]:

Diligently observe the words of this covenant, in order that you may succeed in
everything that you do.
You stand assembled today, all of you, before the Lord your God the leaders of your
tribes, your elders, and your officials, all the men of Israel, your children, your women,
and the aliens who are in your camp, both those who cut your wood and those who
draw your water  to enter into the covenant of the Lord your God, sworn by an oath,
which the Lord your God is making with you today; in order that he may establish you
today as his people, and that he may be your God, as he promised you and as he swore
to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I am making this covenant,
sworn by an oath, not only with you who stand here with us today before the Lord our
God, but also with those who are not here with us today. You know how we lived in
the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which
you passed. You have seen their detestable things, the filthy idols of wood and stone,
of silver and gold, that were among them. It may be that there is among you a man or
woman, or a family or tribe, whose heart is already turning away from the Lord our
God to serve the gods of those nations. It may be that there is among you a root
sprouting poisonous and bitter growth. All who hear the words of this oath and bless
themselves, thinking in their hearts, 'We are safe even though we go our own stubborn
ways' (thus bringing disaster on moist and dry alike)  the Lord will be unwilling to
pardon them, for the Lord's anger and passion will smoke against them. All the curses
written in this book will descend on them, and the Lord will blot out their names from
under heaven. The Lord will single them out from all the tribes of Israel for calamity,
in accordance with all the curses of the covenant written in this book of the law. 

HYMN 
Words: Fred Pratt Green (c) used with permission
Tune: Herongate, Brockham, Illsley

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t089.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

The church of Christ in every age,
beset by change but Spirit-led,
must claim and test its heritage
and keep on rising from the dead.

Across the world, across the street,
the victims of injustice cry
for shelter and for bread to eat,
and never live until they die.

The let the servant church arise,
a caring church that longs to be
a partner in Christ's sacrifice,
and clothed in Christ's humanity.

For he alone, whose blood was shed,
can cure the fever in our blood,
and teach us how to share our bread
and feed the starving multitude.

We have no mission but to serve
in full obedience to our Lord:
to care for all, without reserve,
and spread his liberating word.

SECOND READING [1 Thessalonians 4:13-end]:

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have
died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those
who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are
alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who
have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and
with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will
rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together
with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever.
Therefore encourage one another with these words. 

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

Prayer:
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
of apostles and prophets:
in every age you have chosen people to work for you,
by showing justice and doing mercy.
Let the Church share Christ's own work
as prophet, priest and king,
reconciling the world to your law and your love,
and telling of your mighty power.

You have called us out of the world, O God,
and chosen us to witness to the nations.
Give us your Spirit to show the way, the truth and the life
of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Give thanks to God for the Church.
We are a chosen people.

You have appointed us as a royal priesthood, O God,
to pray for people everywhere and to declare your mercy.
We pray especially for the Episcopal Church
and the Churches of the Anglican Communion. 
Give us your Spirit that we may be drawn to each other in love.
Give thanks to God for the Church.
We are the household of God.

You have baptized us into one family of faith,
and named us your children,
the sisters and brothers of Jesus.
Give us your Spirit to live in peace
and serve each other gladly.
Give thanks to God for the Church.
We are a temple for your Spirit.

You have built us up, O God,
into a temple for worship.
Give us your Spirit to know that there is no other foundation for us
than Jesus Christ, our Rock and our Redeemer.
Give thanks to God for the Church.
We are a colony of heaven.

You have joined us in one body, O God,
to live for our Lord in the world.
Give us your Spirit that, working together without envy or pride,
we may serve our Lord and Head.
Give thanks to God for the Church.
We are the Body of Christ.

O God, we are your Church,
called, adopted, built up, blessed and joined to Jesus Christ.
Help us to know who we are
and in all we do to be your servants.
Give thanks to God for the Church.
And trust the Holy Spirit.

Almighty and everlasting God, 
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church 
is governed and sanctified: 
Receive our prayers and supplications, 
which we offer before you for all people in your holy Church, 
that all its members, in their vocation and ministry, 
may truly and godly serve you; 
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Eternal God,
who blessed your servant Samuel Seabury
with the gift of perseverance
to renew the Anglican inheritance
in the churches of North America:
grant us unity in faith, steadfastness in hope,
and constancy in love,
that we may ever be true members
of the body of your Son Jesus Christ,
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

God beyond answers,
Lord beyond words,
Spirit beyond imagining,
move us today. 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 adapted from a prayer by Janet Morley. The closing prayer is from
the Pray Now website, http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/wpprayer9.htm

The second collect is from _For All the Saints_, (c) General
Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, 1994.

A crucial date for members of the Episcopal Church in the United States of
America is the consecration of the first Bishop of the Anglican Communion in
the United States. During the colonial era, there had been no Anglican bishops
in the New World; and persons seeking to be ordained as clergy had had to
travel to England for the purpose. After the achievement of American
independence, it was important for the Church in the United States to have its
own bishops, and an assembly of Connecticut clergy chose Samuel Seabury to
go to England and there seek to be consecrated as a bishop.
However, the English bishops were forbidden by law to consecrate anyone
who would not take an oath of allegiance to the British Crown. He accordingly
turned to the Episcopal Church of Scotland. When the Roman Catholic king
James II was deposed in 1688, some of the Anglican clergy (including some
who had been imprisoned by James for defying him on religious issues) said
that, having sworn allegiance to James as King, they could not during his
lifetime swear allegiance to the new monarchs William and Mary. Those who
took this position were known as non-Jurors (non-swearers), and they included
almost all the bishops and clergy of the Episcopal Church in Scotland.
Accordingly, the monarchs and Parliament declared that thenceforth the official
church in Scotland should be the Presbyterian Church. The Episcopal Church
of Scotland thereafter had no recognition by the government, and for some
time operated under serious legal disablities. However, since it had no
connection with the government, it was free to consecrate Seabury without
government permission, and it did. This is why you see a Cross of St. Andrew
on the Episcopal Church flag.
In Aberdeen, 14 November 1784, Samuel Seabury was consecrated to the
Episcopate by the Bishop and the Bishop Coadjutor of Aberdeen and the
Bishop of Ross and Caithness. He thus became part of the unbroken chain of
bishops that links the Church today with the Church of the Apostles.
In return, he promised them that he would do his best to persuade the
American Church to use as its Prayer of Consecration (blessing of the bread
and wine at the Lord's Supper) the Scottish prayer, taken largely unchanged
from the 1549 Prayer Book, rather than the much shorter one in use in
England. The aforesaid prayer, adopted by the American Church with a few
modifications, has been widely regarded as one of the greatest treasures of the
Church in this country. [James Kiefer]

From steve.benner at oremus.org  Fri Nov 14 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  15 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081114170000.8165C314564@justus2c.anglican.org>

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Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
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OREMUS for Saturday, November 15, 2008

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God.
for all the saints
who have gone before us,
who have spoken to our hearts,
and have touched us with your fire.
Blessed are you, O God,
for all the saints
who live beside us,
whose weakness and strengths
are woven with our own.
Blessed are you, O God,
who live beyond us,
who challenge us
to change the world with them.
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 Redeemed (Revelation 7.9,10,14b-17)

Behold, a great multitude
which no one could number, 
>From every nation, 
from all tribes and peoples and tongues,
standing before the throne and the Lamb. 
They were clothed in white robes 
and had palms in their hands, 
and they cried with a loud voice, saying, 
'Salvation belongs to our God 
who sits on the throne,  
and to the Lamb.' 
These are they 
who have come out of the great tribulation, 
they have washed their robes 
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; 
Therefore they stand before the throne of God,
whom they serve day and night within the temple. 
And the One who sits upon the throne . 
will shelter them with his presence. 
They shall never again feel hunger or thirst, . 
the sun shall not strike them, 
nor any scorching heat. 
For the Lamb at the heart of the throne 
will be their Shepherd, 
He will guide them to springs of living water, 
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. 

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 [Deuteronomy 30:11-end]:

Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you,
nor is it too far away. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will go up to
heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?' Neither is it
beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us,
and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?' No, the word is very near to
you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.

See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey
the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving
the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees,
and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will
bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and
you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I
declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you
are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against
you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life
so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him,
and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may
live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac,
and to Jacob. 

HYMN 
Words: Thomas Olivers (1725-1799), 1770
MIDI: Leoni 

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t149.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

The God of Abraham praise,
who reigns enthroned above;
Ancient of everlasting days,
and God of love;
Jehovah, great I AM,
by earth and heaven confessed:
I bow and bless the sacred Name
for ever blessed.

The God of Abraham praise,
at whose supreme command
from earth we rise, and seek the joys
at his right hand;
we all on earth forsake,
its wisdom, fame and power;
and him our only portion make,
our Shield and Tower.

The goodly land we see,
with peace and plenty blessed:
a land of sacred liberty
and endless rest;
there milk and honey flow,
and oil and wine abound,
and trees of life for ever grow,
with mercy crowned.

There dwells the Lord, our King,
the Lord, our Righteousness,
triumphant o'er the world and sin,
the Prince of Peace;
on Zion's sacred height
his kingdom he maintains,
and, glorious with his saints in light,
for ever reigns.

The God who reigns on high,
the great archangels sing,
and "Holy, holy, holy," cry,
"Almighty King!"
Who was and is the same,
and evermore shall be:
Jehovah, Father, great I AM,
we worship thee."

The whole triumphant host
give thanks to God on high;
"Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost"
they ever cry;
hail, Abraham's God and mine;
I join the heavenly lays;
all might and majesty are thine,
and endless praise!

SECOND READING [1 Thessalonians 5:1-11]:

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to
have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the
Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, 'There is peace and security',
then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant
woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that
day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day;
we are not of the night or of darkness. So then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but
let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are
drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on
the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has
destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.
Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. 

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...

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

God beyond answers,
Lord beyond words,
Spirit beyond imagining,
move us today. 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 is adapted from a prayer by Janet Morley. The closing prayer is from
the Pray Now website, http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/wpprayer9.htm

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

From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sat Nov 15 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  16 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081115170000.9A21A31417D@justus2c.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Sunday, November 16, 2008
The Second Sunday before Advent

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God of all gods.
that you gave your beloved Son
in covenant for us.
He lived as we must live;
he died as we must die.
You raised him from death's dark domain,
and set us free to live for ever.
He speaks for us before your throne,
and brings us grace to help in time of need.
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 75

We give you thanks, O God, we give you thanks,*
 calling upon your name
   and declaring all your wonderful deeds.
'I will appoint a time,' says God;*
 'I will judge with equity.
'Though the earth and all its inhabitants are quaking,*
 I will make its pillars fast.
'I will say to the boasters, "Boast no more",*
 and to the wicked, "Do not toss your horns;
'"Do not toss your horns so high,*
 nor speak with a proud neck."'
For judgement is neither from the east
   nor from the west,*
 nor yet from the wilderness or the mountains.
It is God who judges;*
 he puts down one and lifts up another.
For in the Lord's hand there is a cup,
   full of spiced and foaming wine, which he pours out,*
 and all the wicked of the earth
   shall drink and drain the dregs.
But I will rejoice for ever;*
 I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
He shall break off all the horns of the wicked;*
 but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

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 Tobit (Tobit 13.1,3,4-6a)

Blessed be God, who lives for ever,  
whose reign endures throughout all ages. 
Declare God's praise before the nations,  
you who are the children of Israel. 
For if our God has scattered you among them,  
there too has he shown you his greatness. 
Exalt him in the sight of the living,  
because he is our Lord and God and our Father for ever. 
Though God punishes you for your wickedness,  
mercy will be shown to you all. 
God will gather you from every nation,  
from wherever you have been scattered. 
When you turn to the Lord 
with all your heart and soul,  
God will hide his face from you no more. 
See what the Lord has done for you  
and give thanks with a loud voice. 
Praise the Lord of righteousness  
and exalt the King of the ages. 

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 [Genesis 19:1-3, 12-17, 24-28]:

The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of
Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and bowed down with his face to
the ground. He said, 'Please, my lords, turn aside to your servant's house and spend
the night, and wash your feet; then you can rise early and go on your way.' They said,
'No; we will spend the night in the square.' But he urged them strongly; so they turned
aside to him and entered his house; and he made them a feast, and baked unleavened
bread, and they ate.

Then the men said to Lot, 'Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters,
or anyone you have in the city bring them out of the place. For we are about to
destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the
Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.' So Lot went out and said to his
sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, 'Up, get out of this place; for the Lord
is about to destroy the city.' But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, 'Get up, take your wife and your
two daughters who are here, or else you will be consumed in the punishment of the
city.' But he lingered; so the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the
hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and left him outside
the city. When they had brought them outside, they said, 'Flee for your life; do not
look back or stop anywhere in the Plain; flee to the hills, or else you will be
consumed.'

Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulphur and fire from the Lord out of
heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the
cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she
became a pillar of salt.

Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord;
and he looked down towards Sodom and Gomorrah and towards all the land of the
Plain, and saw the smoke of the land going up like the smoke of a furnace. 

HYMN 
Words: Henry Burton, 1904

Music: Christchurch 

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/b/b179.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Break, day of God, O break!
The night has lingered long;
our hearts with sighing wake,
we weep for sin and wrong:
O bright and Morning Star, draw near;
O Sun of Righteousness, appear.

Break, day of God, O break!
The earth with strife is worn;
the hills with thunder shake,
hearts of the people mourn:
break, day of God, sweet day of peace,
and bid the shout of warriors cease.

Break, day of God, O break!
Like to the days above!
Let purity awake,
and faith, and hope, and love;
but lo! we see the brightening sky;
the golden morn is drawing nigh.

SECOND READING [Luke 17:20-end]:

Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he
answered, 'The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor
will they say, "Look, here it is!" or "There it is!" For, in fact, the kingdom of God is
among you.'

Then he said to the disciples, 'The days are coming when you will long to see one of
the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, "Look
there!" or "Look here!" Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. For as the lightning
flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in
his day. But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation.
Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. They
were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day
Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. Likewise, just as
it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting
and building, but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from
heaven and destroyed all of them  it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man
is revealed. On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house
must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn
back. Remember Lot's wife. Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but
those who lose their life will keep it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one
bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding meal
together; one will be taken and the other left.' Then they asked him, 'Where, Lord?'
He said to them, 'Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.' 

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

Prayer:
Let us bring our prayers to the Lord, the God of wisdom, love and truth.

We pray for the world leaders as they meet in Washington: that in their discussions
and decisions they may be guided by a true concern for the needs of the world and the
whole of humankind.

We pray for prisoners, for their families, for prison staff and chaplains, and for all
victims of crime: may they be freed from fear and isolation, and supported with love;
may our society give adequate resources to the work of reconciliation and
rehabilitation.

We pray for all those who are unemployed, or who face the loss of their jobs and
security as a result of the world's economic problems: may they be enabled to find new
work, and be given hope for the future.

We pray for all children, especially those who live in difficult and dangerous situations,
that they may have the care and protection they need; for parents, teachers and social
workers, that they may be filled with wisdom and love for those in their care.

We pray for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, suffering as a result of
the conflict in their country: that there may be reconciliation and justice in that land.

We pray for the people who are fleeing the fires in southern California and for all who
are fighting to stop their spread.

We pray for the people of Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan and all the troubled places of our
world, and for all those who are working to bring peace.

Heavenly Father, we ask you to hear the prayers that we offer through your Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

Everliving God, 
before the earth was formed 
and even after it shall cease to be, you are God: 
Break into our short span of life 
and show us those things that are eternal, 
that we may serve your purpose in all we do; 
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

Send your Holy Spirit upon your Church
that in all our words and works
we may serve you better and love you more. 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 prayer are adapted from material found in Book of
Common Order, 1994, 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 
_Book of Common Worship_, (c) 1993 Westminster / John Knox Press. 


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sun Nov 16 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  17 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081116170001.19BB03142F2@justus2c.anglican.org>

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Visit our website at http://www.oremus.org
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OREMUS for Monday, November 17, 2008
Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, 1200

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God of all gods.
that you gave your beloved Son
in covenant for us.
He lived as we must live;
he died as we must die.
You raised him from death's dark domain,
and set us free to live for ever.
He speaks for us before your throne,
and brings us grace to help in time of need.
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 105

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name;*
 make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him,*
 and speak of all his marvellous works.
Glory in his holy name;*
 let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Search for the Lord and his strength;*
 continually seek his face.
Remember the marvels he has done,*
 his wonders and the judgements of his mouth,
O offspring of Abraham his servant,*
 O children of Jacob his chosen.
He is the Lord our God;*
 his judgements prevail in all the world.
He has always been mindful of his covenant,*
 the promise he made for a thousand generations:
The covenant he made with Abraham,*
 the oath that he swore to Isaac,
Which he established as a statute for Jacob,*
 an everlasting covenant for Israel,
Saying, 'To you will I give the land of Canaan*
 to be your allotted inheritance.'
When they were few in number,*
 of little account and sojourners in the land,
Wandering from nation to nation*
 and from one kingdom to another,
He let no one oppress them*
 and rebuked kings for their sake,
Saying, 'Do not touch my anointed*
 and do my prophets no harm.'
Then he called for a famine in the land*
 and destroyed the supply of bread.
He sent a man before them,*
 Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
They bruised his feet in fetters;*
 his neck they put in an iron collar.
Until his prediction came to pass,*
 the word of the Lord tested him.
The king sent and released him;*
 the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He set him as master over his household,*
 as a ruler over all his possessions,
To instruct his princes according to his will*
 and to teach his elders wisdom.
Israel came into Egypt,*
 and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham.
The Lord made his people exceedingly fruitful;*
 he made them stronger than their enemies;
Whose heart he turned, so that they hated his people,*
 and dealt unjustly with his servants.
He sent Moses his servant,*
 and Aaron whom he had chosen.
They worked his signs among them,*
 and portents in the land of Ham.
He sent darkness and it grew dark;*
 but the Egyptians rebelled against his words.
He turned their waters into blood*
 and caused their fish to die.
Their land was overrun by frogs,*
 in the very chambers of their kings.
He spoke and there came swarms of insects*
 and gnats within all their borders.
He gave them hailstones instead of rain,*
 and flames of fire throughout their land.
He blasted their vines and their fig trees*
 and shattered every tree in their country.
He spoke and the locust came,*
 and young locusts without number,
Which ate up all the green plants in their land*
 and devoured the fruit of their soil.
He struck down the first-born of their land,*
 the first-fruits of all their strength.
He led out his people with silver and gold;*
 in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled.
Egypt was glad of their going,*
 because they were afraid of them.
He spread out a cloud for a covering*
 and a fire to give light in the night season.
They asked and quails appeared,*
 and he satisfied them with bread from heaven.
He opened the rock and water flowed,*
 so the river ran in the dry places.
For God remembered his holy word*
 and Abraham his servant.
So he led forth his people with gladness,*
 his chosen with shouts of joy.
He gave his people the lands of the nations,*
 and they took the fruit of others' toil,
That they might keep his statutes*
 and observe his laws.
   Alleluia!

A Song of the New Creation (Isaiah 43.15,16,18,19,20c,21)

'I am the Lord, your Holy One,  
the Creator of Israel, your King.' 
Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea,  
a path in the mighty waters, 
'Remember not the former things,  
nor consider the things of old. 
'Behold, I am doing a new thing;  
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? 
'I will make a way in the wilderness 
and rivers in the desert,  
to give drink to my chosen people, 
'The people whom I formed for myself,  
that they might declare my praise.' 

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 [Wisdom 1:1-7]:

Love righteousness, you rulers of the earth,
think of the Lord in goodness
and seek him with sincerity of heart;
because he is found by those who do not put him to the test,
and manifests himself to those who do not distrust him.
For perverse thoughts separate people from God,
and when his power is tested, it exposes the foolish;
because wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul,
or dwell in a body enslaved to sin.
For a holy and disciplined spirit will flee from deceit,
and will leave foolish thoughts behind,
and will be ashamed at the approach of unrighteousness.

For wisdom is a kindly spirit,
but will not free blasphemers from the guilt of their words;
because God is witness of their inmost feelings,
and a true observer of their hearts, and a hearer of their tongues.
Because the spirit of the Lord has filled the world,
and that which holds all things together knows what is said.

HYMN 
Words: Brian Wren; (c) used with permission
Tune: University College

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t487.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

There's a spirit in the air,
telling Christians everywhere:
"Praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world."

Lose your shyness, find your tongue;
tell the world what God has done:
God in Christ has come to stay,
we can see his power today.

When believers break the bread
when a hungry child is fed:
praise the love that Christ revealed
living, working in our world.

Still his Spirit leads the fight,
seeing wrong and setting right:
God in Christ has come to stay,
we can see his power today.

When a stranger's not alone,
where the homeless find a home,
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world.

May the Spirit fill our praise,
guide our thoughts and change our ways:
God in Christ has come to stay,
we can see his power today.

There's a Spirit in the air,
calling people everywhere:
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world.

SECOND READING [1 Thessalonians 5:12-end]:

But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labour among you,
and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love
because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to
admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of
them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one
another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the
Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is
good; abstain from every form of evil.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and
body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one
who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

Beloved, pray for us.

Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. I solemnly command you by the
Lord that this letter be read to all of them.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

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

Prayer:
Almighty God,
maker of all good things and Father of all;
you have shown us in Christ the purpose of your creation
and call us to be responsible in the world.

We pray for the world
all the nations....
our own country....
those in authority....
the peace of the world....
racial harmony....
those who maintain order....

Almighty God, we give you thanks
for the order of created things
the resources of the earth
and the gift of human life....

for the continuing work of creation,
man's share in it,
and for creative vision and inventive skill....

for your faithfulness to man in patience and in love,
and for every human response of obedience
and humble achievement....

May we delight in your purpose
and work to bring all things to their true end;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Merciful God,
you brought your people out of slavery
and led them to freedom in the promised land;
feed us on our journey with the bread of heaven
that we may hunger and thirst for righteousness
until your kingdom comes;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God,
who endowed your servant Hugh
with a wise and cheerful boldness
and taught him to commend to earthly rulers
the discipline of a holy life:
give us grace like him to be bold in the service of the gospel,
putting our confidence in Christ alone,
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

Send your Holy Spirit upon your Church
that in all our words and works
we may serve you better and love you more. 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 prayer are adapted from material found in Book of
Common Order, 1994, The Church of Scotland.

As a sign of his remorse for his role in the murder of the Archbishop Thomas a
Becket, King Henry II founded the first house in England of the strict monastic
order called the Carthusians. Difficulties arose with the first two priors, and a
French noble recommended Hugh de Avalon, who at that time had been a
monk at the mother house of the order for 17 years.
On his arrival in England in 1176, Hugh found that the building of the
monastery had not begun. Worse, no compensation had been paid to those
who would have to lose their lands and property to make room for it. Hugh
refused to take office until these persons had been paid "to the last penny." He
intervened again on behalf of the builders, whose pay was not forthcoming.
Henry loved him for his plain speaking. "I do not despair of you," Hugh said to
him at their first interview; "I know how much your many occupations interfere
with the health of your soul." Henry, impressed by his frankness, swore that
while he lived he should not leave his kingdom, and took so much pleasure in
his conversation, and paid so much heed to his counsels, that a rumor arose
that Hugh was his son. Hugh's biographer wrote that "of all men only Hugh
could bend that rhinosceros to his will." When Henry was in danger of
shipwreck, he cried out, "If only my Carthusian Hugh were awake and at
prayer, God would not forget me."
This affection never diminished, though Hugh dared to oppose the king,
particularly in the matter of keeping bishoprics vacant in order that their
revenues might fall to the king's treasury. One of the worst examples was
Lincoln, which, except for a few months, had been without a bishop for
eighteen years. Hugh was elected to the post in 1186, and his monastic
superiors ordered him to accept. After so long a period of neglect, there was
great need of reform. Hugh employed priests of great piety and learning, and
made the fullest use of his authority in disciplining his clergy. He took a stern
view of the ill-treatment of the poor by the royal foresters, and when a subject
of the church of Lincoln suffered at their hands he excommunicated their chief.
He also refused to appoint a royal favorite to a meaningless but lucrative
post. Henry was furious, and summoned him to his presence. He came, and
Henry turned away his face and would not speak, but by way of ignoring his
presence took out a torn glove and began to sew it. At last Hugh said, "How
like you are to your relations at Falaise." The king might have resented this
allusion to the humble birth of William the Conqueror's mother, the daughter of
a glove-maker, but he only laughed, and the quarrel was made up.
Riots against the Jews broke out in England at the time of the Third Crusade.
In defence of the persecuted, Hugh faced armed mobs in Lincoln, Stamford
and Northampton and compelled their submission.
Hugh refused to raise money for the foreign wars of King Richard the
Lion-Heart, calmed the king's rage with a kiss, and persisted in his refusal: this
was the first clear example on record of the refusal of a money-grant demanded
directly by the crown, and an important legal precedent. Richard said, "If all
bishops were like my lord of Lincoln, not a prince among us could raise his
head against them."
His relations with King John were less happy. John showed him an amulet,
which he said was sacred and would preserve him. Hugh replied, "Do not put
your trust in lifeless stone, but only in the living and heavenly stone, our Lord
Jesus Christ." The following Easter he preached at length on the duties of
kings, and the king slipped out partway through.
Devout, tireless, and forgetful of self, Hugh also had wit, a temper that he
described as "more biting than pepper," and a great love and concern for
children and the defenceless. He visited leper-houses and washed the ulcerous
limbs of their inmates.
He was fond of animals, and they of him. Birds and squirrels came readily to
his hand. He had a swan that would feed from his hand, follow him about, and
keep guard over his bed, so that no one could approach it without being
attacked.
In 1200 the king sent him on an embassy to France. His mission was a success,
but he took ill and returned to England to die on 16 November 1200. John
Ruskin called him "the most beautiful sacerdotal (priestly) figure known to me
in history."

From steve.benner at oremus.org  Mon Nov 17 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  18 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081117170000.C818131422C@justus2c.anglican.org>

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OREMUS for Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess of Thuringia, Philanthropist, 1231
Fifteenth Anniversary of Oremus, First Day of Posting, 1993

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God of all gods.
that you gave your beloved Son
in covenant for us.
He lived as we must live;
he died as we must die.
You raised him from death's dark domain,
and set us free to live for ever.
He speaks for us before your throne,
and brings us grace to help in time of need.
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 106:1-12, 47-48

Alleluia!
   Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,*
 for his mercy endures for ever.
Who can declare the mighty acts of the Lord*
 or show forth all his praise?
Happy are those who act with justice*
 and always do what is right!
Remember me, O Lord,
   with the favour you have for your people,*
 and visit me with your saving help;
That I may see the prosperity of your elect
   and be glad with the gladness of your people,*
 that I may glory with your inheritance.
We have sinned as our forebears did;*
 we have done wrong and dealt wickedly.
In Egypt they did not consider your marvellous works,
   nor remember the abundance of your love;*
 they defied the Most High at the Red Sea.
But he saved them for his name's sake,*
 to make his power known.
He rebuked the Red Sea and it dried up,*
 and he led them through the deep as through a desert.
He saved them from the hand of those who hated them*
 and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
The waters covered their oppressors;*
 not one of them was left.
Then they believed his words*
 and sang him songs of praise.
Save us, O Lord our God,
   and gather us from among the nations,*
 that we may give thanks to your holy name
   and glory in your praise.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
   from everlasting and to everlasting;*
 and let all the people say, 'Amen!'
   Alleluia!

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 147:1-12

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 [Wisdom 6:1-11]:

Listen therefore, O kings, and understand;
learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.
Give ear, you that rule over multitudes,
and boast of many nations.
For your dominion was given you from the Lord,
and your sovereignty from the Most High;
he will search out your works and inquire into your plans.
Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly,
or keep the law,
or walk according to the purpose of God,
he will come upon you terribly and swiftly,
because severe judgement falls on those in high places.
For the lowliest may be pardoned in mercy,
but the mighty will be mightily tested.
For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of anyone,
or show deference to greatness;
because he himself made both small and great,
and he takes thought for all alike.
But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty.
To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed,
so that you may learn wisdom and not transgress.
For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness,
and those who have been taught them will find a defence.
Therefore set your desire on my words;
long for them, and you will be instructed. 

HYMN 
Words: Martin Rinkart (1586-1649), 1636
trans. Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878), 1858
MIDI: Nun danket alle Gott

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/n/n139.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Now thank we all our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things hath done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mother's arms
hath blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever-joyful hearts
and bless?d peace to cheer us;
and keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
in this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son, and Holy Ghost,
supreme in highest heaven,
the one eternal God,
whom earth and heaven adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.

SECOND READING [2 Thessalonians 1]:

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because
your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is
increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your
steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are
enduring.

This is evidence of the righteous judgement of God, and is intended to make you
worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering. For it is indeed just
of God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to the afflicted
as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in
flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do
not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will suffer the punishment of eternal
destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marvelled at on that day among
all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we
always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will
fulfil by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord
Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and
the Lord Jesus Christ. 

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.

Creator of all,
we give you thanks for a world full of wonder,
but above all because you have called us
into a holy fellowship with you and with each other. 
Guide us in the ways of your new creation,
rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord God,
who taught Elizabeth of Hungary
to recognize and reverence Christ 
in the poor of this world:
by her example
strengthen us to love and serve 
the afflicted and the needy
and so to honour your Son, the servant king,
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

Send your Holy Spirit upon your Church
that in all our words and works
we may serve you better and love you more. 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 prayer are adapted from material found in Book of
Common Order, 1994, The Church of Scotland.

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.
P>
The numerous "St. Elizabeth's Hospitals" throughout the world are for the
most part named, not for the Biblical Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist,
but for this princess of Hungary. She was concerned for the relief of the poor
and the sick, and with her husband's consent she used her dowry money for
their relief. During a famine and epidemic in 1226, while her husband was away
in Italy, she sold her jewels and established a hospital where she nursed the
sick, and opened the royal granaries to feed the hungry. After her husband's
death in 1227, her inlaws, who opposed her "extravagances," expelled her from
Wartburg. Finally an arrangement was negotiated with them that gave her a
stipend. She became a Franciscan tertiary (lay associate) and devoted the
remainder of her life to nursing and charity. She sewed garments to clothe the
poor, and went fishing to feed them.

Oremus was first devised in November 1993, as a response to a question on
the ANGLICAN email list about how individuals might keep the forthcoming
Advent more effectively.
The intention was and is to make available a form of the "Daily Office",
traditional in format, sufficiently brief and relevant to be used by as many
readers as possible, and not duplicating any other form likely to be already
used by members.
Steve Benner undertook to create the Office and to post it each day, and he did
this for nearly two years, from its first appearance on Thursday, 18 November
1993, until 13 September 1995. For the next fifteen months, Simon Kershaw
compiled the Office, and from 1996-January 1998, Steve Benner and Simon
Kershaw alternated responsibility for the compilation of the Office. Steve has
continued to produce the daily office since January 1998; Simon has since
become responsible for programming the feed for Common Worship - Daily
Prayer (see link on our site).
Oremus serves to nourish each of us in our daily prayer and bible reading; to
introduce more people to the tradition of the Daily Office; to strengthen the
sense of community of the group by the knowledge that our fellow members
are using the same form of prayer, and by our prayers for one another; to
strengthen our Anglican identity in our prayers for the Anglican Communion;
and to greaten our Christian love in our prayers for our fellow Christians and
for all people. While we do this work as a volunteer effort, it requires your support to help
keep it going. Please consider making a donation in support by going to our website.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Tue Nov 18 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  19 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081118170000.C224A314476@justus2.anglican.org>

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OREMUS for Tuesday, November 19, 2008
Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, 680

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God of all gods.
that you gave your beloved Son
in covenant for us.
He lived as we must live;
he died as we must die.
You raised him from death's dark domain,
and set us free to live for ever.
He speaks for us before your throne,
and brings us grace to help in time of need.
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 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.

Psalm 114

Alleluia!
   When Israel came out of Egypt,*
 the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech,
Judah became God's sanctuary*
 and Israel his dominion.
The sea beheld it and fled;*
 Jordan turned and went back.
The mountains skipped like rams,*
 and the little hills like young sheep.
What ailed you, O sea, that you fled?*
 O Jordan, that you turned back?
You mountains, that you skipped like rams?*
 you little hills like young sheep?
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,*
 at the presence of the God of Jacob,
Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water*
 and flint-stone into a flowing spring.

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 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 [Wisdom 6:12-21]:

Wisdom is radiant and unfading,
and she is easily discerned by those who love her,
and is found by those who seek her.
She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.
One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty,
for she will be found sitting at the gate.
To fix one's thought on her is perfect understanding,
and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care,
because she goes about seeking those worthy of her,
and she graciously appears to them in their paths,
and meets them in every thought.

The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction,
and concern for instruction is love of her,
and love of her is the keeping of her laws,
and giving heed to her laws is assurance of immortality,
and immortality brings one near to God;
so the desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom.

Therefore if you delight in thrones and sceptres, O monarchs over the peoples,
honour wisdom, so that you may reign for ever. 

HYMN 
Words: William Harry Turton, 1881

Music: Song 1, Sacramentum Unitatis

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/o/o645.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

O thou, who at thy Eucharist didst pray
that all thy Church might be for ever one,
grant us at every Eucharist to say
with longing heart and soul, "thy will be done."
O may we all one Bread, one Body be,
through this blest Sacrament of unity.

For all thy Church, O Lord, we intercede;
make thou our sad divisions soon to cease;
draw us the nearer each to each, we plead,
by drawing all to thee, O Prince of Peace;
thus may we all one Bread, one Body be,
through this blest Sacrament of unity.

We pray thee too for wanderers from thy fold;
O bring them back, good Shepherd of the sheep,
back to the faith which saints believed of old,
back to the Church which still that faith doth keep;
soon may we all one Bread, one Body be,
through this blest Sacrament of unity.

So, Lord, at length when sacraments shall cease,
may we be one with all thy Church above,
one with thy saints in one unbroken peace,
one with thy saints in one unbounded love;
more bless?d still, in peace and love to be
one with the Trinity in Unity.

SECOND READING [2 Thessalonians 2:1-12]:

As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we
beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by
spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord
is already here. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless
the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for
destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of
worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.
Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? And you
know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes.
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now
restrains it is removed. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord
Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation
of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who
uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those
who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this
reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, so
that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be
condemned. 

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.

Give to us, O God, a heart of joy,
that rests in your peace
and a soul of tranquility that delights in your beauty;
a spirit of glory that sings your praise,
a life of serenity at home in your presence
and a mind of quietness renewed by your Spirit;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God of peace, 
by whose grace the abbess Hilda 
was endowed with gifts 
of justice, prudence, and strength 
to rule as a wise mother 
over the nuns and monks of her household, 
and to become a trusted and reconciling friend 
to leaders of the Church: 
Give us grace to recognize and accept 
the varied gifts you bestow on women and men, 
that our common life may be enriched 
and your gracious will be done;
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

Send your Holy Spirit upon your Church
that in all our words and works
we may serve you better and love you more. 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 prayer are adapted from material found in Book of
Common Order, 1994, The Church of Scotland.

Hilda (known in her own century as "Hild") was the grandniece of King Edwin
of Northumbria, a kingdom of the Angles. She was born in 614 and baptized in
627 when the king and his household became Christians. In 647 she decided to
become a nun, and under the direction of Aidan she established several
monasteries. Her last foundation was at Whitby. It was a double house: a
community of men and another of women, with the chapel in between, and
Hilda as the governor of both; and it was a great center of English learning,
one which produced five bishops (during Hilda's lifetime or that of the
Abbey?). Here a stable-boy, Caedmon, was moved to compose religious poems
in the Anglo-Saxon tongue, most of them metrical paraphrases of narratives
from Genesis and the Gospels.
The Celtic peoples of Britain had heard the Gospel well before 300 AD, but in
the 400's and 500's a massive invasion of Germanic peoples (Angles, Jutes, and
Saxons) forced the native Celts out of what is now England and into Wales,
Ireland, and Scotland. The invaders were pagans, and missionaries were sent to
them in the north and west by the Celts, and in the south and east by Rome and
other churches on the continent of Europe.
Roman and Celtic traditions differed, not in doctrine, but on such questions as
the proper way of calculating the date of Easter, and the proper style of haircut
and dress for a monk. It was, in particular, highly desirable that Christians, at
least in the same area, should celebrate Easter at the same time; and it became
clear that the English Church would have to choose between the old Celtic
customs which it had inherited from before 300, and the customs of continental
Europe and in particular of Rome that missionaries from there had brought
with them. In 664 the Synod of Whitby met at that monastery to consider the
matter, and it was decided to follow Roman usage.
Hilda herself greatly preferred the Celtic customs in which she had been reared,
but once the decision had been made she used her moderating influence in
favor of its peaceful acceptance. Her influence was considerable; kings and
commoners alike came to her for advice. She was urgent in promoting the
study of the Scriptures and the thorough education of the clergy. She died 17
November 680. [James Kiefer]

From steve.benner at oremus.org  Wed Nov 19 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  20 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081119170000.7F0B4314231@justus2.anglican.org>

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OREMUS for Thursday, November 20, 2008
Edmund, King of the East Angles, Martyr, 870

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God of all gods.
that you gave your beloved Son
in covenant for us.
He lived as we must live;
he died as we must die.
You raised him from death's dark domain,
and set us free to live for ever.
He speaks for us before your throne,
and brings us grace to help in time of need.
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 115

Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
   but to your name give glory;*
 because of your love and because of your faithfulness.
Why should the heathen say,*
 'Where then is their God?'
Our God is in heaven;*
 whatever he wills to do he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,*
 the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but they cannot speak;*
 eyes have they, but they cannot see;
They have ears, but they cannot hear;*
 noses, but they cannot smell;
They have hands, but they cannot feel;
   feet, but they cannot walk;*
 they make no sound with their throat.
Those who make them are like them,*
 and so are all who put their trust in them.
O Israel, trust in the Lord;*
 he is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord;*
 he is their help and their shield.
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;*
 he is their help and their shield.
The Lord has been mindful of us and he will bless us;*
 he will bless the house of Israel;
   he will bless the house of Aaron;
He will bless those who fear the Lord,*
 both small and great together.
May the Lord increase you more and more,*
 you and your children after you.
May you be blessed by the Lord,*
 the maker of heaven and earth.
The heaven of heavens is the Lord's,*
 but he entrusted the earth to its peoples.
The dead do not praise the Lord,*
 nor all those who go down into silence;
But we will bless the Lord,*
 from this time forth for evermore.
   Alleluia!

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 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 [Wisdom 7:7-14]:

Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me;
I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to sceptres and thrones,
and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her.
Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem,
because all gold is but a little sand in her sight,
and silver will be accounted as clay before her.
I loved her more than health and beauty,
and I chose to have her rather than light,
because her radiance never ceases.
All good things came to me along with her,
and in her hands uncounted wealth.
I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them;
but I did not know that she was their mother.
I learned without guile and I impart without grudging;
I do not hide her wealth,
for it is an unfailing treasure for mortals;
those who get it obtain friendship with God,
commended for the gifts that come from instruction. 

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 [2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5]:

We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord,
because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the
Spirit and through belief in the truth. For this purpose he called you through our
proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you
were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and
through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and
strengthen them in every good work and word.

Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread
rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you, and that we may be
rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he
will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the
Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we
command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness
of Christ. 

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.

Lord God of all the ages, 
the One who is, who was, and who is to come: 
stir up within us a longing for your kingdom, 
steady our hearts in time of trial, 
and grant us patient endurance until the Sun of justice dawns. 
We make our prayer through 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.

Eternal God,
whose servant Edmund kept faith to the end,
both with you and with his people,
and glorified you by his death:
grant us such steadfastness of faith
that, with the noble army of martyrs,
we may come to enjoy the fullness of the resurrection life;
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

Send your Holy Spirit upon your Church
that in all our words and works
we may serve you better and love you more. 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 prayer are adapted from material found in Book of
Common Order, 1994, The Church of Scotland.

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

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.

When the heathen Anglo-Saxons invaded Christian Britain in the 400's, they
eventually established seven kingdoms: Essex, Wessex, Sussex (East Saxons,
West Saxons, and South Saxons), Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia (three
kingdoms of the Angles), and the Jute kingdom of Kent. (The borders between
these ancient kingdoms are still borders between regions speaking English with
different accents today.) Under the influence of missionaries from the Celts and
from continental Europe, these peoples bcame Christian, only to be faced
themselves by a wave of heathen invaders.
Edmund was born about 840, became King of East Anglia in about 855, and in
870 faced a horde of marauding Danes, who moved through the countryside,
burning churches and slaughtering villages wholesale. On reaching East Anglia,
their leaders confronted Edmund and offered him peace on condition that he
would rule as their vassal and forbid the practice of the Christian faith. Edmund
refused this last condition, fought, and was captured. He was ill-treated and
killed. His burial place is the town of Bury St. Edmunds.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Thu Nov 20 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  21 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081120170000.D977B314868@justus2.anglican.org>

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OREMUS for Friday, November 21, 2008

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God of all gods.
that you gave your beloved Son
in covenant for us.
He lived as we must live;
he died as we must die.
You raised him from death's dark domain,
and set us free to live for ever.
He speaks for us before your throne,
and brings us grace to help in time of need.
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 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 [Wisdom 7:15-22a]:

May God grant me to speak with judgement,
and to have thoughts worthy of what I have received;
for he is the guide even of wisdom
and the corrector of the wise.
For both we and our words are in his hand,
as are all understanding and skill in crafts.
For it is he who gave me unerring knowledge of what exists,
to know the structure of the world and the activity of the elements;
the beginning and end and middle of times,
the alternations of the solstices and the changes of the seasons,
the cycles of the year and the constellations of the stars,
the natures of animals and the tempers of wild animals,
the powers of spirits and the thoughts of human beings,
the varieties of plants and the virtues of roots;
I learned both what is secret and what is manifest,
for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me.

HYMN 
Words: Josiah Conder (1789-1855)
Tune: Ewing, Offertorium

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/m/m163a.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

My Lord, I did not choose you,
for that could never be;
my heart would still refuse you
had you not chosen me.
You took the sin that stained me,
you cleansed me, made me new;
for you, Lord, had ordained me
that I should live in you.

Unless your grace had called me
and taught my opening mind,
the world would have enthralled me,
to heavenly glories blind.
My heart knows none above you;
for you I long, I thirst,
and know that, if I love you,
Lord, you have loved me first.

SECOND READING [2 Thessalonians 3:6-end]:

Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away
from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they
received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not
idle when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it;
but with toil and labour we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of
you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an
example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command:
Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in
idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and
exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.

Take note of those who do not obey what we say in this letter; have nothing to do
with them, so that they may be ashamed. Do not regard them as enemies, but warn
them as believers.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord
be with all of you.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine;
it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

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

Prayer:
Gracious God and Father,
you have given your Son for us all,
that his death might be our life
and his affliction our peace.

We pray for the suffering...
the hungry....
the refugees....
the prisoners....
the persecuted....
all who bring sin and suffering to others....
ministries of care and relief....
the Church in all its work, especially

Gracious God and Father, we give you thanks

for the cross of Christ at the heart of creation,
the presence of Christ in our weakness and strength,
the power of Christ to transform our suffering....

for all ministries of healing,
all agencies of relief,
all that sets men free from pain, fear and distress....

for the assurance that your mercy knows no limit,
and for the privilege of sharing
your work of renewal through prayer.

In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us to trust your love, to serve your purpose
and to praise your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, the Spirit of Truth,
you call us to surrender ourselves to you,
who loves us more than we can possibly imagine:
Give us strength in this season of Lent
to move beyond simple giving up of things
so that we may cede control of our lives to you
and rejoice in the freedom given to us
by Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Send your Holy Spirit upon your Church
that in all our words and works
we may serve you better and love you more. 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 prayer are adapted from material found in Book of
Common Order, 1994, The Church of Scotland.

The collect is by Stephen Benner, 2003.

From steve.benner at oremus.org  Fri Nov 21 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  22 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081121170000.92441313F38@justus2.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for November 22, 2008

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, O God of all gods.
that you gave your beloved Son
in covenant for us.
He lived as we must live;
he died as we must die.
You raised him from death's dark domain,
and set us free to live for ever.
He speaks for us before your throne,
and brings us grace to help in time of need.
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 120

When I was in trouble I called to the Lord,*
 I called to the Lord and he answered me.
Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips*
 and from the deceitful tongue.
What shall be done to you and what more besides,*
 O you deceitful tongue?
The sharpened arrows of a warrior,*
 along with hot glowing coals.
How hateful it is that I must lodge in Meshech*
 and dwell among the tents of Kedar!
Too long have I had to live*
 among the enemies of peace.
I am on the side of peace,*
 but when I speak of it, they are for war.

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.

A Song of the Redeemed (Revelation 7.9,10,14b-17)

Behold, a great multitude
which no one could number, 
>From every nation, 
from all tribes and peoples and tongues,
standing before the throne and the Lamb. 
They were clothed in white robes 
and had palms in their hands, 
and they cried with a loud voice, saying, 
'Salvation belongs to our God 
who sits on the throne,  
and to the Lamb.' 
These are they 
who have come out of the great tribulation, 
they have washed their robes 
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; 
Therefore they stand before the throne of God,
whom they serve day and night within the temple. 
And the One who sits upon the throne . 
will shelter them with his presence. 
They shall never again feel hunger or thirst, . 
the sun shall not strike them, 
nor any scorching heat. 
For the Lamb at the heart of the throne 
will be their Shepherd, 
He will guide them to springs of living water, 
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. 

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 [Wisdom 7:22-8:1]:

Wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me.
There is in her a spirit that is intelligent, holy,
unique, manifold, subtle,
mobile, clear, unpolluted,
distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen,
irresistible, beneficent, humane,
steadfast, sure, free from anxiety,
all-powerful, overseeing all,
and penetrating through all spirits
that are intelligent, pure, and altogether subtle.
For wisdom is more mobile than any motion;
because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things.
For she is a breath of the power of God,
and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty;
therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her.
For she is a reflection of eternal light,
a spotless mirror of the working of God,
and an image of his goodness.
Although she is but one, she can do all things,
and while remaining in herself, she renews all things;
in every generation she passes into holy souls
and makes them friends of God, and prophets;
for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom.
She is more beautiful than the sun,
and excels every constellation of the stars.
Compared with the light she is found to be superior,
for it is succeeded by the night,
but against wisdom evil does not prevail.

She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,
and she orders all things well. 

HYMN 
Words: Isaac Watts, 1719

Music: Alfreton 

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t180.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

The heavens declare thy glory, Lord,
in every star thy wisdom shines
but when our eyes behold thy Word,
we read thy Name in fairer lines.

Sun, moon, and stars convey thy praise
round the whole earth, and never stand:
so when thy truth begun its race,
it touched and glanced on every land.

Nor shall thy spreading Gospel rest
till through the world thy truth has run,
till Christ has all the nations blest
that see the light or feel the sun.

Great Sun of Righteousness, arise,
bless the dark world with heavenly light;
thy Gospel makes the simple wise,
thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.

Thy noblest wonders here we view
in souls renewed and sins forgiven;
Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew,
and make thy word my guide to heaven.

SECOND READING [Jude]:

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,

To those who are called, who are beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus
Christ:

May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.

Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it
necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all
entrusted to the saints. For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who
long ago were designated for this condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of
our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Now I desire to remind you, though you are fully informed, that the Lord, who once
for all saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed those who did not
believe. And the angels who did not keep their own position, but left their proper
dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deepest darkness for the judgement of the
great day. Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which, in the
same manner as they, indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural lust, serve
as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Yet in the same way these dreamers also defile the flesh, reject authority, and slander
the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael contended with the devil and
disputed about the body of Moses, he did not dare to bring a condemnation of slander
against him, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!' But these people slander whatever they
do not understand, and they are destroyed by those things that, like irrational animals,
they know by instinct. Woe to them! For they go the way of Cain, and abandon
themselves to Balaam's error for the sake of gain, and perish in Korah's rebellion.
These are blemishes on your love-feasts, while they feast with you without fear,
feeding themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by the winds; autumn
trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of
their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved
for ever.

It was also about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied,
saying, 'See, the Lord is coming with tens of thousands of his holy ones, to execute
judgement on all, and to convict everyone of all the deeds of ungodliness that they
have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly
sinners have spoken against him.' These are grumblers and malcontents; they indulge
their own lusts; they are bombastic in speech, flattering people to their own advantage.

But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus
Christ; for they said to you, 'In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own
ungodly lusts.' It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing
divisions. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the
Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our
Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are
wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others
with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without
blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Saviour,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time
and now and for ever. 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.

God of consolation,
look upon us, pilgrims in a strange land:
preserve us from slander and deceit,
show us the truth
and give to our souls the peace Christ won upon the cross.
To him be glory for ever! Amen
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

Send your Holy Spirit upon your Church
that in all our words and works
we may serve you better and love you more. 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 prayer are adapted from material found in Book of
Common Order, 1994, The Church of Scotland.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sat Nov 22 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  23 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081122170000.BF8B2314245@justus2.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Sunday, November 23, 2008
The Sunday next before Advent
The Last Sunday after Pentecost

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, God our Father,
for with the oil of gladness
you have anointed Christ the Lord, your only Son,
to be our great high priest and king of all creation.
As priest, he offered himself once for all upon the altar of the cross
and redeemed the human race by this perfect sacrifice of peace.
As king he claims dominion over all your creatures,
that he may bring before your infinite majesty
a kingdom of truth and life,
a kingdom of holiness and grace,
a kingdom of justice, love and peace.
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 Tobit (Tobit 13.1,3,4-6a)

Blessed be God, who lives for ever,  
whose reign endures throughout all ages. 
Declare God's praise before the nations,  
you who are the children of Israel. 
For if our God has scattered you among them,  
there too has he shown you his greatness. 
Exalt him in the sight of the living,  
because he is our Lord and God and our Father for ever. 
Though God punishes you for your wickedness,  
mercy will be shown to you all. 
God will gather you from every nation,  
from wherever you have been scattered. 
When you turn to the Lord 
with all your heart and soul,  
God will hide his face from you no more. 
See what the Lord has done for you  
and give thanks with a loud voice. 
Praise the Lord of righteousness  
and exalt the King of the ages. 

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 11:8-12:8,13-14]:

Even those who live for many years should rejoice in them all; yet let them remember
that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of
your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know
that for all these things God will bring you into judgement.

Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the
dawn of life are vanity.

Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come,
and the years draw near when you will say, 'I have no pleasure in them'; before the
sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return with
the rain; on the day when the guards of the house tremble, and the strong men are
bent, and the women who grind cease working because they are few, and those who
look through the windows see dimly; when the doors on the street are shut, and the
sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the
daughters of song are brought low; when one is afraid of heights, and terrors are in the
road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along and desire fails;
because all must go to their eternal home, and the mourners will go about the streets;
before the silver cord is snapped, and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is
broken at the fountain, and the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the
earth as it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the
Teacher; all is vanity.

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for
that is the whole duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgement,
including every secret thing, whether good or evil. 

HYMN 
Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788), 1746
Tune: Gopsal, Darwall's 148th

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/r/r026.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Rejoice the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
and triumph evermore.
Refrain:
Lift up your heart!
lift up your voice!
Rejoice! again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior reigns,
the God of truth and love:
when he had purged our stains,
he took his seat above. Refrain

His kingdom cannot fail;
he rules o'er earth and heaven;
the keys of death and hell
are to our Jesus given. Refrain

He sits at God's right hand
till all his foes submit,
and bow to his command,
and fall beneath his feet: Refrain

Rejoice in glorious hope!
Jesus the Judge shall come
and take his servants up
to their eternal home:
We soon shall hear the archangel's voice,
the trump of God shall sound: rejoice!

SECOND READING [Hebrews 13:1-21]:

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing
that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in
prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as
though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honour by all, and
let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.
Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for
he has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you.' So we can say with
confidence,
'The Lord is my helper;
   I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?'

Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the
outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
and today and for ever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it
is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which
have not benefited those who observe them. We have an altar from which those who
officiate in the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood
is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside
the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the
people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse
he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to
come. Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is,
the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what
you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and
will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing for that would
be harmful to you.

Pray for us; we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honourably in
all things. I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you very
soon.

Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the
great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete
in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is
pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever.
Amen. 

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

Prayer:
Let us with confidence present our prayers and supplications to the
throne of grace.
We pray for all those in positions of power,
that they may govern with wisdom and integrity,
serving the needs of their people.
May your reign come;
Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for the Church, the sign of your reign,
that it may extend your welcome to people of every
race and background.
May your kingdom come;
Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for Christians of every denomination,
that together we may come to understand
the royal priesthood you bestowed on us in baptism.
May your dominion come;
Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for those whose commitment to truth
brings them into conflict with earthly powers,
that they may have the courage to endure.
May your rule come;
Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for this community of faith,
that attentive to your word
we may always worship in spirit and in truth.
May your reign come;
Lord, hear our prayer.

Loving God,
you have taught us that the power of the heart
is greater than the power of wealth and might.
Hear us as we pray for the fulfilment of your reign.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our King;
to him be glory and power for ever. Amen.

God the Father,
help us to hear the call of Christ the King
and to follow in his service,
whose kingdom has no end;
for he reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, one glory. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

May Christ our King make us faithful and strong to do his will,
that we may reign with him in glory; 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
_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 intercession and collect are from _Common Worship: Times and Seasons_,
material from which is included in this service is copyright (c) The Archbishops'
Council, 2006. Used with permission.

From oremus at insight.rr.com  Sun Nov 23 16:49:25 2008
From: oremus at insight.rr.com (Steve Benner)
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:49:25 -0500
Subject: OREMUS: Oremus Store in Association with Amazon
Message-ID: <6.0.0.22.2.20081123114545.03861348@pop-server.insight.rr.com>

As you begin your holiday shopping this season, please consider shopping 
with amazon.com or amazon.co.uk via the link on the front page of the 
Oremus website. Up to 8% of your purchase price will be rebated back to me 
to help support this ministry.

For those who have asked, I spend about $1,000 a year on materials and 
books to inspire the liturgies I put together. I also have to maintain 
computer equipment and internet access. Much of the work I do is possible 
because I do not currently have a full-time job as a priest (or anything 
else).

I realize times are tough right now, but this ministry cannot continue 
without your support.

Steve Benner+
1318 Worthington Woods Blvd
Worthington OH 43085
Oremus -- http://www.oremus.org 


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sun Nov 23 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  24 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081123170000.69E9D31414E@justus2.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Monday, November 24, 2008

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, God our Father,
for with the oil of gladness
you have anointed Christ the Lord, your only Son,
to be our great high priest and king of all creation.
As priest, he offered himself once for all upon the altar of the cross
and redeemed the human race by this perfect sacrifice of peace.
As king he claims dominion over all your creatures,
that he may bring before your infinite majesty
a kingdom of truth and life,
a kingdom of holiness and grace,
a kingdom of justice, love and peace.
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 131

O Lord, I am not proud;*
 I have no haughty looks.
I do not occupy myself with great matters,*
 or with things that are too hard for me.
But I still my soul and make it quiet,
   like a child upon its mother's breast;*
 my soul is quieted within me.
O Israel, wait upon the Lord,*
 from this time forth for evermore.

Psalm 133

O how good and pleasant it is,*
 when a family lives together in unity!
It is like fine oil upon the head*
 that runs down upon the beard,
Upon the beard of Aaron,*
 and runs down upon the collar of his robe.
It is like the dew of Hermon*
 that falls upon the hills of Zion.
For there the Lord has ordained the blessing:*
 life for evermore.

Psalm 134

Behold now, bless the Lord,
   all you servants of the Lord,*
 you that stand by night in the house of the Lord.
Lift up your hands in the holy place
   and bless the Lord;*
 the Lord who made heaven and earth
   bless you out of Zion.

A Song of the New Creation (Isaiah 43.15,16,18,19,20c,21)

'I am the Lord, your Holy One,  
the Creator of Israel, your King.' 
Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea,  
a path in the mighty waters, 
'Remember not the former things,  
nor consider the things of old. 
'Behold, I am doing a new thing;  
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? 
'I will make a way in the wilderness 
and rivers in the desert,  
to give drink to my chosen people, 
'The people whom I formed for myself,  
that they might declare my praise.' 

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 [Wisdom 9:1-4, 9-11]:

'O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy,
who have made all things by your word,
and by your wisdom have formed humankind
to have dominion over the creatures you have made,
and rule the world in holiness and righteousness,
and pronounce judgement in uprightness of soul,
give me the wisdom that sits by your throne,
and do not reject me from among your servants.
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,
and from the throne of your glory send her,
that she may labour at my side,
and that I may learn what is pleasing to you.
For she knows and understands all things,
and she will guide me wisely in my actions
and guard me with her glory.'

HYMN 
Words: Georg Neumark (1621-1681);
trans. Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)
Music: Wer nur den lieben Gott 

<a
href="http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t698.html">http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t698.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

If thou but suffer God to guide thee
and hope in him through all thy ways,
he'll give thee strength, whate'er betide thee,
and bear thee through the evil days.
who trusts in God's unchanging love
builds on the rock that naught can move.

What can these anxious cares avail thee,
these never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help if thou bewail thee
o'er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
the heavier for our bitterness.

Be patient and await his leisure
in cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate'er thy Father's pleasure
and his discerning love hath sent,
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
to him who chose us for his own.

God knows full well when times of gladness
shall be the needful thing for thee.
When he has tried thy soul with sadness
and from all guile has found thee free,
he comes to thee all unaware
and makes thee own his loving care.

Nor think amid the fiery trial
that God hath cast thee off unheard,
that he whose hopes meet no denial
must surely be of God preferred.
Time passes and much change doth bring
and sets a bound to everything.

All are alike before the highest;
'tis easy to our God, we know,
to raise thee up, though low thou liest,
to make the rich man poor and low.
True wonders still by him are wrought
who setteth up and brings to naught.

Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving,
perform thy duties faithfully,
and trust his word, though undeserving,
thou yet shalt find it true for thee.
God never yet forsook in need
the soul that trusted him indeed.

SECOND READING [Revelation 1:1-8]:

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must
soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who
testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he
saw.

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those
who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near.

John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from
the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a
kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever
and ever. Amen.
Look! He is coming with the clouds;
   every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
   and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.
So it is to be. Amen.

'I am the Alpha and the Omega', says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is
to come, the Almighty. 

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

Prayer:
We pray for the coming of God's kingdom.

You sent your Son to bring news to the poor,
sight to the blind, freedom to captives
and salvation to your people:
anoint us with your Spirit;
rouse us to work in his name:
Father, by your Spirit
bring in your kingdom.

Send us to bring help to the poor and freedom to the oppressed:
Father, by your Spirit
bring in your kingdom.

Send us to tell the world the good news of your healing love:
Father, by your Spirit
bring in your kingdom.

Send us to those who mourn
to bring joy and gladness instead of grief:
Father, by your Spirit
bring in your kingdom.

Send us to proclaim that the time is here 
for you to save your people:
Father, by your Spirit
bring in your kingdom.

Lord of the Church
hear our prayer, 
and make us one in mind and heart
to serve you in Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus, outcast sovereign,
you judge the world
by its care for your sisters and brothers,
the poor, the naked, the prisoner.
Help us to discover your face
in the face of the needy;
and finding you there,
may we find ourselves enriched;
for you are Lord. Amen.
        
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

May Christ our King make us faithful and strong to do his will,
that we may reign with him in glory; 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
_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 collect is from _Uniting in Worship 2</cite, (c) 2005 Uniting Church in Australia.

From steve.benner at oremus.org  Mon Nov 24 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  25 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081124170000.C42A131420A@justus2.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, God our Father,
for with the oil of gladness
you have anointed Christ the Lord, your only Son,
to be our great high priest and king of all creation.
As priest, he offered himself once for all upon the altar of the cross
and redeemed the human race by this perfect sacrifice of peace.
As king he claims dominion over all your creatures,
that he may bring before your infinite majesty
a kingdom of truth and life,
a kingdom of holiness and grace,
a kingdom of justice, love and peace.
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 132

Lord, remember David*
 and all the hardships he endured;
How he swore an oath to the Lord*
 and vowed a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
'I will not come under the roof of my house,*
 nor climb up into my bed;
'I will not allow my eyes to sleep,*
 nor let my eyelids slumber;
'Until I find a place for the Lord,*
 a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.'
'The Ark! We heard it was in Ephrathah;*
 we found it in the fields of Jearim.
'Let us go to God's dwelling place;*
 let us fall upon our knees before his footstool.'
Arise, O Lord, into your resting-place,*
 you and the ark of your strength.
Let your priests be clothed with righteousness;*
 let your faithful people sing with joy.
For your servant David's sake,*
 do not turn away the face of your anointed.
The Lord has sworn an oath to David;*
 in truth, he will not break it:
'A son, the fruit of your body*
 will I set upon your throne.
'If your children keep my covenant
   and my testimonies that I shall teach them,*
 their children will sit upon your throne for evermore.'
For the Lord has chosen Zion,*
 he has desired her for his habitation:
'This shall be my resting-place for ever;*
 here will I dwell, for I delight in her.
'I will surely bless her provisions,*
 and satisfy her poor with bread.
'I will clothe her priests with salvation,*
 and her faithful people will rejoice and sing.
'There will I make the horn of David flourish;*
 I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
'As for his enemies, I will clothe them with shame;*
 but as for him, his crown will shine.'

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 147:1-12

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 [Wisdom 9:13-end]:

For who can learn the counsel of God?
Or who can discern what the Lord wills?
For the reasoning of mortals is worthless,
and our designs are likely to fail;
for a perishable body weighs down the soul,
and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind.
We can hardly guess at what is on earth,
and what is at hand we find with labour;
but who has traced out what is in the heavens?
Who has learned your counsel,
unless you have given wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
And thus the paths of those on earth were set right,
and people were taught what pleases you,
and were saved by wisdom.' 

HYMN 
Words: George Herbert, 1633

Music: Sandys, Carlisle 

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t021.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Teach me, my God and King,
in all things thee to see,
and what I do in anything
to do it as for thee.

A man that looks on glass,
on it may stay his eye;
or if he pleaseth, through it pass,
and then the heaven espy.

All may of thee partake;
nothing can be so mean,
which with this tincture, "for thy sake,"
will not grow bright and clean.

A servant with this clause
makes drudgery divine:
who sweeps a room, as for thy laws,
makes that and the action fine.

This is the famous stone
that turneth all to gold;
for that which God doth touch and own
cannot for less be told.

SECOND READING [Revelation 1:9-end]:

 I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom
and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of
God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard
behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, 'Write in a book what you see and send
it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis,
to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.'

Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and on turning I saw seven
golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man,
clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest. His head and his hair
were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet
were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of
many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and from his mouth came a sharp,
two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining with full force.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me,
saying, 'Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living one. I was dead,
and see, I am alive for ever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. Now
write what you have seen, what is, and what is to take place after this. As for the
mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden
lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven
lampstands are the seven churches. 

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

Prayer:
Jesus our exalted Lord has been given all authority.  
Let us seek his intercession that our prayers may be perfected by his prayer.

Jesus Christ, great high priest, living for ever to intercede for us:
pray for your Church, your broken body in the world 
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus Christ, king of righteousness,
enthroned at the right hand of the majesty on high:
pray for the world, and make it subject to your gentle rule 
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus Christ, Son of Man, drawing humanity into the life of God:
pray for your bothers and sisters in need, distress or sorrow 
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus Christ, pioneer of our salvation,
bringing us to your glory through your death and resurrection:
receive into your kingdom those who have died trusting in your promises 
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus Christ, Lord of all things,
ascended far above from the heavens and filling the universe:
pray for us who receive the gifts you give us for work in your service 
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus Christ, 
keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit 
and in the bond of peace,
and bring the whole created order to worship at your feet;
for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Jesus, Son of David, Mighty One of God,
you have called us to be priests of the new covenant:
clothe us with righteousness,
make us faithful
and give us hearts to shout for joy
   in your salvation.
To you be glory for ever! Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

May Christ our King make us faithful and strong to do his will,
that we may reign with him in glory; 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
_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 intercession is from _Common
Worship: Times and Seasons_, material from which is included in this service is
copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council, 2006. Used with permission.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Tue Nov 25 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  26 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081125170000.8B23431421F@justus2.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, God our Father,
for with the oil of gladness
you have anointed Christ the Lord, your only Son,
to be our great high priest and king of all creation.
As priest, he offered himself once for all upon the altar of the cross
and redeemed the human race by this perfect sacrifice of peace.
As king he claims dominion over all your creatures,
that he may bring before your infinite majesty
a kingdom of truth and life,
a kingdom of holiness and grace,
a kingdom of justice, love and peace.
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 139

Lord, you have searched me out and known me;*
 you know my sitting down and my rising up;
   you discern my thoughts from afar.
You trace my journeys and my resting-places*
 and are acquainted with all my ways.
Indeed, there is not a word on my lips,*
 but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
You press upon me behind and before*
 and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;*
 it is so high that I cannot attain to it.
Where can I go then from your Spirit?*
 where can I flee from your presence?
If I climb up to heaven, you are there;*
 if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
If I take the wings of the morning*
 and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there your hand will lead me*
 and your right hand hold me fast.
If I say, 'Surely the darkness will cover me,*
 and the light around me turn to night',
Darkness is not dark to you;
   the night is as bright as the day;*
 darkness and light to you are both alike.
For you yourself created my inmost parts;*
 you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I will thank you because I am marvellously made;*
 your works are wonderful and I know it well.
My body was not hidden from you,*
 while I was being made in secret
   and woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb;
   all of them were written in your book;*
 they were fashioned day by day,
   when as yet there was none of them.
How deep I find your thoughts, O God!*
 how great is the sum of them!
If I were to count them,
   they would be more in number than the sand;*
 to count them all,
   my life span would need to be like yours.
Search me out, O God, and know my heart;*
 try me and know my restless thoughts.
Look well whether there be any wickedness in me*
 and lead me in the way that is everlasting.

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 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 [Wisdom 10:1-4, 15-21]:

Wisdom protected the first-formed father of the world, when he alone had been
created;
she delivered him from his transgression,
and gave him strength to rule all things.
But when an unrighteous man departed from her in his anger,
he perished because in rage he killed his brother.
When the earth was flooded because of him, wisdom again saved it,
steering the righteous man by a paltry piece of wood.

A holy people and blameless race
wisdom delivered from a nation of oppressors.
She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord,
and withstood dread kings with wonders and signs.
She gave to holy people the reward of their labours;
she guided them along a marvellous way,
and became a shelter to them by day,
and a starry flame through the night.
She brought them over the Red Sea,
and led them through deep waters;
but she drowned their enemies,
and cast them up from the depths of the sea.
Therefore the righteous plundered the ungodly;
they sang hymns, O Lord, to your holy name,
and praised with one accord your defending hand;
for wisdom opened the mouths of those who were mute,
and made the tongues of infants speak clearly. 

HYMN 

Words: William Whiting, 1860;
as revised in Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861;
Tune: Melita

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/e/e038.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Eternal Father, strong to save,
whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.

O Christ, whose voice the waters heard
and hushed their raging at thy word,
who walkedst on the foaming deep,
and calm amid the storm didst sleep;
O hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.

Most Holy Spirit, who didst brood
upon the chaos dark and rude,
and bid its angry tumult cease,
and give, for wild confusion, peace:
O hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.

O Trinity of love and power,
our brethren shield in danger's hour;
from rock and tempest, fire and foe,
protect them wheresoe'er they go;
thus evermore shall rise to thee
glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

SECOND READING [Revelation 2:1-11]:

'To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds
the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:

'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot
tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and
have found them to be false. I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing
up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary. But I have this
against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then from
what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to
you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this is to your
credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Let anyone who has
an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I
will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.

'And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the first and
the last, who was dead and came to life:

'I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander
on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of
Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw
some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have
affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Let anyone who
has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will
not be harmed by the second death.' 

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

Prayer:
United in the company of all the faithful 
and looking for the coming of the kingdom, 
let us offer our prayers to God, the source of all life and holiness.

Merciful Lord, strengthen all Christian people by your Holy Spirit 
that we may live as a royal priesthood 
and a holy nation to the praise of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Empower us by the gift of your Holy and life-giving Spirit
that we may be transformed into the likeness of Christ 
from glory to glory.
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Hold in your embrace all who witness to your love 
in the service of the poor and needy;
all who minister to the sick and dying;
and all who bring light to those in darkness.
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Remember in your mercy all those gone before us 
who have been well-pleasing to you from eternity;
preserve in your faith your servants on earth,
guide us to your kingdom,
and grant us your peace at all times.
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

We give you thanks 
for the whole company of your saints in glory,
with whom in fellowship we join our prayers and praises;
by your grace may we, like them, be made perfect in your love.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lord,
who created and fashioned us,
who knows us and searches us out,
who abides with us through light and dark:
help us to know your presence in this life
and, in the life to come, still to be with you;
where you are alive and reign,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

May Christ our King make us faithful and strong to do his will,
that we may reign with him in glory; 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
_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  Wed Nov 26 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  27 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081126170001.1ADAA313FDB@justus2.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Thursday, November 27, 2008
[Thanksgiving Day, United States]

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, loving Creator,
for you clothe the lilies 
and feed the birds of the sky, 
lead the lambs to pasture 
and the deer to water; 
you multiplied loaves and fishes 
and changed water into wine, 
you lead us, feed us, multiply us,
and change us to reflect 
your glory through all eternity. 
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 104

Bless the Lord, O my soul;*
 O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness!
   you are clothed with majesty and splendour.
You wrap yourself with light as with a cloak*
 and spread out the heavens like a curtain.
You lay the beams of your chambers
   in the waters above;*
 you make the clouds your chariot;
   you ride on the wings of the wind.
You make the winds your messengers*
 and flames of fire your servants.
You have set the earth upon its foundations,*
 so that it never shall move at any time.
You covered it with the deep as with a mantle;*
 the waters stood higher than the mountains.
At your rebuke they fled;*
 at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.
They went up into the hills
   and down to the valleys beneath,*
 to the places you had appointed for them.
You set the limits that they should not pass;*
 they shall not again cover the earth.
You send the springs into the valleys;*
 they flow between the mountains.
All the beasts of the field drink their fill from them,*
 and the wild asses quench their thirst.
Beside them the birds of the air make their nests*
 and sing among the branches.
You water the mountains from your dwelling on high;*
 the earth is fully satisfied by the fruit of your works.
You make grass grow for flocks and herds*
 and plants to serve us all;
That they may bring forth food from the earth,*
 and wine to gladden our hearts,
Oil to make a cheerful countenance,*
 and bread to strengthen the heart.
The trees of the Lord are full of sap,*
 the cedars of Lebanon which he planted,
In which the birds build their nests,*
 and in whose tops the stork makes his dwelling.
The high hills are a refuge for the mountain goats,*
 and the stony cliffs for the rock badgers.
You appointed the moon to mark the seasons,*
 and the sun knows the time of its setting.
You make darkness that it may be night,*
 in which all the beasts of the forest prowl.
The lions roar after their prey*
 and seek their food from God.
The sun rises and they slip away*
 and lay themselves down in their dens.
The labourer goes forth to work*
 and to toil until the evening.
O Lord, how manifold are your works!*
 in wisdom you have made them all;
   the earth is full of your creatures.
Yonder is the great and wide sea
   with its living things too many to number,*
 creatures both small and great.
There move the ships,
   and there is that Leviathan,*
 which you have made for the sport of it.
All of them look to you*
 to give them their food in due season.
You give it to them, they gather it;*
 you open your hand and they are filled with good things.
You hide your face and they are terrified;*
 you take away their breath
   and they die and return to their dust.
You send forth your Spirit and they are created;*
 and so you renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the Lord endure for ever;*
 may the Lord rejoice in all his works.
He looks at the earth and it trembles;*
 he touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;*
 I will praise my God while I have my being.
May these words of mine please him;*
 I will rejoice in the Lord.
Let sinners be consumed out of the earth,*
 and the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.*
 Alleluia!

Benedicite   A Song of Creation (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;

bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit:
sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

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 12]:

You will say on that day:
I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
   for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
   and you comforted me.

Surely God is my salvation;
   I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is my strength and my might;
   he has become my salvation.

 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
And you will say on that day:
Give thanks to the Lord,
   call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
   proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
   let this be known in all the earth.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
   for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. 

HYMN 
Words: Frank von Christierson (c)
Tune: Tyrol, Forest Green

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/a/a351.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.

As saints of old their first fruits brought
of orchard, flock, and field
to God the giver all good,
the source of bounteous yield;
so we today first fruits would bring:
the wealth of this good land,
of farm and market, shop and home,
of mind, and heart, and hand.

A world in need now summons us
to labor, love, and give;
to make our life an offering
that others too may live.
The Church of Christ is calling us
to make the dream come true:
a world redeemed, your kingdom come,
all life in Christ made new.

In gratitude and humble trust
we bring our best today,
to serve your cause and share your love
with all humanity.
O God, who gave yourself to us
in Jesus Christ your Son,
teach us to give ourselves each day
until life's work is done.

SECOND READING [Philippians 4:4-7]:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to
everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the
peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Christ Jesus. 

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

Prayer:
Give thanks to the Lord who is good.
God's love is everlasting.
Come, let us praise God joyfully.
Let us come to God with thanksgiving.

For the good world;
for things great and small, beautiful and awesome;
for seen and unseen splendors; 
Thank you, God.

For human life;
for talking and moving and thinking together;
for common hopes and hardships shared from birth 
until our dying; 
Thank you, God.

For work to do and strength to work;
for the comradeship of labor;
for exchanges of good humor and encouragement;
Thank you, God.

For committed relationships;
for the mystery and joy of love;
for mutual forgiveness and burdens shared;
for secrets kept in love; 
Thank you, God.

For family;
for living together and eating together;
for family amusements and family pleasures;
Thank you, God.

For children;
for their energy and curiosity;
for their brave play and startling frankness;
for their sudden sympathies;
Thank you, God.

For the young;
for their high hopes;
for their irreverence toward worn-out values;
for their search for freedom;
for their solemn vows; 
Thank you, God.

For growing up and growing old;
for wisdom deepened by experience;
for rest in leisure;
and for time made precious by its passing;
Thank you, God.

For your help in times of doubt and sorrow;
for healing our diseases;
for preserving us in temptation and danger;
Thank you, God.

For the church into which we have been called;
for the good news we receive by Word and Sacrament;
for our life together in the Lord;
We praise you, God.

For your Holy Spirit,
who guides our steps and 
brings us gifts of faith and love;
who prays in us and prompts our grateful worship;
We praise you, God.

Above all, O God, for your Son Jesus Christ,
who lived and died and lives again for our salvation;
for our hope in him;
and for the joy of serving him;
We thank and praise you, Eternal God,
for all your goodness to us.

Give thanks to the Lord, who is good.
God's love is everlasting.

Almighty and gracious Father, 
we give you thanks 
for the fruits of the earth in their season 
and for the labors of those who harvest them. 
Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, 
for the provision of our necessities
 and the relief of all who are in need, 
to the glory of your Name; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven,
we pray as our Savior has taught us:

- The Lord's Prayer

May our praise continually blend 
with that of all creation,
until we come to the eternal joys 
which you promise in your love;
through 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.

Hymn (c) 1961, Ren. 1989 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 

The intercession and the collect are from _Book of Common
Worship_, (c) 1993 Westminster / John Knox Press. 

The closing sentence is by J.H. Jowett.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Thu Nov 27 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  28 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081127170001.249F4313E27@justus2.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Friday, November 28, 2008

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, God our Father,
for with the oil of gladness
you have anointed Christ the Lord, your only Son,
to be our great high priest and king of all creation.
As priest, he offered himself once for all upon the altar of the cross
and redeemed the human race by this perfect sacrifice of peace.
As king he claims dominion over all your creatures,
that he may bring before your infinite majesty
a kingdom of truth and life,
a kingdom of holiness and grace,
a kingdom of justice, love and peace.
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 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 [Wisdom 12:12-19]:

For who will say, 'What have you done?'
or will resist your judgement?
Who will accuse you for the destruction of nations that you made?
Or who will come before you to plead as an advocate for the unrighteous?
For neither is there any god besides you, whose care is for all people,
to whom you should prove that you have not judged unjustly;
nor can any king or monarch confront you about those whom you have
punished.
You are righteous and you rule all things righteously,
deeming it alien to your power
to condemn anyone who does not deserve to be punished.
For your strength is the source of righteousness,
and your sovereignty over all causes you to spare all.
For you show your strength
when people doubt the completeness of your power,
and you rebuke any insolence among those who know it.
Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge with mildness,
and with great forbearance you govern us;
for you have power to act whenever you choose.

Through such works you have taught your people
that the righteous must be kind,
and you have filled your children with good hope,
because you give repentance for sins. 

HYMN 
Words:   Marnie Barrell, 1995. Used with permission.
Tune: Ashburton

All who would see God's greatness,
draw near, bend down, look low:
see how love appears among us
as small as a child. Then go,
tell of the greatness made so small,
tiny and hidden, God of all.

If you would share God's riches,
draw near, reach out and touch:
God has only love to offer,
enough for us, and too much.
Take up God's treasure, made so poor,
naked the God that we adore.

Would you receive God's power?
Draw near, find strength in this:
laid open to all our violence
is love that will not resist.
This is our God, who chose to be
tied with our bonds to set us free.

Stand in the holy silence
while earth with heaven sings
that here in our hands for holding
is love that sustains all things.
Strange is this love that draws us near:
Glory of God, among us here. 

SECOND READING [Revelation 3:1-6]:

To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the
seven spirits of God and the seven stars:

'I know your works; you have a name for being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and
strengthen what remains and is at the point of death, for I have not found your works
perfect in the sight of my God. Remember then what you received and heard; obey it,
and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at
what hour I will come to you. Yet you have still a few people in Sardis who have not
soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. If you
conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not blot your name out
of the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels. Let
anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. 

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

Prayer:
Let us pray for the peace of the world:
for diplomats and rulers,
that they may wisdom to know
and courage to do what is right...

for all who work to improve international relationships,
that they may find the true way
to reconcile people of different races, colours, and creeds...

and for men and women the world over,
that they may have justice and freedom,
and live in security and peace...

Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Most gracious God and Father,
in whose will is our peace:
turn our hearts and the hearts of all to yourself,
that by the power of your Spirit
the peace which is founded on righteousness
may be established throughout the whole world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray for all who suffer as a result of war:
We remember especially today the victims
of violence in Mumbai, Afghanistan, Thailand and the Congo.

for the injured and disabled,
for the mentally distressed,
and for those whose faith in God and humankind 
has been weakened or destroyed...

for the homeless and refugees,
for those who are hungry,
and for all who have lost their livelihood and security...

for those who mourn their dead,
those who have lost husbands or wives,
children or parents,
and especially for those who have no hope in Christ
to sustain them in their grief...

Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
infinite in wisdom, love, and power:
have compassion on those for whom we pray;
and help us to use all suffering
in the cause of your kingdom;
through him who gave himself for us on the cross,
Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. Amen.
       
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Savior has taught us.

- The Lord's Prayer

May Christ our King make us faithful and strong to do his will,
that we may reign with him in glory; 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
_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 intercession is _The Promise of His Glory_  (Mowbray), (c) The
Central Board of Finance of the Church of England.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Fri Nov 28 18:42:25 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:42:25 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  29 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081128184225.293EA313C8B@justus2.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Saturday, November 29, 2008

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, God our Father,
for with the oil of gladness
you have anointed Christ the Lord, your only Son,
to be our great high priest and king of all creation.
As priest, he offered himself once for all upon the altar of the cross
and redeemed the human race by this perfect sacrifice of peace.
As king he claims dominion over all your creatures,
that he may bring before your infinite majesty
a kingdom of truth and life,
a kingdom of holiness and grace,
a kingdom of justice, love and peace.
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 the Redeemed (Revelation 7.9,10,14b-17)

Behold, a great multitude
which no one could number, 
>From every nation, 
from all tribes and peoples and tongues,
standing before the throne and the Lamb. 
They were clothed in white robes 
and had palms in their hands, 
and they cried with a loud voice, saying, 
'Salvation belongs to our God 
who sits on the throne,  
and to the Lamb.' 
These are they 
who have come out of the great tribulation, 
they have washed their robes 
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; 
Therefore they stand before the throne of God,
whom they serve day and night within the temple. 
And the One who sits upon the throne . 
will shelter them with his presence. 
They shall never again feel hunger or thirst, . 
the sun shall not strike them, 
nor any scorching heat. 
For the Lamb at the heart of the throne 
will be their Shepherd, 
He will guide them to springs of living water, 
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. 

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 [Wisdom 13:1-9]:

For all people who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature;
and they were unable from the good things
that are seen to know the one who exists,
nor did they recognize the artisan while paying heed to his works;
but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air,
or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water,
or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world.
If through delight in the beauty of these things people assumed them to be gods,
let them know how much better than these is their Lord,
for the author of beauty created them.
And if people were amazed at their power and working,
let them perceive from them
how much more powerful is the one who formed them.
For from the greatness and beauty of created things
comes a corresponding perception of their Creator.
Yet these people are little to be blamed,
for perhaps they go astray
while seeking God and desiring to find him.
For while they live among his works, they keep searching,
and they trust in what they see, because the things that are seen are beautiful.
Yet again, not even they are to be excused;
for if they had the power to know so much
that they could investigate the world,
how did they fail to find sooner the Lord of these things? 

HYMN 
Words: William Kethe (died 1594), 1561 
Tune: Old 100th

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/a/a142.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the Lord with cheerful voice:
him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell,
come ye before him and rejoice.

The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
without our aid he did us make:
we are his folk, he doth us feed,
and for his sheep he doth us take.

O enter then his gates with praise,
approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud, and bless his Name always,
for it is seemly so to do.

For why? the Lord our God is good,
his mercy is for ever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
the God whom heaven and earth adore,
from men and from the angel host
be praise and glory evermore. 

SECOND READING [Revelation 3:7-13]:

To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of the holy one, the true one,
   who has the key of David,
   who opens and no one will shut,
     who shuts and no one opens:

'I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able
to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and
have not denied my name. I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that
they are Jews and are not, but are lying I will make them come and bow down before
your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word
of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole
world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon; hold fast to what you
have, so that no one may seize your crown. If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in
the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my
God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from
my God out of heaven, and my own new name. Let anyone who has an ear listen to
what the Spirit is saying to the churches.' 

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

Prayer:
United in the company of all the faithful 
and looking for the coming of the kingdom, 
let us offer our prayers to God, the source of all life and holiness.

Merciful Lord, 
strengthen all Christian people by your Holy Spirit 
that we may live as a royal priesthood 
and a holy nation to the praise of Christ Jesus our Saviour.
Lord, have mercy.

Bless N our bishop, and all ministers of your Church, 
that by faithful proclamation of your word we may be built 
on the foundation of the apostles and prophets 
into a holy temple in the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

Empower us by the gift of your Holy and Life-giving Spirit 
that we may be transformed into the likeness of Christ 
from glory to glory.
Lord, have mercy.

Give to the world and its peoples the peace 
that comes from above, that they may find Christ's way of freedom and life.
Lord, have mercy.

Hold in your embrace all who witness to your love 
in the service of the poor and needy; 
all those who minister to the sick and dying; 
and all who bring light to those in darkness.
Lord, have mercy.

Touch and heal all those whose lives are scarred by sin 
or disfigured by pain, that, raised from death to life in Christ, 
their sorrow may be turned to eternal joy.
Lord, have mercy.

Remember in your mercy those gone before us 
who have been well-pleasing to you from eternity; 
preserve us who live here in your faith, 
guide us to your kingdom, 
and grant us your peace at all times.
Lord, have mercy.

Hasten the day when those who fear you in every nation 
will come from east and west, from north and south, 
and sit at table in your kingdom.
Lord, have mercy.

And so we give you thanks for the whole company 
of your saints in glory, 
with whom in fellowship we join our prayers and praises; 
by your grace may we, like them, be made perfect in your love.
Blessing and glory and wisdom,
thanksgiving and honour and power,
be to our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus, you are a king like no other,
confronting the powers that be,
and speaking the truth all need to hear.
May your Church hear the truth,
that we may witness to your justice
before the nations
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 Christ our King make us faithful and strong to do his will,
that we may reign with him in glory; 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
_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 collect is from _Uniting in Worship
2</cite, (c) 2005 Uniting Church in Australia.


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sat Nov 29 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:  30 November 2008
Message-ID: <20081129170000.E07D5313CB9@justus2.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Sunday, November 30, 2008
The First Sunday of Advent

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 50

The Lord, the God of gods, has spoken;*
 he has called the earth
   from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty,*
 God reveals himself in glory.
Our God will come and will not keep silence;*
 before him there is a consuming flame,
   and round about him a raging storm.
He calls the heavens and the earth from above*
 to witness the judgement of his people.
'Gather before me my loyal followers,*
 those who have made a covenant with me
   and sealed it with sacrifice.'
Let the heavens declare the rightness of his cause;*
 for God himself is judge.
Hear, O my people, and I will speak:
   'O Israel, I will bear witness against you;*
 for I am God, your God.
'I do not accuse you because of your sacrifices;*
 your offerings are always before me.
'I will take no bull-calf from your stalls,*
 nor he-goats out of your pens;
'For the beasts of the forest are mine,*
 the herds in their thousands upon the hills.
'I know every bird in the sky,*
 and the creatures of the fields are in my sight.
'If I were hungry, I would not tell you,*
 for the whole world is mine and all that is in it.
'Do you think I eat the flesh of bulls,*
 or drink the blood of goats?
'Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving*
 and make good your vows to the Most High.
'Call upon me in the day of trouble;*
 I will deliver you and you shall honour me.'
But to the wicked God says:*
 'Why do you recite my statutes,
   and take my covenant upon your lips;
'Since you refuse discipline,*
 and toss my words behind your back?
'When you see a thief, you make him your friend,*
 and you cast in your lot with adulterers.
'You have loosed your lips for evil,*
 and harnessed your tongue to a lie.
'You are always speaking evil of your brother*
 and slandering your own mother's son.
'These things you have done and I kept still,*
 and you thought that I am like you.
'I have made my accusation;*
 I have put my case in order before your eyes.
'Consider this well, you who forget God,*
 lest I rend you and there be none to deliver you.
'Whoever offers me the sacrifice of thanksgiving
   honours me;*
 but to those who keep in my way
   will I show the salvation of God.'

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 [Malachi 3:1-6; 4:4-6]:

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom
you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom
you delight indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day
of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of
silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver,
until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah
and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

Then I will draw near to you for judgement; I will be swift to bear witness against the
sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who
oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those
who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished.

Remember the teaching of my servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances that I
commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord
comes. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to
their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse.

HYMN 
Words: W.C. Smith (1824-1908)
Tune: Picardy

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/e/e007.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.             

Earth was waiting, spent and restless,
with a mingled hope and fear,
faithful men and women praying,
"Surely, Lord, the day is near:
the Desire of all the nations--
it is time he should appear!"

Then the Spirit of the Highest
to a Virgin meek came down,
and he burdened her with blessing,
and he pained her with renown;
for she bore the Lord's Anointed
for his cross and for his crown.

Earth has groaned and labored for him
since the ages first began,
for in him was hid the secret
which through all the ages ran--
Son of Mary, Son of David,
Son of God, and Son of Man.

SECOND READING [Luke 1:5-25]:

Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs
up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled. See to it that no one
becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single
meal. You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for
he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing with tears.

You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and
gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the
hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. (For they could not endure the
order that was given, 'If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to
death.' Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, 'I tremble with fear.') But
you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the
firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of
the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the
sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when
they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we
reject the one who warns from heaven! At that time his voice shook the earth; but now
he has promised, 'Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.'
This phrase 'Yet once more' indicates the removal of what is shaken that is, created
things so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving
a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an
acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire. 

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

Prayer:
My brothers and sisters, as we prepare to celebrate Christ's coming, and wait in hope
for his coming again, let us bring our prayers to the Lord.

We pray for the people of India, especially those in Mumbai who are suffering in the
wake of the recent terrorist attacks in that city; for those who have been killed, that
they may rest in peace; for those who have been injured or bereaved, that they may be
comforted and supported in their pain. Maranatha, come, Lord
Jesus!

We pray for the people of Zimbabwe facing hunger and disease: that they may be
given the aid they need, and that their country may know peace, justice and freedom.
Maranatha, come, Lord Jesus!

We pray for the people of Thailand, amid the political unrest there: that a just and
peaceful way forward may be found. Maranatha, come, Lord Jesus!

We pray for all those who are facing unemployment as a result of the current
economic situation: may they be helped to find new work and new hope. Maranatha,
come, Lord Jesus!

We pray for all those living with HIV and AIDS: that they may be freed from prejudice
and discrimination, and be given the help and support they need; and we pray for all
those working to overcome the disease. Maranatha, come, Lord
Jesus!

We pray for migrants and refugees, and all those who live far from home: that they
may be accepted and made welcome in their new communities. Maranatha,
come, Lord Jesus!

Heavenly Father, you sent your Son into the world not to condemn but to save it. We
ask you to hear our prayers that we offer through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Faithful God, 
your promises stand unshaken through all generations: 
Renew us in hope, that we may be awake and alert 
watching for the glorious return of Jesus Christ, 
our judge and savior, 
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

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 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
_Book of Common Worship_, (c) 1993 Westminster / John Knox Press. 


From steve.benner at oremus.org  Sun Nov 30 17:00:00 2008
From: steve.benner at oremus.org (Steve Benner)
Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OREMUS:   1 December 2008
Message-ID: <20081130170000.A5596313CCB@justus2.anglican.org>

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

OREMUS for Monday, December 1, 2008
World AIDS Day

Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, God of life and health,
forever promising,
giving new dreams
and speaking new possibilities
giving your Spirit so all your children can breathe free.
In Jesus Christ, you have drawn close to us.
During this time of expectant waiting
inspire within our hearts a militant hope
so we can make visible the values of your kingdom,
the kingdom of your beloved son, our savior and brother. 
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 1

Happy are they who have not walked
   in the counsel of the wicked,*
 nor lingered in the way of sinners,
   nor sat in the seats of the scornful!
Their delight is in the law of the Lord,*
 and they meditate on his law day and night.
They are like trees planted by streams of water,
   bearing fruit in due season,
   with leaves that do not wither;*
 everything they do shall prosper.
It is not so with the wicked:*
 they are like chaff which the wind blows away;
Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright
   when judgement comes,*
 nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,*
 but the way of the wicked is doomed.

Psalm 3

Lord, how many adversaries I have!*
 how many there are who rise up against me!
How many there are who say of me,*
 'There is no help for him in his God.'
But you, O Lord, are a shield about me;*
 you are my glory, the one who lifts up my head.
I call aloud upon the Lord*
 and he answers me from his holy hill;
I lie down and go to sleep;*
 I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
I do not fear the multitudes of people*
 who set themselves against me all around.
Rise up, O Lord; set me free, O my God;*
 surely, you will strike all my enemies across the face,
   you will break the teeth of the wicked.
Deliverance belongs to the Lord.*
 Your blessing be upon your people!

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 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 [Isaiah 1:1-9]:

The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in
the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth;
   for the Lord has spoken:
I reared children and brought them up,
   but they have rebelled against me.
The ox knows its owner,
   and the donkey its master's crib;
but Israel does not know,
   my people do not understand.

Ah, sinful nation,
   people laden with iniquity,
offspring who do evil,
   children who deal corruptly,
who have forsaken the Lord,
   who have despised the Holy One of Israel,
   who are utterly estranged!

Why do you seek further beatings?
   Why do you continue to rebel?
The whole head is sick,
   and the whole heart faint.
>From the sole of the foot even to the head,
   there is no soundness in it,
but bruises and sores
   and bleeding wounds;
they have not been drained, or bound up,
   or softened with oil.

Your country lies desolate,
   your cities are burned with fire;
in your very presence
   aliens devour your land;
   it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.
And daughter Zion is left
   like a booth in a vineyard,
like a shelter in a cucumber field,
   like a besieged city.
If the Lord of hosts
   had not left us a few survivors,
we would have been like Sodom,
   and become like Gomorrah. 

HYMN 
Words: Fred Pratt Green (c)
Tune: Angelus, Bow Brickhill, Daniel, Ely, Invercarry, Melcombe

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/o/o043.html
Hit "Back" in your browser to return to Oremus.

O Christ, the healer, we have come
to pray for health, to plead for friends.
How can we fail to be restored,
when reached by love that never ends?

>From every ailment flesh endures
our bodies clamor to be freed;
yet in our hearts we would confess
that wholeness is our deepest need.

How strong, O Lord, are our desires,
how weak our knowledge of ourselves!
Release in us those healing truths
unconscious pride resists or shelves.

In conflicts that destroy our health,
we diagnose the world's disease;
our common life declares our ills:
is there no cure, O Christ, for these?

Grant that we all, made one in faith,
in your community may find
the wholeness that, enriching us,
shall reach the whole of humankind.

SECOND READING [Mark 1:1-13]:

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
   "Prepare the way of the Lord,
   make his paths straight" ',

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for
the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the
people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river
Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather
belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, 'The one who
is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie
the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit.'

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the
Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart
and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are
my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'

And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the
wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the
angels waited on him. 

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

Prayer:
We praise you, Holy One, for the gift of life,
precious, stubborn, fragile and beautiful;
We are grateful for the time we have to live upon the earth,
to love, to grow, to be.

We give thanks for the will to live
and for our capacity to live fully
all of the days that we are given;
 and for those who have taken
from the devastation of AIDS
the opportunity to build lives of wholeness.

We give you thanks for the partners,
friends, caregivers and families
who have been steadfast in their love;
for the people who have devoted their life's work
to the prevention, treatment and healing of HIV
with passion and commitment,

For the diligent science,
brilliant ideas and insights
that have led to new, life-giving treatments,
For the governments who have acted
to provide health care
for people living with HIV.

We give thanks for those whose prejudice and judgment
have yielded to understanding,
For those who have overcome fear,
indifference or burnout
to embrace a life of caring compassion.

We praise you, Eternal One,
for those who have loved enough
that their hearts have broken,
who cherish the memories of those we have lost,
and for those who console the grieving.

God, grant us the love, courage, tenacity, and will
to continue to make a difference in a world with HIV;
Inspire us to challenge the forces
that allow the needless spread of AIDS to continue --
prejudice, unjust laws, repression, prudery, stigma and fear.
Into your care we trust and lift up those who have contracted HIV.
We ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God of truth and justice,
watch over your people in adversity,
that we may know the wonders of your love
and see the glory of your presence;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

- The Lord's Prayer

Lord, you have no other body than ours, 
you have no other hands than ours, 
Your only feet belong to us
And ours are the eyes that with your compassion look at the world. 
Ours are the feet with which you walk around doing good
Ours are the hands with which we now bless.
Lord, here are our bodies, our whole lives. 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 from prayers used at the International
AIDS Conference in Ontario in 2006. 

The intercession is adapted from a prayer from The Metropolitan Community
Church.