Propers
Psalms from the Daily Office
Motets and cantatas
Propers
Introit
Cantate Domino. Psalm 98
O sing unto the Lord a new song, alleluia: for the Lord hath done marvelous things, alleluia: in the sight of the nations hath he shewed his righteous judgments, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. With his own right hand, and with his holy arm: hath he gotten himself the victory. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen. O sing unto the Lord . . .
Men of the choir of All Saints Anglican Church
Collect
O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men: Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Epistle
St. James 1:17–21
Dearly beloved: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia. [Psalm 118] The right hand of the Lord hath the pre-eminence: the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass. Alleluia. [Rom 6, 9] Christ, being raised from the dead dieth no more: death hath no more dominion over him. Alleluia.
Gospel
St. John 16:5–15
Jesus said unto His disciples, Now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
(A recording of a cantata by J. S. Bach inspired by this Gospel text is presented below, under Motets and cantatas.)
Offertory
O be joyful in God, all ye lands; sing praises unto the honour of his Name: O come hither, and harken, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what things he hath done for my soul, alleluia.
(A choral setting of this text (sung in Latin) can be heard below, under Motets and cantatas.)
Communion
[St. John 16] When the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, is come; he will reprove the world of sin: and of righteousness, and of judgement, alleluia, alleluia.
Psalms from the Daily Office for this week
Below are plainsong renditions of the Psalms as published in the Saint Dunstan’s Plainsong Psalter.
SUNDAY
Dilexi, quoniam exaudiet Dominus
Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus
Diligam te, Domine, fortitudo mea
Dominus, illuminatio mea
MONDAY
Dixit Dominus Domino meo
In exitu Israel de Ægypto
Confitebor tibi, Domine, in toto corde meo
Laudate, pueri, Dominum
TUESDAY
Nisi quia Dominus erat in nobis
In convertendo Dominus captivitatem Sion
Levavi oculos meos in montes
Lætatus sum in his quæ dicta sunt mihi
WEDNESDAY
Beati omnes qui timent Dominum
Sæpe expungnaverunt me
Laudate Nomen Domini
THURSDAY
Memento, Domine, David
Exaltabo te, Deus meus rex
FRIDAY
Domine, exaudi orationem meam
De profundis clamavi
Confitebor tibi, Domine, in toto corde meo
SATURDAY
Lauda, anima mea, Dominum
Cantate Domino canticum novum
Laudate Dominum, de cælis
Laudate Dominum in sanctis ejus
Motets and cantatas
Offertory motet by Palestrina
Bach cantata BWV 166, “Where goest thou?”
Offertory by Palestrina
The Offertory for this Sunday is from Psalm 66: “O be joyful in God, all ye lands; sing praises unto the honor of his Name: O come hither, and harken, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what things he hath done for my soul. Alleluia.”
In Latin: “Jubilate Deo universa terra, psalmum dicite nomini eius. Venite et audite, et narrabo vobis omnis qui timetis Deum quanta fecit Dominus animae meae. Alleluia.”
Here is a setting of this Offertory text by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594). It is sung by the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, conducted by Richard Marlow.
A Bach cantata inspired by the Gospel reading
In May 1724, Johann Sebastian Bach composed Wo gehest du hin? (“Where goest thou?”). The text to the cantata (BWV 166) was inspired by Jesus’ explanation that he will soon depart from this world, but that his leaving would be to the disciples’ benefit. (The entire text is available here.)
A recording of the enture cantata is presented in the video below. The performers arethe Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir conducted by Ton Koopman. The soloists are Bernhard Landauer, alto; Christoph Prégardien, tenor; and Klaus Mertens, bass.