Rejoice always; pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
1
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of God's Grace
Blessed are you,
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:
for you have blessed us in Christ Jesus
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
You chose us to be yours in Christ
before the foundation of the world:
that we should be holy and blameless before you.
In love you destined us to be your children,
through Jesus Christ:
according to the purpose of your will,
To the praise of your glorious grace:
which you freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:
for you have blessed us in Christ Jesus
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
You chose us to be yours in Christ
before the foundation of the world:
that we should be holy and blameless before you.
In love you destined us to be your children,
through Jesus Christ:
according to the purpose of your will,
To the praise of your glorious grace:
which you freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:3-6
3 The Opening Prayer
The night has passed and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.
let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be kept
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever. Amen.
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever. Amen.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each
1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with my whole heart; •
I will tell of all your marvellous works.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; •
I will make music to your name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies are driven back, •
they stumble and perish at your presence.
4 For you have maintained my right and my cause; •
you sat on your throne giving righteous judgement.
5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; •
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
6 The enemy was utterly laid waste. •
You uprooted their cities;
their very memory has perished.
7 But the Lord shall endure for ever; •
he has made fast his throne for judgement.
8 For he shall rule the world with righteousness •
and govern the peoples with equity.
9 Then will the Lord be a refuge for the oppressed, •
a refuge in the time of trouble.
10 And those who know your name will put their trust in you, •
for you, Lord, have never failed those who seek you.
11 Sing praises to the Lord who dwells in Zion; •
declare among the peoples the things he has done.
12 The avenger of blood has remembered them; •
he did not forget the cry of the oppressed.
13 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; •
consider the trouble I suffer from those who hate me,
you that lift me up from the gates of death;
14 That I may tell all your praises in the gates of the city of Zion •
and rejoice in your salvation.
15 The nations shall sink into the pit of their making •
and in the snare which they set will their own foot be taken.
16 The Lord makes himself known by his acts of justice; •
the wicked are snared in the works of their own hands.
17 They shall return to the land of darkness, •
all the nations that forget God.
18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten •
and the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever.
19 Arise, O Lord, and let not mortals have the upper hand; •
let the nations be judged before your face.
20 Put them in fear, O Lord, •
that the nations may know themselves to be but mortal.
I will tell of all your marvellous works.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; •
I will make music to your name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies are driven back, •
they stumble and perish at your presence.
4 For you have maintained my right and my cause; •
you sat on your throne giving righteous judgement.
5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; •
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
6 The enemy was utterly laid waste. •
You uprooted their cities;
their very memory has perished.
7 But the Lord shall endure for ever; •
he has made fast his throne for judgement.
8 For he shall rule the world with righteousness •
and govern the peoples with equity.
9 Then will the Lord be a refuge for the oppressed, •
a refuge in the time of trouble.
10 And those who know your name will put their trust in you, •
for you, Lord, have never failed those who seek you.
11 Sing praises to the Lord who dwells in Zion; •
declare among the peoples the things he has done.
12 The avenger of blood has remembered them; •
he did not forget the cry of the oppressed.
13 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; •
consider the trouble I suffer from those who hate me,
you that lift me up from the gates of death;
14 That I may tell all your praises in the gates of the city of Zion •
and rejoice in your salvation.
15 The nations shall sink into the pit of their making •
and in the snare which they set will their own foot be taken.
16 The Lord makes himself known by his acts of justice; •
the wicked are snared in the works of their own hands.
17 They shall return to the land of darkness, •
all the nations that forget God.
18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten •
and the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever.
19 Arise, O Lord, and let not mortals have the upper hand; •
let the nations be judged before your face.
20 Put them in fear, O Lord, •
that the nations may know themselves to be but mortal.
13 Sing praise to the Lord, O Jerusalem; •
praise your God, O Zion;
14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates •
and has blest your children within you.
15 He has established peace in your borders •
and satisfies you with the finest wheat.
16 He sends forth his command to the earth •
and his word runs very swiftly.
17 He gives snow like wool •
and scatters the hoarfrost like ashes.
18 He casts down his hailstones like morsels of bread; •
who can endure his frost?
19 He sends forth his word and melts them; •
he blows with his wind and the waters flow.
20 He declares his word to Jacob, •
his statutes and judgements to Israel.
praise your God, O Zion;
14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates •
and has blest your children within you.
15 He has established peace in your borders •
and satisfies you with the finest wheat.
16 He sends forth his command to the earth •
and his word runs very swiftly.
17 He gives snow like wool •
and scatters the hoarfrost like ashes.
18 He casts down his hailstones like morsels of bread; •
who can endure his frost?
19 He sends forth his word and melts them; •
he blows with his wind and the waters flow.
20 He declares his word to Jacob, •
his statutes and judgements to Israel.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
We consecrate this day to your service, O Lord; may all our thoughts, words, and actions be well-pleasing to you and serve the good of our brothers and sisters; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed
Daniel 2:25–49 (Listen)
25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.” 26 The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.
Daniel Interprets the Dream
31 “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32 The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage,1 but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”
Daniel Is Promoted
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.
Footnotes
[1] 2:43
(ESV)
Revelation 2:12–29 (Listen)
To the Church in Pergamum
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith1 even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
To the Church in Thyatira
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule2 them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
(ESV)
The reading may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, Te Deum Laudamus
We praise you, O God:
we acclaim you as Lord.
All creation worships you:
the Father everlasting.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven:
the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might:
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you:
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you:
Throughout the world, the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded:
your true and only Son, worthy of all praise,
the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are King of glory:
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you took our flesh to set us free:
you humbly chose the virgin's womb.
You overcame the sting of death:
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God's right hand in glory:
We believe that you will come to be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood:
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.
we acclaim you as Lord.
All creation worships you:
the Father everlasting.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven:
the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might:
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you:
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you:
Throughout the world, the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded:
your true and only Son, worthy of all praise,
the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are King of glory:
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you took our flesh to set us free:
you humbly chose the virgin's womb.
You overcame the sting of death:
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God's right hand in glory:
We believe that you will come to be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood:
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.
8 The Apostles' Creed may be said
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
9 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
10 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day
Our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
12 The Morning Collect
Eternal God and Father, by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed: guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, that we may give ourselves to your service, and live this day in love to one another and to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
13
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant us to live in such harmony with one another in accord with Christ Jesus, that we may with one voice glorify our God and Father. Amen.
Romans 15:5-6
1
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed;
and all people shall see it together.
and all people shall see it together.
Isaiah 40:5
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of Praise
God be gracious to us and bless us:
and make your face to shine upon us,
That your way may be known upon the earth:
your salvation among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God:
let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy:
for you judge the peoples with equity
and govern the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God:
let all the peoples praise you.
Then the earth will bring forth its increase:
and God, our own God, will bless us.
You, O God, will bless us:
and all the ends of the earth will fear you.
and make your face to shine upon us,
That your way may be known upon the earth:
your salvation among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God:
let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy:
for you judge the peoples with equity
and govern the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God:
let all the peoples praise you.
Then the earth will bring forth its increase:
and God, our own God, will bless us.
You, O God, will bless us:
and all the ends of the earth will fear you.
Psalm 67
3 The Opening Prayer
The day is now passed and the night is at hand.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be kept
Father of lights, receive the prayer and praise we offer you as our evening sacrifice; make us a light for all the world, delivered by your goodness from all the works of darkness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each
1 Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, •
in the company of the faithful and in the congregation.
2 The works of the Lord are great, •
sought out by all who delight in them.
3 His work is full of majesty and honour •
and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 He appointed a memorial for his marvellous deeds; •
the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He gave food to those who feared him; •
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He showed his people the power of his works •
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are truth and justice; •
all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever; •
they are done in truth and equity.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he commanded his covenant for ever; •
holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
a good understanding have those who live by it; •
his praise endures for ever.
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, •
in the company of the faithful and in the congregation.
2 The works of the Lord are great, •
sought out by all who delight in them.
3 His work is full of majesty and honour •
and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 He appointed a memorial for his marvellous deeds; •
the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He gave food to those who feared him; •
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He showed his people the power of his works •
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are truth and justice; •
all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever; •
they are done in truth and equity.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he commanded his covenant for ever; •
holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
a good understanding have those who live by it; •
his praise endures for ever.
1 Alleluia.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord •
and have great delight in his commandments.
2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land, •
a generation of the faithful that will be blest.
3 Wealth and riches will be in their house, •
and their righteousness endures for ever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the upright; •
gracious and full of compassion are the righteous.
5 It goes well with those who are generous in lending •
and order their affairs with justice,
6 For they will never be shaken; •
the righteous will be held in everlasting remembrance.
7 They will not be afraid of any evil tidings; •
their heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their heart is sustained and will not fear, •
until they see the downfall of their foes.
9 They have given freely to the poor;
their righteousness stands fast for ever; •
their head will be exalted with honour.
10 The wicked shall see it and be angry;
they shall gnash their teeth in despair; •
the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord •
and have great delight in his commandments.
2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land, •
a generation of the faithful that will be blest.
3 Wealth and riches will be in their house, •
and their righteousness endures for ever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the upright; •
gracious and full of compassion are the righteous.
5 It goes well with those who are generous in lending •
and order their affairs with justice,
6 For they will never be shaken; •
the righteous will be held in everlasting remembrance.
7 They will not be afraid of any evil tidings; •
their heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their heart is sustained and will not fear, •
until they see the downfall of their foes.
9 They have given freely to the poor;
their righteousness stands fast for ever; •
their head will be exalted with honour.
10 The wicked shall see it and be angry;
they shall gnash their teeth in despair; •
the desire of the wicked shall perish.
1 I love the Lord,
for he has heard the voice of my supplication; •
because he inclined his ear to me
on the day I called to him.
2 The snares of death encompassed me;
the pains of hell took hold of me; •
by grief and sorrow was I held.
3 Then I called upon the name of the Lord: •
‘O Lord, I beg you, deliver my soul.’
4 Gracious is the Lord and righteous; •
our God is full of compassion.
5 The Lord watches over the simple; •
I was brought very low and he saved me.
6 Turn again to your rest, O my soul, •
for the Lord has been gracious to you.
7 For you have delivered my soul from death, •
my eyes from tears and my feet from falling.
8 I will walk before the Lord •
in the land of the living.
9 I believed that I should perish
for I was sorely troubled; •
and I said in my alarm,
‘Everyone is a liar.’
10 How shall I repay the Lord •
for all the benefits he has given to me?
11 I will lift up the cup of salvation •
and call upon the name of the Lord.
12 I will fulfil my vows to the Lord •
in the presence of all his people.
13 Precious in the sight of the Lord •
is the death of his faithful servants.
14 O Lord, I am your servant, •
your servant, the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.
15 I will offer to you a sacrifice of thanksgiving •
and call upon the name of the Lord.
16 I will fulfil my vows to the Lord •
in the presence of all his people,
17 In the courts of the house of the Lord, •
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Alleluia.
for he has heard the voice of my supplication; •
because he inclined his ear to me
on the day I called to him.
2 The snares of death encompassed me;
the pains of hell took hold of me; •
by grief and sorrow was I held.
3 Then I called upon the name of the Lord: •
‘O Lord, I beg you, deliver my soul.’
4 Gracious is the Lord and righteous; •
our God is full of compassion.
5 The Lord watches over the simple; •
I was brought very low and he saved me.
6 Turn again to your rest, O my soul, •
for the Lord has been gracious to you.
7 For you have delivered my soul from death, •
my eyes from tears and my feet from falling.
8 I will walk before the Lord •
in the land of the living.
9 I believed that I should perish
for I was sorely troubled; •
and I said in my alarm,
‘Everyone is a liar.’
10 How shall I repay the Lord •
for all the benefits he has given to me?
11 I will lift up the cup of salvation •
and call upon the name of the Lord.
12 I will fulfil my vows to the Lord •
in the presence of all his people.
13 Precious in the sight of the Lord •
is the death of his faithful servants.
14 O Lord, I am your servant, •
your servant, the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.
15 I will offer to you a sacrifice of thanksgiving •
and call upon the name of the Lord.
16 I will fulfil my vows to the Lord •
in the presence of all his people,
17 In the courts of the house of the Lord, •
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Alleluia.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
God of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: graft in our hearts the love of your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of your great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed
Isaiah 2:1–11 (Listen)
The Mountain of the Lord
2:1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the LORD
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be lifted up above the hills;
and all the nations shall flow to it,
3 and many peoples shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,1
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.
5 O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the LORD.
The Day of the Lord
6 For you have rejected your people,
the house of Jacob,
because they are full of things from the east
and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines,
and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.
7 Their land is filled with silver and gold,
and there is no end to their treasures;
their land is filled with horses,
and there is no end to their chariots.
8 Their land is filled with idols;
they bow down to the work of their hands,
to what their own fingers have made.
9 So man is humbled,
and each one is brought low—
do not forgive them!
10 Enter into the rock
and hide in the dust
from before the terror of the LORD,
and from the splendor of his majesty.
11 The haughty looks of man shall be brought low,
and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled,
and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
Footnotes
[1] 2:3
(ESV)
Matthew 2:16–23 (Listen)
Herod Kills the Children
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
The Return to Nazareth
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
(ESV)
The reading may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, The Song of Mary (Magnificat)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord:
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
Who has looked with favour on his lowly servant:
from this day all generations will call me blessed;
The Almighty has done great things for me:
and holy is his name
God has mercy on those who fear him:
from generation to generation.
The Lord has shown strength with his arm:
and scattered the proud in the conceit
Casting down the mighty from their thrones:
and lifting up the lowly.
God has filled the hungry with good things:
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel:
to remember the promise of mercy,
The promise made to our forebears:
to Abraham and his children for ever.
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
Who has looked with favour on his lowly servant:
from this day all generations will call me blessed;
The Almighty has done great things for me:
and holy is his name
God has mercy on those who fear him:
from generation to generation.
The Lord has shown strength with his arm:
and scattered the proud in the conceit
Casting down the mighty from their thrones:
and lifting up the lowly.
God has filled the hungry with good things:
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel:
to remember the promise of mercy,
The promise made to our forebears:
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Luke 1:47-55
8 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
9 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day
Our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
10 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
11 The Evening Collect
Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray: and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
12
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May our Lord Jesus Christ, and God our Father, comfort our hearts and establish them in every good work and word. Amen.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17