God's love has been poured into our hearts,
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
1
Romans 5:3
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 Marvellous Acts
I will sing a new hymn to my God:
O Lord you are great and marvellous,
you are marvellous in your strength, invincible.
Let the whole creation serve you:
for you spoke and all things came to be;
You sent out your Spirit and it formed them:
no one can resist your voice.
Mountains and seas are stirred to their depths:
rocks melt like wax at your presence;
But to those who revere you:
you still show mercy.
O Lord you are great and marvellous,
you are marvellous in your strength, invincible.
Let the whole creation serve you:
for you spoke and all things came to be;
You sent out your Spirit and it formed them:
no one can resist your voice.
Mountains and seas are stirred to their depths:
rocks melt like wax at your presence;
But to those who revere you:
you still show mercy.
Judith 16:13-15
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 Sing to the Lord a new song, •
for he has done marvellous things.
2 His own right hand and his holy arm •
have won for him the victory.
3 The Lord has made known his salvation; •
his deliverance has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.
4 He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness
towards the house of Israel, •
and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
5 Sound praises to the Lord, all the earth; •
break into singing and make music.
6 Make music to the Lord with the lyre, •
with the lyre and the voice of melody.
7 With trumpets and the sound of the horn •
sound praises before the Lord, the King.
8 Let the sea thunder and all that fills it, •
the world and all that dwell upon it.
9 Let the rivers clap their hands •
and let the hills ring out together before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
10 In righteousness shall he judge the world •
and the peoples with equity.
for he has done marvellous things.
2 His own right hand and his holy arm •
have won for him the victory.
3 The Lord has made known his salvation; •
his deliverance has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.
4 He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness
towards the house of Israel, •
and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
5 Sound praises to the Lord, all the earth; •
break into singing and make music.
6 Make music to the Lord with the lyre, •
with the lyre and the voice of melody.
7 With trumpets and the sound of the horn •
sound praises before the Lord, the King.
8 Let the sea thunder and all that fills it, •
the world and all that dwell upon it.
9 Let the rivers clap their hands •
and let the hills ring out together before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
10 In righteousness shall he judge the world •
and the peoples with equity.
1 The Lord is king: let the peoples tremble; •
he is enthroned above the cherubim: let the earth shake.
2 The Lord is great in Zion •
and high above all peoples.
3 Let them praise your name, which is great and awesome; •
the Lord our God is holy.
4 Mighty king, who loves justice,
you have established equity; •
you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the Lord our God; •
bow down before his footstool, for he is holy.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests
and Samuel among those who call upon his name; •
they called upon the Lord and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; •
they kept his testimonies and the law that he gave them.
8 You answered them, O Lord our God; •
you were a God who forgave them
and pardoned them for their offences.
9 Exalt the Lord our God
and worship him upon his holy hill, •
for the Lord our God is holy.
he is enthroned above the cherubim: let the earth shake.
2 The Lord is great in Zion •
and high above all peoples.
3 Let them praise your name, which is great and awesome; •
the Lord our God is holy.
4 Mighty king, who loves justice,
you have established equity; •
you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the Lord our God; •
bow down before his footstool, for he is holy.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests
and Samuel among those who call upon his name; •
they called upon the Lord and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; •
they kept his testimonies and the law that he gave them.
8 You answered them, O Lord our God; •
you were a God who forgave them
and pardoned them for their offences.
9 Exalt the Lord our God
and worship him upon his holy hill, •
for the Lord our God is holy.
1 I will sing of faithfulness and justice; •
to you, O Lord, will I sing.
2 Let me be wise in the way that is perfect: •
when will you come to me?
3 I will walk with purity of heart •
within the walls of my house.
4 I will not set before my eyes •
a counsel that is evil.
5 I abhor the deeds of unfaithfulness; •
they shall not cling to me.
6 A crooked heart shall depart from me; •
I will not know a wicked person.
7 One who slanders a neighbour in secret •
I will quickly put to silence.
8 Haughty eyes and an arrogant heart •
I will not endure.
9 My eyes are upon the faithful in the land, •
that they may dwell with me.
10 One who walks in the way that is pure •
shall be my servant.
11 There shall not dwell in my house •
one that practises deceit.
12 One who utters falsehood •
shall not continue in my sight.
13 Morning by morning will I put to silence •
all the wicked in the land,
14 To cut off from the city of the Lord •
all those who practise evil.
to you, O Lord, will I sing.
2 Let me be wise in the way that is perfect: •
when will you come to me?
3 I will walk with purity of heart •
within the walls of my house.
4 I will not set before my eyes •
a counsel that is evil.
5 I abhor the deeds of unfaithfulness; •
they shall not cling to me.
6 A crooked heart shall depart from me; •
I will not know a wicked person.
7 One who slanders a neighbour in secret •
I will quickly put to silence.
8 Haughty eyes and an arrogant heart •
I will not endure.
9 My eyes are upon the faithful in the land, •
that they may dwell with me.
10 One who walks in the way that is pure •
shall be my servant.
11 There shall not dwell in my house •
one that practises deceit.
12 One who utters falsehood •
shall not continue in my sight.
13 Morning by morning will I put to silence •
all the wicked in the land,
14 To cut off from the city of the Lord •
all those who practise evil.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
Creator Spirit, Advocate promised by our Lord Jesus: increase our faith and help us to walk in the light of your presence, to the glory of God the Father; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed
Judges 13:1–24 (Listen)
The Birth of Samson
13:1 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. 3 And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, 5 for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” 6 Then the woman came and told her husband, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name, 7 but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”
8 Then Manoah prayed to the LORD and said, “O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.” 9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, “Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.” 11 And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to this woman?” And he said, “I am.” 12 And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child’s manner of life, and what is his mission?” 13 And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. 14 She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing. All that I commanded her let her observe.”
15 Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you.” 16 And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, “If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the LORD.” (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the LORD.) 17 And Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?” 18 And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” 19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the LORD, to the one who works1 wonders, and Manoah and his wife were watching. 20 And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the LORD went up in the flame of the altar. Now Manoah and his wife were watching, and they fell on their faces to the ground.
21 The angel of the LORD appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the LORD. 22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.” 23 But his wife said to him, “If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.” 24 And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the LORD blessed him.
Footnotes
[1] 13:19
(ESV)
Luke 17:20–37 (Listen)
The Coming of the Kingdom
20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”1
22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24 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.2 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”3 37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse4 is, there the vultures5 will gather.”
Footnotes
[1] 17:21
[2] 17:24
[3] 17:35
[4] 17:37
[5] 17:37
(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, A Song of Isaiah
'Behold, God is my salvation:,
I will trust and will not be afraid;
'For the Lord God is my strength and my song:
and has become my salvation.'
With joy you will draw water:
from the wells of salvation.
On that day you will say:
'Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name;
'Make known his deeds among the nations:
proclaim that his name is exalted.
'Sing God's praises, who has triumphed gloriously:
let this be known in all the world.
'Shout and sing for joy, you that dwell in Zion:
for great in your midst in the Holy One of Israel.'
I will trust and will not be afraid;
'For the Lord God is my strength and my song:
and has become my salvation.'
With joy you will draw water:
from the wells of salvation.
On that day you will say:
'Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name;
'Make known his deeds among the nations:
proclaim that his name is exalted.
'Sing God's praises, who has triumphed gloriously:
let this be known in all the world.
'Shout and sing for joy, you that dwell in Zion:
for great in your midst in the Holy One of Israel.'
Isaiah 12:2-6
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.
God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. May we rekindle the gift of God within us. Amen.
see 2 Timothy 1:6-7
1
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope.
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
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 Hope
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me:
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good tidings to the afflicted. The Lord has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted:
to proclaim liberty for the captives,
and release for those in prison,
To comfort all who mourn:
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning:
a garment of splendour for the heavy heart.
They shall be called tress of righteousness:
planted for the glory of the Lord.
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good tidings to the afflicted. The Lord has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted:
to proclaim liberty for the captives,
and release for those in prison,
To comfort all who mourn:
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning:
a garment of splendour for the heavy heart.
They shall be called tress of righteousness:
planted for the glory of the Lord.
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 O give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name; •
make known his deeds among the peoples.
2 Sing to him, sing praises, •
and tell of all his marvellous works.
3 Rejoice in the praise of his holy name; •
let the hearts of them rejoice who seek the Lord.
4 Seek the Lord and his strength; •
seek his face continually.
5 Remember the marvels he has done, •
his wonders and the judgements of his mouth,
6 O seed of Abraham his servant, •
O children of Jacob his chosen.
7 He is the Lord our God; •
his judgements are in all the earth.
8 He has always been mindful of his covenant, •
the promise that he made for a thousand generations:
9 The covenant he made with Abraham, •
the oath that he swore to Isaac,
10 Which he established as a statute for Jacob, •
an everlasting covenant for Israel,
11 Saying, ‘To you will I give the land of Canaan •
to be the portion of your inheritance.’
12 When they were but few in number, •
of little account, and sojourners in the land,
13 Wandering from nation to nation, •
from one kingdom to another people,
14 He suffered no one to do them wrong •
and rebuked even kings for their sake,
15 Saying, ‘Touch not my anointed •
and do my prophets no harm.’
16 Then he called down famine over the land •
and broke every staff of bread.
17 But he had sent a man before them, •
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They shackled his feet with fetters; •
his neck was ringed with iron.
19 Until all he foretold came to pass, •
the word of the Lord tested him.
20 The king sent and released him; •
the ruler of peoples set him free.
21 He appointed him lord of his household •
and ruler of all he possessed,
22 To instruct his princes as he willed •
and to teach his counsellors wisdom.
23 Then Israel came into Egypt; •
Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24 And the Lord made his people exceedingly fruitful; •
he made them too many for their adversaries,
25 Whose heart he turned, so that they hated his people •
and dealt craftily with his servants.
26 Then sent he Moses his servant •
and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27 He showed his signs through their word •
and his wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness and it grew dark; •
yet they did not heed his words.
29 He turned their waters into blood •
and slew all their fish.
30 Their land swarmed with frogs, •
even in their kings’ chambers.
31 He spoke the word, and there came clouds of flies, •
swarms of gnats within all their borders.
32 He gave them hailstones for rain •
and flames of lightning in their land.
33 He blasted their vines and their fig trees •
and shattered trees across their country.
34 He spoke the word, and the grasshoppers came •
and young locusts without number;
35 They ate every plant in their land •
and devoured the fruit of their soil.
36 He smote all the firstborn in their land, •
the first fruits of all their strength.
37 Then he brought them out with silver and gold; •
there was not one among their tribes that stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad at their departing, •
for a dread of them had fallen upon them.
39 He spread out a cloud for a covering •
and a fire to light up the night.
40 They asked and he brought them quails; •
he satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out •
and ran in the dry places like a river.
42 For he remembered his holy word •
and Abraham, his servant.
43 So he brought forth his people with joy, •
his chosen ones with singing.
44 He gave them the lands of the nations •
and they took possession of the fruit of their toil,
45 That they might keep his statutes •
and faithfully observe his laws.
Alleluia.
make known his deeds among the peoples.
2 Sing to him, sing praises, •
and tell of all his marvellous works.
3 Rejoice in the praise of his holy name; •
let the hearts of them rejoice who seek the Lord.
4 Seek the Lord and his strength; •
seek his face continually.
5 Remember the marvels he has done, •
his wonders and the judgements of his mouth,
6 O seed of Abraham his servant, •
O children of Jacob his chosen.
7 He is the Lord our God; •
his judgements are in all the earth.
8 He has always been mindful of his covenant, •
the promise that he made for a thousand generations:
9 The covenant he made with Abraham, •
the oath that he swore to Isaac,
10 Which he established as a statute for Jacob, •
an everlasting covenant for Israel,
11 Saying, ‘To you will I give the land of Canaan •
to be the portion of your inheritance.’
12 When they were but few in number, •
of little account, and sojourners in the land,
13 Wandering from nation to nation, •
from one kingdom to another people,
14 He suffered no one to do them wrong •
and rebuked even kings for their sake,
15 Saying, ‘Touch not my anointed •
and do my prophets no harm.’
16 Then he called down famine over the land •
and broke every staff of bread.
17 But he had sent a man before them, •
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They shackled his feet with fetters; •
his neck was ringed with iron.
19 Until all he foretold came to pass, •
the word of the Lord tested him.
20 The king sent and released him; •
the ruler of peoples set him free.
21 He appointed him lord of his household •
and ruler of all he possessed,
22 To instruct his princes as he willed •
and to teach his counsellors wisdom.
23 Then Israel came into Egypt; •
Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24 And the Lord made his people exceedingly fruitful; •
he made them too many for their adversaries,
25 Whose heart he turned, so that they hated his people •
and dealt craftily with his servants.
26 Then sent he Moses his servant •
and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27 He showed his signs through their word •
and his wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness and it grew dark; •
yet they did not heed his words.
29 He turned their waters into blood •
and slew all their fish.
30 Their land swarmed with frogs, •
even in their kings’ chambers.
31 He spoke the word, and there came clouds of flies, •
swarms of gnats within all their borders.
32 He gave them hailstones for rain •
and flames of lightning in their land.
33 He blasted their vines and their fig trees •
and shattered trees across their country.
34 He spoke the word, and the grasshoppers came •
and young locusts without number;
35 They ate every plant in their land •
and devoured the fruit of their soil.
36 He smote all the firstborn in their land, •
the first fruits of all their strength.
37 Then he brought them out with silver and gold; •
there was not one among their tribes that stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad at their departing, •
for a dread of them had fallen upon them.
39 He spread out a cloud for a covering •
and a fire to light up the night.
40 They asked and he brought them quails; •
he satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out •
and ran in the dry places like a river.
42 For he remembered his holy word •
and Abraham, his servant.
43 So he brought forth his people with joy, •
his chosen ones with singing.
44 He gave them the lands of the nations •
and they took possession of the fruit of their toil,
45 That they might keep his statutes •
and faithfully observe his laws.
Alleluia.
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, •
and all that is within me bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, •
and forget not all his benefits;
3 Who forgives all your sins •
and heals all your infirmities;
4 Who redeems your life from the Pit •
and crowns you with faithful love and compassion;
5 Who satisfies you with good things, •
so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
6 The Lord executes righteousness •
and judgement for all who are oppressed.
7 He made his ways known to Moses •
and his works to the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, •
slow to anger and of great kindness.
9 He will not always accuse us, •
neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, •
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, •
so great is his mercy upon those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, •
so far has he set our sins from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, •
so is the Lord merciful towards those who fear him.
14 For he knows of what we are made; •
he remembers that we are but dust.
15 Our days are but as grass; •
we flourish as a flower of the field;
16 For as soon as the wind goes over it, it is gone, •
and its place shall know it no more.
17 But the merciful goodness of the Lord is from of old
and endures for ever on those who fear him, •
and his righteousness on children’s children;
18 On those who keep his covenant •
and remember his commandments to do them.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven, •
and his kingdom has dominion over all.
20 Bless the Lord, you angels of his, •
you mighty ones who do his bidding
and hearken to the voice of his word.
21 Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, •
you ministers of his who do his will.
22 Bless the Lord, all you works of his,
in all places of his dominion; •
bless the Lord, O my soul.
and all that is within me bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, •
and forget not all his benefits;
3 Who forgives all your sins •
and heals all your infirmities;
4 Who redeems your life from the Pit •
and crowns you with faithful love and compassion;
5 Who satisfies you with good things, •
so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
6 The Lord executes righteousness •
and judgement for all who are oppressed.
7 He made his ways known to Moses •
and his works to the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, •
slow to anger and of great kindness.
9 He will not always accuse us, •
neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, •
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, •
so great is his mercy upon those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, •
so far has he set our sins from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, •
so is the Lord merciful towards those who fear him.
14 For he knows of what we are made; •
he remembers that we are but dust.
15 Our days are but as grass; •
we flourish as a flower of the field;
16 For as soon as the wind goes over it, it is gone, •
and its place shall know it no more.
17 But the merciful goodness of the Lord is from of old
and endures for ever on those who fear him, •
and his righteousness on children’s children;
18 On those who keep his covenant •
and remember his commandments to do them.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven, •
and his kingdom has dominion over all.
20 Bless the Lord, you angels of his, •
you mighty ones who do his bidding
and hearken to the voice of his word.
21 Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, •
you ministers of his who do his will.
22 Bless the Lord, all you works of his,
in all places of his dominion; •
bless the Lord, O my soul.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
God who wonderfully created us and even more wonderfully restored our humanity: strengthen us by your Holy Spirit to triumph over suffering and death, and grant us eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed
Nehemiah 4 (Listen)
Opposition to the Work
4:1 1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves?2 Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” 4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.
6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
7 3 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
10 In Judah it was said,4 “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” 11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” 12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.”5 13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
The Work Resumes
15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.6
Footnotes
[1] 4:1
[2] 4:2
[3] 4:7
[4] 4:10
[5] 4:12
[6] 4:23
(ESV)
Romans 14:13–23 (Listen)
Do Not Cause Another to Stumble
13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.1 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.2
Footnotes
[1] 14:21
[2] 14:23
(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, A Song of God's Children
In Christ Jesus, the life-giving law of the Spirit:
has set us free from the law of sin and death.
All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God:
it is the Spirit that enables us to cry, 'Abba!' Father.
The Spirit bears witness
that we are God's Children:
and if God's children, then heirs of God.
We are heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ:
If we share his sufferings now
we shall be glorified with him hereafter.
These sufferings that we now endure:
are not worth comparing
with the glory that shall be revealed.
For the creation waits with eager longing:
for the revealing of the children of God.
has set us free from the law of sin and death.
All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God:
it is the Spirit that enables us to cry, 'Abba!' Father.
The Spirit bears witness
that we are God's Children:
and if God's children, then heirs of God.
We are heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ:
If we share his sufferings now
we shall be glorified with him hereafter.
These sufferings that we now endure:
are not worth comparing
with the glory that shall be revealed.
For the creation waits with eager longing:
for the revealing of the children of God.
Romans 8:2, 14, 15b-19
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.
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfector of our faith. Amen.
Hebrews 12:1