God has shone in our hearts,
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ
1
2 Corinthians 4:6
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 Creation
Bless the Lord all created things:
who is worth to be praised and exalted for ever.
Bless the Lord all people of the earth:
who is worth to be praised and exalted 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:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted 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:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
who is worth to be praised and exalted for ever.
Bless the Lord all people of the earth:
who is worth to be praised and exalted 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:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted 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:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Song of the Three 35ff
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.
31 As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord is tried in the fire; •
he is a shield to all who trust in him.
32 For who is God but the Lord, •
and who is the rock except our God?
33 It is God who girds me about with strength •
and makes my way perfect.
34 He makes my feet like hinds’ feet •
so that I tread surely on the heights.
35 He teaches my hands to fight •
and my arms to bend a bow of bronze.
36 You have given me the shield of your salvation; •
your right hand upholds me
and your grace has made me great.
37 You enlarge my strides beneath me, •
yet my feet do not slide.
38 I will pursue my enemies and overtake them, •
nor turn again until I have destroyed them.
39 I will smite them down so they cannot rise; •
they shall fall beneath my feet.
40 You have girded me with strength for the battle; •
you will cast down my enemies under me;
41 You will make my foes turn their backs upon me •
and I shall destroy them that hate me.
42 They will cry out, but there shall be none to help them; •
they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer.
43 I shall beat them as small as the dust on the wind; •
I will cast them out as the mire in the streets.
44 You will deliver me from the strife of the peoples; •
you will make me the head of the nations.
45 A people I have not known shall serve me;
as soon as they hear me, they shall obey me; •
strangers will humble themselves before me.
46 The foreign peoples will lose heart •
and come trembling out of their strongholds.
47 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock! •
Praised be the God of my salvation,
48 Even the God who vindicates me •
and subdues the peoples under me!
49 You that deliver me from my enemies,
you will set me up above my foes; •
from the violent you will deliver me;
50 Therefore will I give you thanks, O Lord, among the nations •
and sing praises to your name,
the word of the Lord is tried in the fire; •
he is a shield to all who trust in him.
32 For who is God but the Lord, •
and who is the rock except our God?
33 It is God who girds me about with strength •
and makes my way perfect.
34 He makes my feet like hinds’ feet •
so that I tread surely on the heights.
35 He teaches my hands to fight •
and my arms to bend a bow of bronze.
36 You have given me the shield of your salvation; •
your right hand upholds me
and your grace has made me great.
37 You enlarge my strides beneath me, •
yet my feet do not slide.
38 I will pursue my enemies and overtake them, •
nor turn again until I have destroyed them.
39 I will smite them down so they cannot rise; •
they shall fall beneath my feet.
40 You have girded me with strength for the battle; •
you will cast down my enemies under me;
41 You will make my foes turn their backs upon me •
and I shall destroy them that hate me.
42 They will cry out, but there shall be none to help them; •
they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer.
43 I shall beat them as small as the dust on the wind; •
I will cast them out as the mire in the streets.
44 You will deliver me from the strife of the peoples; •
you will make me the head of the nations.
45 A people I have not known shall serve me;
as soon as they hear me, they shall obey me; •
strangers will humble themselves before me.
46 The foreign peoples will lose heart •
and come trembling out of their strongholds.
47 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock! •
Praised be the God of my salvation,
48 Even the God who vindicates me •
and subdues the peoples under me!
49 You that deliver me from my enemies,
you will set me up above my foes; •
from the violent you will deliver me;
50 Therefore will I give you thanks, O Lord, among the nations •
and sing praises to your name,
1 Alleluia.
O praise God in his holiness; •
praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts; •
praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the blast of the trumpet; •
praise him upon the harp and lyre.
4 Praise him with timbrel and dances; •
praise him upon the strings and pipe.
5 Praise him with ringing cymbals; •
praise him upon the clashing cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath •
praise the Lord.
Alleluia.
O praise God in his holiness; •
praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts; •
praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the blast of the trumpet; •
praise him upon the harp and lyre.
4 Praise him with timbrel and dances; •
praise him upon the strings and pipe.
5 Praise him with ringing cymbals; •
praise him upon the clashing cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath •
praise the Lord.
Alleluia.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
Creator God, whose praise and power are proclaimed by the whole creation: receive our morning prayers, we pray, and renew us in your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed
Daniel 4:1–18 (Listen)
Nebuchadnezzar Praises God
4:1 1 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
4 2 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. 6 So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. 8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods3—and I told him the dream, saying, 9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. 10 The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
13 “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. 17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’ 18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Footnotes
[1] 4:1
[2] 4:4
[3] 4:8
(ESV)
Revelation 4 (Listen)
The Throne in Heaven
4:1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings1 and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
Footnotes
[1] 4:5
(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 Redemption
Christ is the image of the invisible God:
the first-born of all creation.
For in him all things were created:
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
All things were created through him and for him:
his is before all things
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the Church:
he is the beginning, the first-born form the dead.
For it pleases God that in him
all fullness should dwell:
and through him all things be reconciled to himself.
the first-born of all creation.
For in him all things were created:
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
All things were created through him and for him:
his is before all things
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the Church:
he is the beginning, the first-born form the dead.
For it pleases God that in him
all fullness should dwell:
and through him all things be reconciled to himself.
Colossians 1:15-20
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
Lord and heavenly Father, you have brought us safely to this new day: keep us by your mighty power, protect us from sin, guard us from every kind of danger, and in all we do this day direct us in the fulfilling of your purpose, 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 peace of God which passes all understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Philippians 4:7
1
Grace to you and peace
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:2
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 the Shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd:
therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall make me lie down in green pastures:
and lead me beside still waters.
He shall refresh my soul:
and guide me in right pathways for his name's sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for you are with me,
your rod and your staff comfort me.
You spread a table before me in the presence
of those who trouble me:
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup shall be full.
Surely your goodness and loving-kindness
shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall make me lie down in green pastures:
and lead me beside still waters.
He shall refresh my soul:
and guide me in right pathways for his name's sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for you are with me,
your rod and your staff comfort me.
You spread a table before me in the presence
of those who trouble me:
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup shall be full.
Surely your goodness and loving-kindness
shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23
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 I will exalt you, O God my King, •
and bless your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day will I bless you •
and praise your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; •
his greatness is beyond all searching out.
4 One generation shall praise your works to another •
and declare your mighty acts.
5 They shall speak of the majesty of your glory, •
and I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
6 They shall speak of the might of your marvellous acts, •
and I will also tell of your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the story of your abundant kindness •
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, •
long-suffering and of great goodness.
9 The Lord is loving to everyone •
and his mercy is over all his creatures.
10 All your works praise you, O Lord, •
and your faithful servants bless you.
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom •
and speak of your mighty power,
12 To make known to all peoples your mighty acts •
and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; •
your dominion endures throughout all ages.
14 The Lord is sure in all his words •
and faithful in all his deeds.
15 The Lord upholds all those who fall •
and lifts up all those who are bowed down.
16 The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, •
and you give them their food in due season.
17 You open wide your hand •
and fill all things living with plenty.
18 The Lord is righteous in all his ways •
and loving in all his works.
19 The Lord is near to those who call upon him, •
to all who call upon him faithfully.
20 He fulfils the desire of those who fear him; •
he hears their cry and saves them.
21 The Lord watches over those who love him, •
but all the wicked shall he destroy.
22 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, •
and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
and bless your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day will I bless you •
and praise your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; •
his greatness is beyond all searching out.
4 One generation shall praise your works to another •
and declare your mighty acts.
5 They shall speak of the majesty of your glory, •
and I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
6 They shall speak of the might of your marvellous acts, •
and I will also tell of your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the story of your abundant kindness •
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, •
long-suffering and of great goodness.
9 The Lord is loving to everyone •
and his mercy is over all his creatures.
10 All your works praise you, O Lord, •
and your faithful servants bless you.
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom •
and speak of your mighty power,
12 To make known to all peoples your mighty acts •
and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; •
your dominion endures throughout all ages.
14 The Lord is sure in all his words •
and faithful in all his deeds.
15 The Lord upholds all those who fall •
and lifts up all those who are bowed down.
16 The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, •
and you give them their food in due season.
17 You open wide your hand •
and fill all things living with plenty.
18 The Lord is righteous in all his ways •
and loving in all his works.
19 The Lord is near to those who call upon him, •
to all who call upon him faithfully.
20 He fulfils the desire of those who fear him; •
he hears their cry and saves them.
21 The Lord watches over those who love him, •
but all the wicked shall he destroy.
22 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, •
and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
Lord Christ, eternal Word and Light of the Father's glory: send your light and your truth that we may both know and proclaim your word of life, to the glory of God the Father; for you now live and reign, God for all eternity. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed
Isaiah 4:2–5:7 (Listen)
The Branch of the Lord Glorified
2 In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. 3 And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.1 5 Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. 6 There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.
The Vineyard of the Lord Destroyed
5:1 Let me sing for my beloved
my love song concerning his vineyard:
My beloved had a vineyard
on a very fertile hill.
2 He dug it and cleared it of stones,
and planted it with choice vines;
he built a watchtower in the midst of it,
and hewed out a wine vat in it;
and he looked for it to yield grapes,
but it yielded wild grapes.
3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem
and men of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.
4 What more was there to do for my vineyard,
that I have not done in it?
When I looked for it to yield grapes,
why did it yield wild grapes?
5 And now I will tell you
what I will do to my vineyard.
I will remove its hedge,
and it shall be devoured;2
I will break down its wall,
and it shall be trampled down.
6 I will make it a waste;
it shall not be pruned or hoed,
and briers and thorns shall grow up;
I will also command the clouds
that they rain no rain upon it.
7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
are his pleasant planting;
and he looked for justice,
but behold, bloodshed;3
for righteousness,
but behold, an outcry!4
Footnotes
[1] 4:4
[2] 5:5
[3] 5:7
[4] 5:7
(ESV)
Matthew 4:12–22 (Listen)
Jesus Begins His Ministry
12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”1
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”2 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Footnotes
[1] 4:17
[2] 4:19
(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 Easter Anthems
Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us:
so let us celebrate the feast,
Now with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness:
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Christ once raised from the dead dies no more:
death has no more dominion over him.
In dying, he died to sin once for all:
in living, he lives to God.
See yourselves, therefor, as dead to sin:
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ has been raised from the dead:
the first fruits of those who sleep.
For since by one man came death:
by another has come also the resurrection of the dead,
For as in Adam all die:
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
so let us celebrate the feast,
Now with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness:
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Christ once raised from the dead dies no more:
death has no more dominion over him.
In dying, he died to sin once for all:
in living, he lives to God.
See yourselves, therefor, as dead to sin:
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ has been raised from the dead:
the first fruits of those who sleep.
For since by one man came death:
by another has come also the resurrection of the dead,
For as in Adam all die:
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
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
Come to visit us, Lord this night, so that by your strength we may rise at daybreak to rejoice in the resurrection of Christ your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. 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.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.
see Revelation 22:13