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 Why are the nations in tumult, •
and why do the peoples devise a vain plot?
2 The kings of the earth rise up,
and the rulers take counsel together, •
against the Lord and against his anointed:
3 ‘Let us break their bonds asunder •
and cast away their cords from us.’
4 He who dwells in heaven shall laugh them to scorn; •
the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak to them in his wrath •
and terrify them in his fury:
6 ‘Yet have I set my king •
upon my holy hill of Zion.’
7 I will proclaim the decree of the Lord; •
he said to me: ‘You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.
8 ‘Ask of me and I will give you the nations for your inheritance •
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron •
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’
10 Now therefore be wise, O kings; •
be prudent, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and with trembling kiss his feet, •
lest he be angry and you perish from the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
12 Happy are all they •
who take refuge in him.
and why do the peoples devise a vain plot?
2 The kings of the earth rise up,
and the rulers take counsel together, •
against the Lord and against his anointed:
3 ‘Let us break their bonds asunder •
and cast away their cords from us.’
4 He who dwells in heaven shall laugh them to scorn; •
the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak to them in his wrath •
and terrify them in his fury:
6 ‘Yet have I set my king •
upon my holy hill of Zion.’
7 I will proclaim the decree of the Lord; •
he said to me: ‘You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.
8 ‘Ask of me and I will give you the nations for your inheritance •
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron •
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’
10 Now therefore be wise, O kings; •
be prudent, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and with trembling kiss his feet, •
lest he be angry and you perish from the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
12 Happy are all they •
who take refuge in him.
1 Alleluia.
Praise the Lord, O my soul:
while I live will I praise the Lord; •
as long as I have any being,
I will sing praises to my God.
2 Put not your trust in princes,
nor in any human power, •
for there is no help in them.
3 When their breath goes forth, they return to the earth; •
on that day all their thoughts perish.
4 Happy are those who have the God of Jacob for their help, •
whose hope is in the Lord their God;
5 Who made heaven and earth,
the sea and all that is in them; •
who keeps his promise for ever;
6 Who gives justice to those that suffer wrong •
and bread to those who hunger.
7 The Lord looses those that are bound; •
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
8 The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; •
the Lord loves the righteous;
9 The Lord watches over the stranger in the land;
he upholds the orphan and widow; •
but the way of the wicked he turns upside down.
10 The Lord shall reign for ever, •
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
Alleluia.
Praise the Lord, O my soul:
while I live will I praise the Lord; •
as long as I have any being,
I will sing praises to my God.
2 Put not your trust in princes,
nor in any human power, •
for there is no help in them.
3 When their breath goes forth, they return to the earth; •
on that day all their thoughts perish.
4 Happy are those who have the God of Jacob for their help, •
whose hope is in the Lord their God;
5 Who made heaven and earth,
the sea and all that is in them; •
who keeps his promise for ever;
6 Who gives justice to those that suffer wrong •
and bread to those who hunger.
7 The Lord looses those that are bound; •
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
8 The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; •
the Lord loves the righteous;
9 The Lord watches over the stranger in the land;
he upholds the orphan and widow; •
but the way of the wicked he turns upside down.
10 The Lord shall reign for ever, •
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
Alleluia.
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
Daniel 1 (Listen)
Daniel Taken to Babylon
1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family1 and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
Daniel’s Faithfulness
8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Footnotes
[1] 1:3
(ESV)
Revelation 1 (Listen)
Prologue
1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants1 the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Greeting to the Seven Churches
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail2 on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Vision of the Son of Man
9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Footnotes
[1] 1:1
[2] 1:7
(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.
We thank you, loving God,
for all your servants, known to us and unknown,
who have departed this life in your faith and fear:
give us grace so to follow their good examples,
that with them we may be brought to a joyful resurrection,
and be made partakers of your heavenly kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
for all your servants, known to us and unknown,
who have departed this life in your faith and fear:
give us grace so to follow their good examples,
that with them we may be brought to a joyful resurrection,
and be made partakers of your heavenly kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and 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 It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord •
and to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2 To tell of your love early in the morning •
and of your faithfulness in the night-time,
3 Upon the ten-stringed instrument, upon the harp, •
and to the melody of the lyre.
4 For you, Lord, have made me glad by your acts, •
and I sing aloud at the works of your hands.
5 O Lord, how glorious are your works! •
Your thoughts are very deep.
6 The senseless do not know, •
nor do fools understand,
7 That though the wicked sprout like grass •
and all the workers of iniquity flourish,
8 It is only to be destroyed for ever; •
but you, O Lord, shall be exalted for evermore.
9 For lo, your enemies, O Lord,
lo, your enemies shall perish, •
and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
10 But my horn you have exalted
like the horns of wild oxen; •
I am anointed with fresh oil.
11 My eyes will look down on my foes; •
my ears shall hear the ruin of the evildoers
who rise up against me.
12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, •
and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon.
13 Such as are planted in the house of the Lord •
shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; •
they shall be vigorous and in full leaf;
15 That they may show that the Lord is true; •
he is my rock,
and there is no unrighteousness in him.
and to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2 To tell of your love early in the morning •
and of your faithfulness in the night-time,
3 Upon the ten-stringed instrument, upon the harp, •
and to the melody of the lyre.
4 For you, Lord, have made me glad by your acts, •
and I sing aloud at the works of your hands.
5 O Lord, how glorious are your works! •
Your thoughts are very deep.
6 The senseless do not know, •
nor do fools understand,
7 That though the wicked sprout like grass •
and all the workers of iniquity flourish,
8 It is only to be destroyed for ever; •
but you, O Lord, shall be exalted for evermore.
9 For lo, your enemies, O Lord,
lo, your enemies shall perish, •
and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
10 But my horn you have exalted
like the horns of wild oxen; •
I am anointed with fresh oil.
11 My eyes will look down on my foes; •
my ears shall hear the ruin of the evildoers
who rise up against me.
12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, •
and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon.
13 Such as are planted in the house of the Lord •
shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; •
they shall be vigorous and in full leaf;
15 That they may show that the Lord is true; •
he is my rock,
and there is no unrighteousness in him.
1 Sing to the Lord a new song; •
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord and bless his name; •
tell out his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations •
and his wonders among all peoples.
4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; •
he is more to be feared than all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are but idols; •
it is the Lord who made the heavens.
6 Honour and majesty are before him; •
power and splendour are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples; •
ascribe to the Lord honour and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the honour due to his name; •
bring offerings and come into his courts.
9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; •
let the whole earth tremble before him.
10 Tell it out among the nations that the Lord is king. •
He has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad; •
let the sea thunder and all that is in it;
12 Let the fields be joyful and all that is in them; •
let all the trees of the wood shout for joy before the Lord.
13 For he comes, he comes to judge the earth; •
with righteousness he will judge the world
and the peoples with his truth.
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord and bless his name; •
tell out his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations •
and his wonders among all peoples.
4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; •
he is more to be feared than all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are but idols; •
it is the Lord who made the heavens.
6 Honour and majesty are before him; •
power and splendour are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples; •
ascribe to the Lord honour and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the honour due to his name; •
bring offerings and come into his courts.
9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; •
let the whole earth tremble before him.
10 Tell it out among the nations that the Lord is king. •
He has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad; •
let the sea thunder and all that is in it;
12 Let the fields be joyful and all that is in them; •
let all the trees of the wood shout for joy before the Lord.
13 For he comes, he comes to judge the earth; •
with righteousness he will judge the world
and the peoples with his truth.
1 The Lord is king: let the earth rejoice; •
let the multitude of the isles be glad.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him; •
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him •
and burns up his enemies on every side.
4 His lightnings lit up the world; •
the earth saw it and trembled.
5 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, •
at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declared his righteousness, •
and all the peoples have seen his glory.
7 Confounded be all who worship carved images
and delight in mere idols. •
Bow down before him, all you gods.
8 Zion heard and was glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoiced, •
because of your judgements, O Lord.
9 For you, Lord, are most high over all the earth; •
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 The Lord loves those who hate evil; •
he preserves the lives of his faithful
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light has sprung up for the righteous •
and joy for the true of heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, •
and give thanks to his holy name.
let the multitude of the isles be glad.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him; •
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him •
and burns up his enemies on every side.
4 His lightnings lit up the world; •
the earth saw it and trembled.
5 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, •
at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declared his righteousness, •
and all the peoples have seen his glory.
7 Confounded be all who worship carved images
and delight in mere idols. •
Bow down before him, all you gods.
8 Zion heard and was glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoiced, •
because of your judgements, O Lord.
9 For you, Lord, are most high over all the earth; •
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 The Lord loves those who hate evil; •
he preserves the lives of his faithful
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light has sprung up for the righteous •
and joy for the true of heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, •
and give thanks to his holy name.
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
Isaiah 1:1–20 (Listen)
1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
The Wickedness of Judah
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth;
for the LORD has spoken:
“Children1 have I reared and brought up,
but they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knows its owner,
and the donkey its master’s crib,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand.”
4 Ah, sinful nation,
a people laden with iniquity,
offspring of evildoers,
children who deal corruptly!
They have forsaken the LORD,
they have despised the Holy One of Israel,
they are utterly estranged.
5 Why will you still be struck down?
Why will you continue to rebel?
The whole head is sick,
and the whole heart faint.
6 From the sole of the foot even to the head,
there is no soundness in it,
but bruises and sores
and raw wounds;
they are not pressed out or bound up
or softened with oil.
7 Your country lies desolate;
your cities are burned with fire;
in your very presence
foreigners devour your land;
it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.
8 And the daughter of Zion is left
like a booth in a vineyard,
like a lodge in a cucumber field,
like a besieged city.
9 If the LORD of hosts
had not left us a few survivors,
we should have been like Sodom,
and become like Gomorrah.
10 Hear the word of the LORD,
you rulers of Sodom!
Give ear to the teaching2 of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!
11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
says the LORD;
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of well-fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
or of lambs, or of goats.
12 “When you come to appear before me,
who has required of you
this trampling of my courts?
13 Bring no more vain offerings;
incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—
I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts
my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
17 learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow’s cause.
18 “Come now, let us reason3 together, says the LORD:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you shall eat the good of the land;
20 but if you refuse and rebel,
you shall be eaten by the sword;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
(ESV)
Matthew 1:18–25 (Listen)
The Birth of Jesus Christ
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ1 took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed2 to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
(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.
We thank you, loving God,
for all your servants, known to us and unknown,
who have departed this life in your faith and fear:
give us grace so to follow their good examples,
that with them we may be brought to a joyful resurrection,
and be made partakers of your heavenly kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
for all your servants, known to us and unknown,
who have departed this life in your faith and fear:
give us grace so to follow their good examples,
that with them we may be brought to a joyful resurrection,
and be made partakers of your heavenly kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and 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