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 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, •
you that led Joseph like a flock;
2 Shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim, •
before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
3 Stir up your mighty strength •
and come to our salvation.
4 Turn us again, O God; •
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
5 O Lord God of hosts, •
how long will you be angry at your people’s prayer?
6 You feed them with the bread of tears; •
you give them abundance of tears to drink.
7 You have made us the derision of our neighbours, •
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
8 Turn us again, O God of hosts; •
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
9 You brought a vine out of Egypt; •
you drove out the nations and planted it.
10 You made room around it, •
and when it had taken root, it filled the land.
11 The hills were covered with its shadow •
and the cedars of God by its boughs.
12 It stretched out its branches to the Sea •
and its tendrils to the River.
13 Why then have you broken down its wall, •
so that all who pass by pluck off its grapes?
14 The wild boar out of the wood tears it off, •
and all the insects of the field devour it.
15 Turn again, O God of hosts, •
look down from heaven and behold;
16 Cherish this vine which your right hand has planted, •
and the branch that you made so strong for yourself.
17 Let those who burnt it with fire, who cut it down, •
perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
18 Let your hand be upon the man at your right hand, •
the son of man you made so strong for yourself.
19 And so will we not go back from you; •
give us life, and we shall call upon your name.
20 Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts; •
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
you that led Joseph like a flock;
2 Shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim, •
before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
3 Stir up your mighty strength •
and come to our salvation.
4 Turn us again, O God; •
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
5 O Lord God of hosts, •
how long will you be angry at your people’s prayer?
6 You feed them with the bread of tears; •
you give them abundance of tears to drink.
7 You have made us the derision of our neighbours, •
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
8 Turn us again, O God of hosts; •
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
9 You brought a vine out of Egypt; •
you drove out the nations and planted it.
10 You made room around it, •
and when it had taken root, it filled the land.
11 The hills were covered with its shadow •
and the cedars of God by its boughs.
12 It stretched out its branches to the Sea •
and its tendrils to the River.
13 Why then have you broken down its wall, •
so that all who pass by pluck off its grapes?
14 The wild boar out of the wood tears it off, •
and all the insects of the field devour it.
15 Turn again, O God of hosts, •
look down from heaven and behold;
16 Cherish this vine which your right hand has planted, •
and the branch that you made so strong for yourself.
17 Let those who burnt it with fire, who cut it down, •
perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
18 Let your hand be upon the man at your right hand, •
the son of man you made so strong for yourself.
19 And so will we not go back from you; •
give us life, and we shall call upon your name.
20 Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts; •
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
1 God has taken his stand in the council of heaven; •
in the midst of the gods he gives judgement:
2 ‘How long will you judge unjustly •
and show such favour to the wicked?
3 ‘You were to judge the weak and the orphan; •
defend the right of the humble and needy;
4 ‘Rescue the weak and the poor; •
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
5 ‘They have no knowledge or wisdom;
they walk on still in darkness: •
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 ‘Therefore I say that though you are gods •
and all of you children of the Most High,
7 ‘Nevertheless, you shall die like mortals •
and fall like one of their princes.’
8 Arise, O God and judge the earth, •
for it is you that shall take all nations for your possession.
in the midst of the gods he gives judgement:
2 ‘How long will you judge unjustly •
and show such favour to the wicked?
3 ‘You were to judge the weak and the orphan; •
defend the right of the humble and needy;
4 ‘Rescue the weak and the poor; •
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
5 ‘They have no knowledge or wisdom;
they walk on still in darkness: •
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 ‘Therefore I say that though you are gods •
and all of you children of the Most High,
7 ‘Nevertheless, you shall die like mortals •
and fall like one of their princes.’
8 Arise, O God and judge the earth, •
for it is you that shall take all nations for your possession.
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 8:22–35 (Listen)
Gideon’s Ephod
22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” 23 Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you.” 24 And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels1 of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels. 27 And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. 28 So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they raised their heads no more. And the land had rest for forty years in the days of Gideon.
The Death of Gideon
29 Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. 30 Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring,2 for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech. 32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, at Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
33 As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god. 34 And the people of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side, 35 and they did not show steadfast love to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done to Israel.
Footnotes
[1] 8:26
[2] 8:30
(ESV)
Luke 15:1–10 (Listen)
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15:1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins,1 if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Footnotes
[1] 15:8
(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.
Almighty God,
who give to your servant N
boldness to confess the name of Jesus Christ
and courage to die for this faith:
teach us to always to be ready
to give a reason for the hope that is in us,
and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord and Saviour;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
who give to your servant N
boldness to confess the name of Jesus Christ
and courage to die for this faith:
teach us to always to be ready
to give a reason for the hope that is in us,
and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord and Saviour;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Almighty God,
by whose grace and power
your holy martyr N triumphed over suffering
and was faithful even to death:
grant that we, who now remember him/her in thanksgiving,
may be so faithful in our witness to you in this world,
that we may receive with him/her the crown of everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
by whose grace and power
your holy martyr N triumphed over suffering
and was faithful even to death:
grant that we, who now remember him/her in thanksgiving,
may be so faithful in our witness to you in this world,
that we may receive with him/her the crown of everlasting life;
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 Lord, you were gracious to your land; •
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the offence of your people •
and covered all their sins.
3 You laid aside all your fury •
and turned from your wrathful indignation.
4 Restore us again, O God our Saviour, •
and let your anger cease from us.
5 Will you be displeased with us for ever? •
Will you stretch out your wrath from one generation to another?
6 Will you not give us life again, •
that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your mercy, O Lord, •
and grant us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what the Lord God will say, •
for he shall speak peace to his people and to the faithful,
that they turn not again to folly.
9 Truly, his salvation is near to those who fear him, •
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together, •
righteousness and peace have kissed each other;
11 Truth shall spring up from the earth •
and righteousness look down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give all that is good, •
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him •
and direct his steps in the way.
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the offence of your people •
and covered all their sins.
3 You laid aside all your fury •
and turned from your wrathful indignation.
4 Restore us again, O God our Saviour, •
and let your anger cease from us.
5 Will you be displeased with us for ever? •
Will you stretch out your wrath from one generation to another?
6 Will you not give us life again, •
that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your mercy, O Lord, •
and grant us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what the Lord God will say, •
for he shall speak peace to his people and to the faithful,
that they turn not again to folly.
9 Truly, his salvation is near to those who fear him, •
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together, •
righteousness and peace have kissed each other;
11 Truth shall spring up from the earth •
and righteousness look down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give all that is good, •
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him •
and direct his steps in the way.
1 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, •
for I am poor and in misery.
2 Preserve my soul, for I am faithful; •
save your servant, for I put my trust in you.
3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for you are my God; •
I call upon you all the day long.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant, •
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
5 For you, Lord, are good and forgiving, •
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer •
and listen to the voice of my supplication.
7 In the day of my distress I will call upon you, •
for you will answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord, •
nor any works like yours.
9 All nations you have made shall come and worship you, O Lord, •
and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wonderful things; •
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; •
knit my heart to you, that I may fear your name.
12 I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, •
and glorify your name for evermore;
13 For great is your steadfast love towards me, •
for you have delivered my soul from the depths of the grave.
14 O God, the proud rise up against me
and a ruthless horde seek after my life; •
they have not set you before their eyes.
15 But you, Lord, are gracious and full of compassion, •
slow to anger and full of kindness and truth.
16 Turn to me and have mercy upon me; •
give your strength to your servant
and save the child of your handmaid.
17 Show me a token of your favour,
that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; •
because you, O Lord, have helped and comforted me.
for I am poor and in misery.
2 Preserve my soul, for I am faithful; •
save your servant, for I put my trust in you.
3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for you are my God; •
I call upon you all the day long.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant, •
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
5 For you, Lord, are good and forgiving, •
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer •
and listen to the voice of my supplication.
7 In the day of my distress I will call upon you, •
for you will answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord, •
nor any works like yours.
9 All nations you have made shall come and worship you, O Lord, •
and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wonderful things; •
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; •
knit my heart to you, that I may fear your name.
12 I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, •
and glorify your name for evermore;
13 For great is your steadfast love towards me, •
for you have delivered my soul from the depths of the grave.
14 O God, the proud rise up against me
and a ruthless horde seek after my life; •
they have not set you before their eyes.
15 But you, Lord, are gracious and full of compassion, •
slow to anger and full of kindness and truth.
16 Turn to me and have mercy upon me; •
give your strength to your servant
and save the child of your handmaid.
17 Show me a token of your favour,
that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; •
because you, O Lord, have helped and comforted me.
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
Ezra 7 (Listen)
Ezra Sent to Teach the People
7:1 Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, 4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest—6 this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the LORD, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him.
7 And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. 8 And Ezra1 came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned in matters of the commandments of the LORD and his statutes for Israel:2 12 “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace.3 And now 13 I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14 For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand, 15 and also to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem. 17 With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God that is in Jerusalem. 18 Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God. 19 The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which it falls to you to provide, you may provide it out of the king’s treasury.
21 “And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence, 22 up to 100 talents4 of silver, 100 cors5 of wheat, 100 baths6 of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven, lest his wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons. 24 We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
25 “And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach. 26 Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.”
27 Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, 28 and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
Footnotes
[1] 7:8
[2] 7:11
[3] 7:12
[4] 7:22
[5] 7:22
[6] 7:22
(ESV)
Romans 11:25–36 (Listen)
The Mystery of Israel’s Salvation
25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers:1 a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
27 “and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now2 receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
(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.
Almighty God,
who give to your servant N
boldness to confess the name of Jesus Christ
and courage to die for this faith:
teach us to always to be ready
to give a reason for the hope that is in us,
and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord and Saviour;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
who give to your servant N
boldness to confess the name of Jesus Christ
and courage to die for this faith:
teach us to always to be ready
to give a reason for the hope that is in us,
and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord and Saviour;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Almighty God,
by whose grace and power
your holy martyr N triumphed over suffering
and was faithful even to death:
grant that we, who now remember him/her in thanksgiving,
may be so faithful in our witness to you in this world,
that we may receive with him/her the crown of everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
by whose grace and power
your holy martyr N triumphed over suffering
and was faithful even to death:
grant that we, who now remember him/her in thanksgiving,
may be so faithful in our witness to you in this world,
that we may receive with him/her the crown of everlasting life;
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