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 We have heard with our ears, O God, our forebears have told us, •
all that you did in their days, in time of old;
2 How with your hand you drove out nations and planted us in, •
and broke the power of peoples and set us free.
3 For not by their own sword did our ancestors take the land •
nor did their own arm save them,
4 But your right hand, your arm, and the light of your countenance, •
because you were gracious to them.
5 You are my King and my God, •
who commanded salvation for Jacob.
6 Through you we drove back our adversaries; •
through your name we trod down our foes.
7 For I did not trust in my bow; •
it was not my own sword that saved me;
8 It was you that saved us from our enemies •
and put our adversaries to shame.
9 We gloried in God all the day long, •
and were ever praising your name.
10 But now you have rejected us and brought us to shame, •
and go not out with our armies.
11 You have made us turn our backs on our enemies, •
and our enemies have despoiled us.
12 You have made us like sheep to be slaughtered, •
and have scattered us among the nations.
13 You have sold your people for a pittance •
and made no profit on their sale.
14 You have made us the taunt of our neighbours, •
the scorn and derision of those that are round about us.
15 You have made us a byword among the nations; •
among the peoples they wag their heads.
16 My confusion is daily before me, •
and shame has covered my face,
17 At the taunts of the slanderer and reviler, •
at the sight of the enemy and avenger.
18 All this has come upon us,
though we have not forgotten you •
and have not played false to your covenant.
19 Our hearts have not turned back, •
nor our steps gone out of your way,
20 Yet you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, •
and covered us with the shadow of death.
21 If we have forgotten the name of our God, •
or stretched out our hands to any strange god,
22 Will not God search it out? •
For he knows the secrets of the heart.
23 But for your sake are we killed all the day long, •
and are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
24 Rise up! Why sleep, O Lord? •
Awake, and do not reject us for ever.
25 Why do you hide your face •
and forget our grief and oppression?
26 Our soul is bowed down to the dust; •
our belly cleaves to the earth.
27 Rise up, O Lord, to help us •
and redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.
all that you did in their days, in time of old;
2 How with your hand you drove out nations and planted us in, •
and broke the power of peoples and set us free.
3 For not by their own sword did our ancestors take the land •
nor did their own arm save them,
4 But your right hand, your arm, and the light of your countenance, •
because you were gracious to them.
5 You are my King and my God, •
who commanded salvation for Jacob.
6 Through you we drove back our adversaries; •
through your name we trod down our foes.
7 For I did not trust in my bow; •
it was not my own sword that saved me;
8 It was you that saved us from our enemies •
and put our adversaries to shame.
9 We gloried in God all the day long, •
and were ever praising your name.
10 But now you have rejected us and brought us to shame, •
and go not out with our armies.
11 You have made us turn our backs on our enemies, •
and our enemies have despoiled us.
12 You have made us like sheep to be slaughtered, •
and have scattered us among the nations.
13 You have sold your people for a pittance •
and made no profit on their sale.
14 You have made us the taunt of our neighbours, •
the scorn and derision of those that are round about us.
15 You have made us a byword among the nations; •
among the peoples they wag their heads.
16 My confusion is daily before me, •
and shame has covered my face,
17 At the taunts of the slanderer and reviler, •
at the sight of the enemy and avenger.
18 All this has come upon us,
though we have not forgotten you •
and have not played false to your covenant.
19 Our hearts have not turned back, •
nor our steps gone out of your way,
20 Yet you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, •
and covered us with the shadow of death.
21 If we have forgotten the name of our God, •
or stretched out our hands to any strange god,
22 Will not God search it out? •
For he knows the secrets of the heart.
23 But for your sake are we killed all the day long, •
and are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
24 Rise up! Why sleep, O Lord? •
Awake, and do not reject us for ever.
25 Why do you hide your face •
and forget our grief and oppression?
26 Our soul is bowed down to the dust; •
our belly cleaves to the earth.
27 Rise up, O Lord, to help us •
and redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.
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
Luke 12:1–12 (Listen)
Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees
12:1 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
Have No Fear
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.1 Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?2 And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Acknowledge Christ Before Men
8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Footnotes
[1] 12:5
[2] 12:6
(ESV)
The reading may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, A Song of Isaiah
'Behold, God is my salvation:,
I will trust and will not be afraid;
'For the Lord God is my strength and my song:
and has become my salvation.'
With joy you will draw water:
from the wells of salvation.
On that day you will say:
'Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name;
'Make known his deeds among the nations:
proclaim that his name is exalted.
'Sing God's praises, who has triumphed gloriously:
let this be known in all the world.
'Shout and sing for joy, you that dwell in Zion:
for great in your midst in the Holy One of Israel.'
I will trust and will not be afraid;
'For the Lord God is my strength and my song:
and has become my salvation.'
With joy you will draw water:
from the wells of salvation.
On that day you will say:
'Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name;
'Make known his deeds among the nations:
proclaim that his name is exalted.
'Sing God's praises, who has triumphed gloriously:
let this be known in all the world.
'Shout and sing for joy, you that dwell in Zion:
for great in your midst in the Holy One of Israel.'
Isaiah 12:2-6
8 The Apostles' Creed may be said
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
9 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
10 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day
Our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
12 The Morning Collect
Eternal God and Father, by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed; guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, that we may give ourselves to your service, and live this day in love to one another and to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
13
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. May we rekindle the gift of God within us. Amen.
see 2 Timothy 1:6-7
1
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope.
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of Hope
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me:
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good tidings to the afflicted. The Lord has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted:
to proclaim liberty for the captives,
and release for those in prison,
To comfort all who mourn:
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning:
a garment of splendour for the heavy heart.
They shall be called tress of righteousness:
planted for the glory of the Lord.
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good tidings to the afflicted. The Lord has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted:
to proclaim liberty for the captives,
and release for those in prison,
To comfort all who mourn:
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning:
a garment of splendour for the heavy heart.
They shall be called tress of righteousness:
planted for the glory of the Lord.
3 The Opening Prayer
The day is now passed and the night is at hand.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be kept
Father of lights, receive the prayer and praise we offer you as our evening sacrifice; make us a light for all the world, delivered by your goodness from all the works of darkness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each
1 Clap your hands together, all you peoples; •
O sing to God with shouts of joy.
2 For the Lord Most High is to be feared; •
he is the great King over all the earth.
3 He subdued the peoples under us •
and the nations under our feet.
4 He has chosen our heritage for us, •
the pride of Jacob, whom he loves.
5 God has gone up with a merry noise, •
the Lord with the sound of the trumpet.
6 O sing praises to God, sing praises; •
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; •
sing praises with all your skill.
8 God reigns over the nations; •
God has taken his seat upon his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the peoples are gathered together •
with the people of the God of Abraham.
10 For the powers of the earth belong to God •
and he is very highly exalted.
O sing to God with shouts of joy.
2 For the Lord Most High is to be feared; •
he is the great King over all the earth.
3 He subdued the peoples under us •
and the nations under our feet.
4 He has chosen our heritage for us, •
the pride of Jacob, whom he loves.
5 God has gone up with a merry noise, •
the Lord with the sound of the trumpet.
6 O sing praises to God, sing praises; •
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; •
sing praises with all your skill.
8 God reigns over the nations; •
God has taken his seat upon his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the peoples are gathered together •
with the people of the God of Abraham.
10 For the powers of the earth belong to God •
and he is very highly exalted.
1 Hear this, all you peoples; •
listen, all you that dwell in the world,
2 You of low or high degree, •
both rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom •
and my heart shall meditate on understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a parable; •
I will unfold my riddle with the lyre.
5 Why should I fear in evil days, •
when the malice of my foes surrounds me,
6 Such as trust in their goods •
and glory in the abundance of their riches?
7 For no one can indeed ransom another •
or pay to God the price of deliverance.
8 To ransom a soul is too costly; •
there is no price one could pay for it,
9 So that they might live for ever, •
and never see the grave.
10 For we see that the wise die also;
with the foolish and ignorant they perish •
and leave their riches to others.
11 Their tomb is their home for ever,
their dwelling through all generations, •
though they call their lands after their own names.
12 Those who have honour, but lack understanding, •
are like the beasts that perish.
13 Such is the way of those who boast in themselves, •
the end of those who delight in their own words.
14 Like a flock of sheep they are destined to die;
death is their shepherd; •
they go down straight to the Pit.
15 Their beauty shall waste away, •
and the land of the dead shall be their dwelling.
16 But God shall ransom my soul; •
from the grasp of death will he take me.
17 Be not afraid if some grow rich •
and the glory of their house increases,
18 For they will carry nothing away when they die, •
nor will their glory follow after them.
19 Though they count themselves happy while they live •
and praise you for your success,
20 They shall enter the company of their ancestors •
who will nevermore see the light.
21 Those who have honour, but lack understanding, •
are like the beasts that perish.
listen, all you that dwell in the world,
2 You of low or high degree, •
both rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom •
and my heart shall meditate on understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a parable; •
I will unfold my riddle with the lyre.
5 Why should I fear in evil days, •
when the malice of my foes surrounds me,
6 Such as trust in their goods •
and glory in the abundance of their riches?
7 For no one can indeed ransom another •
or pay to God the price of deliverance.
8 To ransom a soul is too costly; •
there is no price one could pay for it,
9 So that they might live for ever, •
and never see the grave.
10 For we see that the wise die also;
with the foolish and ignorant they perish •
and leave their riches to others.
11 Their tomb is their home for ever,
their dwelling through all generations, •
though they call their lands after their own names.
12 Those who have honour, but lack understanding, •
are like the beasts that perish.
13 Such is the way of those who boast in themselves, •
the end of those who delight in their own words.
14 Like a flock of sheep they are destined to die;
death is their shepherd; •
they go down straight to the Pit.
15 Their beauty shall waste away, •
and the land of the dead shall be their dwelling.
16 But God shall ransom my soul; •
from the grasp of death will he take me.
17 Be not afraid if some grow rich •
and the glory of their house increases,
18 For they will carry nothing away when they die, •
nor will their glory follow after them.
19 Though they count themselves happy while they live •
and praise you for your success,
20 They shall enter the company of their ancestors •
who will nevermore see the light.
21 Those who have honour, but lack understanding, •
are like the beasts that perish.
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
Romans 7:1–6 (Listen)
Released from the Law
7:1 Or do you not know, brothers1—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.2 3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.
4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.3
Footnotes
[1] 7:1
[2] 7:2
[3] 7:6
(ESV)
The reading may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, A Song of God's Children
In Christ Jesus, the life-giving law of the Spirit:
has set us free from the law of sin and death.
All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God:
it is the Spirit that enables us to cry, 'Abba!' Father.
The Spirit bears witness
that we are God's Children:
and if God's children, then heirs of God.
We are heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ:
If we share his sufferings now
we shall be glorified with him hereafter.
These sufferings that we now endure:
are not worth comparing
with the glory that shall be revealed.
For the creation waits with eager longing:
for the revealing of the children of God.
has set us free from the law of sin and death.
All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God:
it is the Spirit that enables us to cry, 'Abba!' Father.
The Spirit bears witness
that we are God's Children:
and if God's children, then heirs of God.
We are heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ:
If we share his sufferings now
we shall be glorified with him hereafter.
These sufferings that we now endure:
are not worth comparing
with the glory that shall be revealed.
For the creation waits with eager longing:
for the revealing of the children of God.
Romans 8:2, 14, 15b-19
8 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
9 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day
Our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
10 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
11 The Evening Collect
Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray: and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
12
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfector of our faith. Amen.
Hebrews 12:1