Rejoice always; pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
1
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
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 Grace
Blessed are you,
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:
for you have blessed us in Christ Jesus
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
You chose us to be yours in Christ
before the foundation of the world:
that we should be holy and blameless before you.
In love you destined us to be your children,
through Jesus Christ:
according to the purpose of your will,
To the praise of your glorious grace:
which you freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:
for you have blessed us in Christ Jesus
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
You chose us to be yours in Christ
before the foundation of the world:
that we should be holy and blameless before you.
In love you destined us to be your children,
through Jesus Christ:
according to the purpose of your will,
To the praise of your glorious grace:
which you freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:3-6
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 I cry aloud to God; •
I cry aloud to God and he will hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I have sought the Lord; •
by night my hand is stretched out and does not tire;
my soul refuses comfort.
3 I think upon God and I groan; •
I ponder, and my spirit faints.
4 You will not let my eyelids close; •
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old; •
I remember the years long past;
6 I commune with my heart in the night; •
my spirit searches for understanding.
7 Will the Lord cast us off for ever? •
Will he no more show us his favour?
8 Has his loving mercy clean gone for ever? •
Has his promise come to an end for evermore?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? •
Has he shut up his compassion in displeasure?
10 And I said, ‘My grief is this: •
that the right hand of the Most High has lost its strength.’
11 I will remember the works of the Lord •
and call to mind your wonders of old time.
12 I will meditate on all your works •
and ponder your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy; •
who is so great a god as our God?
14 You are the God who worked wonders •
and declared your power among the peoples.
15 With a mighty arm you redeemed your people, •
the children of Jacob and Joseph.
16 The waters saw you, O God;
the waters saw you and were afraid; •
the depths also were troubled.
17 The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; •
your arrows flashed on every side;
18 The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lit up the ground; •
the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was in the sea, and your paths in the great waters, •
but your footsteps were not known.
20 You led your people like sheep •
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
I cry aloud to God and he will hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I have sought the Lord; •
by night my hand is stretched out and does not tire;
my soul refuses comfort.
3 I think upon God and I groan; •
I ponder, and my spirit faints.
4 You will not let my eyelids close; •
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old; •
I remember the years long past;
6 I commune with my heart in the night; •
my spirit searches for understanding.
7 Will the Lord cast us off for ever? •
Will he no more show us his favour?
8 Has his loving mercy clean gone for ever? •
Has his promise come to an end for evermore?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? •
Has he shut up his compassion in displeasure?
10 And I said, ‘My grief is this: •
that the right hand of the Most High has lost its strength.’
11 I will remember the works of the Lord •
and call to mind your wonders of old time.
12 I will meditate on all your works •
and ponder your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy; •
who is so great a god as our God?
14 You are the God who worked wonders •
and declared your power among the peoples.
15 With a mighty arm you redeemed your people, •
the children of Jacob and Joseph.
16 The waters saw you, O God;
the waters saw you and were afraid; •
the depths also were troubled.
17 The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; •
your arrows flashed on every side;
18 The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lit up the ground; •
the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was in the sea, and your paths in the great waters, •
but your footsteps were not known.
20 You led your people like sheep •
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
We consecrate this day to your service, O Lord; may all our thoughts, words, and actions be well-pleasing to you and serve the good of our brothers and sisters; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed
Judges 5 (Listen)
The Song of Deborah and Barak
5:1 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day:
2 “That the leaders took the lead in Israel,
that the people offered themselves willingly,
bless the LORD!
3 “Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes;
to the LORD I will sing;
I will make melody to the LORD, the God of Israel.
4 “LORD, when you went out from Seir,
when you marched from the region of Edom,
the earth trembled
and the heavens dropped,
yes, the clouds dropped water.
5 The mountains quaked before the LORD,
even Sinai before the LORD,1 the God of Israel.
6 “In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,
in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned,
and travelers kept to the byways.
7 The villagers ceased in Israel;
they ceased to be until I arose;
I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel.
8 When new gods were chosen,
then war was in the gates.
Was shield or spear to be seen
among forty thousand in Israel?
9 My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel
who offered themselves willingly among the people.
Bless the LORD.
10 “Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys,
you who sit on rich carpets2
and you who walk by the way.
11 To the sound of musicians3 at the watering places,
there they repeat the righteous triumphs of the LORD,
the righteous triumphs of his villagers in Israel.
“Then down to the gates marched the people of the LORD.
12 “Awake, awake, Deborah!
Awake, awake, break out in a song!
Arise, Barak, lead away your captives,
O son of Abinoam.
13 Then down marched the remnant of the noble;
the people of the LORD marched down for me against the mighty.
14 From Ephraim their root they marched down into the valley,4
following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen;
from Machir marched down the commanders,
and from Zebulun those who bear the lieutenant’s5 staff;
15 the princes of Issachar came with Deborah,
and Issachar faithful to Barak;
into the valley they rushed at his heels.
Among the clans of Reuben
there were great searchings of heart.
16 Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds,
to hear the whistling for the flocks?
Among the clans of Reuben
there were great searchings of heart.
17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan;
and Dan, why did he stay with the ships?
Asher sat still at the coast of the sea,
staying by his landings.
18 Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death;
Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.
19 “The kings came, they fought;
then fought the kings of Canaan,
at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo;
they got no spoils of silver.
20 From heaven the stars fought,
from their courses they fought against Sisera.
21 The torrent Kishon swept them away,
the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon.
March on, my soul, with might!
22 “Then loud beat the horses’ hoofs
with the galloping, galloping of his steeds.
23 “Curse Meroz, says the angel of the LORD,
curse its inhabitants thoroughly,
because they did not come to the help of the LORD,
to the help of the LORD against the mighty.
24 “Most blessed of women be Jael,
the wife of Heber the Kenite,
of tent-dwelling women most blessed.
25 He asked for water and she gave him milk;
she brought him curds in a noble’s bowl.
26 She sent her hand to the tent peg
and her right hand to the workmen’s mallet;
she struck Sisera;
she crushed his head;
she shattered and pierced his temple.
27 Between her feet
he sank, he fell, he lay still;
between her feet
he sank, he fell;
where he sank,
there he fell—dead.
28 “Out of the window she peered,
the mother of Sisera wailed through the lattice:
‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?’
29 Her wisest princesses answer,
indeed, she answers herself,
30 ‘Have they not found and divided the spoil?—
A womb or two for every man;
spoil of dyed materials for Sisera,
spoil of dyed materials embroidered,
two pieces of dyed work embroidered for the neck as spoil?’
31 “So may all your enemies perish, O LORD!
But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.”
And the land had rest for forty years.
Footnotes
[1] 5:5
[2] 5:10
[3] 5:11
[4] 5:14
[5] 5:14
(ESV)
Luke 13:22–35 (Listen)
The Narrow Door
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
Lament over Jerusalem
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
(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, Te Deum Laudamus
We praise you, O God:
we acclaim you as Lord.
All creation worships you:
the Father everlasting.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven:
the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might:
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you:
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you:
Throughout the world, the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded:
your true and only Son, worthy of all praise,
the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are King of glory:
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you took our flesh to set us free:
you humbly chose the virgin's womb.
You overcame the sting of death:
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God's right hand in glory:
We believe that you will come to be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood:
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.
we acclaim you as Lord.
All creation worships you:
the Father everlasting.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven:
the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might:
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you:
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you:
Throughout the world, the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded:
your true and only Son, worthy of all praise,
the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are King of glory:
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you took our flesh to set us free:
you humbly chose the virgin's womb.
You overcame the sting of death:
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God's right hand in glory:
We believe that you will come to be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood:
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.
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.
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant us to live in such harmony with one another in accord with Christ Jesus, that we may with one voice glorify our God and Father. Amen.
Romans 15:5-6
1
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed;
and all people shall see it together.
and all people shall see it together.
Isaiah 40:5
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 Praise
God be gracious to us and bless us:
and make your face to shine upon us,
That your way may be known upon the earth:
your salvation among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God:
let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy:
for you judge the peoples with equity
and govern the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God:
let all the peoples praise you.
Then the earth will bring forth its increase:
and God, our own God, will bless us.
You, O God, will bless us:
and all the ends of the earth will fear you.
and make your face to shine upon us,
That your way may be known upon the earth:
your salvation among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God:
let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy:
for you judge the peoples with equity
and govern the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God:
let all the peoples praise you.
Then the earth will bring forth its increase:
and God, our own God, will bless us.
You, O God, will bless us:
and all the ends of the earth will fear you.
Psalm 67
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
81 My soul is pining for your salvation; •
I have hoped in your word.
82 My eyes fail with watching for your word, •
while I say, ‘O when will you comfort me?’
83 I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, •
yet I do not forget your statutes.
84 How many are the days of your servant? •
When will you bring judgement on those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me •
in defiance of your law.
86 All your commandments are true; •
help me, for they persecute me with falsehood.
87 They had almost made an end of me on earth, •
but I have not forsaken your commandments.
88 Give me life according to your loving-kindness; •
so shall I keep the testimonies of your mouth.
89 O Lord, your word is everlasting; •
it ever stands firm in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness also remains from one generation to another; •
you have established the earth and it abides.
91 So also your judgements stand firm this day, •
for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my delight, •
I should have perished in my trouble.
93 I will never forget your commandments, •
for by them you have given me life.
94 I am yours, O save me! •
For I have sought your commandments.
95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me, •
but I will meditate on your testimonies.
96 I have seen an end of all perfection, •
but your commandment knows no bounds.
97 Lord, how I love your law! •
All the day long it is my study.
98 Your commandments have made me wiser than my enemies, •
for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, •
for your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I am wiser than the aged, •
because I keep your commandments.
101 I restrain my feet from every evil way, •
that I may keep your word.
102 I have not turned aside from your judgements, •
for you have been my teacher.
103 How sweet are your words on my tongue! •
They are sweeter than honey to my mouth.
104 Through your commandments I get understanding; •
therefore I hate all lying ways.
I have hoped in your word.
82 My eyes fail with watching for your word, •
while I say, ‘O when will you comfort me?’
83 I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, •
yet I do not forget your statutes.
84 How many are the days of your servant? •
When will you bring judgement on those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me •
in defiance of your law.
86 All your commandments are true; •
help me, for they persecute me with falsehood.
87 They had almost made an end of me on earth, •
but I have not forsaken your commandments.
88 Give me life according to your loving-kindness; •
so shall I keep the testimonies of your mouth.
89 O Lord, your word is everlasting; •
it ever stands firm in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness also remains from one generation to another; •
you have established the earth and it abides.
91 So also your judgements stand firm this day, •
for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my delight, •
I should have perished in my trouble.
93 I will never forget your commandments, •
for by them you have given me life.
94 I am yours, O save me! •
For I have sought your commandments.
95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me, •
but I will meditate on your testimonies.
96 I have seen an end of all perfection, •
but your commandment knows no bounds.
97 Lord, how I love your law! •
All the day long it is my study.
98 Your commandments have made me wiser than my enemies, •
for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, •
for your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I am wiser than the aged, •
because I keep your commandments.
101 I restrain my feet from every evil way, •
that I may keep your word.
102 I have not turned aside from your judgements, •
for you have been my teacher.
103 How sweet are your words on my tongue! •
They are sweeter than honey to my mouth.
104 Through your commandments I get understanding; •
therefore I hate all lying ways.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
God of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: graft in our hearts the love of your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of your great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed
Ezra 4:1–5 (Listen)
Adversaries Oppose the Rebuilding
4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses in Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”
4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build 5 and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
(ESV)
Romans 10:1–10 (Listen)
10:1 Brothers,1 my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.2
The Message of Salvation to All
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Footnotes
[1] 10:1
[2] 10:4
(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 Song of Mary (Magnificat)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord:
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
Who has looked with favour on his lowly servant:
from this day all generations will call me blessed;
The Almighty has done great things for me:
and holy is his name
God has mercy on those who fear him:
from generation to generation.
The Lord has shown strength with his arm:
and scattered the proud in the conceit
Casting down the mighty from their thrones:
and lifting up the lowly.
God has filled the hungry with good things:
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel:
to remember the promise of mercy,
The promise made to our forebears:
to Abraham and his children for ever.
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
Who has looked with favour on his lowly servant:
from this day all generations will call me blessed;
The Almighty has done great things for me:
and holy is his name
God has mercy on those who fear him:
from generation to generation.
The Lord has shown strength with his arm:
and scattered the proud in the conceit
Casting down the mighty from their thrones:
and lifting up the lowly.
God has filled the hungry with good things:
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel:
to remember the promise of mercy,
The promise made to our forebears:
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Luke 1:47-55
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.
May our Lord Jesus Christ, and God our Father, comfort our hearts and establish them in every good work and word. Amen.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17