Through Christ let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,
the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
1
Hebrews 13:15
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
We have complete freedom:
to go into the most holy place by means of the death of Jesus
He opened for us a new way, a living way:
through the curtain, through his own body.
Since we have a great high priest
set over the household of God:
let us draw near with a sincere heart and a sure faith,
With hearts that have been made clean
from a guilty conscience:
and bodies washed with pure water.
to go into the most holy place by means of the death of Jesus
He opened for us a new way, a living way:
through the curtain, through his own body.
Since we have a great high priest
set over the household of God:
let us draw near with a sincere heart and a sure faith,
With hearts that have been made clean
from a guilty conscience:
and bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:19-22
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 O Lord, God of my salvation, •
I have cried day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer come into your presence; •
incline your ear to my cry.
3 For my soul is full of troubles; •
my life draws near to the land of death.
4 I am counted as one gone down to the Pit; •
I am like one that has no strength,
5 Lost among the dead, •
like the slain who lie in the grave,
6 Whom you remember no more, •
for they are cut off from your hand.
7 You have laid me in the lowest pit, •
in a place of darkness in the abyss.
8 Your anger lies heavy upon me, •
and you have afflicted me with all your waves.
9 You have put my friends far from me •
and made me to be abhorred by them.
10 I am so fast in prison that I cannot get free; •
my eyes fail from all my trouble.
11 Lord, I have called daily upon you; •
I have stretched out my hands to you.
12 Do you work wonders for the dead? •
Will the shades stand up and praise you?
13 Shall your loving-kindness be declared in the grave, •
your faithfulness in the land of destruction?
14 Shall your wonders be known in the dark •
or your righteous deeds in the land where all is forgotten?
15 But as for me, O Lord, I will cry to you; •
early in the morning my prayer shall come before you.
16 Lord, why have you rejected my soul? •
Why have you hidden your face from me?
17 I have been wretched and at the point of death from my youth; •
I suffer your terrors and am no more seen.
18 Your wrath sweeps over me; •
your horrors are come to destroy me;
19 All day long they come about me like water; •
they close me in on every side.
20 Lover and friend have you put far from me •
and hid my companions out of my sight.
I have cried day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer come into your presence; •
incline your ear to my cry.
3 For my soul is full of troubles; •
my life draws near to the land of death.
4 I am counted as one gone down to the Pit; •
I am like one that has no strength,
5 Lost among the dead, •
like the slain who lie in the grave,
6 Whom you remember no more, •
for they are cut off from your hand.
7 You have laid me in the lowest pit, •
in a place of darkness in the abyss.
8 Your anger lies heavy upon me, •
and you have afflicted me with all your waves.
9 You have put my friends far from me •
and made me to be abhorred by them.
10 I am so fast in prison that I cannot get free; •
my eyes fail from all my trouble.
11 Lord, I have called daily upon you; •
I have stretched out my hands to you.
12 Do you work wonders for the dead? •
Will the shades stand up and praise you?
13 Shall your loving-kindness be declared in the grave, •
your faithfulness in the land of destruction?
14 Shall your wonders be known in the dark •
or your righteous deeds in the land where all is forgotten?
15 But as for me, O Lord, I will cry to you; •
early in the morning my prayer shall come before you.
16 Lord, why have you rejected my soul? •
Why have you hidden your face from me?
17 I have been wretched and at the point of death from my youth; •
I suffer your terrors and am no more seen.
18 Your wrath sweeps over me; •
your horrors are come to destroy me;
19 All day long they come about me like water; •
they close me in on every side.
20 Lover and friend have you put far from me •
and hid my companions out of my sight.
1 O come, let us sing to the Lord; •
let us heartily rejoice in the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving •
and be glad in him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is a great God •
and a great king above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth •
and the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, •
and his hands have moulded the dry land.
6 Come, let us worship and bow down •
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For he is our God; •
we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
8 O that today you would listen to his voice: •
‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
on that day at Massah in the wilderness,
9 ‘When your forebears tested me, and put me to the proof, •
though they had seen my works.
10 ‘Forty years long I detested that generation and said, •
“This people are wayward in their hearts;
they do not know my ways.”
11 ‘So I swore in my wrath, •
“They shall not enter into my rest.” ’
let us heartily rejoice in the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving •
and be glad in him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is a great God •
and a great king above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth •
and the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, •
and his hands have moulded the dry land.
6 Come, let us worship and bow down •
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For he is our God; •
we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
8 O that today you would listen to his voice: •
‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
on that day at Massah in the wilderness,
9 ‘When your forebears tested me, and put me to the proof, •
though they had seen my works.
10 ‘Forty years long I detested that generation and said, •
“This people are wayward in their hearts;
they do not know my ways.”
11 ‘So I swore in my wrath, •
“They shall not enter into my rest.” ’
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
Holy God, through your beloved Son you reconciled all things to yourself, making peace by the blood of his cross: fill us and those for whom we pray with your peace and joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed
Judges 11:29–40 (Listen)
Jephthah’s Tragic Vow
29 Then the Spirit of the LORD was upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites. 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, 31 then whatever1 comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the LORD’s, and I will offer it2 up for a burnt offering.” 32 So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the LORD gave them into his hand. 33 And he struck them from Aroer to the neighborhood of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, with a great blow. So the Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel.
34 Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And as soon as he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble to me. For I have opened my mouth to the LORD, and I cannot take back my vow.” 36 And she said to him, “My father, you have opened your mouth to the LORD; do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, now that the LORD has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites.” 37 So she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me: leave me alone two months, that I may go up and down on the mountains and weep for my virginity, I and my companions.” 38 So he said, “Go.” Then he sent her away for two months, and she departed, she and her companions, and wept for her virginity on the mountains. 39 And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow that he had made. She had never known a man, and it became a custom in Israel 40 that the daughters of Israel went year by year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.
(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, Saviour of the World
Jesus, Saviour of the world,
come to us in your mercy:
we look to you to save and help us.
By your cross and your life laid down,
you set your people free:
we look to you to save and help us.
When they were ready to perish,
you saved your disciples:
we looked to you to come to our help.
In the greatness of your mercy,
loose us from our chains:
forgive the sins of all your people.
Make yourself known as our saviour
and mighty deliverer:
save and help us that we may praise you.
come now and dwell with us, Lord Christ Jesus:
hear our prayers and be with us always.
And when you come in your glory:
make us to be one with you
and to share the life of your kingdom.
come to us in your mercy:
we look to you to save and help us.
By your cross and your life laid down,
you set your people free:
we look to you to save and help us.
When they were ready to perish,
you saved your disciples:
we looked to you to come to our help.
In the greatness of your mercy,
loose us from our chains:
forgive the sins of all your people.
Make yourself known as our saviour
and mighty deliverer:
save and help us that we may praise you.
come now and dwell with us, Lord Christ Jesus:
hear our prayers and be with us always.
And when you come in your glory:
make us to be one with you
and to share the life of your kingdom.
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.
Peace be to us all, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ephesians 6:23
1
Peace to those who are far off.
Peace to those who are near.
Peace to those who are near.
Ephesians 2:17
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, The Lord's Servant
He was despised; he was rejected:
a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.
As one from whom people hide their faces:
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Ours were the sufferings he bore:
ours the torments he endured,
While we thought he was being punished:
struck by God and brought low.
He was pierced for our sins:
bruised for no fault but ours.
His punishment has won our peace:
and by his wounds we are healed.
We had all strayed like sheep:
all taking our own way;
But the Lord laid on him:
the guilt of us all.
a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.
As one from whom people hide their faces:
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Ours were the sufferings he bore:
ours the torments he endured,
While we thought he was being punished:
struck by God and brought low.
He was pierced for our sins:
bruised for no fault but ours.
His punishment has won our peace:
and by his wounds we are healed.
We had all strayed like sheep:
all taking our own way;
But the Lord laid on him:
the guilt of us all.
Isaiah 53:3-6
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 O Lord, hear my prayer •
and let my crying come before you.
2 Hide not your face from me •
in the day of my distress.
3 Incline your ear to me; •
when I call, make haste to answer me,
4 For my days are consumed in smoke •
and my bones burn away as in a furnace.
5 My heart is smitten down and withered like grass, •
so that I forget to eat my bread.
6 From the sound of my groaning •
my bones cleave fast to my skin.
7 I am become like a vulture in the wilderness, •
like an owl that haunts the ruins.
8 I keep watch and am become like a sparrow •
solitary upon the housetop.
9 My enemies revile me all the day long, •
and those who rage at me have sworn together against me.
10 I have eaten ashes for bread •
and mingled my drink with weeping,
11 Because of your indignation and wrath, •
for you have taken me up and cast me down.
12 My days fade away like a shadow, •
and I am withered like grass.
13 But you, O Lord, shall endure for ever •
and your name through all generations.
14 You will arise and have pity on Zion; •
it is time to have mercy upon her;
surely the time has come.
15 For your servants love her very stones •
and feel compassion for her dust.
16 Then shall the nations fear your name, O Lord, •
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
17 When the Lord has built up Zion •
and shown himself in glory;
18 When he has turned to the prayer of the destitute •
and has not despised their plea.
19 This shall be written for those that come after, •
and a people yet unborn shall praise the Lord.
20 For he has looked down from his holy height; •
from the heavens he beheld the earth,
21 That he might hear the sighings of the prisoner •
and set free those condemned to die;
22 That the name of the Lord may be proclaimed in Zion •
and his praises in Jerusalem,
23 When peoples are gathered together •
and kingdoms also, to serve the Lord.
24 He has brought down my strength in my journey •
and has shortened my days.
25 I pray, ‘O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days; •
your years endure throughout all generations.
26 ‘In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, •
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
27 ‘They shall perish, but you will endure; •
they all shall wear out like a garment.
28 ‘You change them like clothing, and they shall be changed; •
but you are the same, and your years will not fail.
29 ‘The children of your servants shall continue, •
and their descendants shall be established in your sight.’
and let my crying come before you.
2 Hide not your face from me •
in the day of my distress.
3 Incline your ear to me; •
when I call, make haste to answer me,
4 For my days are consumed in smoke •
and my bones burn away as in a furnace.
5 My heart is smitten down and withered like grass, •
so that I forget to eat my bread.
6 From the sound of my groaning •
my bones cleave fast to my skin.
7 I am become like a vulture in the wilderness, •
like an owl that haunts the ruins.
8 I keep watch and am become like a sparrow •
solitary upon the housetop.
9 My enemies revile me all the day long, •
and those who rage at me have sworn together against me.
10 I have eaten ashes for bread •
and mingled my drink with weeping,
11 Because of your indignation and wrath, •
for you have taken me up and cast me down.
12 My days fade away like a shadow, •
and I am withered like grass.
13 But you, O Lord, shall endure for ever •
and your name through all generations.
14 You will arise and have pity on Zion; •
it is time to have mercy upon her;
surely the time has come.
15 For your servants love her very stones •
and feel compassion for her dust.
16 Then shall the nations fear your name, O Lord, •
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
17 When the Lord has built up Zion •
and shown himself in glory;
18 When he has turned to the prayer of the destitute •
and has not despised their plea.
19 This shall be written for those that come after, •
and a people yet unborn shall praise the Lord.
20 For he has looked down from his holy height; •
from the heavens he beheld the earth,
21 That he might hear the sighings of the prisoner •
and set free those condemned to die;
22 That the name of the Lord may be proclaimed in Zion •
and his praises in Jerusalem,
23 When peoples are gathered together •
and kingdoms also, to serve the Lord.
24 He has brought down my strength in my journey •
and has shortened my days.
25 I pray, ‘O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days; •
your years endure throughout all generations.
26 ‘In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, •
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
27 ‘They shall perish, but you will endure; •
they all shall wear out like a garment.
28 ‘You change them like clothing, and they shall be changed; •
but you are the same, and your years will not fail.
29 ‘The children of your servants shall continue, •
and their descendants shall be established in your sight.’
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
Holy Spirit, sanctifier, cleans us from all hypocrisy, unite us to one another in the bonds of peace and love, and confirm us in holiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed
Nehemiah 1 (Listen)
Report from Jerusalem
1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.
Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
Nehemiah’s Prayer
4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
Now I was cupbearer to the king.
(ESV)
Romans 13:8–14 (Listen)
Fulfilling the Law Through Love
8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
(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 to the Lamb
You are worthy, our Lord and God:
to receive glory and honour and power.
For you have created all things:
and by your will they have their being.
You are worthy, O Lamb, for you were slain:
and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from every tribe and language and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God:
and they will reign with you on earth.
To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might, for ever and ever. Amen.
to receive glory and honour and power.
For you have created all things:
and by your will they have their being.
You are worthy, O Lamb, for you were slain:
and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from every tribe and language and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God:
and they will reign with you on earth.
To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might, for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 4:11; 5:9b-10
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 the God of all grace, who has called us to eternal glory in Christ, restore, establish, strengthen us. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:10-11