Daily
Morning Prayer
Opening Sentence
Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
LUKE 2:10-11
Confession of Sin
The Officiant says to the People
Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.
Dearly beloved, the Scriptures teach us to acknowledge our many sins and offenses, not concealing them from our heavenly Father, but confessing them with humble and obedient hearts that we may obtain forgiveness by his infinite goodness and mercy. We ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before Almighty God, but especially when we come together in his presence to give thanks for the great benefits we have received at his hands, to declare his most worthy praise, to hear his holy Word, and to ask, for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things which are necessary for our life and our salvation. Therefore, draw near with me to the throne of heavenly grace.
Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.
Silence is kept. All kneeling, the Officiant and People say
Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires
of our own hearts.
We have offended against your holy laws.
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done,
and we have done those things which we ought not
to have done;
and apart from your grace, there is no health in us.
O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Spare all those who confess their faults.
Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises
declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.
A Deacon or layperson remains kneeling and prays
Grant to your faithful people, merciful Lord, pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Priest alone stands and says
The Almighty and merciful Lord grant you absolution and remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of his Holy Spirit.Amen.
Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, desires not the death of sinners, but that they may turn from their wickedness and live. He has empowered and commanded his ministers to pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins. He pardons and absolves all who truly repent and genuinely believe his holy Gospel. For this reason, we beseech him to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit, that our present deeds may please him, the rest of our lives may be pure and holy, and that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Almighty and merciful Lord grant you absolution and remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of his Holy Spirit. Amen.
THE INVITATORY
All stand.
| Officiant | O Lord, open our lips; |
| People | And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. |
| Officiant | O God, make speed to save us; |
| People | O Lord, make haste to help us |
| Officiant | Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; |
| People | As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Officiant | Praise the Lord. |
| People | The Lord’s Name be praised. |
Venite
O Come
Officiant and People, all standing
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
O come, let us sing unto the Lord; *
let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and show ourselves glad in him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God *
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are all the depths of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands prepared the dry land.
O come, let us worship and fall down, *
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For he is our God, *
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
The following verses may be omitted.
Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts *
as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness,
When your fathers tested me, *
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my works.
Forty years long was I grieved with this generation and said, *
“It is a people that err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways,”
Of whom I swore in my wrath *
that they should not enter into my rest.
PSALM 95:1-7, 8-11
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
Venite
O Come
Officiant and People, all standing
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
O come, let us sing unto the Lord; *
let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and show ourselves glad in him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God *
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are all the depths of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands prepared the dry land.
O come, let us worship and fall down, *
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For he is our God, *
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
The following verses may be omitted.
Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts *
as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness,
When your fathers tested me, *
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my works.
Forty years long was I grieved with this generation and said, *
“It is a people that err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways,”
Of whom I swore in my wrath *
that they should not enter into my rest.
PSALM 95:1-7, 8-11
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
Jubilate
Be Joyful
Officiant and People, all standing
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
O be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *
serve the Lord with gladness,
and come before his presence with a song.
Be assured that the Lord, he is God; *
it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise; *
be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name.
For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting, *
and his truth endures from generation to generation.
PSALM 100
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
Jubilate
Be Joyful
Officiant and People, all standing
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
O be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *
serve the Lord with gladness,
and come before his presence with a song.
Be assured that the Lord, he is God; *
it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise; *
be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name.
For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting, *
and his truth endures from generation to generation.
PSALM 100
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
Jubilate
Be Joyful
Officiant and People, all standing
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
O be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *
serve the Lord with gladness,
and come before his presence with a song.
Be assured that the Lord, he is God; *
it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise; *
be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name.
For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting, *
and his truth endures from generation to generation.
PSALM 100
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
Jubilate
Be Joyful
Officiant and People, all standing
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
O be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *
serve the Lord with gladness,
and come before his presence with a song.
Be assured that the Lord, he is God; *
it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise; *
be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name.
For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting, *
and his truth endures from generation to generation.
PSALM 100
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
Jubilate
Be Joyful
Officiant and People, all standing
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
O be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *
serve the Lord with gladness,
and come before his presence with a song.
Be assured that the Lord, he is God; *
it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise; *
be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name.
For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting, *
and his truth endures from generation to generation.
PSALM 100
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
Jubilate
Be Joyful
Officiant and People, all standing
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
O be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *
serve the Lord with gladness,
and come before his presence with a song.
Be assured that the Lord, he is God; *
it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise; *
be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name.
For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting, *
and his truth endures from generation to generation.
PSALM 100
Alleluia, to us a child is born:
O come, let us adore him.
The Psalm Appointed
60 Day Cycle
Psalm 144
Benedictus Dominus
1 Blessed be the Lord my strength,*
who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight,
2 My hope and my fortress, my stronghold and deliverer, my defender in whom I trust,*
who subdues the peoples under me.
3 O Lord, what is man, that you have shown such respect to him,*
or the son of man, that you so regard him?
4 Man is like a thing of nought;*
his time passes away like a shadow.
5 Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down;*
touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Cast forth your lightning and scatter them;*
shoot out your arrows and consume them.
7 Send down your hand from above;*
deliver me, and take me out of the great waters, from the hand of strangers,
8 Whose mouth talks of vain things,*
and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9 I will sing a new song unto you, O God,*
and sing praises unto you upon a ten-stringed lute.
10 You have given victory to kings,*
and have delivered David your servant from the peril of the sword.
11 Save me, and deliver me from the hand of strangers,*
whose mouth talks of vain things, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood;
12 That our sons may grow up as young plants,*
and that our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple,
13 That our storehouses may be full and plenteous with all manner of grain, *
that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields,
14 That our oxen may be strong to labor, that there be no decay,*
no leading into captivity, and no outcry in our streets.
15 Happy are the people of whom this is so;*
indeed, blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God.
The Psalms Appointed
30 Day Cycle
Psalm 139
Domine, probasti
1 O Lord, you have searched me out and known me;*
you know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thoughts from afar.
2 You examine my path and my places of rest,*
and are acquainted with all my ways.
3 Indeed, there is not a word on my tongue,*
but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
4 You have enclosed me behind and before,*
and have laid your hand upon me.
5 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,*
so excellent I cannot attain to it.
6 Where shall I go then from your Spirit,*
or where shall I flee from your presence?
7 If I climb up to heaven, you are there;*
if I make my bed in the Grave, you are there also.
8 If I take the wings of the morning*
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
9 Even there shall your hand lead me,*
and your right hand shall hold me.
10 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,"*
then shall my night be turned to day.
11 Even the darkness is not dark to you, and the night is as clear as the day;*
the darkness and the light to you are both alike.
12 For you yourself made my inmost parts;*
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
13 I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;*
marvelous are your works, and my soul knows it very well.
14 My bones were not hidden from you*
when I was made in secret and fashioned in the depths of the earth.
15 Your eyes beheld my substance, while I was yet unformed;*
and in your book were all my members written,
16 Which day by day were fashioned,*
when as yet there was none of them.
17 How dear to me are your thoughts, O God.*
How great is the sum of them!
18 If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sand.*
When I wake up, I am present with you.
19 Oh, that you would slay the wicked, O God!*
Depart from me, you bloodthirsty men.
20 For they speak unrighteously against you;*
your enemies take your Name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those, O Lord, who hate you,*
and do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 Indeed, I hate them with a perfect hatred;*
they have become my own enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;*
try me and examine my thoughts.
24 Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me,*
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 140
Eripe me, Domine
1 Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers,*
and preserve me from the violent,
2 Who imagine evil in their hearts*
and stir up strife all the day long.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent;*
adders' poison is under their lips.
4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the ungodly;*
preserve me from the violent, who have purposed to overthrow my steps.
5 The proud have laid a snare for me and spread out a net with cords;*
they have set traps in my way.
6 I said unto the Lord, "You are my God;*
hear the voice of my prayers, O Lord."
7 O Lord God, the strength of my salvation,*
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Let not the ungodly have their desire, O Lord;*
let not their evil imagination prosper, lest they be too proud.
9 Let not those who encompass me lift up their heads;*
let the evil of their own lips consume them.
10 Let hot burning coals fall upon them;*
let them be cast into the fire and into the pit, that they may never rise up again.
11 A slanderer shall not prosper upon the earth;*
evil shall hunt the wicked person to overthrow him.
12 I am sure that the Lord will avenge the poor*
and maintain the cause of the helpless.
13 Surely, the righteous shall give thanks unto your Name,*
and the just shall continue in your sight.
The Psalm Appointed
Sunday and Holy Day Cycle
Psalm 124
Nisi quia Dominus
1 If the Lord himself had not been on our side, now may Israel say:*
if the Lord himself had not been on our side, when men rose up against us,
2 Then would they have swallowed us up alive,*
when they were so wrathfully displeased with us;
3 Then the waters would have drowned us, and the torrent gone over us;*
then the raging waters would have gone clean over us.
4 But praised be the Lord,*
who has not given us over to be prey for their teeth.
5 We escaped like a bird out of the snare of the fowler;*
the snare is broken, and we have been delivered.
6 Our help is in the Name of the Lord,*
the maker of heaven and earth.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The First Lesson
Wisdom 9
The lesson is read, the people sitting
| Reader | A reading from the Wisdom of Solomon, beginning with the ninth chapter, the first verse |
Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom
“O God of my fathers and Lord of mercy,
who hast made all things by thy word,
2 and by thy wisdom hast formed man,
to have dominion over the creatures thou hast made,
3 and rule the world in holiness and righteousness,
and pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul,
4 give me the wisdom that sits by thy throne,
and do not reject me from among thy servants.
5 For I am thy slave and the son of thy maidservant,
a man who is weak and short-lived,
with little understanding of judgment and laws;
6 for even if one is perfect among the sons of men,
yet without the wisdom that comes from thee he will be regarded as nothing.
7 Thou hast chosen me to be king of thy people
and to be judge over thy sons and daughters.
8 Thou hast given command to build a temple on thy holy mountain,
and an altar in the city of thy habitation,
a copy of the holy tent which thou didst prepare from the beginning.
9 With thee is wisdom, who knows thy works
and was present when thou didst make the world,
and who understands what is pleasing in thy sight
and what is right according to thy commandments.
10 Send her forth from the holy heavens,
and from the throne of thy glory send her,
that she may be with me and toil,
and that I may learn what is pleasing to thee.
11 For she knows and understands all things,
and she will guide me wisely in my actions
and guard me with her glory.
12 Then my works will be acceptable,
and I shall judge thy people justly,
and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.
13 For what man can learn the counsel of God?
Or who can discern what the Lord wills?
14 For the reasoning of mortals is worthless,
and our designs are likely to fail,
15 for a perishable body weighs down the soul,
and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind.
16 We can hardly guess at what is on earth,
and what is at hand we find with labor;
but who has traced out what is in the heavens?
17 Who has learned thy counsel, unless thou hast given wisdom
and sent thy holy Spirit from on high?
18 And thus the paths of those on earth were set right,
and men were taught what pleases thee,
and were saved by wisdom.”
| Reader | Here ends the Reading. |
Song of Songs 6
The lesson is read, the people sitting
| Reader | A reading from the Song of Songs, beginning with the sixth chapter, the first verse |
Others
Where has your beloved gone,
O most beautiful among women?
Where has your beloved turned,
that we may seek him with you?
Together in the Garden of Love
She
2 My beloved has gone down to his garden
to the beds of spices,
to graze in the gardens
and to gather lilies.
3 I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine;
he grazes among the lilies.
Solomon and His Bride Delight in Each Other
He
4 You are beautiful as Tirzah, my love,
lovely as Jerusalem,
awesome as an army with banners.
5 Turn away your eyes from me,
for they overwhelm me—
Your hair is like a flock of goats
leaping down the slopes of Gilead.
6 Your teeth are like a flock of ewes
that have come up from the washing;
all of them bear twins;
not one among them has lost its young.
7 Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate
behind your veil.
8 There are sixty queens and eighty concubines,
and virgins without number.
9 My dove, my perfect one, is the only one,
the only one of her mother,
pure to her who bore her.
The young women saw her and called her blessed;
the queens and concubines also, and they praised her.
10 “Who is this who looks down like the dawn,
beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun,
awesome as an army with banners?”
She
11 I went down to the nut orchard
to look at the blossoms of the valley,
to see whether the vines had budded,
whether the pomegranates were in bloom.
12 Before I was aware, my desire set me
among the chariots of my kinsman, a prince.
Others
13 Return, return, O Shulammite,
return, return, that we may look upon you.
He
Why should you look upon the Shulammite,
as upon a dance before two armies?
| Reader | The Word of the Lord. |
| People | Thanks be to God. |
Jeremiah 31:15-17
The lesson is read, the people sitting
| Reader | A reading from the Book of Jeremiah, beginning with the thirty-first chapter, the fifteenth verse |
15 Thus says the Lord:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more.”
16 Thus says the Lord:
“Keep your voice from weeping,
and your eyes from tears,
for there is a reward for your work,
declares the Lord,
and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
17 There is hope for your future,
declares the Lord,
and your children shall come back to their own country.
| Reader | The Word of the Lord. |
| People | Thanks be to God. |
TE DEUM LAUDAMUS
We Praise You, O God
The following Canticle is sung or said, all standing
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, *
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the 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.
The following verses may be omitted
Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;*
govern and uphold them now and always.
Day by day we bless you; *
we praise your Name for ever.
Keep us today, Lord, from all sin; *
have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy, *
for we have put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope; *
let us never be put to shame.
BENEDICTUS
The Song of Zechariah
The following Canticle is sung or said, all standing
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness
and in the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
LUKE 1:68-79
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
TE DEUM LAUDAMUS
We Praise You, O God
The following Canticle is sung or said, all standing
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, *
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the 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.
The following verses may be omitted
Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;*
govern and uphold them now and always.
Day by day we bless you; *
we praise your Name for ever.
Keep us today, Lord, from all sin; *
have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy, *
for we have put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope; *
let us never be put to shame.
The Second Lesson
Revelation 21:1-14
The lesson is read, the people sitting
| Reader | A reading from the Revelation of Our Lord Jesus Christ to St. John, beginning with the twenty-first chapter, the first verse |
The New Heaven and the New Earth
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
The New Jerusalem
9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
| Reader | The Word of the Lord. |
| People | Thanks be to God. |
Luke 23:26-49
The lesson is read, the people sitting
| Reader | A reading from the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke, beginning with the twenty-third chapter, the twenty-sixth verse |
The Crucifixion
26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Death of Jesus
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
| Reader | The Word of the Lord. |
| People | Thanks be to God. |
Revelation 21:1-7
The lesson is read, the people sitting
| Reader | A reading from the Revelation of Our Lord Jesus Christ to St. John, beginning with the twenty-first chapter, the first verse |
The New Heaven and the New Earth
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
| Reader | The Word of the Lord. |
| People | Thanks be to God. |
BENEDICTUS
The Song of Zechariah
The following Canticle is sung or said, all standing
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness
and in the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
LUKE 1:68-79
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
TE DEUM LAUDAMUS
We Praise You, O God
The following Canticle is sung or said, all standing
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, *
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the 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.
The following verses may be omitted
Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;*
govern and uphold them now and always.
Day by day we bless you; *
we praise your Name for ever.
Keep us today, Lord, from all sin; *
have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy, *
for we have put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope; *
let us never be put to shame.
BENEDICTUS
The Song of Zechariah
The following Canticle is sung or said, all standing
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness
and in the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
LUKE 1:68-79
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
The Third Lesson
Matthew 2:13-18
The lesson is read, the people sitting
| Reader | A reading from the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew, beginning with the second chapter, the thirteenth verse |
The Flight to Egypt
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Herod Kills the Children
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
| Reader | The Word of the Lord. |
| People | Thanks be to God. |
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
Officiant and People together, all standing
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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.
The People kneel or stand.
Lord, have mercy upon us. Officiant and People Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. Officiant and People Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And 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, out of the mouths of children you manifest your truth, and by the death of the Holy Innocents at the hands of evil tyrants you show your strength in our weakness: We ask you to mortify all that is evil within us, and so strengthen us by your grace, that we may glorify your holy Name by the innocence of our lives and the constancy of our faith even unto death; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who died for us and now lives with you and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen. Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, kindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Almighty God, you gave your servant Thomas Becket boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, Have mercy upon us. O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy upon us. O God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful, Have mercy upon us. O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God, Have mercy upon us. Remember not, Lord Jesus, our offenses, nor the offenses of our forebears; neither reward us according to our sins. Spare us, good Lord, spare your people, whom you have redeemed with your most precious blood, and by your mercy preserve us for ever. Spare us, good Lord. From all evil and wickedness; from sin, from the works and assaults of the devil; from your wrath and everlasting condemnation, Good Lord, deliver us. From all blindness of heart; from pride, vanity, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all lack of charity, Good Lord, deliver us. From all disordered and sinful affections; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil, Good Lord, deliver us. From all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of your Word and commandments, Good Lord, deliver us. From lightning and tempest; from earthquake, fire, and flood; from plague, pestilence, and famine, Good Lord, deliver us. From all oppression, conspiracy, and rebellion; from violence, battle, and murder; and from dying suddenly and unprepared, Good Lord, deliver us. By the mystery of your holy incarnation; by your holy nativity and submission to the Law; by your baptism, fasting, and temptation, Good Lord, deliver us. By your agony and bloody sweat; by your Cross and passion; by your precious death and burial, Good Lord, deliver us. By your glorious resurrection and ascension; by the sending of the Holy Spirit; by your heavenly intercession; and by your coming again in power and great glory, Good Lord, deliver us. In all times of tribulation; in all times of prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, Good Lord, deliver us. We sinners beseech you to hear us, O Lord God: That it may please you to rule and govern your holy Church universal in the right way, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To illumine all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of your Word; and that, both by their preaching and living, they may show it accordingly, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To send forth laborers into your harvest; to prosper their work by your Holy Spirit; to make your saving health known unto all nations; and to hasten the coming of your kingdom, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To give all your people increase of grace to hear your Word with humility, to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To give us a heart to love and fear you, and diligently to keep your commandments, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To bless and keep all your people, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. That it may please you to rule the hearts of your servant Joe Biden, the President, your servants Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Sovereign, and Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister, your servants, our national leaders, and all others in authority, that they may do justice, and show mercy, and walk humbly before you, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To bless and guide all judges, giving them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To bless and keep our armed forces by sea, and land, and air, and to shield them in all dangers and adversities, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To bless and protect all who serve their communities by their labor and learning, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To give and preserve for us and for others the bountiful fruits of the earth, so that at the harvest we all may enjoy them, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To make wars to cease in all the world, and to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. That it may please you to show mercy on all prisoners and captives; refugees, the homeless, and the hungry; and all those who are desolate and oppressed, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To preserve all who are in danger by reason of their work or travel, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To strengthen the bonds of those in Holy Matrimony; to uphold the widowed and abandoned; and to comfort all whose homes are torn by strife, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To protect the unborn and their parents, and to preserve all women in childbirth; We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To care for those who have lost children or face infertility, and to provide for young children and orphans, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To visit the lonely and those who grieve; to strengthen all who suffer in mind, body, or spirit; and to comfort with your presence those who are failing and infirm, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To support, help, and deliver all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To have mercy upon all people, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. That it may please you to give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sin, negligence, and ignorance; and to endue us with the grace of your Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to your holy Word, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To strengthen those who stand; to encourage the faint-hearted; to raise up those who fall; and finally to beat down Satan under our feet, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To grant to all the faithful departed eternal life and peace, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. To grant that, in the fellowship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Holy Innocents, Thomas Becket and all the
saints, we may attain to your heavenly kingdom, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord. Son of God, we beseech you to hear us. Son of God, we beseech you to hear us. O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; Have mercy upon us. O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; Have mercy upon us. O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
Grant us your peace. O Christ, hear us. O Christ, hear us.
Lord, have mercy upon us. Officiant and People Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. Officiant and People Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And 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. O Lord, arise and help us;
And deliver us for your Name’s sake. O God, we have heard with our ears, and our forebears have declared to us, the noble works that you did in their days, and in the time before them. O Lord, arise and help us; And deliver us for your Name’s sake. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. O Lord, arise and help us; And deliver us for your Name’s sake. From our enemies defend us, O Christ; Graciously behold our afflictions. With pity behold the sorrows of our hearts; Mercifully forgive the sins of your people. With favor hear our prayers; O Son of David, have mercy upon us. Be pleased to hear us, O Christ; Graciously hear us, O Christ; graciously hear us, O Lord Christ. The Officiant prays Let us pray. Look mercifully, O Father, on our infirmities; and, for the glory of your Name, rescue us from all those evils we now endure; and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in your mercy, serving you in holiness and purity of life, to your honor and glory; through our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O Most mighty and merciful God, in this time of grievous sickness, we flee to you for comfort. Deliver us, we beseech you, from our peril; give strength and skill to all those who minister to the sick; prosper the means made use of for their cure; and grant that, perceiving how frail and uncertain our life is, we may apply our hearts unto that heavenly wisdom which leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Increase, O God, the spirit of neighborliness among us, that in peril we may uphold one another, in suffering tend to one another, and in homelessness, loneliness, or exile befriend one another. Grant us brave and enduring hearts that we may strengthen one another, until the disciplines and testing of these days are ended, and you again give peace in our time; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Officiant may invite the People to offer intercessions and thanksgivings. A hymn or anthem may be sung. Officiant and People Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.The Prayers
Officiant
The Lord be with you.
People
And with your spirit.
Officiant
Let us pray.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The Suffrages
Officiant
O Lord, show your mercy upon us;
People
And grant us your salvation.
Officiant
O Lord, guide those who govern us;
People
And lead us in the way of justice and truth.
Officiant
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
People
And let your people sing with joy.
Officiant
O Lord, save your people;
People
And bless your inheritance.
Officiant
Give peace in our time, O Lord;
People
And defend us by your mighty power.
Officiant
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
People
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Officiant
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
People
And take not your Holy Spirit from us.
Collect of the Day
The Holy Innocents
Collect of the Day
Tuesday after the First Sunday of Christmas
Collect of the Day
Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1170
A COLLECT FOR PEACE
Tuesday
A COLLECT FOR PEACE
A COLLECT FOR GRACE
The Great Litany
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The Supplication
A Collect for Mission
II
In Time of Great Sickness and Mortality
BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, 1928 (U.S.)
In Times of Social Conflict or Unrest
#44, BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER (2019)
Intercessions and Thanksgivings
The General Thanksgiving
A PRAYER OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
Dismissal
Officiant
Let us bless the Lord.
People
Thanks be to God.
The Grace
EPHESIANS 3:20-21
2 CORINTHIANS 13:14
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