Morning Prayer
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Week D / Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
O Lord, open our lips:
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Amen.
Psalmody
Antiphon:
Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness;*
make your way straight before me.
Psalm. 5.8
Opening
Come, let us sing
1 Come, let us sing to the Lord; *
let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before the presence of the Lord with thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to God with psalms.
3 For you, O Lord, are a great God, * and a great sovereign above all gods.
4 In your hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are yours also.
5 The sea is yours, for you made it, *
and your hands have moulded the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For you are our God, and we are the people of your pasture and the sheep of your hand. *
Oh, that today we would hearken to your voice!
8 “Harden not your hearts, *
as your forebears did in the wilderness.
9 They put me to the test, * though they had seen my works.
10 So I swore in my wrath, *
‘They shall not enter into my rest.’”
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or a suitable Hymn
(Or from Psalm 5)
1. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;*
early in the morning I make my appeal and watch for you.
2. Through the greatness of your mercy I will go into your house;*
I will bow down toward your holy temple in awe of you.
3. All who take refuge in you will be glad;*
they will sing out their joy for ever.
4. You will shelter them,*
so that those who love your name may exult in you.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or a suitable hymn
Psalm 79
1. O God, the heathen have come into your inheritance; they have profaned your holy temple; *
they have made Jerusalem a heap of rubble.
2. They have given the bodies of your servants as food
for the birds of the air, *
and the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of
the field.
3. They have shed their blood like water on every side of Jerusalem, *
and there was no one to bury them.
4. We have become a reproach to our neighbours, *
an object of scorn and derision to those around us.
5. How long will you be angry, O Lord? *
Will your fury blaze like fire for ever?
6. Pour out your wrath upon the heathen who have not known you *
and upon the dominions that have not called upon
your name.
7. For they have devoured Jacob *
and made his dwelling a ruin.
8. Remember not our past sins;
let your compassion be swift to meet us; *
for we have been brought very low.
9. Help us, O God our Saviour, for the glory of your name; *
deliver us and forgive us our sins, for your name’s
sake.
10. Why should the heathen say, ”Where is their
God?” *
Let it be known among the heathen and in our sight
that you avenge the shedding of your servants’ blood.
11. Let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before you, *
and by your great might spare those who are
condemned to die.
12. May the revilings with which they reviled you, O Lord, *
return seven-fold into their bosoms.
13. For we are your people and the sheep of your pasture; *
we will give you thanks for ever and show forth your
praise from age to age.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Psalm 82
1. God stands in the council of heaven *
and gives judgement in the midst of the gods:
2. “How long will you judge unjustly, *
and show favour to the wicked?
3. Save the weak and the orphan; *
defend the humble and needy;
4. Rescue the weak and the poor; *
deliver them from the power of the wicked.
5. They do not know, neither do they understand; they go about in darkness; *
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6. Now I say to you, ‘You are gods, *
and all of you children of the Most High;
7. nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, *
and fall like any prince.’”
8. Arise, O God, and rule the earth, *
for you shall take all nations for your own.
Conclusion
Isaiah 66
1. Rejoice with Jerusalem and exult in her,*
all you who love her.
2. Share her joy with all your heart,*
all you who mourn over her.
3. Then you may suck and be fed from her breasts,*
delighting in her plentiful milk.
4. For thus says the Lord, I will send peace flowing over her like a river,*
and the wealth of nations like a stream in flood;
5. you shall be carried in her arms,*
and rocked upon her knees.
6. As a mother comforts her child,*
so will I myself comfort you, and you shall find strength
in Jerusalem.
7. This you shall see and be glad at heart;*
your limbs shall be as the fresh grass in spring.*
8. Then I myself will gather all nations;*
and they shall come and behold my glory.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Antiphon: Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness;* make your way straight before me.
Reading(s)
1 Samuel 3.1-20
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ Then the Lord said to Samuel, ‘See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. On that day I will fulfil against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to punish his house for ever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering for ever.’
Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, ‘Samuel, my son.’ He said, ‘Here I am.’ Eli said, ‘What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.’ So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, ‘It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.’
As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 14.12-20
So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church.
Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive. What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also. Otherwise, if you say a blessing with the spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say the ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving, since the outsider does not know what you are saying? For you may give thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults.
Silence
Response (Psalm 33.18)
Behold, your eye, O Lord, is upon those who fear you,* on those who wait upon your love.
Behold, your eye, O Lord, is upon those who fear you,* on those who wait upon your love.
On those who wait upon your love.
On those who fear you.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Behold, your eye, O Lord, is upon those who fear you,* on those who wait upon your love.
Song of Zechariah (Benedictus)
Song of Zechariah Antiphon: You will guide us with your counsel, O God: * and, after, receive us with glory. God has raised up for us * * a mighty Saviour.
1 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, *
who has come to his people and set them free.
2 The Lord has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,*
born of the house of his servant David.
3 Through the holy prophets, God promised of old*
to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us,
4 to show mercy to our forebears, *
and to remember his holy covenant.
5 This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:*
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
6 free to worship him without fear,*
holy and righteous before him, all the days of our life.
7 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,*
for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,
8 to give his people knowledge of salvation*
by the forgiveness of their sins.
9 In the tender compassion of our God*
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
10 to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,*
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
(may be said by all)
Song of Zechariah Antiphon: You will guide us with your counsel, O God: * and, after, receive us with glory. God has raised up for us * * a mighty Saviour.
Prayers
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
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.
Do not bring us to the time of trial,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen
Collect of the Day
O God,
through our human frailty,
we cannot stand firm:
give us strength and protection,
that, with your help,
we may overcome all difficulties;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Amen
God most holy, we give you thanks for bringing us out of the shadow of night into the light of morning; and we ask you for the joy of spending this day in your service, so that when evening comes, we may once more give you thanks, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
Amen
Let us bless the Lord:
Thanks be to God!
The Lord bless us and preserve us from all evil;
and bring us to life eternal.
Amen.
Evening Prayer
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Week D / Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
O God make speed to save us;
O Lord make haste to help us.
Glory to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Psalmody
Antiphon: As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,* so our eyes look to you, O Lord our God.
Psalm 123.2f
Opening (from Psalm 119)
1. Your faithfulness remains from one generation to
another;*
you established the earth, and it abides.
2. By your decree these continue to this day,*
for all things are your servants.
3. I will never forget your commandments,*
because by them you give me life.
4. I see that all things come to an end,*
but your commandment has no bounds.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or a suitable Hymn
Psalm 80
1. Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a
flock; *
shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the
cherubim.
2. In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
stir up your strength and come to help us.
3. Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be
saved.
4. O Lord God of hosts, *
how long will you be angered despite the prayers of
your people?
5. You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
6. You have made us the derision of our neighbours, *
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7. Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be
saved.
8. You have brought a vine out of Egypt; *
you cast out the nations and planted it.
9. You prepared the ground for it; *
it took root and filled the land.
10. The mountains were covered by its shadow *
and the towering cedar trees by its boughs.
11. You stretched out its tendrils to the sea *
and its branches to the river.
12. Why have you broken down its wall, *
so that all who pass by pluck off its grapes?
13. The wild boar of the forest has ravaged it, *
and the beasts of the field have grazed upon it.
14. Turn now, O God of hosts, *
look down from heaven;
15. behold and tend this vine; *
preserve what your strong hand has planted.
16. They burn it with fire like rubbish; *
at the rebuke of your countenance let them perish.
17. Let your hand be upon the one at your side in honour, *
the one you have made so strong for yourself.
18. And so will we never turn away from you; *
give us life, that we may call upon your name.
19. Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be
saved.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Conclusion
Revelation 5 and 15
1. Great and wonderful are your deeds, Lord God the
Almighty;*
just and true are your ways, O King of the ages!
2. Who shall not revere and praise your name, O Lord?*
for you alone are holy.
3. All nations shall come and worship in your presence,*
for your just dealings have been revealed.
4. To God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb*
be praise and honour, glory and might, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Antiphon: As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,* so our eyes look to you, O Lord our God.
Reading(s)
1 Samuel 1.20-28a
In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked him of the Lord.’The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, ‘As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the Lord, and remain there for ever; I will offer him as a nazirite for all time.’ Her husband Elkanah said to her, ‘Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only—may the Lord establish his word.’ So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, ‘Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.’She left him there for the Lord.
Silence
Response Psalm 119.89
O Lord, your word is everlasting.
O Lord, your word is everlasting.
It stands firm in the heavens.
Your word is everlasting.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Lord, your word is everlasting.
Song of Mary (Magnificat)
Song of Mary Antiphon: Abide with us, Lord, * for it is evening, and the day is far spent.
1 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,*
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
2 who has looked with favour on his lowly servant;*
from this day all generations will call me blessed.
3 The Almighty has done great things for me,*
and holy is his name.
4 God has mercy on those who fear him,*
from generation to generation.
5 The Lord has shown strength with his arm*
and scattered the proud in their conceit,
6 casting down the mighty from their thrones*
and lifting up the lowly.
7 God has filled the hungry with good things*
and sent the rich away empty.
8 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,*
to remember the promise of mercy,
9 the promise made to our forebears,*
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
(may be said by all)
Song of Mary Antiphon: Abide with us, Lord, * for it is evening, and the day is far spent.
Prayers
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
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.
Do not bring us to the time of trial,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Collect of the Day
O God,
through our human frailty,
we cannot stand firm:
give us strength and protection,
that, with your help,
we may overcome all difficulties;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Amen
Lord God almighty, come and dispel the darkness from our hearts, that in the radiance of your brightness we may know you, the only unfading light, glorious in all eternity.
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord:
Thanks be to God!
The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing:
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Night Prayer
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Week D / Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.
O God, make speed to save us;
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to God, source of all being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Alleluia!
Psalmody
Opening This or another suitable opening hymn may be sung.
"Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That you, with steadfast love, would keep
Your watch around us while we sleep.
From evil dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Tread underfoot our deadly foe
That we no sinful thought may know.
O Father, that we ask be done
Through Jesus Christ, your only Son;
And Holy Spirit, by whose breath
Our souls are raised to life from death."
Antiphon: The wings of the Lord shall cover you, * and you shall not fear any terror by night.
Psalm: Psalm 91
1. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,*
abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
2. He shall say to the Lord, ‘You are my refuge and my stronghold,*
my God in whom I put my trust.’
3. He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter*
and from the deadly pestilence.
4. He shall cover you with his pinions, and you shall find refuge under his wings;*
his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.
5. You shall not be afraid of any terror by night,*
nor of the arrow that flies by day:
6. Of the plague that stalks in the darkness,*
nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.
7. A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand.*
but it shall not come near you.
8. Your eyes have only to behold*
to see the reward of the wicked.
9. Because you have made the Lord your refuge,*
and the Most High your habitation,
10. There shall no evil happen to you,*
neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11. For he shall give his angels charge over you,*
to keep you in all your ways.
12. They shall bear you in their hands,*
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13. You shall tread upon the lion and adder;*
you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.
14. Because he is bound to me in love, therefore will I deliver him;*
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;*
I am with him in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him to honour.
16. With long life will I satisfy him,*
and show him my salvation.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Antiphon: The wings of the Lord shall cover you, *
and you shall not fear any terror by night.
Reading(s)
Revelation 22.4,5
They shall see the Lord face to face and his name shall be on their foreheads. And night shall be no more. They need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Thanks be to God.
Silence
Response Psalm 31.5
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Song of Simeon
Antiphon:
Preserve us, O Lord,* while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
1. Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace;*
your word has been fulfilled.
2. My own eyes have seen the salvation*
which you have prepared in the sight of every
people;
3. A light to reveal you to the nations,*
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Antiphon: Preserve us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Prayers
Collect
Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray; and in your mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Conclusion
The Lord be with you;
and also with you.
Let us bless the Lord;
Thanks be to God.
May the almighty and merciful God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, bless and keep us.
Amen.
or
May we be hidden under the shadow of God’s wings, this night and for ever.
Amen.