Morning Prayer
Thursday after Third Sunday of Lent
Lent / Week 3 of Lent
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:
O God, you are my God;
eagerly I seek you.
Psalm 63.1
Opening
Psalm 63
1. My soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,*
as in a barren and dry land where there is no water.
2. For your loving-kindness is better than life itself;*
my lips shall give you praise.
3. For you have been my helper,*
and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.
4. My soul clings to you;*
your right hand holds me fast.
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 33
1. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous; * it is good for the just to sing praises.
2. Praise the Lord with the harp; *
play to God upon the psaltery and lyre.
3. Sing for God a new song; *
sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.
4. For the word of the Lord is right, and all the works of God are sure.
5. God loves righteousness and justice; *
the loving-kindness of the Lord fills the whole earth
6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, * by the breath of God’s mouth all the heavenly hosts.
7. God gathers up the waters of the ocean as in a water- skin *
and stores up the depths of the sea.
8. Let all the earth fear the Lord; *
let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of God.
9. For God spoke, and it came to pass; * God commanded, and it stood fast.
10. The Lord brings the will of the nations to naught, * thwarting the designs of the peoples.
11. But the will of the Lord stands fast for ever, * and the designs of God’s heart from age to age.
12. Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, * happy the people chosen to be God’s own.
13. The Lord looks down from heaven, * and beholds all the people in the world.
14. Enthroned in the heavens God gazes * on all who dwell on the earth,
15. fashioning all the hearts of them * and understanding all their works.
16. There is no ruler that can be saved by a mighty army;*
the strong are not delivered by their great strength.
17. The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; * for all its strength it cannot save.
18. Behold, your eye, O Lord, is upon those who fear you,* on those who wait upon your love,
19. to pluck their lives from death, * and to feed them in time of famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord * who is our help and our shield.
21. Indeed, our heart rejoices in God *
in whose holy name we put our trust.
22. Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, * as we have put our trust 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.
Conclusion
Song of Humility Hosea 6. 1-6
1. Come, let us return to the Lord *
who has torn us and will heal us.
2. God has stricken us*
and will bind up our wounds.
3. After two days, God will revive us
and on the third day will raise us up, that we may live in
God’s presence.
4. Let us humble ourselves;*
let us strive to know our God,
5. Whose justice dawns like the morning star;*
its dawning is as sure as the sunrise.
6. God’s justice will come to us like the showers,*
like the spring rains that water the earth.
7. ‘O Ephraim, how shall I deal with you?*
How shall I deal with you, O Jacob?
8. ‘Your love for me is like the morning mist,*
like the dew that goes early away.
9. ‘Therefore, I have spoken to them by the prophets,*
and my judgement goes forth as the light.
10. ‘For faithfulness is my desire and not sacrifice,*
and the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.’
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: O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you.
Reading(s)
Genesis 46.1-7,28-34
When Israel set out on his journey with all that he had and came to Beer-sheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph’s own hand shall close your eyes.’
Then Jacob set out from Beer-sheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. They also took their livestock and the goods that they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and they came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters; all his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.
Israel sent Judah ahead to Joseph to lead the way before him into Goshen. When they came to the land of Goshen, Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. He presented himself to him, fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. Israel said to Joseph, ‘I can die now, having seen for myself that you are still alive.’ Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, ‘I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, “My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. The men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.” When Pharaoh calls you, and says, “What is your occupation?” you shall say, “Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our ancestors”—in order that you may settle in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians.’
1 Corinthians 9.1-15
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
This is my defence to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who at any time pays the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk?
Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.’ Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever ploughs should plough in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more?
Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is sacrificed on the altar? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this so that they may be applied in my case. Indeed, I would rather die than that—no one will deprive me of my ground for boasting!
Silence
Response (Psalm 6.4)
Turn, O Lord, and deliver me.
Turn, O Lord, and deliver me.
Save me for your mercy’s sake.
And deliver me.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Turn, O Lord, and deliver me.
Song of Zechariah (Benedictus)
Song of Zechariah Antiphon: You will guide us with your counsel, O God: * and, after, receive us with glory. Lord, you are indeed the Saviour of the world. * Give us living water, that we may not thirst.
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. Lord, you are indeed the Saviour of the world. * Give us living water, that we may not thirst.
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
Merciful Father,
we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves:
when we are discouraged by our weakness,
give us strength to follow Christ,
our pattern and our hope;
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
Thursday after Third Sunday of Lent
Lent / Week 3 of Lent
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: Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths.
Psalm 25.3
Opening (from Psalm 25)
1. You are the God of my salvation;*
in you have I trusted all the day long.
2. Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love,*
for they are from everlasting.
3. Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions;*
remember me according to your love.
4. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,*
for my hope has been 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 34
1. I will bless the Lord at all times; *
the praise of God shall ever be in my mouth.
2. I will glory in the Lord; *
let the humble hear and rejoice.
3. Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; * let us exalt the name of God together.
4. I sought the Lord, who answered me * and delivered me out of all my terror.
5. Look upon God and be radiant, *
and let not your faces be ashamed.
6. I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me * and saved me from all my troubles.
7. The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear God*
and will deliver them.
8. Taste and see that the Lord is good; * happy are they who trust in God!
9. Fear the Lord, you holy ones of God, * for those who fear God lack nothing.
10. The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
11. Come, children, and listen to me; * I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12. Who among you loves life *
and desires long life to enjoy prosperity?
13. Keep your tongue from evil-speaking * and your lips from lying words.
14. Turn from evil and do good; * seek peace and pursue it.
15. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, * and the ears of God are open to their cry.
16. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, *
to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
17. The righteous cry, and the Lord hears them * and delivers them from all their troubles.
18. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted *
and will save those whose spirits are crushed.
19. Many are the troubles of the righteous, *
but the Lord will deliver them out of them all.
20 The Lord will keep safe all their bones; * not one of them shall be broken.
21. Evil shall slay the wicked, *
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22. O Lord, you redeem the life of your servants, * and none will be punished who trust 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.
Conclusion
1 John 1
1. This is the message we have heard from Christ and proclaim
to you:*
that God is light, in whom there is no darkness at all.
2. If we say that we have fellowship with God while we walk in darkness,*
we lie and do not do what is true.
3. But if we walk in the light as God is in the light,*
we have fellowship with one another.
4. For the blood of Jesus, the Son of God,*
cleanses us from all our sins.
5. If we say that we have no sin,*
we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
6. If we confess our sins,*
the One who is faithful and just will forgive us and cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.
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: Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths.
Reading(s)
Mark 6.30-46
The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.’ But he answered them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said to him, ‘Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?’ And he said to them, ‘How many loaves have you? Go and see.’ When they had found out, they said, ‘Five, and two fish.’ Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
Silence
Response Psalm 86.15
You, Lord, are gracious and full of compassion.
You, Lord, are gracious and full of compassion.
Slow to anger, full of kindness and truth.
Full of compassion.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
You, Lord, are gracious and full of compassion.
Song of Mary (Magnificat)
Song of Mary Antiphon: Lord, you are indeed the Saviour of the world. Give us living water, that we may not thirst.
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: Lord, you are indeed the Saviour of the world. Give us living water, that we may not thirst.
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
Merciful Father,
we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves:
when we are discouraged by our weakness,
give us strength to follow Christ,
our pattern and our hope;
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
Thursday after Third Sunday of Lent
Lent / Week 3 of Lent
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.
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: My body* shall rest in hope.
Psalm: Psalm 16
1. Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you;*
I have said to the Lord, 'You are my Lord, my good above all other.'
2. All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land,*
upon those who are noble among the people.
3. But those who run after other gods*
shall have their troubles multiplied.
4. Their libations of blood I will not offer,*
nor take the names of their gods upon my lips.
5. O Lord, you are my portion and my cup;*
it is you who uphold my lot.
6. My boundaries enclose a pleasant land;*
indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
7. I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel;*
my heart teaches me, night after night.
8. I have set the Lord always before me;*
because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.
9. My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices;*
my body also shall rest in hope.
10. For you will not abandon me to the grave,*
nor let your holy one see the Pit.
11. You will show me the path of life;*
in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.
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: My body shall rest in hope.
Reading(s)
1 Peter 5.6,7
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that in due time God may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on God, who cares about you.
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
Lord, by triumphing over the power of darkness you have prepared for us a place in the new Jerusalem. May we who have this day given thanks for our resurrection praise you in the eternal city of which you are the light; where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
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.