Morning Prayer
Wednesday after Fifth Sunday after Easter
Easter / Week 5 of Easter
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:
Christ has been raised from the dead:*
the first fruits of those who sleep.
1 Corinthians 15-20
Opening
Easter Anthems
1. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us;*
so let us celebrate the feast.
2. Not with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness,*
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
3. Christ once raised from the dead dies no more;*
death has no more dominion over him.
4. In dying, he died to sin once for all;*
in living, he lives to God.
5. See yourselves therefore as dead to sin,*
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
6. Christ has been raised from the dead,*
the first fruits of those who sleep.
7. For as by man came death,*
by man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
8. For as in Adam all die,*
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
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 18.1-19
1. I love you, O Lord my strength, *
O Lord my stronghold, my crag and my haven.
2. My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, *
my shield, the horn of my salvation and my refuge; you are worthy of praise.
3. I will call upon the Lord, *
and so shall I be saved from my enemies.
4. The breakers of death rolled over me, *
and the torrents of oblivion made me afraid.
5. The cords of hell entangled me, *
and the snares of death were set for me.
6. I called upon the Lord in my distress and cried out to my God for help. *
You heard my voice from your heavenly dwelling; to your ears came my cry of anguish.
7. The earth reeled and rocked; *
the roots of the mountains shook; they reeled because of your anger.
8. Smoke rose from your nostrils and a consuming fire out of your mouth; *
hot burning coals blazed forth.
9. You parted the heavens and came down * with a storm cloud under your feet.
10. You mounted on cherubim and flew; * you swooped on the wings of the wind.
11. You wrapped darkness about you; *
you made dark waters and thick clouds your pavilion.
12. From the brightness of your presence, through the clouds, *
burst hailstones and coals of fire.
13. Lord, you thundered out of heaven; * Most High, you uttered your voice.
14. You loosed your arrows and scattered them; * you hurled thunderbolts and routed them.
15. The beds of the seas were uncovered, and the foundations of the world laid bare, *
at your battle cry, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
16. You reached down from on high and grasped me; * you drew me out of great waters.
17. You delivered me from my strong enemies and from those who hated me; *
for they were too mighty for me.
18. They confronted me in the day of my disaster; * but you, O Lord, were my support.
19. You brought me out into an open place; *
you rescued me because you delighted in me.
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
Wisdom 10
1. Wisdom freed a holy people and a blameless race,*
from a nation of oppressors.
2. She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord,*
and withstood fearsome rulers with wonders and signs.
3. To the saints she gave the reward of their labours,*
and led them by a marvellous road.
4. She was their shelter by day,*
and a blaze of stars by night.
5. She brought them across the Red Sea;*
she led them through mighty waters.
6. She swallowed their enemies in the waves,*
and spat them out from the depths of the sea.
7. Then, Lord, the righteous sang the glories of your name,*
and praised together your protecting hand.
8. For wisdom opened the mouths of the silent*
and gave speech to the tongues of her children.
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: Christ has been raised from the dead:* the first fruits of those who sleep.
Reading(s)
Leviticus 16.20-34
When he has finished atoning for the holy place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. Then Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and sending it away into the wilderness by means of someone designated for the task. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a barren region; and the goat shall be set free in the wilderness.
Then Aaron shall enter the tent of meeting, and shall take off the linen vestments that he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there. He shall bathe his body in water in a holy place, and put on his vestments; then he shall come out and offer his burnt-offering and the burnt-offering of the people, making atonement for himself and for the people. The fat of the sin-offering he shall turn into smoke on the altar. The one who sets the goat free for Azazel shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterwards may come into the camp. The bull of the sin-offering and the goat of the sin-offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall be taken outside the camp; their skin and their flesh and their dung shall be consumed in fire. The one who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterwards may come into the camp.
This shall be a statute to you for ever: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall deny yourselves, and shall do no work, neither the citizen nor the alien who resides among you. For on this day atonement shall be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins you shall be clean before the Lord. It is a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall deny yourselves; it is a statute for ever. The priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement, wearing the linen vestments, the holy vestments. He shall make atonement for the sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the people of Israel once in the year for all their sins. And Moses did as the Lord had commanded him.
1 Thessalonians 5.12-28
But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labour among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.
May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
Beloved, pray for us.
Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Silence
Response (Psalm 96.4; 105.1)
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, alleluia, alleluia.
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, alleluia, alleluia.
Make known God’s deeds among the nations.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, alleluia, alleluia.
Song of Zechariah (Benedictus)
Song of Zechariah Antiphon: You will guide us with your counsel, O God: * and, after, receive us with glory. I am the way,* * the truth and the life, says the Lord; alleluia!
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. I am the way,* * the truth and the life, says the Lord; alleluia!
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,
who alone can bring harmony to the minds of your faithful people:
give us grace to love the things you command,
and to desire the things you promise;
that, amid the uncertain changes of this world,
our hearts may be firmly fixed where true joys are to be found;
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
Wednesday after Fifth Sunday after Easter
Easter / Week 5 of Easter
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: With you is the well of life,* and in your light we see light.
Psalm 36.9
Opening (from Psalm 36)
1. Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,*
and your faithfulness to the clouds.
2. Your righteousness is like the strong mountains, your justice like the great deep;*
you save both man and beast, O Lord.
3. How priceless is your love, O God!*
your people take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
4. They feast upon the abundance of your house;*
you give them drink from the river of your delights.
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 18.20-50
20. The Lord rewarded me because of my righteous dealing; *
because my hands were clean God rewarded me.
21. For I have kept your ways, O Lord *
and have not offended against you, my God;
22. for all your judgements are before my eyes, * and your decrees I have not put away from me;
23. for I have been blameless with you * and have kept myself from iniquity;
24. therefore you, O Lord, rewarded me according to my righteous dealing, *
because of the cleanness of my hands in your sight.
25. With the faithful you show yourself faithful, O God; * with the forthright you show yourself forthright.
26. With the pure you show yourself pure, * but with the crooked you are wily.
27. You will save a lowly people, *
but you will humble the haughty eyes.
28. O Lord, you are my lamp; *
my God, you make my darkness bright.
29. With you I will break down an enclosure; * with your help I will scale any wall.
30. As for you, O God, your ways are perfect; the words of the Lord are tried in the fire; *
you are a shield to all who trust in you.
31. For who is God, but the Lord? * Who is the rock, except our God?
32. It is you who girds me about with strength * and makes my way secure,
33. making me sure-footed like a deer *
and letting me stand firm on the heights.
34. You train my hands for battle *
and my arms for bending even a bow of bronze.
35. You have given me your shield of victory; *
your mighty hand also sustains me; your loving care makes me great.
36. You lengthen my stride beneath me, * and my ankles do not give way.
37. I pursue my enemies and overtake them; *
I will not turn back till I have destroyed them.
38. I will strike them down, and they cannot rise; * they fall defeated at my feet.
39. You have girded me with strength for the battle; * you have cast down my adversaries beneath me.
40. You have put my enemies to flight; * I destroy those who hate me;
41. they cry out, but there is none to help them; * they cry to you, O Lord, but you do not answer.
42. I beat them small like dust before the wind; * I trample them like mud in the streets.
43. You deliver me from the strife of the peoples; *
you put me at the head of the nations; a people I have not known shall serve me.
44. No sooner shall they hear than they shall obey me; * strangers will cringe before me.
45. The foreign peoples will lose heart; *
they shall come trembling out of their strongholds.
46. The Lord lives! Blessed is my rock! * Exalted is the God of my salvation!
47. You are the God who gave me victory * and cast down the peoples beneath me.
48. You rescued me from the fury of my enemies; you exalted me above those who rose against me; *
you saved me from my deadly foe.
49. Therefore will I extol you among the nations, O Lord, * and sing praises to your name.
50. You multiply the victories of your king; *
you show loving-kindness to your anointed, to David and his descendants 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.
Conclusion
Colossians 1
1. Give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;*
he has delivered us from the dominion of darkness.
2. He has transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,*
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.
3. He is the image of the invisible God,*
the first-born of all creation.
4. For in him all things were created,*
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
5 He is the head of the body, the church;*
he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead.
6. In him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell,*
to reconcile all things to himself, making peace by the blood
of his cross.
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: With you is the well of life,* and in your light we see light.
Reading(s)
Matthew 6.19-24
‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!‘No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Silence
Response Psalm 30.1
I will exalt you, O Lord, for you have lifted me up; alleluia, alleluia
I will exalt you, O Lord, for you have lifted me up; alleluia, alleluia
You have not let my enemies triumph over me.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
I will exalt you, O Lord, for you have lifted me up; alleluia, alleluia.
Song of Mary (Magnificat)
Song of Mary Antiphon: I am the way,* the truth and the life, says the Lord; alleluia!
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: I am the way,* the truth and the life, says the Lord; alleluia!
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,
who alone can bring harmony to the minds of your faithful people:
give us grace to love the things you command,
and to desire the things you promise;
that, amid the uncertain changes of this world,
our hearts may be firmly fixed where true joys are to be found;
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
Wednesday after Fifth Sunday after Easter
Easter / Week 5 of Easter
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: Make haste, O Lord, to deliver me,* for you are my tower of strength.
Psalm: Psalm 31.1-5
1. In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame;*
deliver me in your righteousness.
2. Incline your ear to me;*
make haste to deliver me.
3. Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe, for you are my crag and my stronghold;*
for the sake of your name, lead me and guide me.
4. Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me,*
for you are my tower of strength.
5. Into your hands I commend my spirit,*
for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
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: Psalm 130
1. Out of the depths have I called you, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice;*
let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.
2. If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss,*
O Lord, who could stand?
3. For there is forgiveness with you;*
therefore you shall be feared.
4. I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him;*
in his word is my hope.
5. My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning,*
more than watchmen for the morning.
6. O Israel, wait for the Lord,*
for with the Lord there is mercy;
7. With him there is plenteous redemption,*
and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.
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: Make haste, O Lord, to deliver me,
for you are my tower of strength.
Reading(s)
Ephesians 4.26
Do not let anger lead you into sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
Thanks be to God.
Silence
Response Psalm 31.5
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit; alleluia, alleluia.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit; alleluia, alleluia.
For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit; alleluia, alleluia.
Preserve us as the apple of your eye. Hide us under the shadow of your wings.
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
Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the silent hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world may rest in your eternal
changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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.