Year 1 - 1979 Daily Office Lectionary

I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.
Isaiah 49:6b

Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia.

Psalm 95:1-7

The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *
and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *
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. *
Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

Psalm 25

1

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;

my God, I put my trust in you; *

let me not be humiliated,

nor let my enemies triumph over me.

2

Let none who look to you be put to shame; *

let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.

3

Show me your ways, O Lord, *

and teach me your paths.

4

Lead me in your truth and teach me, *

for you are the God of my salvation;

in you have I trusted all the day long.

5

Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, *

for they are from everlasting.

6

Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *

remember me according to your love

and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.

7

Gracious and upright is the Lord; *

therefore he teaches sinners in his way.

8

He guides the humble in doing right *

and teaches his way to the lowly.

9

All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness *

to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

10

For your Name’s sake, O Lord, *

forgive my sin, for it is great.

11

Who are they who fear the Lord? *

he will teach them the way that they should choose.

12

They shall dwell in prosperity, *

and their offspring shall inherit the land.

13

The Lord is a friend to those who fear him *

and will show them his covenant.

14

My eyes are ever looking to the Lord, *

for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

15

Turn to me and have pity on me, *

for I am left alone and in misery.

16

The sorrows of my heart have increased; *

bring me out of my troubles.

17

Look upon my adversity and misery *

and forgive me all my sin.

18

Look upon my enemies, for they are many, *

and they bear a violent hatred against me.

19

Protect my life and deliver me; *

let me not be put to shame, for I have trusted in you.

20

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, *

for my hope has been in you.

21

Deliver Israel, O God, *

out of all his troubles.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? Let them proclaim it, let them declare and set it forth before me. Who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to be. Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides me? There is no other rock; I know not one.

Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you, you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

You are God: we praise you;
 You are the Lord: we acclaim you;
 You are the eternal Father:
 All creation worships you.
 To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, 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 worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.
 When you became man to set us free you did not shun 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 and 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.

A Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians.

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.” (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

A Reading from the Gospel According to Mark.

Jesus departed with his disciples to the lake, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he sternly ordered them not to make him known.

He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Then he went home;

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

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 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 will be for ever. Amen.

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 Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.

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, forever and ever. Amen.

V. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
R. Govern and uphold them, now and always.

V. Day by day we bless you;
R. We praise your name for ever.

V. Lord, keep us from all sin today;
R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

V. Lord, show us your love and mercy;
R. For we put our trust in you.

V. In you, Lord, is our hope;
R. And we shall never hope in vain.

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Daily Collects:

A Collect for Peace

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.

A Collect for Grace

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.

 Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.

Collect of Saint Basil

O Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of 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.

Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God!

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

Approach

The angels of God guard us through the night,
and quieten the powers of darkness.

The Spirit of God be our guide
to lead us to peace and to glory.

It is but lost labour that we haste to rise up early,
and so late take rest, and eat the bread of anxiety.
For those beloved of God are given gifts even while they sleep.

Silence

My brothers and sisters,
our help is in the name of the eternal God,
who is making the heavens and the earth.

Dear God,
thank you for all that is good,
for our creation and for our humanity,
for the stewardship you have given us of this planet earth,
for the gifts of life and of one another,
for your love which is unbounded and eternal.
O thou, most holy and beloved,
my Companion, my Guide upon the way,
my bright evening star.
We repent the wrongs we have done:

Silence

We have wounded your love.
O God, heal us.

We stumble in the darkness.
Light of the world transfigure us.

We forget that we are your home.
Spirit of God, dwell in us.

Eternal Spirit, living God,
in whom we live and move and have our being,
all that we are, have been, and shall be is known to you,
to the very secret of our hearts
and all that rises to trouble us.
Living flame burn into us,
cleansing wind, blow through us,
fountain of water, well up within us,
that we may love and praise in deed and in truth.

Eternal Spirit, flow through our being and open our lips,
that our mouths may proclaim your praise.

Let us worship the God of love.
Alleluia, alleluia.

We your servants bless you, O God,
as we stand by night in your house.

We lift up our hands towards the holy place,
and give you thanks and praise.

Bless us from all places where you dwell,
O God, creator of the heavens and the earth.

Sunday

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7

Hymn #9

God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at my end, and at my departing.

Prayers

Into your hands, O God, I commend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me, O God of truth and love.

Keep me, O God, as the apple of an eye;
hide me under the shadow of your wings.

Preserve us, O God, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep may rest in your peace.

Praise be to God, I have lived to see this day.
God’s promise is fulfilled, and my duty done.

At last you have given me peace,
for I have seen with my own eyes
the salvation you have prepared for all nations –
a light to the world in its darkness,
and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory be to God, sustaining, redeeming, sanctifying,
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever.
Amen.

Preserve us, O God, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep may rest in your peace.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

The minister and people pray responsively.

I will lie down in peace and take my rest,
for it is in God alone that I dwell unafraid.

Let us bless the Earth-maker, the Pain-bearer, the Life-giver,
let us praise and exalt God above all for ever.

May God’s name be praised beyond the furthest star,
glorified and exalted above all for ever.

Lord,
it is night.

The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.

It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.

The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.

The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys,
new possibilities.

In your name we pray.
Amen.

SUNDAY

O God of love and mercy,
grant us, with all your people, rest and peace.

The divine Spirit dwells in us.
Thanks be to God.

Year 1 - 1979 Daily Office Lectionary

I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.
Isaiah 49:6b

Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia.

Psalm 95:1-7

The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *
and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *
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. *
Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

Psalm 148

1

Hallelujah!

Praise the Lord from the heavens; *

praise him in the heights.

2

Praise him, all you angels of his; *

praise him, all his host.

3

Praise him, sun and moon; *

praise him, all you shining stars.

4

Praise him, heaven of heavens, *

and you waters above the heavens.

5

Let them praise the Name of the Lord; *

for he commanded, and they were created.

6

He made them stand fast for ever and ever; *

he gave them a law which shall not pass away.

7

Praise the Lord from the earth, *

you sea-monsters and all deeps;

8

Fire and hail, snow and fog, *

tempestuous wind, doing his will;

9

Mountains and all hills, *

fruit trees and all cedars;

10

Wild beasts and all cattle, *

creeping things and wingèd birds;

11

Kings of the earth and all peoples, *

princes and all rulers of the world;

12

Young men and maidens, *

old and young together.

13

Let them praise the Name of the Lord, *

for his Name only is exalted,

his splendor is over earth and heaven.

14

He has raised up strength for his people

and praise for all his loyal servants, *

the children of Israel, a people who are near him.

Hallelujah!

Psalm 149

1

Hallelujah!

Sing to the Lord a new song; *

sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.

2

Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *

let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

3

Let them praise his Name in the dance; *

let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.

4

For the Lord takes pleasure in his people *

and adorns the poor with victory.

5

Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *

let them be joyful on their beds.

6

Let the praises of God be in their throat *

and a two-edged sword in their hand;

7

To wreak vengeance on the nations *

and punishment on the peoples;

8

To bind their kings in chains *

and their nobles with links of iron;

9

To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *

this is glory for all his faithful people.

Hallelujah!

Psalm 150

1

Hallelujah!

Praise God in his holy temple; *

praise him in the firmament of his power.

2

Praise him for his mighty acts; *

praise him for his excellent greatness.

3

Praise him with the blast of the ram’s-horn; *

Praise him with lyre and harp.

4

Praise him with timbrel and dance; *

praise him with strings and pipe.

5

Praise him with resounding cymbals; *

praise him with loud-clanging cymbals.

6

Let everything that has breath *

praise the Lord.

Hallelujah!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I will send to Babylon and break down all the bars, and the shouting of the Chaldeans will be turned to lamentation. I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.

Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities. I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. Accuse me, let us go to trial; set forth your case, so that you may be proved right. Your first ancestor sinned, and your interpreters transgressed against me. Therefore I profaned the princes of the sanctuary, I delivered Jacob to utter destruction, and Israel to reviling.

But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you in the womb and will help you: Do not fear, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my spirit upon your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring. They shall spring up like a green tamarisk, like willows by flowing streams. This one will say, “I am the Lord’s,” another will be called by the name of Jacob, yet another will write on the hand, “The Lord’s,” and adopt the name of Israel.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

You are God: we praise you;
 You are the Lord: we acclaim you;
 You are the eternal Father:
 All creation worships you.
 To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, 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 worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.
 When you became man to set us free you did not shun 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 and 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.

A Reading from the Book of Hebrews.

In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

This “King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him”; and to him Abraham apportioned “one-tenth of everything.” His name, in the first place, means “king of righteousness”; next he is also king of Salem, that is, “king of peace.” Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. See how great he is! Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils. And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their kindred, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case, tithes are received by those who are mortal; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

A Reading from the Gospel According to John.

Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?” Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” They left the city and were on their way to him. Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

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 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 will be for ever. Amen.

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 Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.

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, forever and ever. Amen.

V. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
R. Govern and uphold them, now and always.

V. Day by day we bless you;
R. We praise your name for ever.

V. Lord, keep us from all sin today;
R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

V. Lord, show us your love and mercy;
R. For we put our trust in you.

V. In you, Lord, is our hope;
R. And we shall never hope in vain.

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Daily Collects:

A Collect for Peace

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.

A Collect for Grace

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.

 Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.

Collect of Saint Basil

O Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of 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.

Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God!

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

Approach

The angels of God guard us through the night,
and quieten the powers of darkness.

The Spirit of God be our guide
to lead us to peace and to glory.

It is but lost labour that we haste to rise up early,
and so late take rest, and eat the bread of anxiety.
For those beloved of God are given gifts even while they sleep.

Silence

My brothers and sisters,
our help is in the name of the eternal God,
who is making the heavens and the earth.

Dear God,
thank you for all that is good,
for our creation and for our humanity,
for the stewardship you have given us of this planet earth,
for the gifts of life and of one another,
for your love which is unbounded and eternal.
O thou, most holy and beloved,
my Companion, my Guide upon the way,
my bright evening star.
We repent the wrongs we have done:

Silence

We have wounded your love.
O God, heal us.

We stumble in the darkness.
Light of the world transfigure us.

We forget that we are your home.
Spirit of God, dwell in us.

Eternal Spirit, living God,
in whom we live and move and have our being,
all that we are, have been, and shall be is known to you,
to the very secret of our hearts
and all that rises to trouble us.
Living flame burn into us,
cleansing wind, blow through us,
fountain of water, well up within us,
that we may love and praise in deed and in truth.

Eternal Spirit, flow through our being and open our lips,
that our mouths may proclaim your praise.

Let us worship the God of love.
Alleluia, alleluia.

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains,
but where shall I find help?

From you alone, O God, does my help come,
creator of the ever changing hills.

You will not let me stumble on the rough pathways,
you care for me and watch over me without ceasing.

I am sure that the Guardian of my people
neither slumbers nor sleeps.
The God of all nations keeps watch,
like a shadow spread over me.

So the sun will not strike me by day,
nor the moon by night.

You will defend me in the presence of evil,
you will guard my life.

You will defend my going out and my coming in,
this night and always.

Saturday

According to the riches of God’s glory, may you be strengthened with the might through the Holy Spirit in your inner being, and may Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled with the fulness of God.

Ephesians 3:16–19

Hymn #8

God that madest earth and heaven,
Darkness and light;
Who the day for toil hast given,
For rest the night;
May thine angel guards defend us,
Slumber sweet thy mercy send us,
Holy dreams and hopes attend us,
This livelong night.

Guard us waking, guard us sleeping,
And, when we die,
May we in thy mighty keeping
All peaceful lie:
When the last dread call shall wake us,
Do not thou our God forsake us,
But to reign in glory take us
With thee on high.

Prayers

Into your hands, O God, I commend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me, O God of truth and love.

Keep me, O God, as the apple of an eye;
hide me under the shadow of your wings.

Preserve us, O God, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep may rest in your peace.

Praise be to God, I have lived to see this day.
God’s promise is fulfilled, and my duty done.

At last you have given me peace,
for I have seen with my own eyes
the salvation you have prepared for all nations –
a light to the world in its darkness,
and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory be to God, sustaining, redeeming, sanctifying,
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever.
Amen.

Preserve us, O God, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep may rest in your peace.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

The minister and people pray responsively.

I will lie down in peace and take my rest,
for it is in God alone that I dwell unafraid.

Let us bless the Earth-maker, the Pain-bearer, the Life-giver,
let us praise and exalt God above all for ever.

May God’s name be praised beyond the furthest star,
glorified and exalted above all for ever.

O living God, in Jesus Christ you were laid in the tomb at this evening hour, and so sanctified the grave to be a bed of hope to your people. Give us courage and faith to die daily to our sin and pride, that even as this flesh and blood decays, our lives still may grow in you, that at our last day our dying may be done so well that we live in you for ever.
Amen.

SATURDAY

Blessing, light, and glory surround us
and scatter the darkness of the long and lonely night.

The divine Spirit dwells in us.
Thanks be to God.

Year 1 - 1979 Daily Office Lectionary

I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.
Isaiah 49:6b

Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia.

Psalm 95:1-7

The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *
and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *
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. *
Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

Psalm 66

1

Be joyful in God, all you lands; *

sing the glory of his Name;

sing the glory of his praise.

2

Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! *

because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.

3

All the earth bows down before you, *

sings to you, sings out your Name.”

4

Come now and see the works of God, *

how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.

5

He turned the sea into dry land,

so that they went through the water on foot, *

and there we rejoiced in him.

6

In his might he rules for ever;

his eyes keep watch over the nations; *

let no rebel rise up against him.

7

Bless our God, you peoples; *

make the voice of his praise to be heard;

8

Who holds our souls in life, *

and will not allow our feet to slip.

9

For you, O God, have proved us; *

you have tried us just as silver is tried.

10

You brought us into the snare; *

you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.

11

You let enemies ride over our heads;

we went through fire and water; *

but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.

12

I will enter your house with burnt-offerings

and will pay you my vows, *

which I promised with my lips

and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.

13

I will offer you sacrifices of fat beasts

with the smoke of rams; *

I will give you oxen and goats.

14

Come and listen, all you who fear God, *

and I will tell you what he has done for me.

15

I called out to him with my mouth, *

and his praise was on my tongue.

16

If I had found evil in my heart, *

the Lord would not have heard me;

17

But in truth God has heard me; *

he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

18

Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, *

nor withheld his love from me.

Psalm 67

1

May God be merciful to us and bless us, *

show us the light of his countenance and come to us.

2

Let your ways be known upon earth, *

your saving health among all nations.

3

Let the peoples praise you, O God; *

let all the peoples praise you.

4

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, *

for you judge the peoples with equity

and guide all the nations upon earth.

5

Let the peoples praise you, O God; *

let all the peoples praise you.

6

The earth has brought forth her increase; *

may God, our own God, give us his blessing.

7

May God give us his blessing, *

and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel.

He said to me: Mortal, go to the house of Israel and speak my very words to them. For you are not sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel— not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you. But the house of Israel will not listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me; because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. See, I have made your face hard against their faces, and your forehead hard against their foreheads. Like the hardest stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not fear them or be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. He said to me: Mortal, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart and hear with your ears; then go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them. Say to them, “Thus says the Lord God”; whether they hear or refuse to hear.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

You are God: we praise you;
 You are the Lord: we acclaim you;
 You are the eternal Father:
 All creation worships you.
 To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, 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 worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.
 When you became man to set us free you did not shun 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 and 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.

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

A Reading from the Gospel According to John.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

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 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 will be for ever. Amen.

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 Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.

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, forever and ever. Amen.

V. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
R. Govern and uphold them, now and always.

V. Day by day we bless you;
R. We praise your name for ever.

V. Lord, keep us from all sin today;
R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

V. Lord, show us your love and mercy;
R. For we put our trust in you.

V. In you, Lord, is our hope;
R. And we shall never hope in vain.

Collect of the Day

Almighty Father, who inspired Simon Peter, first among the apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God: Keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, so that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Daily Collects:

A Collect for Peace

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.

A Collect for Grace

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.

 Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.

Collect of Saint Basil

O Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of 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.

Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God!

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

Approach

The angels of God guard us through the night,
and quieten the powers of darkness.

The Spirit of God be our guide
to lead us to peace and to glory.

It is but lost labour that we haste to rise up early,
and so late take rest, and eat the bread of anxiety.
For those beloved of God are given gifts even while they sleep.

Silence

My brothers and sisters,
our help is in the name of the eternal God,
who is making the heavens and the earth.

Dear God,
thank you for all that is good,
for our creation and for our humanity,
for the stewardship you have given us of this planet earth,
for the gifts of life and of one another,
for your love which is unbounded and eternal.
O thou, most holy and beloved,
my Companion, my Guide upon the way,
my bright evening star.
We repent the wrongs we have done:

Silence

We have wounded your love.
O God, heal us.

We stumble in the darkness.
Light of the world transfigure us.

We forget that we are your home.
Spirit of God, dwell in us.

Eternal Spirit, living God,
in whom we live and move and have our being,
all that we are, have been, and shall be is known to you,
to the very secret of our hearts
and all that rises to trouble us.
Living flame burn into us,
cleansing wind, blow through us,
fountain of water, well up within us,
that we may love and praise in deed and in truth.

Eternal Spirit, flow through our being and open our lips,
that our mouths may proclaim your praise.

Let us worship the God of love.
Alleluia, alleluia.

A Version for New Zealand

Praise is your due O God in the holy city;
promises made to you shall be fulfilled;
prayer you always listen to.

You accept all who come to you with shame;
sin would overwhelm us, but you wash it away.

Blest is anyone you choose to live with you;
your house is an inspiration, a hallowed place.

You spread your justice, God our Saviour,
across the world to the farthest oceans.

You have laid down the mountain ranges and set them fast;
you make the seas calm and the sounds peaceful;
you reconcile the peoples who dwell here.

So in this corner of the earth we wonder at your deeds;
at the meeting of east and west we sing your praise.

You water the land and make it flourish,
from your own bursting river.

To provide our crops, you plough and irrigate the land,
softening it with rain to make it fruitful;
a record harvest is achieved, and the stores are overflowing.

The tussock land becomes pasture
and the brown hills turn green;
the paddocks are crowded with sheep
and the plains thick with wheat:
the world itself a canticle of praise.

Friday

It is the God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:6–10

Hymn #6

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.

I am the God that healeth thee.
I am the God that healeth thee.
I am the God that healeth thee.

In thee, O God, I put my trust.
In thee, O God, I put my trust.
In thee, O God, I put my trust.

Prayers

Into your hands, O God, I commend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me, O God of truth and love.

Keep me, O God, as the apple of an eye;
hide me under the shadow of your wings.

Preserve us, O God, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep may rest in your peace.

Praise be to God, I have lived to see this day.
God’s promise is fulfilled, and my duty done.

At last you have given me peace,
for I have seen with my own eyes
the salvation you have prepared for all nations –
a light to the world in its darkness,
and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory be to God, sustaining, redeeming, sanctifying,
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever.
Amen.

Preserve us, O God, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep may rest in your peace.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

The minister and people pray responsively.

I will lie down in peace and take my rest,
for it is in God alone that I dwell unafraid.

Let us bless the Earth-maker, the Pain-bearer, the Life-giver,
let us praise and exalt God above all for ever.

May God’s name be praised beyond the furthest star,
glorified and exalted above all for ever.

Be present, Spirit of God,
within us, your dwelling place and home,
that this house may be one where
all darkness is penetrated by your light,
all troubles calmed by your peace,
all evil redeemed by your love,
all pain transformed in your suffering,
and all dying glorified in your risen life.
Amen.

FRIDAY

The blessing of God, the eternal goodwill of God, the shalom of God, the wildness and the warmth of God, be among us and between us, now and always.

The divine Spirit dwells in us.
Thanks be to God.

Year 1 - 1979 Daily Office Lectionary

I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.
Isaiah 49:6b

Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia.

Psalm 95:1-7

The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *
and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *
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. *
Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

Psalm 16

Conserva me, Domine

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.

Psalm 17

Exaudi, Domine

1

Hear my plea of innocence, O Lord;

give heed to my cry; *

listen to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips.

2

Let my vindication come forth from your presence; *

let your eyes be fixed on justice.

3

Weigh my heart, summon me by night, *

melt me down; you will find no impurity in me.

4

I give no offense with my mouth as others do; *

I have heeded the words of your lips.

5

My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law; *

in your paths my feet shall not stumble.

6

I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; *

incline your ear to me and hear my words.

7

Show me your marvelous loving-kindness, *

O Savior of those who take refuge at your right hand

from those who rise up against them.

8

Keep me as the apple of your eye; *

hide me under the shadow of your wings,

9

From the wicked who assault me, *

from my deadly enemies who surround me.

10

They have closed their heart to pity, *

and their mouth speaks proud things.

11

They press me hard,

now they surround me, *

watching how they may cast me to the ground,

12

Like a lion, greedy for its prey, *

and like a young lion lurking in secret places.

13

Arise, O Lord; confront them and bring them down; *

deliver me from the wicked by your sword.

14

Deliver me, O Lord, by your hand *

from those whose portion in life is this world;

15

Whose bellies you fill with your treasure, *

who are well supplied with children

and leave their wealth to their little ones.

16

But at my vindication I shall see your face; *

when I awake, I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth! Let the sea roar and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants. Let the desert and its towns lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits; let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy, let them shout from the tops of the mountains. Let them give glory to the Lord, and declare his praise in the coastlands.

The Lord goes forth like a soldier, like a warrior he stirs up his fury; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes. For a long time I have held my peace, I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor, I will gasp and pant. I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbage; I will turn the rivers into islands, and dry up the pools. I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them. They shall be turned back and utterly put to shame— those who trust in carved images, who say to cast images, “You are our gods.”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

You are God: we praise you;
 You are the Lord: we acclaim you;
 You are the eternal Father:
 All creation worships you.
 To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, 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 worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.
 When you became man to set us free you did not shun 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 and 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.

A Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians.

This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him. I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

A Reading from the Gospel According to Mark.

Jesus went out again beside the lake; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.

And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax-collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax-collectors, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ When Jesus heard this, he said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, ‘Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding-guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.

‘No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.’

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

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 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 will be for ever. Amen.

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 Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.

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, forever and ever. Amen.

V. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
R. Govern and uphold them, now and always.

V. Day by day we bless you;
R. We praise your name for ever.

V. Lord, keep us from all sin today;
R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

V. Lord, show us your love and mercy;
R. For we put our trust in you.

V. In you, Lord, is our hope;
R. And we shall never hope in vain.

Collect of the Day

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen

Daily Collects:

A Collect for Peace

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.

A Collect for Grace

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.

 Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.

Collect of Saint Basil

O Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of 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.

Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God!

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

Approach

The angels of God guard us through the night,
and quieten the powers of darkness.

The Spirit of God be our guide
to lead us to peace and to glory.

It is but lost labour that we haste to rise up early,
and so late take rest, and eat the bread of anxiety.
For those beloved of God are given gifts even while they sleep.

Silence

My brothers and sisters,
our help is in the name of the eternal God,
who is making the heavens and the earth.

Dear God,
thank you for all that is good,
for our creation and for our humanity,
for the stewardship you have given us of this planet earth,
for the gifts of life and of one another,
for your love which is unbounded and eternal.
O thou, most holy and beloved,
my Companion, my Guide upon the way,
my bright evening star.
We repent the wrongs we have done:

Silence

We have wounded your love.
O God, heal us.

We stumble in the darkness.
Light of the world transfigure us.

We forget that we are your home.
Spirit of God, dwell in us.

Eternal Spirit, living God,
in whom we live and move and have our being,
all that we are, have been, and shall be is known to you,
to the very secret of our hearts
and all that rises to trouble us.
Living flame burn into us,
cleansing wind, blow through us,
fountain of water, well up within us,
that we may love and praise in deed and in truth.

Eternal Spirit, flow through our being and open our lips,
that our mouths may proclaim your praise.

Let us worship the God of love.
Alleluia, alleluia.

O God, I have come to you for shelter:
let me never be put to shame.

Deliver me in the justice of your ways:
incline your ear to me and be swift to save me.

Be for me a rock of refuge, a fortress to defend me:
for you are my rock and my stronghold.

Lead me and guide me for your name’s sake:
deliver me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me,
for you are my strength.

Into your hands I commit my spirit,
for you will redeem me, eternal God of truth.

Thursday
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and those who are afraid are not perfected in love. We love because God first loved us. If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother or sister, that person is a liar; for those who do not love their brothers and sisters whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.
1 John 4:18–20

Hymn #5

Be thou my vision, O Christ of my heart,
Be all else but naught to me save that thou art,
Be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
Both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

Riches I heed not, nor folk’s empty praise,
Be thou my inheritance now and always,
Be thou and thou only the first in my heart,
O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art.

Prayers

Into your hands, O God, I commend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me, O God of truth and love.

Keep me, O God, as the apple of an eye;
hide me under the shadow of your wings.

Preserve us, O God, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep may rest in your peace.

Praise be to God, I have lived to see this day.
God’s promise is fulfilled, and my duty done.

At last you have given me peace,
for I have seen with my own eyes
the salvation you have prepared for all nations –
a light to the world in its darkness,
and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory be to God, sustaining, redeeming, sanctifying,
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever.
Amen.

Preserve us, O God, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep may rest in your peace.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

The minister and people pray responsively.

I will lie down in peace and take my rest,
for it is in God alone that I dwell unafraid.

Let us bless the Earth-maker, the Pain-bearer, the Life-giver,
let us praise and exalt God above all for ever.

May God’s name be praised beyond the furthest star,
glorified and exalted above all for ever.

Lord,
it is night.

The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.

It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.

The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.

The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys,
new possibilities.

In your name we pray.
Amen.

THURSDAY

Christ be within us to keep us,
beside us to guard,
before us to lead,
behind us to protect,
beneath us to support,
above us to bless.

The divine Spirit dwells in us.
Thanks be to God.

Year 1 - 1979 Daily Office Lectionary

I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.
Isaiah 49:6b

Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia.

Psalm 95:1-7

The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *
and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *
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. *
Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

Psalm 18

Part I

Diligam te, Domine.

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.

7

He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling; *

my cry of anguish came to his ears.

8

The earth reeled and rocked; *

the roots of the mountains shook;

they reeled because of his anger.

9

Smoke rose from his nostrils

and a consuming fire out of his mouth; *

hot burning coals blazed forth from him.

10

He parted the heavens and came down *

with a storm cloud under his feet.

11

He mounted on cherubim and flew; *

he swooped on the wings of the wind.

12

He wrapped darkness about him; *

he made dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion.

13

From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds, *

burst hailstones and coals of fire.

14

The Lord thundered out of heaven; *

the Most High uttered his voice.

15

He loosed his arrows and scattered them; *

he hurled thunderbolts and routed them.

16

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.

17

He reached down from on high and grasped me; *

he drew me out of great waters.

18

He delivered me from my strong enemies

and from those who hated me; *

for they were too mighty for me.

19

They confronted me in the day of my disaster; *

but the Lord was my support.

20

He brought me out into an open place; *

he rescued me because he 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 will be forever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

When the poor and needy seek water,
        and there is none,
        and their tongue is parched with thirst,
    I the Lord will answer them;
        I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
    I will open rivers on the bare heights,
        and fountains in the midst of the valleys.
    I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
        and the dry land springs of water.
    I will put in the wilderness the cedar,
        the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive.
    I will set in the desert the cypress,
        the plane and the pine together,
    that they may see and know,
        may consider and understand together,
    that the hand of the Lord has done this,
        the Holy One of Israel has created it.
    
    
        Set forth your case, says the Lord;
        bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.
    Let them bring them, and tell us
        what is to happen.
    Tell us the former things, what they are,
        that we may consider them,
    that we may know their outcome;
        or declare to us the things to come.
    Tell us what is to come hereafter,
        that we may know that you are gods;
    do good, or do harm,
        that we may be dismayed and terrified.
    Behold, you are nothing,
        and your work is less than nothing;
        an abomination is he who chooses you.
    
    
    I stirred up one from the north, and he has come,
        from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name;
    he shall trample on rulers as on mortar,
        as the potter treads clay.
    Who declared it from the beginning, that we might know,
        and beforehand, that we might say, “He is right”?
    There was none who declared it, none who proclaimed,
        none who heard your words.
    I was the first to say to Zion, “Behold, here they are!”
        and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good news.
    But when I look, there is no one;
        among these there is no counselor
        who, when I ask, gives an answer.
    Behold, they are all a delusion;
        their works are nothing;
        their metal images are empty wind.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

You are God: we praise you;
 You are the Lord: we acclaim you;
 You are the eternal Father:
 All creation worships you.
 To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, 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 worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.
 When you became man to set us free you did not shun 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 and 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.

A Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians.

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

A Reading from the Gospel According to Mark.

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

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 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 will be for ever. Amen.

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 Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.

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, forever and ever. Amen.

V. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
R. Govern and uphold them, now and always.

V. Day by day we bless you;
R. We praise your name for ever.

V. Lord, keep us from all sin today;
R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

V. Lord, show us your love and mercy;
R. For we put our trust in you.

V. In you, Lord, is our hope;
R. And we shall never hope in vain.

Collect of the Day

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen

Daily Collects:

A Collect for Peace

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.

A Collect for Grace

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.

 Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.

Collect of Saint Basil

O Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of 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.

Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God!

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

Approach

The angels of God guard us through the night,
and quieten the powers of darkness.

The Spirit of God be our guide
to lead us to peace and to glory.

It is but lost labour that we haste to rise up early,
and so late take rest, and eat the bread of anxiety.
For those beloved of God are given gifts even while they sleep.

Silence

My brothers and sisters,
our help is in the name of the eternal God,
who is making the heavens and the earth.

Dear God,
thank you for all that is good,
for our creation and for our humanity,
for the stewardship you have given us of this planet earth,
for the gifts of life and of one another,
for your love which is unbounded and eternal.
O thou, most holy and beloved,
my Companion, my Guide upon the way,
my bright evening star.
We repent the wrongs we have done:

Silence

We have wounded your love.
O God, heal us.

We stumble in the darkness.
Light of the world transfigure us.

We forget that we are your home.
Spirit of God, dwell in us.

Eternal Spirit, living God,
in whom we live and move and have our being,
all that we are, have been, and shall be is known to you,
to the very secret of our hearts
and all that rises to trouble us.
Living flame burn into us,
cleansing wind, blow through us,
fountain of water, well up within us,
that we may love and praise in deed and in truth.

Eternal Spirit, flow through our being and open our lips,
that our mouths may proclaim your praise.

Let us worship the God of love.
Alleluia, alleluia.

Dear God, you sustain me and feed me:
like a shepherd you guide me.

You lead me to an oasis of green,
to lie down by restful waters.

You refresh my soul for the journey,
and guide me along trusted roads.

The God of justice is your name.
Though I must enter the darkness of death,
I will fear no evil.

For you are with me,
your rod and staff comfort me.

You prepare a table before my very eyes,
in the presence of those who trouble me.

You anoint my head with oil,
and you fill my cup to the brim.

Your loving kindness and mercy will meet me
every day of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of my God for ever.

Wednesday

Do not ask anxiously, What are we to eat? What are we to drink? What shall we wear? The whole world runs after such things. Set your heart and mind on God’s commonwealth and justice first, and all the rest will come to you as well. So do not be anxious about tomorrow. Today has enough problems of its own; tomorrow can look after itself.
Matthew 6:31–34

Hymn #4

Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world we pray,
that you, with love and lasting light,
would guard us through the hours of night.

From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
from nightly fears and fantasies;
redeem through us our evil foe,
that we no lasting harm may know.

O wisest Guide, grant all we ask,
fulfill in us your holy task,
surround us with your love and care,
and lead us on, your life to share.

All praise to God, sustaining us,
redeeming and transforming us,
thanksgiving in eternity,
all praise, belovèd Trinity.

Prayers

Into your hands, O God, I commend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me, O God of truth and love.

Keep me, O God, as the apple of an eye;
hide me under the shadow of your wings.

Preserve us, O God, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep may rest in your peace.

Praise be to God, I have lived to see this day.
God’s promise is fulfilled, and my duty done.

At last you have given me peace,
for I have seen with my own eyes
the salvation you have prepared for all nations –
a light to the world in its darkness,
and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory be to God, sustaining, redeeming, sanctifying,
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever.
Amen.

Preserve us, O God, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep may rest in your peace.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

The minister and people pray responsively.

I will lie down in peace and take my rest,
for it is in God alone that I dwell unafraid.

Let us bless the Earth-maker, the Pain-bearer, the Life-giver,
let us praise and exalt God above all for ever.

May God’s name be praised beyond the furthest star,
glorified and exalted above all for ever.

Be present, Spirit of God,
within us, your dwelling place and home,
that this house may be one where
all darkness is penetrated by your light,
all troubles calmed by your peace,
all evil redeemed by your love,
all pain transformed in your suffering,
and all dying glorified in your risen life.
Amen.

WEDNESDAY

O God,
strengthen your servants with your heavenly grace,
that we may continue yours for ever,
and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more,
until we come to your everlasting kingdom.

The divine Spirit dwells in us.
Thanks be to God.