Morning Prayer
Sunday after Ascension Day
Seventh Sunday after Easter
O 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 shall be for ever.
Amen.
Psalmody
Antiphon: Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, and your glory over all the earth. (Psalm 57.11)
Opening
The Easter Anthems
1 Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us;*
so let us celebrate the feast.
2 Not with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness,*
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
3 Christ once raised from the dead dies no more;*
death has no more dominion over him.
4 In dying, he died to sin once for all;*
in living, he lives to God.
5 See yourselves therefore as dead to sin,*
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
6 Christ has been raised from the dead,*
the first fruits of those who sleep.
7 For as by man came death,*
by man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
8 For as in Adam all die,*
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
or a suitable Hymn
(Or from Psalm 57)
1 My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed;*
I will sing and make melody.
2 Wake up, my spirit; awake, lute and harp:*
I myself will waken the dawn.
3 I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord;*
I will sing praise to you among the nations.
4 For your loving-kindness is greater than the heavens,*
and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
or a suitable hymn
Psalm 33
1 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous;*
it is good for the just to sing praises.
2 Praise the Lord with the harp;*
play to him upon the psaltery and lyre.
3 Sing for him a new song;*
sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.
4 For the word of the Lord is right,*
and all his works are sure.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;*
the loving-kindness of the Lord fills the whole earth.
6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made,*
by the breath of his mouth all the heavenly hosts.
7 He gathers up the waters of the ocean as in a water-skin*
and stores up the depths of the sea.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; *
let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to pass;*
he commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The Lord brings the will of the nations to naught;*
he thwarts the designs of the peoples.
11 But the Lord's will stands fast for ever,*
and the designs of his heart from age to age.
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord!*
happy the people he has chosen to be his own!
13 The Lord looks down from heaven,*
and beholds all the people in the world.
14 From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze*
on all who dwell on the earth.
15 He fashions all the hearts of them*
and understands all their works.
16 There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army;*
a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The horse is a vain hope for deliverance;*
for all its strength it cannot save.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him,*
on those who wait upon his love,
19 To pluck their lives from death,*
and to feed them in time of famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;*
he is our help and our shield.
21 Indeed, our heart rejoices in him,*
for in his holy name we put our trust.
22 Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us,*
as we have put our trust in you.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Blessed are you, Creator of the universe. In your loving kindness you watch over your chosen people. Make us witnesses to your truth and instruments of your peace, that all may know you as the God of justice, and praise your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Conclusion
Isaiah 61/Luke 4
1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,*
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor,
2 and has sent me to proclaim release to the captives;*
recovery of sight to the blind;
3 to set at liberty those who are oppressed;*
to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
4 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;*
my soul shall exult in my God;
5 who has clothed me with the garment of salvation,*
and covered me with the robe of righteousness.
6 For as the earth brings forth its shoots,*
so the Lord will cause righteousness to spring forth before all nations.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Antiphon: Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, and your glory over all the earth.
Reading(s)
Isaiah 61.1-11
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines; but you shall be called priests of the Lord, you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory. Because their shame was double, and dishonour was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs. For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
Ephesians 4.7-16
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 knitted 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.
Silence
Response Psalm (Psalm 105.1)
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name,
alleluia, alleluia.
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name,
alleluia, alleluia.
Make known his deeds among the peoples,
Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name,
alleluia, alleluia.
Benedictus
Benedictus antiphon: I will not leave you desolate, says the Lord; I will come to you; alleluia. (John 14.18)
1 Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,*
for he has come to his people and set them free.
2 He has raised up for us a mighty saviour,*
born of the house of his servant David.
3 Through his holy prophets he promised of old*
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us.
4 He promised to show mercy to our forebears,*
and to remember his holy covenant.
5 This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:*
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
6 free to worship him without fear,*
holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.
7 You my child shall be called the prophet of the Most High,*
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
8 to give his people knowledge of salvation*
by the forgiveness of all their sins.
9 In the tender compassion of our God*
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
10 to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,*
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
(may be said by all)
Benedictus antiphon: I will not leave you desolate, says the Lord; I will come to you; alleluia. (John 14.18)
Prayers
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not bring us to the time of trial,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen
Collect of the Day
O God,
the King of Glory, hear our prayer:
that as we believe your Son Jesus Christ
to be exalted with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven;
so also we may know his presence with us now,
and to the end of time;
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Amen
God most holy, we give you thanks for bringing us out of the shadow of night into the light of morning; and we ask you for the joy of spending this day in your service, so that when evening comes, we may once more give you thanks, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
Amen
Let us bless the Lord:
Thanks be to God!
The Lord bless us and preserve us from all evil;
and bring us to life eternal.
Amen.
Evening Prayer
Sunday after Ascension Day
Seventh Sunday after Easter
O God, make speed to save us;
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;* as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Psalmody
Antiphon: Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
Opening (from Psalm 51)
1 You look for truth deep within me,*
and will make me understand wisdom secretly.
2 Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure;*
wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.
3 Create in me a clean heart, O God,*
and renew a right spirit within me.
4 Cast me not away from your presence*
and take not your holy Spirit from me.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
or a suitable Hymn
Psalm 68.1-20
1 Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered;*
let those who hate him flee before him.
2 Let them vanish like smoke when the wind drives it away;*
as the wax melts at the fire, so let the wicked perish at
the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God;*
let them also be merry and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
exalt him who rides upon the heavens;*
Yahweh is his name, rejoice before him!
5 Father of orphans, defender of widows,*
God in his holy habitation!
6 God gives the solitary a home and brings forth prisoners
into freedom;*
but the rebels shall live in dry places.
7 O God, when you went forth before your people,*
when you marched through the wilderness,
8 The earth shook, and the skies poured down rain,
at the presence of God, the God of Sinai,*
at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance;*
you refreshed the land when it was weary.
10 Your people found their home in it;*
in your goodness, O God, you have made provision
for the poor.
11 The Lord gave the word;*
great was the company of women who bore the tidings:
12 ‘Kings with their armies are fleeing away;*
the women at home are dividing the spoils.’
13 Though you lingered among the sheepfolds,*
you shall be like a dove whose wings are covered with silver,
whose feathers are like green gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings,*
it was like snow falling in Zalmon.
15 O mighty mountain, O hill of Bashan!*
O rugged mountain, O hill of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountain,
at the hill which God chose for his resting place?*
truly, the Lord will dwell there for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand,
even thousands of thousands;*
the Lord comes in holiness from Sinai.
18 You have gone up on high and led captivity captive;
you have received gifts even from your enemies,*
that the Lord God might dwell among them.
19 Blessed be the Lord day by day,*
the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.
20 He is our God, the God of our salvation;*
God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Blessed are you, Lord God of truth and justice; you open our hearts and our mouths to pray and to praise. Guide now our feet in your holy way, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Conclusion
Romans 8
1 If God is for us, who is against us?*
The God who did not spare his own Son,
will he not give us all things with him?
2 It is God who justifies; who is to condemn?*
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
3 Neither death nor life,*
nor angels nor principalities;
4 Nor things present, nor things to come,*
nor depth, nor height;
5 Nor powers, nor anything in all creation*
shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Antiphon: Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
Reading(s)
Luke 4.14-21
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’
Silence
Response Psalm Psalm 147.5
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; alleluia, alleluia.
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; alleluia, alleluia.
There is no limit to his wisdom.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; alleluia, alleluia.
Magnificat
Magnificat Antiphon: I will not leave you desolate, says the Lord; I will come to you. John 14.18
1 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
*my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
2 for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant;*
from this day all generations will call me blessed.
3 The Almighty has done great things for me*
and holy is his name.
4 He has mercy on those who fear him*
in every generation.
5 He has shown the strength of his arm;*
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
6 He has cast down the mighty from their thrones*
and has lifted up the lowly.
7 He has filled the hungry with good things,*
and the rich he has sent away empty.
8 He has come to the help of his servant Israel,*
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
9 the promise he made to our forebears,*
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
(may be said by all)
Magnificat Antiphon: I will not leave you desolate, says the Lord; I will come to you. John 14.18
Prayers
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not bring us to the time of trial,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Collect of the Day
O God,
the King of Glory, hear our prayer:
that as we believe your Son Jesus Christ
to be exalted with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven;
so also we may know his presence with us now,
and to the end of time;
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Lord God almighty, come and dispel the darkness from our hearts, that in the radiance of your brightness we may know you, the only unfading light, glorious in all eternity.
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord:
Thanks be to God!
The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing:
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Night Prayer
Sunday after Ascension Day
Seventh Sunday after Easter
The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.
O God, make speed to save us;
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Alleluia!
Psalmody
Antiphon: He shall cover you with his pinions, you shall not be afraid of any terror by night.
Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,*_x000D_ abides under the shadow of the Almighty._x000D_2 He shall say to the Lord,_x000D_ "You are my refuge and my stronghold,*_x000D_ my God in whom I put my trust."_x000D_3 He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter*_x000D_ and from the deadly pestilence._x000D_4 He shall cover you with his pinions,_x000D_ and you shall find refuge under his wings;*_x000D_ his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler._x000D_5 You shall not be afraid of any terror by night,*_x000D_ nor of the arrow that flies by day:_x000D_6 Of the plague that stalks in the darkness,*_x000D_ nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day._x000D_ 7 A thousand shall fall at your side_x000D_ and ten thousand at your right hand.*_x000D_ but it shall not come near you._x000D_8 Your eyes have only to behold*_x000D_ to see the reward of the wicked._x000D_9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge,*_x000D_ and the Most High your habitation,_x000D_10 There shall no evil happen to you,*_x000D_ neither shall any plague come near your dwelling._x000D_11 For he shall give his angels charge over you,*_x000D_ to keep you in all your ways._x000D_12 They shall bear you in their hands,*_x000D_ lest you dash your foot against a stone._x000D_13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder;*_x000D_ you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet._x000D_14 Because he is bound to me in love,_x000D_ therefore will I deliver him;*_x000D_ I will protect him, because he knows my name._x000D_15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;*_x000D_ I am with him in trouble;_x000D_ I will rescue him and bring him to honour._x000D_16 With long life will I satisfy him,*_x000D_ and show him my salvation._x000D_
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Antiphon: He shall cover you with his pinions you shall not be afraid of any terror by night.
Reading(s)
Revelation 22.4,5
They shall see the Lord face to face and his name shall be on their foreheads. And night shall be no more. They need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Thanks be to God.
Silence
Response (Psalm 31.5)
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Nunc Dimittis
Antiphon: Preserve us, O Lord,* while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace;* your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation* which you have prepared in the sight of every people; A light to reveal you to the nations,* and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Antiphon: Preserve us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Prayers
Collect
O God,
the King of Glory, hear our prayer:
that as we believe your Son Jesus Christ
to be exalted with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven;
so also we may know his presence with us now,
and to the end of time;
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Conclusion
The Lord be with you;
and also with you.
Let us bless the Lord;
Thanks be to God.
May the almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the
Son and the Holy Spirit, bless and keep us.
Amen.
or
Bless the Lord, the God of our fathers;
Sing his praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
Sing his praise and exalt him for ever.
The almighty and most merciful Lord
guard us and give us his blessing.
Amen.