Morning Prayer
Thursday after Second Sunday of Advent
Advent / Week 2 of Advent
O Lord, open our lips:
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Amen.
Psalmody
Antiphon:
Show your servants your works
and your splendour to their children.
Psalm 90.16
Opening
Come, let us sing
1 Come, let us sing to the Lord; *
let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before the presence of the Lord with thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to God with psalms.
3 For you, O Lord, are a great God, * and a great sovereign above all gods.
4 In your hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are yours also.
5 The sea is yours, for you made it, *
and your hands have moulded the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For you are our God, and we are the people of your pasture and the sheep of your hand. *
Oh, that today we would hearken to your voice!
8 “Harden not your hearts, *
as your forebears did in the wilderness.
9 They put me to the test, * though they had seen my works.
10 So I swore in my wrath, *
‘They shall not enter into my rest.’”
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or a suitable Hymn
(Or from Psalm 90)
1. Lord, you have been our refuge *
from one generation to another
2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or the land and the earth were born,*
from age to age you are God.
3. Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning;
so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
4. Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us *
and the years in which we suffered adversity
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or a suitable hymn
Psalm 103
1. Bless the Lord, O my soul, *
and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name.
2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, *
and forget not all the benefits of the Lord.
3. The Lord forgives all your sins *
and heals all your infirmities;
4. redeeming your life from the grave *
and crowning you with mercy and loving-kindness;
5. satisfying you with good things, *
and renewing your youth like an eagle’s.
6. The Lord executes righteousness *
and judgement for all who are oppressed.
7. O Lord, you made your ways known to Moses *
and your works to the children of Israel.
8. You are full of compassion and mercy, *
slow to anger and of great kindness.
9. You will not always accuse us, *
nor will you keep your anger for ever.
10. You have not dealt with us according to our sins, *
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
11. For as the heavens are high above the earth, *
so is your mercy great upon those who fear you.
12. As far as the east is from the west, *
so far have you removed our sins from us.
13. As parents care for their children, *
so do you, O Lord, care for those who fear you.
14. For you yourself know whereof we are made; *
you remember that we are but dust.
15. Our days are like the grass; *
we flourish like a flower of the field;
16. when the wind goes over it, it is gone, *
and its place shall know it no more.
17. But your merciful goodness endures for ever on those who fear you, *
and your righteousness on children’s children;
18. on those who keep the covenant *
and remember the commandments and do them.
19. The Lord is enthroned in heaven, *
and has dominion over all.
20. Bless the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who do the bidding of God, *
and hearken to the voice of the word of the Lord.
21. Bless the Lord, all you hosts, *
you ministers who do the will of God.
22. Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, in all places of the dominion of the Lord; *
bless the Lord, O my soul.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Conclusion
Isaiah 2.2-5
1. In days to come, the mountain where the Lord dwells*
will be lifted high above all the mountains and raised
above the hills.
2. All the nations will flock to it;*
countless peoples will come to it.
3. And they will say, Come let us go to the mountain of the Lord,*
to the temple of the God of Jacob,
4. who will teach us his ways,*
and we will walk in his paths;
5 who will sit in judgement over the nations;*
be arbiter among many peoples.
6. They will beat their swords into ploughshares,*
and their spears into sickles;
7. nation shall not lift up sword against nation,*
nor ever again prepare for war.
8. people of Jacob come,*
let us walk in the light of the 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.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Antiphon: Show your servants your works and your splendour to their children.
Reading(s)
Isaiah 7.1-9
In the days of Ahaz son of Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel went up to attack Jerusalem, but could not mount an attack against it. When the house of David heard that Aram had allied itself with Ephraim, the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.
Then the Lord said to Isaiah, Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Fuller’s Field, and say to him, Take heed, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smouldering stumps of firebrands, because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah. Because Aram—with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah—has plotted evil against you, saying, Let us go up against Judah and cut off Jerusalem and conquer it for ourselves and make the son of Tabeel king in it; therefore thus says the Lord God:
It shall not stand,
and it shall not come to pass.
For the head of Aram is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus is Rezin.
(Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered, no longer a people.)
The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.
If you do not stand firm in faith,
you shall not stand at all.
2 Thessalonians 2.1-12
As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.
Silence
Response (Psalm 96.10)
Tell it out among the nations: ‘The Lord reigns!’
Tell it out among the nations: ‘The Lord reigns!’
The Lord will judge the peoples with equity.
‘The Lord reigns.’
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Tell it out among the nations: ‘The Lord reigns!’
Song of Zechariah
Song of Zechariah Antiphon: You will guide us with your counsel, O God: * and, after, receive us with glory. Prepare the way of the Lord,* * make his paths straight. All flesh shall see the salvation of God.
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.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
(may be said by all)
Song of Zechariah Antiphon: You will guide us with your counsel, O God: * and, after, receive us with glory. Prepare the way of the Lord,* * make his paths straight. All flesh shall see the salvation of God.
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
Stir up our hearts, Lord,
to prepare the way of your only-begotten Son:
that, in his coming,
we might serve you with our hearts made pure;
through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Amen
God most holy, we give you thanks for bringing us out of the shadow of night into the light of morning; and we ask you for the joy of spending this day in your service, so that when evening comes, we may once more give you thanks, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
Amen
Let us bless the Lord:
Thanks be to God!
The Lord bless us and preserve us from all evil;
and bring us to life eternal.
Amen.
Evening Prayer
Thursday after Second Sunday of Advent
Advent / Week 2 of Advent
O God make speed to save us;
O Lord make haste to help us.
Glory to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Psalmody
Antiphon: My eyes are turned to you, Lord God; * in you I take refuge; do not strip me of my life.
Psalm 141.8
Opening (from Psalms 140 and 141)
1. I have said to the Lord, ”You are my God; listen, O Lord, to my supplication.”
2. Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly; * hear my voice when I cry to you
3. I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the poor * and render justice to the needy.
4. Surely, the righteous will give thanks to your name,* and the upright shall continue in your sight.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or a suitable Hymn
Psalm 104
1. Bless the Lord, O my soul; *
O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness! You
are clothed with majesty and splendour.
2. You wrap yourself with light as with a cloak *
and spread out the heavens like a curtain.
3. You lay the beams of your chambers in the waters above; *
you make the clouds your chariot; you ride on the
wings of the wind.
4. You make the winds your messengers *
and flames of fire your servants.
5. You have set the earth upon its foundations, *
so that it never shall move at any time.
6. You covered it with the deep as with a mantle; *
the waters stood higher than the mountains.
7. At your rebuke they fled; *
at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.
8. They went up into the hills and down to the valleys beneath, *
to the places you had appointed for them.
9. You set the limits that they should not pass; *
they shall not again cover the earth.
10. You send the springs into the valleys; *
they flow between the mountains.
11. All the beasts of the field drink their fill from them, *
and the wild asses quench their thirst.
12. Beside them the birds of the air make their nests *
and sing among the branches.
13. You water the mountains from your dwelling on high; *
the earth is fully satisfied by the fruit of your works.
14. You make grass grow for flocks and herds *
and plants to serve human beings that they may
bring forth food from the earth, *
15. wine to gladden our hearts, oil to make a cheerful countenance, *
and bread to strengthen the heart.
16. The trees of the Lord are full of sap, *
the cedars of Lebanon which you planted,
17. in which the birds build their nests, *
and in whose tops the stork makes its dwelling.
18. The high hills are a refuge for the mountain goats, *
and the stony cliffs for the rock badgers.
19. You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, *
and the sun knows the time of its setting.
20. You make darkness that it may be night, *
in which all the beasts of the forest prowl.
21. The lions roar after their prey *
and seek their food from God.
22. The sun rises, and they slip away *
and lay themselves down in their dens.
23. Mortals goes forth to their work *
and to their labour until the evening.
24. O Lord, how manifold are your works! *
In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full
of your creatures.
25. Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living things too many to number, *
creatures both small and great.
26. There move the ships, and there is that Leviathan, *
which you have made for the sport of it.
27. All of them look to you *
to give them their food in due season.
28. You give it to them; they gather it; *
you open your hand, and they are filled with good
things.
29. You hide your face, and they are terrified; *
you take away their breath, and they die and return
to their dust.
30. You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
and so you renew the face of the earth.
31. May your glory, O Lord, endure for ever; *
may you rejoice in all your works;
32. you look at the earth and it trembles; *
you touch the mountains and they smoke.
33. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *
I will praise my God while I have my being.
34. May these words of mine please you; *
I will rejoice in the Lord.
35. Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, and the wicked be no more. *
Bless the Lord, O my soul. Hallelujah!
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Conclusion
Revelation 22
1. I am the Alpha and the Omega, *
says the Lord.
2. The first and the last,*
the beginning and the end.
3. I am the root and offspring of David,*
the bright morning star.
4. The Spirit and the Bride say, Come;*
let anyone who hears, say, Come,
5 Let anyone who is thirsty come;*
let anyone who desires take the water of life without price.
6. The Lord says, Surely I am coming soon.*
Amen; come, Lord Jesus!
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Antiphon: My eyes are turned to you, Lord God; *in you I take refuge; do not strip me of my life.
Reading(s)
Luke 22.1-13
Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present. Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.’ They asked him, ‘Where do you want us to make preparations for it?’ ‘Listen,’ he said to them, ‘when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters and say to the owner of the house, “The teacher asks you, ‘Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’” He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.’ So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
Silence
Response Psalm 28.9
Save your people and bless your inheritance.
Save your people and bless your inheritance.
Shepherd them and carry them for ever.
Bless your inheritance.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Save your people and bless your inheritance.
Song of Mary
Song of Mary Antiphon: Prepare the way of the Lord,* make his paths straight. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. Luke 3.4,6
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.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
(may be said by all)
Song of Mary Antiphon: Prepare the way of the Lord,* make his paths straight. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. Luke 3.4,6
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
Stir up our hearts, Lord,
to prepare the way of your only-begotten Son:
that, in his coming,
we might serve you with our hearts made pure;
through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Amen
Lord God almighty, come and dispel the darkness from our hearts, that in the radiance of your brightness we may know you, the only unfading light, glorious in all eternity.
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord:
Thanks be to God!
The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing:
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Night Prayer
Thursday after Second Sunday of Advent
Advent / Week 2 of Advent
The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.
O God, make speed to save us;
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to God, source of all being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Alleluia!
Psalmody
Opening This or another suitable opening hymn may be sung.
"Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That you, with steadfast love, would keep
Your watch around us while we sleep.
From evil dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Tread underfoot our deadly foe
That we no sinful thought may know.
O Father, that we ask be done
Through Jesus Christ, your only Son;
And Holy Spirit, by whose breath
Our souls are raised to life from death."
Antiphon: My body* shall rest in hope.
Psalm: Psalm 16
1. Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you;*
I have said to the Lord, 'You are my Lord, my good above all other.'
2. All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land,*
upon those who are noble among the people.
3. But those who run after other gods*
shall have their troubles multiplied.
4. Their libations of blood I will not offer,*
nor take the names of their gods upon my lips.
5. O Lord, you are my portion and my cup;*
it is you who uphold my lot.
6. My boundaries enclose a pleasant land;*
indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
7. I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel;*
my heart teaches me, night after night.
8. I have set the Lord always before me;*
because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.
9. My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices;*
my body also shall rest in hope.
10. For you will not abandon me to the grave,*
nor let your holy one see the Pit.
11. You will show me the path of life;*
in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Antiphon: My body shall rest in hope.
Reading(s)
1 Peter 5.6,7
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that in due time God may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on God, who cares about you.
Thanks be to God.
Silence
Response Psalm 31.5
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Song of Simeon
Antiphon:
Preserve us, O Lord,* while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
1. Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace;*
your word has been fulfilled.
2. My own eyes have seen the salvation*
which you have prepared in the sight of every
people;
3. A light to reveal you to the nations,*
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Antiphon: Preserve us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Prayers
Collect
Come to visit us, Lord, this night, so that by your strength we may rise at daybreak to rejoice in the resurrection of Christ your Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Conclusion
The Lord be with you;
and also with you.
Let us bless the Lord;
Thanks be to God.
May the almighty and merciful God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, bless and keep us.
Amen.
or
May we be hidden under the shadow of God’s wings, this night and for ever.
Amen.