Morning Prayer
The Birth of John the Baptist
Festivals / The Birth of John the Baptist
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:
The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice:*
let the multitude of the isles be glad.
Psalm 97.1
Opening
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 97)
1. You are the Lord, most high over all the earth;*
you are exalted far above all gods.
2. The Lord loves those who hate evil;*
preserving the lives of the saints and delivering them from
the hand of the wicked.
3. Light has sprung up for the righteous,*
and joyful gladness for those who are truehearted.
4. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous.*
and give thanks to the holy name 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.
or a suitable hymn
Psalm 132
1. Lord, remember David, *
and all the hardships he endured.
2. How he swore an oath to the Lord *
and vowed a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob.
3. “I will not come under the roof of my house, *
nor climb up into my bed;
4. I will not allow my eyes to sleep, *
nor let my eyelids slumber;
5. until I find a place for the Lord, *
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6. “The Ark! We heard it was in Ephratah; *
we found it in the fields of Jearim.
7. Let us go to the dwelling place of the Lord; *
let us fall upon our knees before the footstool of the
Lord.”
8. Arise, O Lord, into your resting-place, *
you and the ark of your strength.
9. Let your priests be clothed with righteousness; *
let your faithful people sing with joy.
10. For your servant David’s sake, *
do not turn away the face of your anointed.
11. You, O Lord, have sworn an oath to David; in truth, you will not break it: *
“A son, the fruit of your body will I set upon your
throne.
12. If your children keep my covenant and my
testimonies that I shall teach them, *
their children will sit upon your throne for
evermore.”
13. For you, O Lord, have chosen Zion, *
and have desired it for your habitation:
14. “This shall be my resting-place for ever; *
here will I dwell, for I delight in it.
15. I will surely bless its provisions, *
and satisfy its poor with bread.
16. I will clothe its priests with salvation, *
and its faithful people will rejoice and sing.
17. There will I make the horn of David flourish; *
I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
18. As for his enemies, I will clothe them with shame; *
but as for him, his crown will shine.”
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Psalm 133
1. Oh, how good and pleasant it is, *
when kindred live together in unity!
2. It is like fine oil upon the head that runs down upon
the beard, *
upon the beard of Aaron, and runs down upon the
collar of his robe.
3. It is like the dew of Hermon that falls upon the hills of Zion. *
For there the Lord has ordained the blessing: life for
evermore
Conclusion
We praise you, O God - Te Deum
1. We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord;*
all creation worships you, the Father everlasting
2. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, *
the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:
3. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,*
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
4. The glorious company of apostles*
praise you.
5. The noble fellowship of prophets*
praise you.
6. The white-robed army of martyrs*
praise you.
7. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:*
Father, of majesty unbounded.
8. Your true and only Son, worthy of all praise,*
the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
9. You, Christ, are the king of glory,*
the eternal Son of the Father.
10. When you took our flesh to set us free*
you humbly chose the Virgin’s womb.
11. You overcame the sting of death,*
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
12. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.*
We believe that you will come to be our judge.
13. Come then, Lord, and help your people,*
bought with the price of your own blood.
14. And bring us with your saints*
to glory everlasting.
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: The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice:* let the multitude of the isles be glad.
Reading(s)
Malachi 3.1-5
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
Then I will draw near to you for judgement; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
John 3.22-30
After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized— John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.
Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.’ John answered, ‘No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, “I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.” He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.’
Silence
Response (Psalm 89.1)
Your love, O Lord, for ever will I sing.
Your love, O Lord, for ever will I sing.
My mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
Throughout all generations.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Your love, O Lord, for ever will I sing.
Song of Zechariah
Song of Zechariah Antiphon: You will guide us with your counsel, O God: * and, after, receive us with glory. Their sound* * has gone out through all the world.
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. Their sound* * has gone out through all the world.
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
Almighty God,
by whose providence John the Baptist was wonderfully born,
and filled with the Holy Spirit to prepare the way
of your Son, our Saviour:
give us, we pray, the light of spiritual joy;
and guide the hearts of all the faithful
into the way of salvation and peace;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Amen
God most holy, we give you thanks for bringing us out of the shadow of night into the light of morning; and we ask you for the joy of spending this day in your service, so that when evening comes, we may once more give you thanks, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
Amen
Let us bless the Lord:
Thanks be to God!
The Lord bless us and preserve us from all evil;
and bring us to life eternal.
Amen.
Evening Prayer
The Birth of John the Baptist
Festivals / The Birth of John the Baptist
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: Sing to the Lord a new song;* sing the praises of God in the congregation of the
faithful.
Psalm 149.1
Opening (from Psalm 149)
1. Let Israel rejoice in their maker;*
let the children of Zion be joyful in their sovereign.
2. For the Lord takes pleasure in this people*
and adorns the poor with victory.
3. Let the faithful rejoice in triumph;*
let them be joyful on their beds.
4. Let the praises of God be in their throat*
and a two-edged sword in their hand.
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 134
1. Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, *
you that stand by night in the house of the Lord.
2. Lift up your hands in the holy place *
and bless the Lord;
3. the Lord who made heaven and earth *
bless you out of Zion.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Psalm 135
1. Hallelujah! Praise the name of the Lord; *
give praise, you servants of the Lord,
2. you who stand in the house of the Lord, *
in the courts of the house of our God.
3. Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; *
sing praises to the name of the Lord, for it is lovely.
4. For you, O Lord, have chosen Jacob *
and Israel as a possession.
5. For I know that you, O Lord, are great, *
and that you are above all gods.
6. O Lord, you do whatever pleases you *
in the seas and all the deeps.
7. You, O Lord, bring up rain clouds from the ends of
the earth; *
sending out lightning with the rain, and bringing the
winds out of the storehouse of heaven.
8. It was you, O Lord, who struck down the firstborn of
Egypt, *
the firstborn both of mortal and beast.
9. The Lord sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, O Egypt, *
against Pharaoh and all his servants,
10. overthrowing many nations *
and putting mighty rulers to death:
11. Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, the king of Bashan, *
and all the kingdoms of Canaan.
12. The Lord gave their land to be an inheritance, *
an inheritance for the people of Israel.
13. O Lord, your name is everlasting; *
your renown endures from age to age.
14. For you give your people justice *
and show compassion to your servants.
15. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, *
the work of human hands.
16. They have mouths, but they cannot speak; *
eyes have they, but they cannot see.
17. They have ears, but they cannot hear; *
neither is there any breath in their mouth.
18. Those who make them are like them, *
and so are all who put their trust in them.
19. Bless the Lord, O house of Israel; *
O house of Aaron, bless the Lord.
20. Bless the Lord, O house of Levi; *
you who fear the Lord, bless the Lord.
21. Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, *
who dwells in Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
Conclusion
Revelation 4 and 5
1. Glory and honour and power*
are yours by right, O Lord our God;
2. For you created all things*
and by your will they have their being.
3. Glory and honour and power*
are yours by right, O Lamb who was slain;
4. For by your blood you ransomed us for God,*
from every race and language, from every people and
nation.
5. To make us a kingdom of priests*
to stand and serve before our God.
6. To God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb*
be praise and honour, glory and might, for ever and ever.
Amen.
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: Sing to the Lord a new song;* sing the praises of God in the congregation of the faithful.
Reading(s)
Malachi 4.1-6
See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts. Remember the teaching of my servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse.
Silence
Response Psalm 147.12
You delight, Lord, in those who fear you.
You delight, Lord, in those who fear you.
Who wait in hope for your mercy.
Those who fear you.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
You delight, Lord, in those who fear you.
Song of Mary
Song of Mary Antiphon: Those that sow in tears* shall reap with songs of joy.
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: Those that sow in tears* shall reap with songs of joy.
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
Almighty God,
by whose providence John the Baptist was wonderfully born,
and filled with the Holy Spirit to prepare the way
of your Son, our Saviour:
give us, we pray, the light of spiritual joy;
and guide the hearts of all the faithful
into the way of salvation and peace;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Amen
Lord God almighty, come and dispel the darkness from our hearts, that in the radiance of your brightness we may know you, the only unfading light, glorious in all eternity.
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord:
Thanks be to God!
The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing:
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Night Prayer
The Birth of John the Baptist
Festivals / The Birth of John the Baptist
The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.
O God, make speed to save us;
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to God, source of all being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Alleluia!
Psalmody
Opening This or another suitable opening hymn may be sung.
"Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That you, with steadfast love, would keep
Your watch around us while we sleep.
From evil dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Tread underfoot our deadly foe
That we no sinful thought may know.
O Father, that we ask be done
Through Jesus Christ, your only Son;
And Holy Spirit, by whose breath
Our souls are raised to life from death."
Antiphon: Make haste, O Lord, to deliver me,* for you are my tower of strength.
Psalm: Psalm 31.1-5
1. In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame;*
deliver me in your righteousness.
2. Incline your ear to me;*
make haste to deliver me.
3. Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe, for you are my crag and my stronghold;*
for the sake of your name, lead me and guide me.
4. Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me,*
for you are my tower of strength.
5. Into your hands I commend my spirit,*
for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Psalm: Psalm 130
1. Out of the depths have I called you, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice;*
let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.
2. If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss,*
O Lord, who could stand?
3. For there is forgiveness with you;*
therefore you shall be feared.
4. I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him;*
in his word is my hope.
5. My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning,*
more than watchmen for the morning.
6. O Israel, wait for the Lord,*
for with the Lord there is mercy;
7. With him there is plenteous redemption,*
and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory be to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Antiphon: Make haste, O Lord, to deliver me,
for you are my tower of strength.
Reading(s)
Ephesians 4.26
Do not let anger lead you into sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
Thanks be to God.
Silence
Response Psalm 31.5
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
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
Keep watch, O God, with those who wake, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, comfort the suffering, pity the distressed, sustain the dying, and console those who mourn; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Conclusion
The Lord be with you;
and also with you.
Let us bless the Lord;
Thanks be to God.
May the almighty and merciful God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, bless and keep us.
Amen.
or
May we be hidden under the shadow of God’s wings, this night and for ever.
Amen.