Morning Prayer (Mattins) in Contemporary Language
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¶
Morning Prayer on Tuesday
Tuesday, 29 October 2024
James Hannington, Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa, Martyr in Uganda, 1885 [Lesser Festival]
Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
Alland our mouth shall
proclaim your praise.
The Acclamation of Christ at the Dawning of the Day (page 108) may replace the Preparation as the start of Morning Prayer on any occasion.
One or more of the following is said or sung:
One of these prayers of thanksgiving (page 109),
Blessed are you, Sovereign God, creator of all,
to you be glory and praise for ever.
You founded the earth in the beginning
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
In the fullness of time you made us in your image,
and in these last days you have spoken to us
in your Son Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.
As we rejoice in the gift of your presence among us
let the light of your love always shine in our hearts,
your Spirit ever renew our lives
and your praises ever be on our lips.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
AllBlessed be God for ever.
(or)
Blessed are you, creator of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As your dawn renews the face of the earth
bringing light and life to all creation,
may we rejoice in this day you have made;
as we wake refreshed from the depths of sleep,
open our eyes to behold your presence
and strengthen our hands to do your will,
that the world may rejoice and give you praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
AllBlessed be God for ever.
after Lancelot Andrewes (1626)
or a suitable hymn,
or A Song of God’s Righteousness
1Bless the Lord, O my
soul, ♦
and all that is within me bless his holy name.
2Bless the Lord, O my
soul, ♦
and forget not all his benefits;
3Who forgives all your
sins ♦
and heals all your infirmities;
4Who redeems your life
from the Pit ♦
and crowns you with faithful love and compassion;
5Who satisfies you with
good things, ♦
so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
6The Lord executes righteousness
♦
and judgement for all who are oppressed.
7He made his ways known
to Moses ♦
and his works to the children of Israel.
8The Lord has established
his throne in heaven, ♦
and his kingdom has dominion over all.
9Bless the Lord, you
angels of his, ♦
you mighty ones who do his bidding
and hearken to the voice of his word.
10Bless the Lord, all
you his hosts, ♦
you ministers of his who do his will.
11Bless the Lord, all
you works of his,
in all places of his dominion; ♦
bless the Lord, O my soul.
Psalm 103.1-7, 19-22
AllGlory 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.
This opening prayer may be said
The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence is kept.
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever.
AllAmen.
The Word of God
Psalmody
The appointed psalmody is said.
Psalm 32
Refrain: Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord.
1 Happy the one whose transgression is forgiven, ♦
and whose sin is covered.
2 Happy the one to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, ♦
and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 For I held my tongue; ♦
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all the day long.
4 Your hand was heavy upon me day and night; ♦
my moisture was dried up like the drought in summer. R
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you ♦
and my iniquity I did not hide.
6 I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, ♦
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
7 Therefore let all the faithful make their prayers to you
in time of trouble; ♦
in the great water flood, it shall not reach them.
8 You are a place for me to hide in;
you preserve me from trouble; ♦
you surround me with songs of deliverance. R
9 I will instruct you and teach you
in the way that you should go; ♦
I will guide you with my eye.
10 Be not like horse and mule which have no understanding; ♦
whose mouths must be held with bit and bridle,
or else they will not stay near you.
11 Great tribulations remain for the wicked, ♦
but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.
12 Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; ♦
shout for joy, all who are true of heart.
Refrain: Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord.
Give us honest hearts, O God,
and send your kindly Spirit
to help us confess our sins
and bring us the peace of your forgiveness;
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Psalm 36
Refrain: With you, O God, is the well of life.
1 Sin whispers to the wicked, in the depths of their heart; ♦
there is no fear of God before their eyes.
2 They flatter themselves in their own eyes ♦
that their abominable sin will not be found out.
3 The words of their mouth are unrighteous and full of deceit; ♦
they have ceased to act wisely and to do good.
4 They think out mischief upon their beds
and have set themselves in no good way; ♦
nor do they abhor that which is evil. R
5 Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens ♦
and your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness stands like the strong mountains,
your justice like the great deep; ♦
you, Lord, shall save both man and beast.
7 How precious is your loving mercy, O God! ♦
All mortal flesh shall take refuge
under the shadow of your wings.
8 They shall be satisfied with the abundance of your house; ♦
they shall drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the well of life ♦
and in your light shall we see light. R
10 O continue your loving-kindness to those who know you ♦
and your righteousness to those who are true of heart.
11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, ♦
nor the hand of the ungodly thrust me away.
12 There are they fallen, all who work wickedness. ♦
They are cast down and shall not be able to stand.
Refrain: With you, O God, is the well of life.
O God, the well of life,
make us bright with wisdom,
that we may be lightened with the knowledge of your glory
in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Each psalm or group of psalms may end with
AllGlory 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.
If there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here, or both may be read after the canticle.
Judith 11
Then Holofernes said to her, Take courage, woman, and do not be afraid in your heart, for I have never hurt anyone who chose to serve Nebuchadnezzar, king of all the earth. Even now, if your people who live in the hill country had not slighted me, I would never have lifted my spear against them. They have brought this on themselves. But now tell me why you have fled from them and have come over to us. In any event, you have come to safety. Take courage! You will live tonight and ever after. No one will hurt you. Rather, all will treat you well, as they do the servants of my lord King Nebuchadnezzar.
Judith answered him, Accept the words of your slave, and let your servant speak in your presence. I will say nothing false to my lord this night. If you follow out the words of your servant, God will accomplish something through you, and my lord will not fail to achieve his purposes. By the life of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the whole earth, and by the power of him who has sent you to direct every living being! Not only do human beings serve him because of you, but also the animals of the field and the cattle and the birds of the air will live, because of your power, under Nebuchadnezzar and all his house. For we have heard of your wisdom and skill, and it is reported throughout the whole world that you alone are the best in the whole kingdom, the most informed and the most astounding in military strategy.
Now as for Achiors speech in your council, we have heard his words, for the people of Bethulia spared him and he told them all he had said to you. Therefore, lord and master, do not disregard what he said, but keep it in your mind, for it is true. Indeed our nation cannot be punished, nor can the sword prevail against them, unless they sin against their God.
But now, in order that my lord may not be defeated and his purpose frustrated, death will fall upon them, for a sin has overtaken them by which they are about to provoke their God to anger when they do what is wrong. Since their food supply is exhausted and their water has almost given out, they have planned to kill their livestock and have determined to use all that God by his laws has forbidden them to eat. They have decided to consume the first fruits of the grain and the tithes of the wine and oil, which they had consecrated and set aside for the priests who minister in the presence of our God in Jerusalemthings it is not lawful for any of the people even to touch with their hands. Since even the people in Jerusalem have been doing this, they have sent messengers there in order to bring back permission from the council of the elders. When the response reaches them and they act upon it, on that very day they will be handed over to you to be destroyed.
So when I, your slave, learned all this, I fled from them. God has sent me to accomplish with you things that will astonish the whole world wherever people shall hear about them. Your servant is indeed God-fearing and serves the God of heaven night and day. So, my lord, I will remain with you; but every night your servant will go out into the valley and pray to God. He will tell me when they have committed their sins. Then I will come and tell you, so that you may go out with your whole army, and not one of them will be able to withstand you. Then I will lead you through Judea, until you come to Jerusalem; there I will set your throne. You will drive them like sheep that have no shepherd, and no dog will so much as growl at you. For this was told me to give me foreknowledge; it was announced to me, and I was sent to tell you.
Her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants. They marvelled at her wisdom and said, No other woman from one end of the earth to the other looks so beautiful or speaks so wisely! Then Holofernes said to her, God has done well to send you ahead of the people, to strengthen our hands and bring destruction on those who have despised my lord. You are not only beautiful in appearance, but wise in speech. If you do as you have said, your God shall be my God, and you shall live in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar and be renowned throughout the whole world.
Canticle
A Song of Peace, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 26 (page 577), may be said
Refrain:
AllSpirit of God, teach us
your ways,
that we may walk in the paths of peace. Alleluia.
1Come, let us go up to
the mountain of God, ♦
to the house of the God of Jacob;
2That God may teach us
his ways, ♦
and that we may walk in his paths.
3For the law shall go
out from Zion, ♦
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4God shall judge between
the nations, ♦
and shall mediate for many peoples.
5They shall beat their
swords into ploughshares, ♦
and their spears into pruning hooks.
6Nation shall not lift
up sword against nation, ♦
neither shall they learn war any more.
7O people of Jacob, come:
♦
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Isaiah 2.3-5
AllGlory 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.
AllSpirit of God, teach us
your ways,
that we may walk in the paths of peace. Alleluia.
Scripture Reading
One or more readings appointed for the day are read.
The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence.
2 Timothy 4.9-end
Do your best to come to me soon, for Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will pay him back for his deeds. You also must beware of him, for he strongly opposed our message.
At my first defence no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them!
But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lions mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus remained in Corinth; Trophimus I left ill in Miletus. Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.
The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow
Open my eyes, O Lord
that I may see the wonders of your law.
AllOpen my eyes, O Lord
that I may see the wonders of your law.
Lead me in the path of your commandments
Allthat I may see the wonders
of your law.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllOpen my eyes, O Lord
that I may see the wonders of your law.
from Psalm 119
Gospel Canticle
The Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)
is normally said,
or The Song of Christ's Glory (page
619) may be said
Refrain:
All
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the cause of right,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia.
1Blessed be the Lord
the God of Israel, ♦
who has come to his people and set them free.
2He has raised up for
us a mighty Saviour, ♦
born of the house of his servant David.
3Through his holy prophets
God promised of old ♦
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,
4To show mercy to our
ancestors, ♦
and to remember his holy covenant.
5This was the oath God
swore to our father Abraham: ♦
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
6Free to worship him
without fear, ♦
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
7And you, child, shall
be called the prophet of the Most High, ♦
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
8To give his people knowledge
of salvation ♦
by the forgiveness of all their sins.
9In the tender compassion
of our God ♦
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
10To shine on those who
dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, ♦
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 1.68-79
AllGlory 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.
Refrain:
All
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the cause of right,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia.
Prayers
Intercessions are offered
¶ for the day and its tasks
¶ for the world and its needs
¶ for the Church and her life
Prayers may include the following concerns from the cycle on pages 362–363
¶ All who are sick in body, mind or spirit
¶ Those in the midst of famine or disaster
¶ Victims of abuse and violence, intolerance
and prejudice
¶ Those who are bereaved
¶ All who work in the medical and healing professions
One of the forms of prayer found on pages 362–371 may be used.
These responses may be used
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer
(or)
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Silence may be kept.
The Collect of the day is said
Most merciful God,
who strengthened your Church by the steadfast courage
of your martyr James Hannington:
grant that we also,
thankfully remembering his victory of faith,
may overcome what is evil
and glorify your holy name;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
AllAmen.
The Lord’s Prayer is said
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
AllOur 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.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
(or)
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
AllOur 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,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Conclusion
The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
and keep us in eternal life.
AllAmen.
Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
AllThanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
©
The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2005
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The Bible readings (other than the psalms) are from The New Revised Standard Version Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Implemented by Simon Kershaw at
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Implementation copyright © Simon Kershaw, 2002-2021.