OPENING SENTENCES
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2
CONFESSION OF SIN
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.
Silence for reflection
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Lord, open our lips. *
And our mouths shall proclaim your praise!
MORNING PSALM
Psalm 41
Happy are they who consider the poor and needy! *
the LORD will deliver them in the time of trouble.
The LORD preserves them and keeps them alive,
so that they may be happy in the land; *
he does not hand them over to the will of their enemies.
The LORD sustains them on their sickbed *
and ministers to them in their illness.
I said, "LORD, be merciful to me; *
heal me, for I have sinned against you."
My enemies are saying wicked things about me: *
When will he die, and his name perish?"
Even if they come to see me, they speak empty words; *
their heart collects false rumors;
they go outside and spread them.
All my enemies whisper together about me *
and devise evil against me.
"A deadly thing," they say, "has fastened on him; *
he has taken to his bed and will never get up again."
Even my best friend, whom I trusted,
who broke bread with me, *
has lifted up his heel and turned against me.
But you, O LORD, be merciful to me and raise me up, *
and I shall repay them.
By this I know you are pleased with me, *
that my enemy does not triumph over me.
In my integrity you hold me fast, *
and shall set me before your face for ever.
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, *
from age to age. Amen. Amen.
Lord Jesus, healer of soul and body, you said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Teach us to come to the aid of the needy in a spirit of love, as we have been received and strengthened by you; and to you be the glory and praise now and forever.
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.
MORNING SONG
MORNING LESSONS
For those not receiving Evening Prayer emails, the lectionary OT & NT Lessons for today are Ecclesiastes 2:1-15; Galatians 1:1-17.
Matthew 13:44-52
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
Silence for reflection
CONCLUDING PRAYER
In the morning, pray for:
- the day and its tasks
- the world and its needs
- the Church and her life
Conclude with the Lord's Prayer and/or the following Collect:
O God, your never-failing providence sets in order all things both in heaven and earth: Put away from us, we entreat you, all hurtful things, and give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord. *
Thanks be to God!