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 106:1-18

Part I

Hallelujah!
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

Who can declare the mighty acts of the LORD *
or show forth all his praise?

Happy are those who act with justice *
and always do what is right!

Remember me, O LORD, with the favor you have for your people, *
and visit me with your saving help;

That I may see the prosperity of your elect
and be glad with the gladness of your people, *
that I may glory with your inheritance.

We have sinned as our forebears did; *
we have done wrong and dealt wickedly.

In Egypt they did not consider your marvelous works,
nor remember the abundance of your love; *
they defied the Most High at the Red Sea.

But he saved them for his Name's sake, *
to make his power known.

He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up, *
and he led them through the deep as through a desert.

He saved them from the hand of those who hated them *
and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

The waters covered their oppressors; *
not one of them was left.

Then they believed his words *
and sang him songs of praise.

But they soon forgot his deeds *
and did not wait for his counsel.

A craving seized them in the wilderness, *
and they put God to the test in the desert.

He gave them what they asked, *
but sent leanness into their soul.

They envied Moses in the camp, *
and Aaron, the holy one of the LORD.

The earth opened and swallowed Dathan *
and covered the company of Abiram.

Fire blazed up against their company, *
and flames devoured the wicked.

God our Father, remembering your covenant, you graciously pardoned those who rebelled against you. Grant that, where sin abounds, grace may abound more; through Jesus Christ 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.

MORNING SONG

Morning Star - the innocence mission

MORNING LESSONS

For those not receiving Evening Prayer emails, the lectionary OT & NT Lessons for today are Zechariah 10:1-12; Galatians 6:1-10.

Luke 18:15-30

People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”

A certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.’” He replied, “I have kept all these since my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” He replied, “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.” Then Peter said, “Look, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

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:

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. *
Thanks be to God!