Morning Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Wednesday, 16 April 2014
Wednesday before Easter
  The introduction to the service is used on Sundays, and may be used on any occasion. If the Introduction is not used, the service begins with the opening responses.
  Introduction
   
  The minister may use a seasonal sentence before using one or more of the penitential sentences.
   
  The minister introduces the service
     
    Dearly beloved [brethren],
    the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge
       and confess our manifold sins and wickedness;
     
    [and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before
       the face of almighty God our heavenly Father;
    but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent and
       obedient heart;
    to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same
       by his infinite goodness and mercy.
    And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge
       our sins before God;
    yet ought we most chiefly so to do,
    when we assemble and meet together
    to render thanks for the great benefits that we have
       received at his hands,
    to set forth his most worthy praise,
    to hear his most holy word,
    and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary,
    as well for the body as the soul.]
     
    Wherefore I pray and beseech you,
    as many as are here present,
    to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice,
    unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying [after me]:
     
    (or)
     
    Beloved, we are come together in the presence of almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and shew forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all men such things as their well-being doth require.
     
    Wherefore let us kneel in silence, and remember God's presence with us now.
   
All
   Almighty and most merciful Father,
    we have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.
    We have followed too much the devices and desires
       of our own hearts.
    We have offended against thy holy laws.
    We have left undone those things
       which we ought to have done;
    and we have done those things
         which we ought not to have done;
    and there is no health in us.
    But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.
    Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults.
    Restore thou them that are penitent;
    according to thy promises declared unto mankind
       in Christ Jesu our Lord.
    And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
    that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
    to the glory of thy holy name.
  Amen.
   
  A priest says
     
    Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    who desireth not the death of a sinner,
    but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live;
    and hath given power, and commandment, to his ministers
    to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent,
    the absolution and remission of their sins:
    he pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent
       and unfeignedly believe his holy gospel.
    Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance,
       and his Holy Spirit,
    that those things may please him which we do at this present;
    and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy;
    so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
   
  or other ministers may say
     
    Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord,
    to thy faithful people pardon and peace,
    that they may be cleansed from all their sins,
    and serve thee with a quiet mind;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
   
All
   Our Father, which art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy name;
    thy kingdom come;
    thy will be done,
    in earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our trespasses,
  as we forgive them that 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.
  Morning Prayer
   
  The introduction to the service is used on Sundays, and may be used on any occasion. If the Introduction is not used, the service begins with the opening responses.
   
  These responses are used
     
    O Lord, open thou our lips
All
   and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
     
    O God, make speed to save us.
All
   O Lord, make haste to help us.
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
    and to the Holy Ghost;
All
   as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
    world without end. Amen.
     
    Praise ye the Lord.
All
   The Lord's name be praised.
     
Venite, exultemus Domino  
     
1
   O come, let us sing unto the Lord :
    let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
     
2
   Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving :
    and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms.
     
3
   For the Lord is a great God :
    and a great King above all gods.
     
4
   In his hand are all the corners of the earth :
    and the strength of the hills is his also.
     
5
   The sea is his, and he made it :
    and his hands prepared the dry land.
     
6
   O come, let us worship, and fall down :
    and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
     
7
   For he is the Lord our God :
    and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
     
[8
   Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts :
    as in the provocation,
         and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness;
     
9
   When your fathers tempted me :
    proved me, and saw my works.
     
10
   Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said :
    It is a people that do err in their hearts,
       for they have not known my ways.
     
11
   Unto whom I sware in my wrath :
    that they should not enter into my rest.]
   
Psalm 95
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
    and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
    world without end. Amen.
     
Psalmody  
   

Psalm 79

  
 

  
1
 O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance :
  thy holy temple have they defiled, and made Jerusalem an heap of stones.
  
 
  
2
 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the air :
  and the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the land.
  
 
  
3
 Their blood have they shed like water on every side of Jerusalem :
  and there was no man to bury them.
  
 
  
4
 We are become an open shame to our enemies :
  a very scorn and derision unto them that are round about us.
  
 
  
5
 Lord, how long wilt thou be angry :
  shall thy jealousy burn like fire for ever?
  
 
  
6
 Pour out thine indignation upon the heathen that have not known thee :
  and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy Name.
  
 
  
7
 For they have devoured Jacob :
  and laid waste his dwelling-place.
  
 
  
8
 O remember not our old sins, but have mercy upon us, and that soon :
  for we are come to great misery.
  
 
  
9
 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy Name :
  O deliver us, and be merciful unto our sins, for thy Name’s sake.
  
 
  
10
 Wherefore do the heathen say :
  Where is now their God?
  
 
  
11
 O let the vengeance of thy servants’ blood that is shed :
  be openly shewed upon the heathen in our sight.
  
 
  
12
 O let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before thee :
  according to the greatness of thy power, preserve thou those that are appointed to die.
  
 
  
13
 And for the blasphemy wherewith our neighbours have blasphemed thee :
  reward thou them, O Lord, seven-fold into their bosom.
  
 
  
14
 So we, that are thy people, and sheep of thy pasture, shall give thee thanks for ever :
  and will alway be shewing forth thy praise from generation to generation.
  
 

Psalm 80

  
 

  
1
 Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep :
  shew thyself also, thou that sittest upon the cherubims.
  
 
  
2
 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses :
  stir up thy strength, and come, and help us.
  
 
  
3
 Turn us again, O God :
  shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
  
 
  
4
 O Lord God of hosts :
  how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that prayeth?
  
 
  
5
 Thou feedest them with the bread of tears :
  and givest them plenteousness of tears to drink.
  
 
  
6
 Thou hast made us a very strife unto our neighbours :
  and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
  
 
  
7
 Turn us again, thou God of hosts :
  shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
  
 
  
8
 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt :
  thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
  
 
  
9
 Thou madest room for it :
  and when it had taken root it filled the land.
  
 
  
10
 The hills were covered with the shadow of it :
  and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedar-trees.
  
 
  
11
 She stretched out her branches unto the sea :
  and her boughs unto the river.
  
 
  
12
 Why hast thou then broken down her hedge :
  that all they that go by pluck off her grapes?
  
 
  
13
 The wild boar out of the wood doth root it up :
  and the wild beasts of the field devour it.
  
 
  
14
 Turn thee again, thou God of hosts, look down from heaven :
  behold, and visit this vine;
  
 
  
15
 And the place of the vineyard that thy right hand hath planted :
  and the branch that thou madest so strong for thyself.
  
 
  
16
 It is burnt with fire, and cut down :
  and they shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
  
 
  
17
 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand :
  and upon the son of man, whom thou madest so strong for thine own self.
  
 
  
18
 And so will not we go back from thee :
  O let us live, and we shall call upon thy Name.
  
 
  
19
 Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts :
  shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
  
 

Psalm 81

  
 

  
1
 Sing we merrily unto God our strength :
  make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.
  
 
  
2
 Take the psalm, bring hither the tabret :
  the merry harp with the lute.
  
 
  
3
 Blow up the trumpet in the new-moon :
  even in the time appointed, and upon our solemn feast-day.
  
 
  
4
 For this was made a statute for Israel :
  and a law of the God of Jacob.
  
 
  
5
 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony :
  when he came out of the land of Egypt, and had heard a strange language.
  
 
  
6
 I eased his shoulder from the burden :
  and his hands were delivered from making the pots.
  
 
  
7
 Thou calledst upon me in troubles, and I delivered thee :
  and heard thee what time as the storm fell upon thee.
  
 
  
8
 I proved thee also :
  at the waters of strife.
  
 
  
9
 Hear, O my people, and I will assure thee, O Israel :
  if thou wilt hearken unto me,
  
 
  
10
 There shall no strange god be in thee :
  neither shalt thou worship any other god.
  
 
  
11
 I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt :
  open thy mouth wide, and I shall fill it.
  
 
  
12
 But my people would not hear my voice :
  and Israel would not obey me.
  
 
  
13
 So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lusts :
  and let them follow their own imaginations.
  
 
  
14
 O that my people would have hearkened unto me :
  for if Israel had walked in my ways,
  
 
  
15
 I should soon have put down their enemies :
  and turned my hand against their adversaries.
  
 
  
16
 The haters of the Lord should have been found liars :
  but their time should have endured for ever.
  
 
  
17
 He should have fed them also with the finest wheat-flour :
  and with honey out of the stony rock should I have satisfied thee.
  
 

   
  At the end of each psalm these words are said or sung
   
  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
  and to the Holy Ghost;
  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
  world without end. Amen.
   
  Old Testament Reading  
   

First Reading: Wisdom 1.16 - 2.1; 2.12-22

But ungodly men with their works and words called it to them: for when they thought to have it their friend, they consumed to nought, and made a covenant with it, because they are worthy to take part with it.
 For the ungodly said, reasoning with themselves, but not aright, Our life is short and tedious, and in the death of a man there is no remedy: neither was there any man known to have returned from the grave.
 Therefore let us lie in wait for the righteous; because he is not for our turn, and he is clean contrary to our doings: he upbraideth us with our offending the law, and objecteth to our infamy the transgressings of our education.
 He professeth to have the knowledge of God: and he calleth himself the child of the Lord.
 He was made to reprove our thoughts.
 He is grievous unto us even to behold: for his life is not like other men’s, his ways are of another fashion.
 We are esteemed of him as counterfeits: he abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness: he pronounceth the end of the just to be blessed, and maketh his boast that God is his father.
 Let us see if his words be true: and let us prove what shall happen in the end of him.
 For if the just man be the son of God, he will help him, and deliver him from the hand of his enemies.
 Let us examine him with despitefulness and torture, that we may know his meekness, and prove his patience.
 Let us condemn him with a shameful death: for by his own saying he shall be respected.
 Such things they did imagine, and were deceived: for their own wickedness hath blinded them.
 As for the mysteries of God, they kn ew them not: neither hoped they for the wages of righteousness, nor discerned a reward for blameless souls.

or Jeremiah 11.18-20
   
  Te Deum Laudamus  
   
  Either the Te Deum Laudamus (as follows) or Benedicite, omnia opera is said or sung.
   
  We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
  All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting.
  To thee all angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the powers therein.
  To thee cherubin and seraphin continually do cry,
  Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;
  Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory.
  The glorious company of the apostles praise thee.
  The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee.
  The noble army of martyrs praise thee.
  The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee:
  the Father of an infinite majesty;
  thine honourable, true and only Son;
  also the Holy Ghost the Comforter.
   
  Thou art the King of glory, O Christ.
  Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
  When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man,
       thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
  When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death,
       thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
  Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
  We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge.
  We therefore pray thee, help thy servants,
       whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
  Make them to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting.
   
  O Lord, save thy people and bless thine heritage.
  Govern them and lift them up for ever.
  Day by day we magnify thee;
  and we worship thy name, ever world without end.
  Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
  O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.
  O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, as our trust is in thee.
  O Lord, in thee have I trusted; let me never be confounded.
   
  New Testament Reading  
   

Second Reading: Luke 22.54-71

Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.
 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.
 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?
 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.
 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,
 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:
 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.
 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.
 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

   
  Benedictus  
   
  Either The Benedictus (as follows) or Jubilate Deo (Psalm 100) is said or sung.
   
 
1
   Blessed be the Lord God of Israel :
  for he hath visited, and redeemed his people;
   
 
2
   And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us :
  in the house of his servant David;
   
 
3
   As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets :
  which have been since the world began;
   
 
4
   That we should be saved from our enemies :
  and from the hands of all that hate us;
   
 
5
   To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers :
      and to remember his holy covenant;
       
 
6
   To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham :
      that he would give us,
       
 
7
   That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies :
      might serve him without fear,
       
 
8
   In holiness and righteousness before him :
      all the days of our life.
       
 
9
   And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest :
      for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
       
 
10
   To give knowledge of salvation unto his people :
      for the remission of their sins;
       
 
11
   Through the tender mercy of our God :
      whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us;
       
 
12
   To give light to them that sit in darkness,
         and in the shadow of death :
      and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
     
Luke 1.68-79
   
  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
  and to the Holy Ghost;
  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
  world without end. Amen.
   
  The Apostles' Creed  
   
All
   I believe in God the Father almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth:
  and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
    who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
    born of the Virgin Mary,
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, dead, and buried.
    He descended into hell;
    the third day he rose again from the dead;
    he ascended into heaven,
    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty;
    from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
    I believe in the Holy Ghost;
    the holy catholic Church;
    the communion of saints;
    the forgiveness of sins;
    the resurrection of the body,
    and the life everlasting.
    Amen.
     
  Prayers  
     
    The Lord be with you.
All
   And with thy spirit.
     
    Let us pray.
     
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
All
   Christ, have mercy upon us.
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
     
All
   Our Father, which art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy name;
    thy kingdom come;
    thy will be done,
    in earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our trespasses,
    as we forgive them that trespass against us.
    And lead us not into temptation;
    but deliver us from evil. Amen.
     
    O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us.
All
   And grant us thy salvation.
     
    O Lord, save the Queen.
All
   And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
     
    Endue thy ministers with righteousness.
All
   And make thy chosen people joyful.
     
    O Lord, save thy people.
All
   And bless thine inheritance.
     
    Give peace in our time, O Lord.
All
   Because there is none other that fighteth for us,
  but only thou, O God.
     
    O God, make clean our hearts within us.
All
   And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
     
  Three Collects are said.
     
The Collect of the Day  
     
    Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
     
     
The Collect for Peace  
     
    O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord,
    in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life,
    whose service is perfect freedom;
    defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies;
    that we, surely trusting in thy defence,
    may not fear the power of any adversaries;
    through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
     
The Collect for Grace  
     
    O Lord, our heavenly Father,
    almighty and everlasting God,
    who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day;
    defend us in the same with thy mighty power;
    and grant that this day we fall into no sin,
    neither run into any kind of danger,
    but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance,
    to do always that is righteous in thy sight;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
     
  The order for the end of the service may include:
     
  hymns or anthems
    a sermon
    further prayers (which may include prayers from here)
     
  This prayer may be used to conclude the service
     
    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    and the love of God,
    and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost,
    be with us all evermore.
All
   Amen.
   
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
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