Morning Prayer

Thursday after  the Fourth Sunday of Easter

On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Invitatory and Psalter                              BCP p. 80

Officiant Lord, open our lips.
People
   And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Alleluia.

Christ our Passover      1 Cor. 5:7-8; Romans 6:9-11; 1 Cor. 15:20-22

Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *
therefore let us keep the feast,

Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.

Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *
death no longer has dominion over him.

The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *
but the life he lives, he lives to God.

So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.

Christ has been raised from the dead, *
the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

For since by a man came death, *
by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die, *
so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.

Psalm 50                                                   BCP p. 654

The LORD, the God of gods, has spoken; *
he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, *
God reveals himself in glory.

Our God will come and will not keep silence; *
before him there is a consuming flame,  and round about him a raging storm.

He calls the heavens and the earth from above *
to witness the judgment of his people.

“Gather before me my loyal followers, *
those who have made a covenant with me  and sealed it with sacrifice.”

Let the heavens declare the rightness of his cause; *
for God himself is judge.

Hear, O my people, and I will speak: “O Israel, I will bear witness against you; *
for I am God, your God.

I do not accuse you because of your sacrifices; *
your offerings are always before me.

I will take no bull-calf from your stalls, *
nor he-goats out of your pens;

For all the beasts of the forest are mine, *
the herds in their thousands upon the hills.

I know every bird in the sky, *
and the creatures of the fields are in my sight.

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, *
for the whole world is mine and all that is in it.

Do you think I eat the flesh of bulls, *
or drink the blood of goats?

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and make good your vows to the Most High.

Call upon me in the day of trouble; *
I will deliver you, and you shall honor me.”

But to the wicked God says: *
“Why do you recite my statutes,  and take my covenant upon your lips;

Since you refuse discipline, *
and toss my words behind your back?

When you see a thief, you make him your friend, *
and you cast in your lot with adulterers.

You have loosed your lips for evil, *
and harnessed your tongue to a lie.

You are always speaking evil of your brother *
and slandering your own mother’s son.

These things you have done, and I kept still, *
and you thought that I am like you.”

“I have made my accusation; *
I have put my case in order before your eyes.

Consider this well, you who forget God, *
lest I rend you and there be none to deliver you.

Whoever offers me the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me; *
but to those who keep in my way will I show the salvation of God.”

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Lessons

The First Lesson  Exod. 34:1-17

A Reading from the Book of Exodus.

The LORD said to Moses, “Cut two tablets of stone like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets, which you broke. Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai and present yourself there to me, on the top of the mountain. No one shall come up with you, and do not let anyone be seen throughout all the mountain; and do not let flocks or herds graze in front of that mountain.” So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the former ones; and he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tablets of stone.

The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name, “The LORD.” The LORD passed before him, and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. He said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”

He said: I hereby make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform marvels, such as have not been performed in all the earth or in any nation; and all the people among whom you live shall see the work of the LORD; for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you. Observe what I command you today. See, I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Take care not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you are going, or it will become a snare among you. You shall tear down their altars, break their pillars, and cut down their sacred poles (for you shall worship no other god, because the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God). You shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to their gods, someone among them will invite you, and you will eat of the sacrifice. And you will take wives from among their daughters for your sons, and their daughters who prostitute themselves to their gods will make your sons also prostitute themselves to their gods. You shall not make cast idols.

 

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

8. The Song of Moses                 Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18

I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *
the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.

The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *
the Lord has become my Savior.

This is my God and I will praise him, *
the God of my people and I will exalt him.

The Lord is a mighty warrior; *
Yahweh is his Name.

The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; *
the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.

The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *
they sank into the depths like a stone.

Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; *
your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.

Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? *
who is like you, glorious in holiness, awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?

You stretched forth your right hand; *
the earth swallowed them up.

With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; *
with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling.

You will bring them in and plant them *
on the mount of your possession,

The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, *
the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.

The Lord shall reign *
for ever and for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Second Lesson  Matt. 5:21-26

A Reading from the Gospel According to Matthew.

“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, You shall not murder’; and whoever murders shall be liable to judgment. But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

 

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

20. Glory to God                                       BCP p. 94

Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth. 

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. 

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer. 

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed                                BCP p. 96

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
            creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
            He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
            and born of the Virgin Mary.
            He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
            was crucified, died, and was buried.
            He descended to the dead.
            On the third day he rose again.
            He ascended into heaven,
            and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
            He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
            the holy catholic Church,
            the communion of saints,
            the forgiveness of sins,
            the resurrection of the body,
            and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers                                              BCP p. 97

 

Officiant The Lord be with you.
People
   And also with you.
Officiant
Let us pray.

The Lord’s Prayer

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.
Save us from the time of trial,
            and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
            and the glory are yours,
            now and for ever. Amen.

Suffrages B

V.        Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
R.
         Govern and uphold them, now and always.
V.
        Day by day we bless you;
R.
         We praise your name for ever.
V.
        Lord, keep us from all sin today;
R.
         Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
V.
        Lord, show us your love and mercy;
R.
         For we put our trust in you.
V.
        In you, Lord, is our hope;
R.
         And we shall never hope in vain.

The Collect of the Day

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Guidance

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

A Prayer for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.

Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.

The General Thanksgiving                     BCP p. 101

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.

And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages.  Amen.

 

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Romans 15:13