Friday – Year 2 Advent 3
Morning Prayer
Opening Sentence
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. Isaiah 40:5
Versicle and Response
Lord, open our lips.
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.
Invitatory
Venite
Come, let us sing
to the Lord; *
let us shout for joy to the Rock
of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with
thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to him
with psalms.
For the Lord is a
great God, *
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *
and
the heights of the hills are his also.
The sea is his, for he
made it, *
and
his hands have molded the dry land.
Come, let us bow
down, and bend the knee, *
and kneel before the
Lord our Maker.
For he is our God,
and we are the people of
his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *
Oh,
that today you would hearken to his voice!
Psalms
40
Expectans, expectavi
1 I waited patiently upon the
Lord; *
he stooped to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me
out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay; *
he set my
feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.
3 He put a
new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God; *
many shall
see, and stand in awe,
and put their trust in the Lord.
4
Happy are they who trust in the Lord! *
they do not resort to evil
spirits or turn to false gods.
5 Great things are they that
you have done, O Lord my God!
how great your wonders and your
plans for us! *
there is none who can be compared with you.
6
Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! *
but they are
more than I can count.
7 In sacrifice and offering you take no
pleasure *
(you have given me ears to hear you);
8
Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required, *
and so I
said, "Behold, I come.
9 In the roll of the book it is
written concerning me: *
'I love to do your will, O my God;
your
law is deep in my heart.'"
10 I proclaimed righteousness
in the great congregation; *
behold, I did not restrain my
lips;
and that, O Lord, you know.
11 Your righteousness
have I not hidden in my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness
and your deliverance; *
I have not concealed your love and
faithfulness from the great congregation.
12 You are the Lord;
do not withhold your
compassion from me; *
let your love and your faithfulness keep me
safe for ever,
13 For innumerable troubles have crowded upon
me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see; *
they are
more in number than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails
me.
14 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; *
O Lord, make
haste to help me.
15 Let them be ashamed and altogether
dismayed
who seek after my life to destroy it; *
let them draw
back and be disgraced who take pleasure in my misfortune.
16
Let those who say "Aha!" and gloat over me be confounded,
*
because they are ashamed.
17 Let all who seek you rejoice
in you and be glad; *
let those who love your salvation
continually say,
"Great is the Lord!"
18 Though I
am poor and afflicted, *
the Lord will have regard for me.
19
You are my helper and my deliverer; *
do not tarry, O my God.
54 Deus, in nomine
1 Save me,
O God, by your Name; *
in your might, defend my cause.
2
Hear my prayer, O God; *
give ear to the words of my mouth.
3
For the arrogant have risen up against me,
and the ruthless have
sought my life, *
those who have no regard for God.
4
Behold, God is my helper; *
it is the Lord who sustains my
life.
5 Render evil to those who spy on me; *
in your
faithfulness, destroy them.
6 I will offer you a freewill sacrifice *
and praise your Name,
O Lord, for it is good.
7 For you have rescued me from every
trouble, *
and my eye has seen the ruin of my foes.
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.
Reading
Zechariah
7:8-8:8
The word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgements, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. But they refused to listen, and turned a stubborn shoulder, and stopped their ears in order not to hear. They made their hearts adamant in order not to hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. Just as, when I* called, they would not hear, so, when they called, I would not hear, says the Lord of hosts, and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and a pleasant land was made desolate.
The word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts? Thus says the Lord of hosts: I will save my people from the east country and from the west country; and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.
The Word of the
Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Canticle 10 The Second Song of Isaiah
Seek the Lord while he wills to be found; *
call upon him when he draws near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways *
and the evil ones their thoughts;
And let them turn to the Lord, and he will have compassion, *
and to our God, for he will richly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, *
nor your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, *
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as rain and snow fall from the heavens *
and return not again, but water the earth,
Bringing forth life and giving growth, *
seed for sowing and bread for eating,
So is my word that goes forth from my mouth; *
it will not return to me empty;
But it will accomplish that which I have purposed, *
and prosper in that for which I sent it.
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.
Reading
Matthew
25:14-30
‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents,* to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Canticle 18 A Song to the Lamb
Splendor and honor and kingly power *
are yours by right, O Lord our God,
For you created everything that is, *
and by your will they were created and have their being;
And yours by right, O Lamb that was slain, *
for with your blood you have redeemed for God,
From every family, language, people, and nation, *
a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
And so, to him who sits upon the throne, *
and to Christ the Lamb,
Be worship and praise, dominion and splendor, *
for ever and for ever more.
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 Apostle's Creed
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
Lord be with you.
And also with you.
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
Show us your mercy, O Lord;
And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
Let your people sing with joy.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
For only in you can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under your care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth;
Your saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
Collect of the Day: Third Sunday of Advent
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
For Mission
O
God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole
earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and
bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in
peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Intercessions
Let us pray now for our own needs and those of others.
General Thanksgiving
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.
Benediction
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20,21