As a follow up to last week’s little glossary of terms, I thought this week we’d actually plunge into the Book of Common Prayer, and do Morning Prayer together. In terms of the church year, we’re three weeks out from Advent, or 27 weeks after Pentecost. There are a lot of different ways you can pick the Scripture readings (often these lists are called Lectionaries), but today I just picked a psalm that I had heard a verse from a few days ago and wanted to read more of. Morning Prayer is flexible like that: you can follow a lectionary and be methodical about reading through Scripture, or you can be spontaneous and choose what you’d like. It’s like a grown-up choose-your-own-adventure novel. And of course you can stop and re-read something, or take a moment and let a phrase sink in, enjoy the stillness, or just pray from your heart.
I put the page numbers of the most recent edition (1979) of the Book of Common Prayer, so you can follow along if you’d like. There are of course many other wonderful similar resources (see this post and this post), this just happens to be the one I am most familiar with. For the sections that are often call and response, I put the response in italics. You of course can do morning, or any hour, of prayer by yourself, but there is something really special about praying in community. When you read together, in union, in a call and response, or taking turns reading whole sections individually it helps you remember the Church Universal. People have been praying versions of these prayers for thousands of years. It’s a great honor to let our voice join theirs. And even if you practicing solitary prayer, pray aloud sometimes. It’s good to proclaim truth even if the only ears who hear it are your own.
A Morning Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer
Opening Verses of Scripture [At Any Time] p. 78
Send out your light, and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. (Psalm 43:3)
Confession of Sin, p. 79
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
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.
Almighty God have mercy us you, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.
The Invitatory and Psalter, p. 80
Invitatory Psalm: Venite (i.e. Psalm 95:1-7) p. 82
Antiphon [On Other Sundays and Weekdays] p. 81
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.
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.
The mercy of the Lord is everlasting:
Come let us adore him.
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.
The mercy of the Lord is everlasting:
Come let us adore him.
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!
The mercy of the Lord is everlasting:
Come let us adore him.
Psalm 116 (p. 759)
I love the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, *
because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
The cords of death entangled me; the grip of the grave took hold of me; *
I came to grief and sorrow.
Then I called upon the Name of the LORD: *
“O LORD, I pray you, save my life.”
Gracious is the LORD and righteous; *
our God is full of compassion.
The LORD watches over the innocent; *
I was brought very low, and he helped me.
Turn again to your rest, O my soul. *
for the LORD has treated you well.
For you have rescued my life from death, *
my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.
I will walk in the presence of the LORD *
in the land of the living.
I believed, even when I said, “I have been brought very low.” *
In my distress I said, “No one can be trusted.”
How shall I repay the LORD *
for all the good things he has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation *
and call upon the Name of the LORD.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
Canticle 19: The Song of the Redeemed (Magna et mirabilia) (Revelation 15: 3-4) p. 94
O ruler of the universe, Lord God,
great deeds are they that you have done, *
surpassing human understanding.
Your ways are ways of righteousness and truth,*
O King of all the ages.
Who can fail to do you homage, Lord,
and sing the praises of your Name? *
for you only are the Holy One.
All nations will draw near and fall down before you, *
because your just and holy works have been revealed.
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 Apostles’ Creed, 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 p. 97
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Suffrages B p. 98
Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
Govern them and uphold them, now and always.
Day by day we bless you;
We praise your name for ever.
Lord, keep us from all sin today;
Have mercy upon us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy;
For we put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope;
And we shall never hope in vain.
Collect, Proper 27, p. 236
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Prayer for Mission, 2nd p. 100
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom, p. 102
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.
Amen.