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Notes to Prayer During the Day | |||
| A pattern for Prayer During the Day is provided for each day of the week. This may be used on that day of the week at any time of year. In addition there is a form of Prayer During the Day for each of the seasons of the Church's year. This may be used throughout the season or at certain high points: for example, the Easter form might be used on Easter Day, or for the first week of Eastertide, or throughout Eastertide. | ||||
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1 |
Preparation | |||
| A versicle and response is the conventional opening for
a short
order of prayer of this kind. Alternatively people may like to begin
by quietly meditating on a verse of scripture. A Form of Penitence may be used here or in the Prayers. |
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2 |
Praise | |||
| Praise may include a hymn, song, canticle, extempore praise or the text provided. Hymns for Prayer and Praise, the New English Hymnal and other collections contain 'office hymns' which may be used here. | ||||
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3 |
Psalmody | |||
| At least one psalm should be included on
each occasion. A daily or seasonal psalm and a four-week cycle are provided. Two tables making use of Psalm 119 (the great psalm of contemplation on God’s word) and Psalms 121–131 and 133 (the Psalms of Ascent, used by pilgrims on the way up to Jerusalem) on a weekly, fortnightly and monthly pattern are also provided. These are especially appropriate when Prayer During the Day is being used alongside the other offices. Alternatively, part of the psalm provision for Morning or Evening Prayer in the Common Worship Weekday Lectionary may be used, or any section of Psalm 119 may be chosen. |
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4 |
Readings | |||
| One of the following is used: | ||||
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The short reading printed in the order. | |||
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On weekdays one or more of the readings appointed for Morning or Evening Prayer or Holy Communion in the Common Worship Weekday Lectionary. | |||
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On Sundays and Principal Holy Days one or both of the readings appointed for the Third Service are used (if not used at another service that day). | |||
| Personal or corporate Bible Study might also take place at this point. | ||||
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5 |
Response | |||
| A versicle and response are provided for use after the reading. Other appropriate responses include silence, group discussion, responsive prayer and singing. | ||||
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6 |
Prayers | |||
| The Prayers may include a litany, extempore prayer, or a pattern of intercessions. Forms of intercession are provided. A General Thanksgiving may also be used. This section should also include the Lord’s Prayer and the prayer provided in the text, the Collect of the day, or some other prayer. | ||||
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7 |
The Conclusion | |||
| The Office concludes with a dismissal, a closing prayer, the Peace | ||||
| The peace of the Lord be always with you | ||||
| All | and also with you | |||
| These words may be added | ||||
| Let us offer one another a sign of peace, God’s seal on our prayers. |
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| or another ending. | ||||