Morning Prayer on Wednesday

Preparation

O Lord, open our lips
Alland our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

One or more of the following is said or sung:
a prayer of thanksgiving,
a suitable hymn,
or A Song of God’s Glorious Name

1O Lord our governor,
how glorious is your name in all the world!

2Your majesty above the heavens is praised
out of the mouths of babes at the breast.

3You have founded a stronghold against your foes,
that you might still the enemy and the avenger.

4When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have ordained,

5What are mortals, that you should be mindful of them;
mere human beings, that you should seek them out?

6You have made them little lower than the angels
and crown them with glory and honour.

7You have given them dominion over the works of your hands
and put all things under their feet,

8All sheep and oxen,
even the wild beasts of the field,

9The birds of the air, the fish of the sea
and whatsoever moves in the paths of the sea.

10O Lord our governor,
how glorious is your name in all the world!

Psalm 8

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

This opening prayer may be said

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.

Silence is kept.

As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever.
AllAmen.

The Word of God

Psalmody

The appointed psalmody is said.

Each psalm or group of psalms may end with

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

 

If there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here, or both may be read after the canticle.

Canticle

A Song of the Word of the Lord, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 35, may be said

Refrain:

AllReturn to the Lord, who will have mercy,
to our God, who will richly pardon.

1Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;

2Let the wicked abandon their ways,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;

3Return to the Lord, who will have mercy;
to our God, who will richly pardon.

4‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,’ says the Lord.

5‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

6‘As the rain and the snow come down from above,
and return not again but water the earth,

7‘Bringing forth life and giving growth,
seed for sowing and bread to eat,

8‘So is my word that goes forth from my mouth;
it will not return to me fruitless,

9‘But it will accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the task I gave it.’

Isaiah 55.6-11

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllReturn to the Lord, who will have mercy,
to our God, who will richly pardon.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence.

A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow

Lord, you will guide me with your counsel
and afterwards receive me with glory.
AllLord, you will guide me with your counsel
and afterwards receive me with glory.

For I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
AllAnd afterwards receive me with glory.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllLord, you will guide me with your counsel
and afterwards receive me with glory.

from Psalm 73

Gospel Canticle

The Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah) is normally said,
or A Song of Redemption may be said

Refrain:

AllYou show mercy to our ancestors,
and remember your holy covenant.

1Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.

2He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.

3Through his holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,

4To show mercy to our ancestors,
and to remember his holy covenant.

5This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

6Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.

7And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

8To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.

9In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

10To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 1.68-79

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllYou show mercy to our ancestors,
and remember your holy covenant.

Prayers

Intercessions are offered
for the day and its tasks
for the world and its needs
for the Church and her life

This cycle and these prayers may be used.

These responses may be used

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer

(or)

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Silence may be kept.

The Collect of the day or the following is said

Almighty and everlasting God,
we thank you that you have brought us safely
to the beginning of this day.
Keep us from falling into sin
or running into danger,
order us in all our doings
and guide us to do always
what is righteous in your sight;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
AllAmen.

The Lord’s Prayer is said

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

AllOur 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.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

(or)

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

AllOur 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,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Conclusion

The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
and keep us in eternal life.
AllAmen.

Let us bless the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.