God has shone in our hearts,
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ
1
2 Corinthians 4:6
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of Creation
Bless the Lord all created things:
who is worth to be praised and exalted for ever.
Bless the Lord all people of the earth:
who is worth to be praised and exalted for ever.
O people of God bless the Lord:
bless the Lord you priests of the Lord,
Bless the Lord you servants of the Lord:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Bless the Lord all you of upright spirit:
bless the Lord you that are holy and humble in heart.
Bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
who is worth to be praised and exalted for ever.
Bless the Lord all people of the earth:
who is worth to be praised and exalted for ever.
O people of God bless the Lord:
bless the Lord you priests of the Lord,
Bless the Lord you servants of the Lord:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Bless the Lord all you of upright spirit:
bless the Lord you that are holy and humble in heart.
Bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Song of the Three 35ff
3 The Opening Prayer
The night has passed and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.
let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be 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. Amen.
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever. Amen.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each.
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; •
his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim, •
‘His mercy endures for ever.’
3 Let the house of Aaron now proclaim, •
‘His mercy endures for ever.’
4 Let those who fear the Lord proclaim, •
‘His mercy endures for ever.’
5 In my constraint I called to the Lord; •
the Lord answered and set me free.
6 The Lord is at my side; I will not fear; •
what can flesh do to me?
7 With the Lord at my side as my saviour, •
I shall see the downfall of my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord •
than to put any confidence in flesh.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord •
than to put any confidence in princes.
10 All the nations encompassed me, •
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
11 They hemmed me in, they hemmed me in on every side, •
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
12 They swarmed about me like bees;
they blazed like fire among thorns, •
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
13 Surely, I was thrust to the brink, •
but the Lord came to my help.
14 The Lord is my strength and my song, •
and he has become my salvation.
15 Joyful shouts of salvation •
sound from the tents of the righteous:
16 ‘The right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds;
the right hand of the Lord raises up; •
the right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds.’
17 I shall not die, but live •
and declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has punished me sorely, •
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, •
that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord; •
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me •
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected •
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing, •
and it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made; •
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Come, O Lord, and save us we pray. •
Come, Lord, send us now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; •
we bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God; he has given us light; •
link the pilgrims with cords
right to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God and I will thank you; •
you are my God and I will exalt you.
29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; •
his mercy endures for ever.
his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim, •
‘His mercy endures for ever.’
3 Let the house of Aaron now proclaim, •
‘His mercy endures for ever.’
4 Let those who fear the Lord proclaim, •
‘His mercy endures for ever.’
5 In my constraint I called to the Lord; •
the Lord answered and set me free.
6 The Lord is at my side; I will not fear; •
what can flesh do to me?
7 With the Lord at my side as my saviour, •
I shall see the downfall of my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord •
than to put any confidence in flesh.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord •
than to put any confidence in princes.
10 All the nations encompassed me, •
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
11 They hemmed me in, they hemmed me in on every side, •
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
12 They swarmed about me like bees;
they blazed like fire among thorns, •
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
13 Surely, I was thrust to the brink, •
but the Lord came to my help.
14 The Lord is my strength and my song, •
and he has become my salvation.
15 Joyful shouts of salvation •
sound from the tents of the righteous:
16 ‘The right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds;
the right hand of the Lord raises up; •
the right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds.’
17 I shall not die, but live •
and declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has punished me sorely, •
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, •
that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord; •
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me •
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected •
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing, •
and it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made; •
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Come, O Lord, and save us we pray. •
Come, Lord, send us now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; •
we bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God; he has given us light; •
link the pilgrims with cords
right to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God and I will thank you; •
you are my God and I will exalt you.
29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; •
his mercy endures for ever.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
Creator God, whose praise and power are proclaimed by the whole creation: receive our morning prayers, we pray, and renew us in your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed
Genesis 23 (Listen)
Sarah’s Death and Burial
23:1 Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites,1 4 “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6 “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God2 among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” 7 Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. 8 And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.”
10 Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city, 11 “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” 12 Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. 13 And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels3 of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” 16 Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.
17 So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.
Footnotes
[1] 23:3
[2] 23:6
[3] 23:15
(ESV)
Matthew 28:16–20 (Listen)
The Great Commission
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in1 the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Footnotes
[1] 28:19
(ESV)
The reading may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, A Song of Redemption
Christ is the image of the invisible God:
the first-born of all creation.
For in him all things were created:
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
All things were created through him and for him:
his is before all things
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the Church:
he is the beginning, the first-born form the dead.
For it pleases God that in him
all fullness should dwell:
and through him all things be reconciled to himself.
the first-born of all creation.
For in him all things were created:
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
All things were created through him and for him:
his is before all things
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the Church:
he is the beginning, the first-born form the dead.
For it pleases God that in him
all fullness should dwell:
and through him all things be reconciled to himself.
Colossians 1:15-20
8 The Apostles' Creed may be said
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come 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.
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come 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.
9 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
10 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day
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.
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.
11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
12 The Morning Collect
Lord and heavenly Father, you have brought us safely to this new day: keep us by your mighty power, protect us from sin, guard us from every kind of danger, and in all we do this day direct us in the fulfilling of your purpose, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
13
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Philippians 4:7
1
Grace to you and peace
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:2
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of the Shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd:
therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall make me lie down in green pastures:
and lead me beside still waters.
He shall refresh my soul:
and guide me in right pathways for his name's sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for you are with me,
your rod and your staff comfort me.
You spread a table before me in the presence
of those who trouble me:
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup shall be full.
Surely your goodness and loving-kindness
shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall make me lie down in green pastures:
and lead me beside still waters.
He shall refresh my soul:
and guide me in right pathways for his name's sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for you are with me,
your rod and your staff comfort me.
You spread a table before me in the presence
of those who trouble me:
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup shall be full.
Surely your goodness and loving-kindness
shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23
3 The Opening Prayer
The day is now passed and the night is at hand.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be kept
Father of lights, receive the prayer and praise we offer you as our evening sacrifice; make us a light for all the world, delivered by your goodness from all the works of darkness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each
1 Alleluia.
Praise the Lord from the heavens; •
praise him in the heights.
2 Praise him, all you his angels; •
praise him, all his host.
3 Praise him, sun and moon; •
praise him, all you stars of light.
4 Praise him, heaven of heavens, •
and you waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, •
for he commanded and they were created.
6 He made them fast for ever and ever; •
he gave them a law which shall not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, •
you sea monsters and all deeps;
8 Fire and hail, snow and mist, •
tempestuous wind, fulfilling his word;
9 Mountains and all hills, •
fruit trees and all cedars;
10 Wild beasts and all cattle, •
creeping things and birds on the wing;
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, •
princes and all rulers of the world;
12 Young men and women,
old and young together; •
let them praise the name of the Lord.
13 For his name only is exalted, •
his splendour above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up the horn of his people
and praise for all his faithful servants, •
the children of Israel, a people who are near him.
Alleluia.
Praise the Lord from the heavens; •
praise him in the heights.
2 Praise him, all you his angels; •
praise him, all his host.
3 Praise him, sun and moon; •
praise him, all you stars of light.
4 Praise him, heaven of heavens, •
and you waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, •
for he commanded and they were created.
6 He made them fast for ever and ever; •
he gave them a law which shall not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, •
you sea monsters and all deeps;
8 Fire and hail, snow and mist, •
tempestuous wind, fulfilling his word;
9 Mountains and all hills, •
fruit trees and all cedars;
10 Wild beasts and all cattle, •
creeping things and birds on the wing;
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, •
princes and all rulers of the world;
12 Young men and women,
old and young together; •
let them praise the name of the Lord.
13 For his name only is exalted, •
his splendour above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up the horn of his people
and praise for all his faithful servants, •
the children of Israel, a people who are near him.
Alleluia.
1 Alleluia.
O sing to the Lord a new song; •
sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
2 Let Israel rejoice in their maker; •
let the children of Zion be joyful in their king.
3 Let them praise his name in the dance; •
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and lyre.
4 For the Lord has pleasure in his people •
and adorns the poor with salvation.
5 Let the faithful be joyful in glory; •
let them rejoice in their ranks,
6 With the praises of God in their mouths •
and a two-edged sword in their hands;
7 To execute vengeance on the nations •
and punishment on the peoples;
8 To bind their kings in chains •
and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute on them the judgement decreed: •
such honour have all his faithful servants.
Alleluia.
O sing to the Lord a new song; •
sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
2 Let Israel rejoice in their maker; •
let the children of Zion be joyful in their king.
3 Let them praise his name in the dance; •
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and lyre.
4 For the Lord has pleasure in his people •
and adorns the poor with salvation.
5 Let the faithful be joyful in glory; •
let them rejoice in their ranks,
6 With the praises of God in their mouths •
and a two-edged sword in their hands;
7 To execute vengeance on the nations •
and punishment on the peoples;
8 To bind their kings in chains •
and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute on them the judgement decreed: •
such honour have all his faithful servants.
Alleluia.
1 Alleluia.
O praise God in his holiness; •
praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts; •
praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the blast of the trumpet; •
praise him upon the harp and lyre.
4 Praise him with timbrel and dances; •
praise him upon the strings and pipe.
5 Praise him with ringing cymbals; •
praise him upon the clashing cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath •
praise the Lord.
Alleluia.
O praise God in his holiness; •
praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts; •
praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the blast of the trumpet; •
praise him upon the harp and lyre.
4 Praise him with timbrel and dances; •
praise him upon the strings and pipe.
5 Praise him with ringing cymbals; •
praise him upon the clashing cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath •
praise the Lord.
Alleluia.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
Lord Christ, eternal Word and Light of the Father's glory: send your light and your truth that we may both know and proclaim your word of life, to the glory of God the Father; for you now live and reign, God for all eternity. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed
The reading may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, the Easter Anthems
Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us:
so let us celebrate the feast,
Now with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness:
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Christ once raised from the dead dies no more:
death has no more dominion over him.
In dying, he died to sin once for all:
in living, he lives to God.
See yourselves, therefor, as dead to sin:
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ has been raised from the dead:
the first fruits of those who sleep.
For since by one man came death:
by another has come also the resurrection of the dead,
For as in Adam all die:
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
so let us celebrate the feast,
Now with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness:
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Christ once raised from the dead dies no more:
death has no more dominion over him.
In dying, he died to sin once for all:
in living, he lives to God.
See yourselves, therefor, as dead to sin:
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ has been raised from the dead:
the first fruits of those who sleep.
For since by one man came death:
by another has come also the resurrection of the dead,
For as in Adam all die:
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
8 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
9 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day
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.
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.
10 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
11 The Evening Collect
Come to visit us, Lord this night, so that by your strength we may rise at daybreak to rejoice in the resurrection of Christ your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
12
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.
see Revelation 22:13