Lauds (Morning Prayer) INTRODUCTION O God, come to our aid. O Lord, make haste to help us. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia. Hymn Eternal glory of the sky, Blest hope of frail humanity, The Father’s Sole-begotten One, Yet born a spotless Virgin’s Son. Uplift us with your arm of might, And let our hearts rise pure and bright, And, ardent in God’s praises, pay The thanks we owe him every day. The rays of sun are glittering clear, And tell that day itself is near: The shadows of the night depart; So, holy Light, illume the heart. Within our senses ever dwell, And worldly darkness thence expel: Long as the days of life endure, Preserve our souls devout and pure. The Faith that first must be possessed, Root deep within our inmost breast: And joyous Hope in second place, Then Charity, thy greatest grace. Short Reading Galatians 2:19-20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I live now not with my own life but with the life of Christ who lives in me. The life I now live in this body I live in faith: faith in the Son of God who loved me and who sacrificed himself for my sake. Short Responsory I will call upon the Lord, the Most High, because of his kindness to me. – I will call upon the Lord, the Most High, because of his kindness to me. He will send help from heaven and set me free. – I will call upon the Lord, the Most High, because of his kindness to me. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. – I will call upon the Lord, the Most High, because of his kindness to me. Canticle Benedictus The Messiah and his forerunner Through the loving mercy of our God, the Rising Sun has come to visit us. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear - freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Through the loving mercy of our God, the Rising Sun has come to visit us. Prayers and intercessions Christ is the image of the unseen God, the first-born of all creation, and the first to be born from the dead. All things are to be reconciled through him because he made peace by his death on the cross. We pray to him: – Lord Jesus, come to us today. We have been baptized into your death: may we be cleansed of greed and envy, and clothed in the strength and gentleness of your love. – Lord Jesus, come to us today. We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit who has been given to us; confirm us in your service, and help us to bear witness to you in the society in which we live. – Lord Jesus, come to us today. Before you suffered, you longed to eat the passover with your disciples: as we take part in your supper, may we share in your resurrection. – Lord Jesus, come to us today. You continue to work in your faithful people: create through them a new world where injustice and destruction will give way to growth, freedom and hope. – Lord Jesus, come to us today. 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. Lord God, bestow a full measure of your grace on us who are gathered here in prayer. As you work within us to keep us in the path of your commandments, may we receive consolation in this present life and eternal joys in the next. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. AMEN
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 11:42:20 +0000