Morning Prayer

--Today is the Feast of Saint Perpetua--

Saint and Major Saints' Days
You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Ephesians 2:19

Confession of Sin
Most merciful God,
I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry and I humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on us, 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

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 forever. Amen   Alleluia

Venite
The Antiphon:

ⓘ   A short, reflective sentence recited alongside a psalm to deepen our understanding of the readings.

The Lessons

Psalm 16

⁽¹⁾ Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. ⁽²⁾ O my soul, you have said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.' ⁽³⁾ As for the saints who are on the earth, 'They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.' ⁽⁴⁾ Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips.

⁽⁵⁾ O LORD,You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. ⁽⁶⁾ The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. ⁽⁷⁾ I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. ⁽⁸⁾ I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

⁽⁹⁾ Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. ⁽¹⁰⁾ For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. ⁽¹¹⁾ You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

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.

Psalm 17

⁽¹⁾ Hear a just cause, O LORD, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. ⁽²⁾ Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. ⁽³⁾ You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. ⁽⁴⁾ Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.

⁽⁵⁾ Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip. ⁽⁶⁾ I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech. ⁽⁷⁾ Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them. ⁽⁸⁾ Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,

⁽⁹⁾ From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me. ⁽¹⁰⁾ They have closed up their fat hearts; With their mouths they speak proudly. ⁽¹¹⁾ They have now surrounded us in our steps; They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth, ⁽¹²⁾ As a lion is eager to tear his prey, And like a young lion lurking in secret places.

⁽¹³⁾ Arise, O LORD, Confront him, cast him down; Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword, ⁽¹⁴⁾ With Your hand from men, O LORD, From men of the world who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their possession for their babes. ⁽¹⁵⁾ As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

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.

Deuteronomy Chapter 5

⁽¹⁾ And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: 'Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them. ⁽²⁾ The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. ⁽³⁾ The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. ⁽⁴⁾ The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire.

⁽⁵⁾ I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain. He said: ⁽⁶⁾ I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. ⁽⁷⁾ You shall have no other gods before Me. ⁽⁸⁾ You shall not make for yourself a carved image -- any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;

⁽⁹⁾ you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, ⁽¹⁰⁾ but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. ⁽¹¹⁾ You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. ⁽¹²⁾ Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

2 Corinthians Chapter 12

⁽¹¹⁾ I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing. ⁽¹²⁾ Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Matthew Chapter 7

⁽¹³⁾ Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ⁽¹⁴⁾ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. ⁽¹⁵⁾ Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ⁽¹⁶⁾ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

⁽¹⁷⁾ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ⁽¹⁸⁾ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ⁽¹⁹⁾ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ⁽²⁰⁾ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

⁽²¹⁾ Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The Second Song of Isaiah      Isaiah 55:6 to 11

Seek the Lord while he wills to be found;
call upon him when he draws near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the evil ones their thoughts;
And let them turn to the Lord, and he will have compassion,
and to our God, for he will richly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as rain and snow fall from the heavens
and return not again, but water the earth,
Bringing forth life and giving growth,
seed for sowing and bread for eating,
So is my word that goes forth from my mouth;
it will not return to me empty;
But it will accomplish that which I have purposed,
and prosper in that for which I sent it.
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.


The Apostles' Creed
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 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

The Lord's Prayer   Traditional
Suffrages A

Seasonal Collect:  Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany
Most loving Father, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who care for us: Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect of the Day: Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Mission: 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.

Personal Prayers and Reflection

This is a time to pause, consider and listen. Pray for yourself and others. When you lack the words


Closing Prayers   Thanksgiving

Conclude with the following
Let Us Bless the Lord, Thanks be to God

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13