Morning Prayer

--Today is the Feast of St. Clare--
Ordinary Time
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Saint and Major Saints' Days
Their sound has gone out into all lands, and their message to the ends of the world. Psalm 19:4

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 mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

The Lessons

Psalm 89

⁽¹⁾ I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. ⁽²⁾ For I have said, 'Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.' ⁽³⁾ I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: ⁽⁴⁾ Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations.' ' Selah

⁽⁵⁾ And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints. ⁽⁶⁾ For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD? ⁽⁷⁾ God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him. ⁽⁸⁾ O LORD God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.

⁽⁹⁾ You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them. ⁽¹⁰⁾ You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one who is slain; You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm. ⁽¹¹⁾ The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness, You have founded them. ⁽¹²⁾ The north and the south, You have created them; Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name.

⁽¹³⁾ You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand. ⁽¹⁴⁾ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. ⁽¹⁵⁾ Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. ⁽¹⁶⁾ In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted.

⁽¹⁷⁾ For You are the glory of their strength, And in Your favor our horn is exalted. ⁽¹⁸⁾ For our shield belongs to the LORD, And our king to the Holy One of Israel.

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.

2 Samuel Chapter 13

⁽²³⁾ And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king's sons. ⁽²⁴⁾ Then Absalom came to the king and said, 'Kindly note, your servant has sheepshearers; please, let the king and his servants go with your servant.' ⁽²⁵⁾ But the king said to Absalom, 'No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we be a burden to you.' Then he urged him, but he would not go; and he blessed him. ⁽²⁶⁾ Then Absalom said, 'If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.' And the king said to him, 'Why should he go with you?'

⁽²⁷⁾ But Absalom urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. ⁽²⁸⁾ Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, 'Watch now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon!' then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.' ⁽²⁹⁾ So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled. ⁽³⁰⁾ And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, 'Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and not one of them is left!'

⁽³¹⁾ So the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. ⁽³²⁾ Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, 'Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. ⁽³³⁾ Now therefore, let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead. For only Amnon is dead.' ⁽³⁴⁾ Then Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted his eyes and looked, and there, many people were coming from the road on the hillside behind him.

⁽³⁵⁾ And Jonadab said to the king, 'Look, the king's sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is.' ⁽³⁶⁾ So it was, as soon as he had finished speaking, that the king's sons indeed came, and they lifted up their voice and wept. Also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly. ⁽³⁷⁾ But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. ⁽³⁸⁾ So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

⁽³⁹⁾ And King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Acts Chapter 20

⁽¹⁷⁾ From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. ⁽¹⁸⁾ And when they had come to him, he said to them: 'You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, ⁽¹⁹⁾ serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; ⁽²⁰⁾ how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,

⁽²¹⁾ testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁽²²⁾ And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, ⁽²³⁾ except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. ⁽²⁴⁾ But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

⁽²⁵⁾ And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. ⁽²⁶⁾ Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. ⁽²⁷⁾ For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. ⁽²⁸⁾ Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

⁽²⁹⁾ For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ⁽³⁰⁾ Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. ⁽³¹⁾ Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. ⁽³²⁾ So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

⁽³³⁾ I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. ⁽³⁴⁾ Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. ⁽³⁵⁾ I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' ' ⁽³⁶⁾ And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

⁽³⁷⁾ Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, ⁽³⁸⁾ sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Mark Chapter 9

⁽⁴²⁾ But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. ⁽⁴³⁾ If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched -- ⁽⁴⁴⁾ where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' ⁽⁴⁵⁾ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched --

⁽⁴⁶⁾ where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' ⁽⁴⁷⁾ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire -- ⁽⁴⁸⁾ where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' ⁽⁴⁹⁾ For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.

⁽⁵⁰⁾ Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.'

The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The Song of the Redeemed       Revelation 15:3 to 4  
O ruler of the universe, Lord God,
great deeds are they that you have done,
  surpassing human understanding.
Your ways are ways of righteousness and truth,
 O King of all the ages.

Who can fail to do you homage, Lord,
and sing the praises of your Name?
  for you only are the Holy One.
All nations will draw near
and fall down before you,
  because your just and holy works have been revealed.
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 First Song of Isaiah       Isaiah 12:2 to 6
 
Surely, it is God who saves me;
  I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold
and my sure defense,
  and he will be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing
  from the springs of salvation.
And on that day you shall say,
  Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among the peoples;
  see that they remember that his Name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord,
for he has done great things,
  and this is known in all the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy,
  for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.
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:  Proper 14 The Sunday closest to August 10
Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Collect of the Day: O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Mission: Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 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

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14