Morning Prayer

Advent
Watch, for you know not when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning; lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. Mark 13:35, 36

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.

Our King and Savior now draws near: Come, let us adore him.

The Lessons

Psalm 38

⁽¹⁾ To bring to remembrance. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure! ⁽²⁾ For Your arrows pierce me deeply, And Your hand presses me down. ⁽³⁾ There is no soundness in my flesh Because of Your anger, Nor any health in my bones Because of my sin. ⁽⁴⁾ For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

⁽⁵⁾ My wounds are foul and festering Because of my foolishness. ⁽⁶⁾ I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. ⁽⁷⁾ For my loins are full of inflammation, And there is no soundness in my flesh. ⁽⁸⁾ I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.

⁽⁹⁾ Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You. ⁽¹⁰⁾ My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me. ⁽¹¹⁾ My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, And my relatives stand afar off. ⁽¹²⁾ Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, And plan deception all the day long.

⁽¹³⁾ But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth. ⁽¹⁴⁾ Thus I am like a man who does not hear, And in whose mouth is no response. ⁽¹⁵⁾ For in You, O LORD, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God. ⁽¹⁶⁾ For I said, 'Hear me, lest they rejoice over me, Lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me.'

⁽¹⁷⁾ For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me. ⁽¹⁸⁾ For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin. ⁽¹⁹⁾ But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong; And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied. ⁽²⁰⁾ Those also who render evil for good, They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.

⁽²¹⁾ Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me! ⁽²²⁾ Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!

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.

Amos Chapter 8

⁽¹⁾ Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, a basket of summer fruit. ⁽²⁾ And He said, 'Amos, what do you see?' So I said, 'A basket of summer fruit.' Then the LORD said to me: 'The end has come upon My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore. ⁽³⁾ And the songs of the temple Shall be wailing in that day,' Says the Lord GOD -- 'Many dead bodies everywhere, They shall be thrown out in silence.' ⁽⁴⁾ Hear this, you who swallow up the needy, And make the poor of the land fail,

⁽⁵⁾ Saying: 'When will the New Moon be past, That we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, That we may trade wheat? Making the ephah small and the shekel large, Falsifying the scales by deceit, ⁽⁶⁾ That we may buy the poor for silver, And the needy for a pair of sandals -- Even sell the bad wheat?' ⁽⁷⁾ The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: 'Surely I will never forget any of their works. ⁽⁸⁾ Shall the land not tremble for this, And everyone mourn who dwells in it? All of it shall swell like the River, Heave and subside Like the River of Egypt.

⁽⁹⁾ And it shall come to pass in that day,' says the Lord GOD, 'That I will make the sun go down at noon, And I will darken the earth in broad daylight; ⁽¹⁰⁾ I will turn your feasts into mourning, And all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on every waist, And baldness on every head; I will make it like mourning for an only son, And its end like a bitter day. ⁽¹¹⁾ Behold, the days are coming,' says the Lord GOD, 'That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD. ⁽¹²⁾ They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.

⁽¹³⁾ In that day the fair virgins And strong young men Shall faint from thirst. ⁽¹⁴⁾ Those who swear by the sin of Samaria, Who say, 'As your god lives, O Dan!' And, 'As the way of Beersheba lives!' They shall fall and never rise again.'

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Revelation Chapter 1

⁽¹⁷⁾ And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, 'Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. ⁽¹⁸⁾ I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. ⁽¹⁹⁾ Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. ⁽¹⁾ To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ' These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ⁽²⁾ I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ⁽³⁾ and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. ⁽⁴⁾ Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

⁽⁵⁾ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place -- unless you repent. ⁽⁶⁾ But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ⁽⁷⁾ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.' '

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Matthew Chapter 23

⁽¹⁾ Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, ⁽²⁾ saying: 'The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. ⁽³⁾ Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. ⁽⁴⁾ For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

⁽⁵⁾ But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. ⁽⁶⁾ They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, ⁽⁷⁾ greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' ⁽⁸⁾ But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.

⁽⁹⁾ Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. ⁽¹⁰⁾ And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. ⁽¹¹⁾ But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. ⁽¹²⁾ And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.


Glory to God        
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.


The Third Song of Isaiah       Isaiah 60:1 to 3, 11a, 14c, 18 to 19
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.
For behold, darkness covers the land;
deep gloom enshrouds the peoples.
But over you the Lord will rise,
and his glory will appear upon you.
Nations will stream to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawning.
Your gates will always be open;
by day or night they will never be shut.
They will call you, The City of the Lord,
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Violence will no more be heard in your land,
ruin or destruction within your borders.
You will call your walls, Salvation,
and all your portals, Praise.
The sun will no more be your light by day;
by night you will not need the brightness of the moon.
The Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
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:  Second Sunday of Advent
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect of the Day: Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Mission: Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. 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

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21