Morning Prayer

Epiphany
I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. Isaiah 49:6b

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 Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

The Lessons

Psalm 75

⁽¹⁾ We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near. ⁽²⁾ When I choose the proper time, I will judge uprightly. ⁽³⁾ The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved; I set up its pillars firmly. Selah ⁽⁴⁾ I said to the boastful, 'Do not deal boastfully,' And to the wicked, 'Do not lift up the horn.

⁽⁵⁾ Do not lift up your horn on high; Do not speak with a stiff neck.' ' ⁽⁶⁾ For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. ⁽⁷⁾ But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another. ⁽⁸⁾ For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, And the wine is red; It is fully mixed, and He pours it out; Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth Drain and drink down.

⁽⁹⁾ But I will declare forever, I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. ⁽¹⁰⁾ All the horns of the wicked I will also cut off, But the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.'

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 76

⁽¹⁾ In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel. ⁽²⁾ In Salem also is His tabernacle, And His dwelling place in Zion. ⁽³⁾ There He broke the arrows of the bow, The shield and sword of battle. Selah ⁽⁴⁾ You are more glorious and excellent Than the mountains of prey.

⁽⁵⁾ The stouthearted were plundered; They have sunk into their sleep; And none of the mighty men have found the use of their hands. ⁽⁶⁾ At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep. ⁽⁷⁾ You, Yourself, are to be feared; And who may stand in Your presence When once You are angry? ⁽⁸⁾ You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared and was still,

⁽⁹⁾ When God arose to judgment, To deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah ⁽¹⁰⁾ Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself. ⁽¹¹⁾ Make vows to the LORD your God, and pay them; Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared. ⁽¹²⁾ He shall cut off the spirit of princes; He is awesome to the kings of the earth.

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.

Genesis Chapter 24

⁽²⁸⁾ So the young woman ran and told her mother's household these things. ⁽²⁹⁾ Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well. ⁽³⁰⁾ So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, 'Thus the man spoke to me,' that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well. ⁽³¹⁾ And he said, 'Come in, O blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.'

⁽³²⁾ Then the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. ⁽³³⁾ Food was set before him to eat, but he said, 'I will not eat until I have told about my errand.' And he said, 'Speak on.' ⁽³⁴⁾ So he said, 'I am Abraham's servant. ⁽³⁵⁾ The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

⁽³⁶⁾ And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and to him he has given all that he has. ⁽³⁷⁾ Now my master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell; ⁽³⁸⁾ but you shall go to my father's house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.' ⁽⁴⁹⁾ Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.' ⁽⁵⁰⁾ Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, 'The thing comes from the LORD; we cannot speak to you either bad or good. ⁽⁵¹⁾ Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as the LORD has spoken.'

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Hebrews Chapter 12

⁽¹²⁾ Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ⁽¹³⁾ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. ⁽¹⁴⁾ Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ⁽¹⁵⁾ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

⁽¹⁶⁾ lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. ⁽¹⁷⁾ For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. ⁽¹⁸⁾ For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, ⁽¹⁹⁾ and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.

⁽²⁰⁾ (For they could not endure what was commanded: 'And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.' ⁽²¹⁾ And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, 'I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.') ⁽²²⁾ But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, ⁽²³⁾ to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

⁽²⁴⁾ to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. ⁽²⁵⁾ See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, ⁽²⁶⁾ whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, 'Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.' ⁽²⁷⁾ Now this, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

⁽²⁸⁾ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. ⁽²⁹⁾ For our God is a consuming fire.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

John Chapter 7

⁽¹⁴⁾ Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. ⁽¹⁵⁾ And the Jews marveled, saying, 'How does this Man know letters, having never studied?' ⁽¹⁶⁾ Jesus answered them and said, 'My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. ⁽¹⁷⁾ If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

⁽¹⁸⁾ He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. ⁽¹⁹⁾ Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?' ⁽²⁰⁾ The people answered and said, 'You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?' ⁽²¹⁾ Jesus answered and said to them, 'I did one work, and you all marvel.

⁽²²⁾ Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. ⁽²³⁾ If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? ⁽²⁴⁾ Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.' ⁽²⁵⁾ Now some of them from Jerusalem said, 'Is this not He whom they seek to kill?

⁽²⁶⁾ But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? ⁽²⁷⁾ However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.' ⁽²⁸⁾ Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, 'You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. ⁽²⁹⁾ But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.'

⁽³⁰⁾ Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. ⁽³¹⁾ And many of the people believed in Him, and said, 'When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?' ⁽³²⁾ The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. ⁽³³⁾ Then Jesus said to them, 'I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me.

⁽³⁴⁾ You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.' ⁽³⁵⁾ Then the Jews said among themselves, 'Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? ⁽³⁶⁾ What is this thing that He said, 'You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come'?'

The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

A Song of Creation     Prayer of Manasseh 1 to 2, 4, 6 to 7, 11 to 15
Invocation
Glorify the Lord,
all you works of the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him forever.
In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him forever.

The Cosmic Order
Glorify the Lord,
you angels and all powers of the Lord,
O heavens and all waters above the heavens.
Sun and moon and stars of the sky,
glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him forever.
Glorify the Lord,
every shower of rain and fall of dew,
all winds and fire and heat.
Winter and Summer, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him forever.

Glorify the Lord, O chill and cold,
drops of dew and flakes of snow.
Frost and cold, ice and sleet,
glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him forever.

Glorify the Lord,
O nights and days,
O shining light and enfolding dark.
Storm clouds and thunderbolts, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him forever.

Glorify the Lord,
O spirits and souls of the righteous,
praise him and highly exalt him forever.
You that are holy and humble of heart,
glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him forever.

Doxology
Let us glorify the Lord:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
praise him and highly exalt him forever.
In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him forever.

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:  Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; 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: Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; 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