Opening Sentence
On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Morning Prayer
O God:
Give me strength to live another day;
Let me not turn coward before its difficulties or prove recreant to its duties;
Let me not lose faith in other people;
Keep me sweet and sound of heart, in spite of ingratitude, treachery, or meanness;
Preserve me from minding little stings or giving them;
Help me to keep my heart clean, and to live so honestly and fearlessly that no outward failure can dishearten me or take away the joy of conscious integrity;
Open wide the eyes of my soul that I may see good in all things;
Grant me this day some new vision of thy truth;
Inspire me with the spirit of joy and gladness;
and make me the cup of strength to suffering souls;
in the name of the strong Deliverer, our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen
The Old Testament Lesson
The Old Testament Lesson for today is taken from Daniel 1:1-21
In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord let King Jehoiakim of Judah fall into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the house of God. These he brought to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods. Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king's palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine. They were to be educated for three years, so that at the end of that time they could be stationed in the king's court. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah. The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. Now God allowed Daniel to receive favor and compassion from the palace master. The palace master said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your own age, you would endanger my head with the king." Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: "Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe." So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations. So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams. At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar, and the king spoke with them. And among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in the king's court. In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. And Daniel continued there until the first year of King Cyrus.
The Epistle Lesson
The Epistle Lesson for today is taken from 1 John 1:1-10
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us-- we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
The Holy Gospel Lesson
The Holy Gospel is written in John 17:1-11
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
Morning Psalms
Psalm 1 Beatus vir qui non abiit
1 Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful!
2 Their delight is in the law of the LORD, and they meditate on his law day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; everything they do shall prosper.
4 It is not so with the wicked; they are like chaff which the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is doomed.
Psalm 2 Quare fremuerunt gentes?
1 Why are the nations in an uproar? Why do the peoples mutter empty threats?
2 Why do the kings of the earth rise up in revolt, and the princes plot together, against the LORD and against his Anointed?
3 Let us break their yoke, they say; let us cast off their bonds from us.
4 He whose throne is in heaven is laughing; the Lord has them in derision.
5 Then he speaks to them in his wrath, and his rage fills them with terror.
6 I myself have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion
7 Let me announce the decree of the LORD: he said to me, "You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession.
9 You shall crush them with an iron rod and shatter them like a piece of pottery."
10 And now, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Submit to the LORD with fear, and with trembling bow before him;
12 Lest he be angry and you perish; for his wrath is quickly kindled.
13 Happy are they all who take refuge in him!
Psalm 3 Domine, quid multiplicati
1 LORD, how many adversaries I have! how many there are who rise up against me!
2 How many there are who say of me, "There is no help for him in his God."
3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me; you are my glory, the one who lifts up my head.
4 I call aloud upon the LORD, and he answers me from his holy hill;
5 I lie down and go to sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
6 I do not fear the multitudes of people who set themselves against me all around.
7 Rise up, O LORD; set me free, O my God; surely, you will strike all my enemies across the face, you will break the teeth of the wicked.
8 Deliverance belongs to the LORD. Your blessing be upon your people!
Evening Psalms
Psalm 4 Cum invocarem
1 Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; you set me free when I am hard-pressed; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; how long will you worship dumb idols and run after false gods?
3 Know that the LORD does wonders for the faithful; when I call upon the LORD, he will hear me.
4 Tremble, then, and do not sin; speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.
5 Offer the appointed sacrifices and put your trust in the LORD.
6 Many are saying, "Oh, that we might see better times!" Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.
7 You have put gladness in my heart, more than when grain and wine and oil increase.
8 I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; for only you, LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 7 Domine, Deus meus
1 O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me;
2 Lest like a lion they tear me in pieces and snatch me away with none to deliver me.
3 O LORD my God, if I have done these things: if there is any wickedness in my hands,
4 If I have repaid my friend with evil, or plundered him who without cause is my enemy;
5 Then let my enemy pursue and overtake me, trample my life into the ground, and lay my honor in the dust.
6 Stand up, O LORD, in your wrath; rise up against the fury of my enemies.
7 Awake, O my God, decree justice; let the assembly of the peoples gather round you.
8 Be seated on your lofty throne, O Most High; O LORD, judge the nations.
9 Give judgment for me according to my righteousness, O LORD, and according to my innocence, O Most High.
10 Let the malice of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; for you test the mind and heart, O righteous God.
11 God is my shield and defense; he is the savior of the true in heart.
12 God is a righteous judge; God sits in judgment every day.
13 If they will not repent, God will whet his sword; he will bend his bow and make it ready.
14 He has prepared his weapons of death; he makes his arrows shafts of fire.
15 Look at those who are in labor with wickedness, who conceive evil, and give birth to a lie.
16 They dig a pit and make it deep and fall into the hole that they have made.
17 Their malice turns back upon their own head; their violence falls on their own scalp.
18 I will bear witness that the LORD is righteous; I will praise the Name of the LORD Most High.
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 power of 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
Prayer of the Day
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
A Prayer for the Renewal of Life
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
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
Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God! Alleluia, alleluia!
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
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.
