Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer Compiled by Michael D. Bush. Institute for Reformed Worship, Erskine Theological Seminary.

This is an adaptation of the Order for Morning Prayer from the 1552 Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. This prayer book represented the English Church's nearest approach to the Reformed tradition.

THE INTRODUCTION

At the beginning of Morning Prayer the Minister shall read one or more of these sentences of the Scriptures.

I WILL arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. Luke 15. 18, 19.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us: but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1. 8, 9.

Enter not into judgement with your servant, O Lord: for in your sight shall no living person be justified. Psalm 143. 2.

Of Worship. God is a Spirit: and those worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4. 24.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: let the whole earth stand in awe of him. Psalm 96. 9.

Advent . Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3. 2.

The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Romans 13. 12.

Christmas . Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For to you is born in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2. 10, 11.

Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 1 John 4. 9.

Lent . Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn to the

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you wilt not despise. Psalm 51. 17.

Passiontide . Is it nothing to you, all you that pass by? Behold, and see if there is any sorrow like to my sorrow. Lamentations 1. 12.

Good Friday. God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5. 8.

Easter . The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia. Luke 24. 34.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has begotten us again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1. 3

The Minister begins,

DEARLY beloved, the Scripture moves us in many places to acknowledge and confess our many sins; and urges that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father; but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; so that we may obtain forgiveness, by God's infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we most chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together to give thanks for the great benefits we have received at God's hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy word, and to ask those things which are necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice to the throne of the heavenly grace.

or

Dearly beloved, I invite you to accompany me with a

or

Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.

Then the Minister and People together say, all kneeling:

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep, we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, we have offended against your holy laws, we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done, and there is no health in us: But, O Lord, have mercy upon us miserable offenders; spare those, O Lord, who confess their faults, restore those that are penitent, according to your promises declared to the world in Christ Jesus our Lord: And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

The Absolution, or Remission of sins, to be pronounced by the Minister:

MAY the Almighty and merciful Lord grant to you pardon and remission of all your sins, time for true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen .

The people answer here, and at the end of all the prayers, Amen.

Then the minister shall say,

O LORD, open our lips;

Ans. And our mouth shall show forth your praise.

Min . O God, make speed to save us;

O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

Praise the Lord;

The Lord's Name be praised.

Then shall be sung the 95th Psalm.(Presbyterian Hymnal, #215)

Or this Psalm may be said responsively as follows:

Psalm 95

Min . O COME, let us sing to the Lord;

Ans. let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving;

and show ourselves glad in him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God;

and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are all the corners of the earth;

and the strength of the hills is his also.

The sea is his, and he made it;

and his hands prepared the dry land.

O come, let us worship, and fall down:

and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is the Lord our God:

and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts:

as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness, when your fathers tempted me; They tested me, and saw my works.

Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said:

It is a people that do err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways.

To whom I swore in my wrath;

that they should not enter into my rest.

Then shall be read distinctly with an audible voice the First Lesson, taken out of the Old Testament.

Holy God, we praise Your name;

Lord of all, we bow before You;

All on earth Your scepter claim,

All in heaven above adore You.

Infinite Your vast domain,

Everlasting is Your reign.

Hark, the glad celestial hymn

Angel choirs above are raising;

Cherubim and seraphim,

In unceasing chorus praising,

Fill the heavens with sweet accord:

Holy, holy, holy Lord.

All apostles join the strain

As Your sacred name they hallow;

Prophets swell the glad refrain,

And the blessed martyrs follow,

And from morn to set of sun,

Through the church the song goes on.

Holy Father, Holy Son,

Holy Spirit: Three we name You,

While in essence only One;

Undivided God we claim You,

And adoring bend the knee

While we own the mystery.

And after the second lesson shall be used Benedictus, in English as follows:

Blest be the Lord, the God of Israel, who brings the dawn and darkest night dispels, who raises up a mighty saviour from the earth,

of David's line, a son of royal birth.

The prophets tell a story just begun of vanquished foe and glorious victory won,

This is the oath once sworn to Abraham: all shall be free to dwell upon the land, free now to praise, unharmed by the oppressor's rod, holy and righteous in the sight of God.

And you, my child, this day you shall be called the promised one, the prophet of our God, for you will go before the Lord to clear the way, and shepherd all into the light of day.

The tender love God promised from our birth is soon to dawn upon this shadowed earth, to shine on those whose sorrows seem to never cease, to guide our feet into the path of peace.

Then shall be sung or said the Apostles' Creed, by the minister and the people, all standing.

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he shall come again to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church, the forgiveness of sins, the communion of the saints, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Then the minister shall say, all kneeling or sitting

O Lord, show your mercy upon us;

Ans. And grant us your salvation.

And mercifully hear us when we call upon you.

Endue your Ministers with righteousness;

And make your chosen people joyful.

O Lord, save your people;

And bless your inheritance.

Give peace in our time, O Lord;

Because there is none other that fights for us, but only you, O God.

O God, make clean our hearts within us;

And take not your Holy Spirit from us.

Let us pray.

After a long period of silence shall follow three Collects: The first of the day: The second for Peace: The third for Grace to live well. And the last two Collects shall never alter, but be said at Morning Prayer throughout all the year, as follows.

The Collect for Peace:

O GOD, the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom stands our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom: Defend us your humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen .

The Collect for Grace:

O LORD our heavenly Father, Almighty and Everlasting God, who has safely brought us to the beginning of this day: Defend us today with your mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, nor run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by your governance, to do always what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen .

Here may follow an anthem or hymn.

Go with us, Lord, and guide the way,

through this and every coming day,

our lives may be our gift to you.

A Prayer of John Chrysostom:

ALMIGHTY God, who has given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and promised that when two or three are gathered together in your Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of your servants as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen .

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 .

Here ends the order of Morning Prayer.