Morning Prayer (Matins) in Contemporary Language

¶ Morning Prayer
from All Saints’ Day until
the day before the First Sunday of Advent
Saturday, 22 November 2008
Cecilia, Martyr at Rome, c.230 [Commemoration]

Preparation

O Lord, open our lips
Alland our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Your faithful servants bless you.
AllThey make known the glory of your kingdom.

One or more of the following is said or sung:

this or another prayer of thanksgiving

Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
ruler and judge of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
In the darkness of this age that is passing away
may the light of your presence which the saints enjoy
surround our steps as we journey on.
May we reflect your glory this day
and so be made ready to see your face
in the heavenly city where night shall be no more.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
AllBlessed be God for ever.

a suitable hymn, or A Song of Trust in God

1As the deer longs for the water brooks, •
so longs my soul for you, O God.

2My soul is athirst for God, even for the living God; •
when shall I come before the presence of God?

3My tears have been my bread day and night, •
while all day long they say to me, ‘Where is now your God?’

4Now when I think on these things, I pour out my soul: •
how I went with the multitude
and led the procession to the house of God,

5With the voice of praise and thanksgiving, •
among those who kept holy day.

6Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul, •
and why are you so disquieted within me?

7O put your trust in God; •
for I will yet give him thanks,
who is the help of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 42.1-7

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

This opening prayer may be said

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.

Silence is kept.

As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever.
AllAmen.

The Word of God

Psalmody

The appointed psalmody is said.

Psalm 78.1-39

Refrain: O Lord, how glorious are your works.

1Hear my teaching, O my people; •
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2I will open my mouth in a parable; •
I will pour forth mysteries from of old,

3Such as we have heard and known, •
which our forebears have told us.

4We will not hide from their children,
   but will recount to generations to come, •
the praises of the Lord and his power
   and the wonderful works he has done. R

5He laid a solemn charge on Jacob
   and made it a law in Israel, •
which he commanded them to teach their children,

6That the generations to come might know,
   and the children yet unborn, •
that they in turn might tell it to their children;

7So that they might put their trust in God •
and not forget the deeds of God,
   but keep his commandments,

8And not be like their forebears,
   a stubborn and rebellious generation, •
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
   and whose spirit was not faithful to God. R

9The people of Ephraim, armed with the bow, •
turned back in the day of battle;

10They did not keep the covenant of God •
and refused to walk in his law;

11They forgot what he had done •
and the wonders he had shown them.

12For he did marvellous things in the sight of their forebears, •
in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. R

13He divided the sea and let them pass through; •
he made the waters stand still in a heap.

14He led them with a cloud by day •
and all the night through with a blaze of fire.

15He split the hard rocks in the wilderness •
and gave them drink as from the great deep.

16He brought streams out of the rock •
and made water gush out like rivers. R

17Yet for all this they sinned more against him •
and defied the Most High in the wilderness.

18They tested God in their hearts •
and demanded food for their craving.

19They spoke against God and said, •
‘Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

20‘He struck the rock indeed, so that the waters gushed out
   and the streams overflowed, •
but can he give bread or provide meat for his people?’ R

21When the Lord heard this, he was full of wrath; •
a fire was kindled against Jacob
   and his anger went out against Israel,

22For they had no faith in God •
and put no trust in his saving help.

23So he commanded the clouds above •
and opened the doors of heaven.

24He rained down upon them manna to eat •
and gave them the grain of heaven. R

25So mortals ate the bread of angels; •
he sent them food in plenty.

26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens •
and led out the south wind by his might.

27He rained flesh upon them as thick as dust •
and winged fowl like the sand of the sea.

28He let it fall in the midst of their camp •
and round about their tents. R

29So they ate and were well filled, •
for he gave them what they desired.

30But they did not stop their craving; •
their food was still in their mouths,

31When the anger of God rose against them, •
and slew their strongest men
   and felled the flower of Israel. R

32But for all this, they sinned yet more •
and put no faith in his wonderful works.

33So he brought their days to an end like a breath •
and their years in sudden terror.

34Whenever he slew them, they would seek him; •
they would repent and earnestly search for God.

35They remembered that God was their rock •
and the Most High God their redeemer. R

36Yet they did but flatter him with their mouth •
and dissembled with their tongue.

37Their heart was not steadfast towards him, •
neither were they faithful to his covenant.

38But he was so merciful that he forgave their misdeeds
   and did not destroy them; •
many a time he turned back his wrath
   and did not suffer his whole displeasure to be roused.

39For he remembered that they were but flesh, •
a wind that passes by and does not return. R

Refrain: O Lord, how glorious are your works.

God our deliverer,
as you led our ancestors through the wilderness,
so lead us through the wilderness of this world,
that we may be saved through Christ for ever.

Each psalm or group of psalms may end with

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

If there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here, or both may be read after the canticle.

Canticle

A Song of the New Creation, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 28 (page 579), number 46 (page 598) or number 47 (page 599), may be said

Refrain:

AllI will make a way in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert.

1‘I am the Lord, your Holy One, •
the Creator of Israel, your King.’

2Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, •
a path in the mighty waters,

3‘Remember not the former things, •
nor consider the things of old.

4‘Behold, I am doing a new thing; •
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

5‘I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert, •
to give drink to my chosen people,

6‘The people whom I formed for myself, •
that they might declare my praise.’

Isaiah 43.15, 16, 18, 19, 20c, 21

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllI will make a way in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence.

Daniel 12

‘At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the book sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be running back and forth, and evil shall increase.’

Then I, Daniel, looked, and two others appeared, one standing on this bank of the stream and one on the other. One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was upstream, ‘How long shall it be until the end of these wonders?’ The man clothed in linen, who was upstream, raised his right hand and his left hand towards heaven. And I heard him swear by the one who lives for ever that it would be for a time, two times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end, all these things would be accomplished. I heard but could not understand; so I said, ‘My lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?’ He said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for the words are to remain secret and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked shall continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. From the time that the regular burnt-offering is taken away and the abomination that desolates is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Happy are those who persevere and attain the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. But you, go your way, and rest; you shall rise for your reward at the end of the days.’

Revelation 13.11-end

Then I saw another beast that rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of all; and by the signs that it is allowed to perform on behalf of the beast, it deceives the inhabitants of earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived; and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could even speak and cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell who does not have the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let anyone with understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person. Its number is six hundred and sixty-six.

A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord,
Allmy lips shall proclaim your faithfulness.
The heavens bear witness to your wonders;
AllI will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.
The assembly of your saints proclaims your truth;
Allmy lips shall proclaim your faithfulness.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
AllI will sing for ever of your love, O Lord,
my lips shall proclaim your faithfulness.

from Psalm 89

Gospel Canticle

The Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah) is normally said,
or the Te Deum Laudamus (A Song of the Church) (page 636) may be said

Refrain:

AllYou will guide us with your counsel, O God,
and afterwards receive us with glory.

1Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, •
who has come to his people and set them free.

2He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, •
born of the house of his servant David.

3Through his holy prophets God promised of old •
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,

4To show mercy to our ancestors, •
and to remember his holy covenant.

5This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham: •
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

6Free to worship him without fear, •
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.

7And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, •
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

8To give his people knowledge of salvation •
by the forgiveness of all their sins.

9In the tender compassion of our God •
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

10To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, •
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 1.68-79

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

Refrain:

AllYou will guide us with your counsel, O God,
and afterwards receive us with glory.

Prayers

Intercessions are offered
¶ for the day and its tasks
¶ for the world and its needs
¶ for the Church and her life

The cycle on pages 364–365 and the prayer on page 377 may be used.

These responses may be used

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer

(or)

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Silence may be kept.

The Collect of the day is said

Heavenly Father,
whose blessed Son was revealed
      to destroy the works of the devil
and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life:
grant that we, having this hope,
may purify ourselves even as he is pure;
that when he shall appear in power and great glory
we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom;
where he is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
AllAmen.

The Lord’s Prayer is said

Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven,
as our Saviour taught us, so we pray

AllOur Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

(or)

Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

AllOur Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Conclusion

May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven,
bring us to reign with him in glory.
AllAmen.

Let us bless the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.

© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2005
All of the official Common Worship publications are being published by Church House Publishing.
 
The Bible readings (other than the psalms) are from The New Revised Standard Version Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995 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.