Morning Prayer (Matins) in Contemporary Language

Blessed are you, creator of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As your dawn renews the face of the earth
bringing light and life to all creation,
may we rejoice in this day you have made;
as we wake refreshed from the depths of sleep,
open our eyes to behold your presence
and strengthen our hands to do your will,
that the world may rejoice and give you praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
AllBlessed be God for ever.

after Lancelot Andrewes (1626)

or a suitable hymn,

or A Song of God’s Righteousness

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 106*

Refrain: The Lord remembered his covenant.

1 Alleluia.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is gracious, ♦
for his faithfulness endures for ever.

2 Who can express the mighty acts of the Lord ♦
or show forth all his praise?

3 Blessed are those who observe what is right ♦
and always do what is just.

4 Remember me, O Lord, in the favour you bear for your people; ♦
visit me in the day of your salvation;

5 That I may see the prosperity of your chosen
and rejoice in the gladness of your people, ♦
and exult with your inheritance. R

6 We have sinned like our forebears; ♦
we have done wrong and dealt wickedly.

7 In Egypt they did not consider your wonders,
nor remember the abundance of your faithful love; ♦
they rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea.

8 But he saved them for his name’s sake, ♦
that he might make his power to be known.

9 He rebuked the Red Sea and it was dried up; ♦
so he led them through the deep as through the wilderness.

10 He saved them from the adversary’s hand ♦
and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

11 As for those that troubled them, the waters overwhelmed them; ♦
there was not one of them left.

12 Then they believed his words ♦
and sang aloud his praise. R

13 But soon they forgot his deeds ♦
and would not wait for his counsel.

14 A craving seized them in the wilderness, ♦
and they put God to the test in the desert.

15 He gave them their desire, ♦
but sent a wasting sickness among them.

16 They grew jealous of Moses in the camp ♦
and of Aaron, the holy one of the Lord.

17 So the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan ♦
and covered the company of Abiram.

18 A fire was kindled in their company; ♦
the flame burnt up the wicked. R

19 They made a calf at Horeb ♦
and worshipped the molten image;

20 Thus they exchanged their glory ♦
for the image of an ox that feeds on hay.

21 They forgot God their saviour, ♦
who had done such great things in Egypt,

22 Wonderful deeds in the land of Ham ♦
and fearful things at the Red Sea.

23 So he would have destroyed them,
had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, ♦
to turn away his wrath from consuming them. R

24 Then they scorned the Promised Land ♦
and would not believe his word,

25 But murmured in their tents ♦
and would not heed the voice of the Lord.

26 So he lifted his hand against them ♦
and swore to overthrow them in the wilderness,

27 To disperse their descendants among the nations, ♦
and to scatter them throughout the lands. R

28 They joined themselves to the Baal of Peor ♦
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.

29 They provoked him to anger with their evil deeds ♦
and a plague broke out among them.

30 Then Phinehas stood up and interceded ♦
and so the plague was stayed.

31 This was counted to him for righteousness ♦
throughout all generations for ever.

32 They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, ♦
so that Moses suffered for their sake;

33 For they so embittered his spirit ♦
that he spoke rash words with his lips. R

34 They did not destroy the peoples ♦
as the Lord had commanded them.

35 They mingled with the nations ♦
and learned to follow their ways,

36 So that they worshipped their idols, ♦
which became to them a snare.

37 Their own sons and daughters ♦
they sacrificed to evil spirits.

38 They shed innocent blood, ♦
the blood of their sons and daughters,

39 Which they offered to the idols of Canaan, ♦
and the land was defiled with blood.

40 Thus were they polluted by their actions, ♦
and in their wanton deeds went whoring after other gods. R

41 Therefore was the wrath of the Lord
kindled against his people, ♦
and he abhorred his inheritance.

42 He gave them over to the hand of the nations, ♦
and those who hated them ruled over them.

43 So their enemies oppressed them ♦
and put them in subjection under their hand.

44 Many a time did he deliver them,
but they rebelled through their own devices ♦
and were brought down through their wickedness.

45 Nevertheless, he saw their adversity, ♦
when he heard their lamentation.

46 He remembered his covenant with them ♦
and relented according to the greatness of his faithful love.

47 He made them also to be pitied ♦
by all who had taken them captive. R

48 Save us, O Lord our God,
and gather us from among the nations, ♦
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.

49 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting and to everlasting; ♦
and let all the people say, Amen.
Alleluia.

Refrain: The Lord remembered his covenant.

Holy God,
when our memories blot out your kindness
and we ignore your patient love,
remember us, re-make us,
and give to us poor sinners
the rich inheritance of Jesus Christ our Lord.

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.

2 Kings 18.1-12

In the third year of King Hoshea son of Elah of Israel, Hezekiah son of King Ahaz of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord just as his ancestor David had done. He removed the high places, broke down the pillars, and cut down the sacred pole. He broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it; it was called Nehushtan. He trusted in the Lord the God of Israel; so that there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah after him, or among those who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following him but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. The Lord was with him; wherever he went, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him. He attacked the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watch-tower to fortified city.

In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of King Hoshea son of Elah of Israel, King Shalmaneser of Assyria came up against Samaria, besieged it, and at the end of three years took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of King Hoshea of Israel, Samaria was taken. The king of Assyria carried the Israelites away to Assyria, settled them in Halah, on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God but transgressed his covenant—all that Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded; they neither listened nor obeyed.

Canticle

A Song of Peace, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 26 (page 577), may be said

Refrain:

AllSpirit of God, teach us your ways,
that we may walk in the paths of peace. Alleluia.

1Come, let us go up to the mountain of God, ♦
to the house of the God of Jacob;

2That God may teach us his ways, ♦
and that we may walk in his paths.

3For the law shall go out from Zion, ♦
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4God shall judge between the nations, ♦
and shall mediate for many peoples.

5They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, ♦
and their spears into pruning hooks.

6Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, ♦
neither shall they learn war any more.

7O people of Jacob, come: ♦
let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Isaiah 2.3-5

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.

AllSpirit of God, teach us your ways,
that we may walk in the paths of peace. Alleluia.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

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

Philippians 1.12-end

I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear.

Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defence of the gospel; the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will result in my deliverance. It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.

Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well—since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

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

Open my eyes, O Lord
that I may see the wonders of your law.
AllOpen my eyes, O Lord
that I may see the wonders of your law.
Lead me in the path of your commandments
Allthat I may see the wonders of your law.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllOpen my eyes, O Lord
that I may see the wonders of your law.

from Psalm 119

Gospel Canticle

The Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah) is normally said,
or The Song of Christ's Glory (page 619) may be said

Refrain:

AllThey were faithful until death
and God has given them the crown of life. Alleluia.

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:

AllThey were faithful until death
and God has given them the crown of life. Alleluia.

Prayers

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

Prayers may include the following concerns from the cycle on pages 362–363

¶ All who are sick in body, mind or spirit
¶ Those in the midst of famine or disaster
¶ Victims of abuse and violence, intolerance and prejudice
¶ Those who are bereaved
¶ All who work in the medical and healing professions

One of the forms of prayer found on pages 362–371 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

Sovereign God,
who set your servant Edward
      upon the throne of an earthly kingdom
and inspired him with zeal for the kingdom of heaven:
grant that we may so confess the faith of Christ
      by word and deed,
that we may, with all your saints, inherit your eternal glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who 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

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)

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

The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
and keep us in eternal life.
AllAmen.

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
AllThanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.