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| Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." (Acts 8:18-19) |
Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. Psalm 43:3
Morning Prayer
Lord, let me begin this day in devout meditations, in joy unspeakable, and in blessing and praising You, who has given me such good hope and everlasting consolation.
Lift up my mind above all these little things below, which are apt to distract my thoughts; and keep it above, until my heart is fully resolved to seek You every day, in the path where Jesus has trod before me. Amen
Confession and Forgiveness
Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen
Today's Readings
The First Reading is taken from 1 Samuel 12:1-6, 12:16-25
Samuel said to all Israel, "I have listened to you in all that you have said to me, and have set a king over you. See, it is the king who leads you now; I am old and gray, but my sons are with you. I have led you from my youth until this day. Here I am; testify against me before the LORD and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you." They said, "You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from the hand of anyone." He said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they said, "He is witness." Samuel said to the people, "The LORD is witness, who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors up out of the land of Egypt. Now therefore take your stand and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes. Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that the wickedness that you have done in the sight of the LORD is great in demanding a king for yourselves." So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. All the people said to Samuel, "Pray to the LORD your God for your servants, so that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of demanding a king for ourselves." And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; and do not turn aside after useless things that cannot profit or save, for they are useless. For the LORD will not cast away his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the LORD, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king."
The Second Reading is taken from Acts 8:14-25
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God's gift with money! You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness." Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me." Now after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.
The Holy Gospel is written in Luke 23:1-12
Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king." Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so." Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man." But they were insistent and said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place." When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
Morning Psalms
Psalm 119:145-152 Qoph Clamavi in toto corde meo
145 I call with my whole heart; answer me, O LORD, that I may keep your statutes.
146 I call to you; oh, that you would save me! I will keep your decrees.
147 Early in the morning I cry out to you, for in your word is my trust.
148 My eyes are open in the night watches, that I may meditate upon your promise.
149 Hear my voice, O LORD, according to your loving-kindness; according to your judgments, give me life.
150 They draw near who in malice persecute me; they are very far from your law.
151 You, O LORD, are near at hand, and all your commandments are true.
152 Long have I known from your decrees that you have established them for ever.
Psalm 119:153-160 Resh Vide humilitatem
153 Behold my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me; according to your promise, give me life.
155 Deliverance is far from the wicked, for they do not study your statutes.
156 Great is your compassion, O LORD; preserve my life, according to your judgments.
157 There are many who persecute and oppress me, yet I have not swerved from your decrees.
158 I look with loathing at the faithless, for they have not kept your word.
159 See how I love your commandments! O LORD, in your mercy, preserve me.
160 The heart of your word is truth; all your righteous judgments endure for evermore.
Psalm 119:161-168 Shin Principes persecuti sunt
161 Rulers have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of your word.
162 I am as glad because of your promise as one who finds great spoils.
163 As for lies, I hate and abhor them, but your law is my love.
164 Seven times a day do I praise you, because of your righteous judgments.
165 Great peace have they who love your law; for them there is no stumbling block.
166 I have hoped for your salvation, O LORD, and have fulfilled your commandments.
167 I have kept your decrees and I have loved them deeply.
168 I have kept your commandments and decrees, for all my ways are before you.
Psalm 119:169-176 Taw Appropinquet deprecatio
169 Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding, according to your word.
170 Let my supplication come before you; deliver me, according to your promise.
171 My lips shall pour forth your praise, when you teach me your statutes.
172 My tongue shall sing of your promise, for all your commandments are righteous.
173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your commandments.
174 I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight.
175 Let me live, and I will praise you, and let your judgments help me.
176 I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; search for your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 128 Beati omnes
1 Happy are they all who fear the LORD, and who follow in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of your labor; happiness and prosperity shall be yours.
3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, your children like olive shoots round about your table.
4 The man who fears the LORD shall thus indeed be blessed.
5 The LORD bless you from Zion, and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children's children; may peace be upon Israel.
Psalm 129 Sæpe expugnaverunt
1 Greatly have they oppressed me since my youth, let Israel now say;
2 Greatly have they oppressed me since my youth", but they have not prevailed against me."
3 The plowmen plowed upon my back and made their furrows long.
4 The LORD, the Righteous One, has cut the cords of the wicked.
5 Let them be put to shame and thrown back, all those who are enemies of Zion.
6 Let them be like grass upon the housetops, which withers before it can be plucked;
7 Which does not fill the hand of the reaper, nor the bosom of him who binds the sheaves;
8 So that those who go by say not so much as, "The LORD prosper you. We wish you well in the Name of the LORD."
Psalm 130 De profundis
1 Out of the depths have I called to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice; let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.
2 If you, LORD, were to note what is done amiss, O LORD, who could stand?
3 For there is forgiveness with you; therefore you shall be feared.
4 I wait for the LORD; my soul waits for him; in his word is my hope.
5 My soul waits for the LORD, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
6 O Israel, wait for the LORD, for with the LORD there is mercy;
7 With him there is plenteous redemption, and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen
Prayer of the Day
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
A Prayer for Grace
O Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
A Prayer for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen
Alleluia! Christ has risen.
Christ has risen indeed. Alleluia!
Christ has risen indeed. Alleluia!
Heavenly Father, there are people praying with me, right now, whom I will never meet. I don't know their names, or what country they live in, or what they may look like, but I will know their souls, for we are brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray that we might be united in the Holy Spirit, and that I will know and feel the kinship and love, in my spirit, of those who share these prayers with me. 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.
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