An American Prayer Book (2009): Morning Prayer

MORNING PRAYER

The minister may read aloud one or more of these or other suitable sentences of Scripture.

Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4: 11

The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. John 4: 23

The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. Habakkuk 2: 20

Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! Psalm 96: 9

Advent

In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God Isaiah 40: 3

Christmas

Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2: 10-11

Epiphany

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60: 1

Lent

Thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit. Isaiah 57: 15

Passiontide and Holy Week

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5: 8

Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! Matthew 21: 9

Easter

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1: 3

Ascension

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.Hebrews 4: 14, 16

Pentecost (Whitsunday) and Ember Seasons

God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5: 5

Trinity Sunday

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah 6: 3

All Saints and Saints' Days

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.Hebrews 12: 1-2

The minister then reads one or more of these sentences of Scripture.

When a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord; so turn and live. Ezekiel 18: 27,32

I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Psalm 51: 3

Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Psalm 51: 9

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

Rend your hearts, and not your garments. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and relents over disaster. Joel 2: 13

To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us. Daniel 9: 9-10

Correct me, O LORD, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.
Jeremiah 10: 24

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3: 2

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

Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.
Psalm 143: 2

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

The minister says this Exhortation. He may omit the second paragraph.

Dear brothers and sisters, the Scriptures encourages us repeatedly to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness; and that we should not try to hide them from Almighty God our heavenly Father; but confess them with humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient hearts, so that we may receive forgiveness through God’s infinite goodness and mercy.

[We ought at all times humbly to admit our sins before God, but chiefly when we meet together to give thanks for the great benefits we have received at his hands, to offer the praise that is due him, to hear his holy word, and to ask what is necessary for our bodies and souls.]

Therefore let us approach the throne of our gracious God and say together:

Or he may omit the Exhortation, saying instead

Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.

All kneeling, this general Confession is said by the whole congregation with the minister.

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 broken your holy laws. We have left undone what we ought to have done, and we have done what we ought not to have done, and there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy on us pitiful sinners. Spare those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore those who truly repent, as you have promised through Jesus Christ our Lord. And grant, O merciful Father, for his sake, that we may live a godly, righteous and sober life, to the praise of your holy name. AMEN.

The Absolution, or declaration of forgiveness is pronounced by the priest alone standing; the congregation still kneeling

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, does not desire the death of sinners but rather that they should turn from their wickedness and live. He has commanded and authorized his ministers to reassure his people that they will be forgiven when they repent of their sins. God pardons and forgives all who truly repent and sincerely believe his holy gospel. Therefore let us implore him to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit; so that what we do now may please him, that the rest of our lives may be pure and holy, and that finally we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The congregation answer AMEN.

Or instead of the Absolution the minister may say this prayer

Merciful God, grant to your faithful people pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Or this Word of Assurance may be said

If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the perfect offering for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1,2

Or a short period of silence may be kept.

The Lord’s Prayer may be said by all, kneeling

Our 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. AMEN.

or

Our 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. AMEN.

All stand, and the minister says

Lord, open our lips.
And we shall declare your praise.

God, make speed to save us.
Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory 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.

Let us praise the Lord.
The Lord’s Name be praised.

Psalm 95 is said or sung

O come, let us sing to the Lord;*
let us heartily rejoice in the rock of our salvation.

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving*
and be glad in him with psalms
For the Lord is a great God*
and a great king above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth*
and the heights of the mountains are his also

The sea is his, for he made it,*
and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us worship and bow down*
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is our God;*
and we are the people of his pasture
and the sheep of his hand.

The canticle may end here with 'Glory to the Father…'

O that today you would listen to his voice:*
'Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
on that day at Massah in the wilderness,

'When your forebears tested me, and put me to the proof,*
though they had seen my works.

'Forty years long I detested that generation and said,*
"This people are wayward in their hearts;
they do not know my ways."

'So I swore in my wrath,*
"They shall not enter into my rest." '

Glory 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

Or Psalm 100

O be joyful in the Lord, all the earth;*
serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with a song.

Know that the Lord is God;*
it is he that has made us and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;*
give thanks to him and bless his name.

For the Lord is gracious; his steadfast love is everlasting,*
and his faithfulness endures from generation to generation.

Glory 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.

Or especially in Eastertide, the Easter Anthems

Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us:*
so let us celebrate the feast.

not with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness:*
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Christ once raised from the dead dies no more:*
death has no more dominion over him.

In dying he died to sin once for all:*
in living he lives to God.

See yourselves therefore as dead to sin:*
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ has been raised from the dead:*
the first fruits of those who sleep.

For as by man came death:*
by man has come also the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die:*
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Glory 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.

These and other canticles may be used in other versions and forms.

The Psalm or Psalms of the day are said or sung. After the last psalm is said or sung

Glory 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.

The First Reading from the Old Testament

The readings are announced, The First/Second Reading from…, chapter…, beginning at verse…. After each reading, the reader says, Here ends the reading.

This Hymn (Te Deum) or a similar hymn of praise is said or sung

We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as the Lord;*
all creation worships you,
the Father everlasting.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,*
the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:

Holy, holy, holy, God of power and might,*
heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you;*
the noble fellowship of prophets praise you.

The white-robed army of martyrs praise you;*
throughout the world, the holy Church acclaims you:

Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all praise,*
the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the King of glory,*
the eternal Son of the Father.

When you took our flesh to set us free,*
you humbly chose the Virgin’s womb.

You overcame the sting of death*
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s right hand in glory:*
we believe that you will come to be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,*
bought with the price of your own blood,

and bring us with your saints*
to glory everlasting.

The Te Deum may end at this point.

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance:*
govern and uphold them now and always.

Day by day we bless you:*
we praise your name for ever.

Keep us today, Lord, from all sin:*
have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy

Lord, show us your love and mercy,*
for we put our trust in you.

In you, Lord, is our hope.*
let us never be put to shame

Other suitable hymns and canticles for use at Morning Prayer are to be found on pages 47-59.

The Second Reading from the New Testament

The Song of Zechariah (Luke 1:68-79), or another hymn, is said or sung

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

He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,*
born of the house of his servant David.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Glory 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.

The Apostles’ Creed is said or sung by 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 Spirit,
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 is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come 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.

The Litany may be said or sung here. When this is done, the remainder of Morning Prayer may be omitted.

The Prayers follow. The minister first says

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

All kneel, and the minister continues

Let us pray.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Our 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 forever. AMEN.

or

Our 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, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. AMEN.

Lord show us your mercy.
and grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness.
and make your chosen people joyful.
Lord, save your people.
and bless your inheritance.
Lord, guide the leaders of our nation;
and mercifully hear us when we call upon you.
Give peace in our time, O Lord.
for you are our help and strength.
Create in us clean hearts, O God.
and renew us by your Holy Spirit.

Then are said the three Collects.

The first Collect, of the Day

The Second Collect, for Peace

O God, the author and lover of peace, whom to know is eternal life and to serve is perfect freedom: defend us your humble servants against all assaults of our enemies, that trusting in your defense, we may not fear the power of any adversary; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

The Third Collect, for Grace

O Lord our heavenly Father, Almighty and Everlasting God, we praise you for bringing us safely to the beginning of this day: defend us with your mighty power, and grant that we fall into no sin, nor run into any kind of danger, but govern and guide us at all times, so that we may do what is right in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

An anthem or hymn may be sung here.

On Sunday the following Prayers are said. They may be used on other occasions, and may be omitted when the Holy Communion immediately follows Morning Prayer.

A Prayer for the President of the United States

Lord God, our Governor, whose glory is in all the world; we commend this nation to your merciful care, that being guided by your providence, we may dwell secure in your peace. Grant to the President of the United States and all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do your will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness; and make them mindful of their calling to serve this nation and people in reverence before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AMEN.

A Prayer for the Clergy and People

Almighty and eternal God, you alone work great marvels: send down the health-giving spirit of your grace on all bishops and pastors and the congregations committed to their care. And, so that we may all truly please you, pour on us the continual dew of your blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of our advocate and mediator, Jesus Christ. AMEN.

The minister may be use the following Prayer and other authorized prayers and thanksgivings.

Before any of the prayers may be said Let us pray for —, and before any of the thanksgivings, Let us give thanks for —.

The minister may ask the prayers of the congregation for particular persons and needs.

A period of open prayer may follow.

A Prayer for All People

O God, the creator and preserver of all mankind, we pray for people of every race, in every kind of need: make your ways known on earth, your saving health among all nations. We pray for your Church throughout the world: guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace and in righteousness of life. We commend to your fatherly goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or distressed in body, mind or spirit [especially …]; comfort and relieve them in their need, give them patience in their sufferings, and bring good out of all their troubles; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

This General Thanksgiving may be said by the congregation with the minister.

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you most humble and hearty thanks for all your goodness and loving kindness to us, and to all people. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your boundless love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and the hope of glory. Give us, we pray, such a sense of all your mercies that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, for ever and ever. AMEN.

The service ends with the Prayer of St. Chrysostom and the Grace.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace to bring before you with one accord our common supplications; and promise that when two or three are gathered together in your name you will grant their requests; fulfill now, 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

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. 2 Corinthians 13:14.

A Sermon may be preached here and the offerings of the people received and presented at the Lord's Table. Or the Sermon may be preached immediately after the Hymn or Anthem following the Third Collect. The minister then proceeds to the intercessions and thanksgivings, concluding with the Prayer of St Chrysostom and the Grace.

When The Holy Communion follows Morning Prayer, Morning Prayer may begin at the versicles ‘Lord, open our lips’ and end at the Te Deum or other hymn of praise; in which case The Holy Communion may begin with the Collect and the Reading from the New Testament.