INTRODUCTION
Good morning everyone. Below you will find a service of Morning Prayer that includes readings, prayers, and music. We are living through unprecedented times, and there are many ongoing challenges, but we have an amazing opportunity to take up new practices of reading, singing, and praying in our own homes. We are not alone in this. God is in our midst, leading us through.
Instructions: If you are in a group, choose someone to lead (unbolded parts) and the rest will respond in unison (bolded parts). You may want to divide up responsibilities for the prayers and readings. Notice too that I’ve included music selections with lyrics. This is entirely optional, but if it suits you, please feel free to sing along. Many blessings in your time of worship. – Pastor Sean+
THE PENITENTIAL RITE
Seek the Lord while he wills to be found, call upon him when
he draws near; let the wicked forsake their ways, and the evil
ones their thoughts; and let them return to the Lord, and he
will have compassion, and to our God, for he will richly
pardon. Isaiah 55.6, 7
Let us confess our sins
against God and our neighbour.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us,
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your name. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy upon us,
pardon and deliver us from all of our sins,
confirm and strengthen us in all goodness,
and keep us in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES
Lord, open our lips, And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. O God, make speed to save us. O 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 will be for ever. Amen.
THE INVITATORY
The Word has been made flesh and dwelt among us: O come, let us worship. O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a barren and dry land where there is no water. Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, that I might behold your power and your glory. For your loving-kindness is better than life itself; my lips shall give you praise. For you have been my helper, and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice. My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast. The Word has been made flesh and dwelt among us: O come, let us worship.
SONG – Almighty God (Sandra McCracken)
Almighty God to You all hearts are open Search and know our thoughts and anxious fears Wash us in the fountain of Your mercy Come with Your light we cannot hide from You Almighty God to You all hearts are open With gratitude we raise our song to You Come and fill the praises of Your people In grace and truth You make us new again Hallelujah [x 3] Almighty God to You all hearts are open We long for more than what this world provides No shallow spring will ever satisfy us But Your river deep floods over everything Almighty God to You all hearts are open You take away our sickness and our sin Oh Lamb of God we gather at Your table In bread and wine You have supplied our needs Almighty God to You all hearts are open [x3]
THE PSALMS
PSALM 139:1-6, 13-18
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now and will be for ever. Amen.
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
FIRST READING
A reading from 1 Samuel, chapter 3, beginning at verse 1.
1 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” The word of the Lord. / Thanks be to God.
SECOND READING
A reading from 1 Corinthians, chapter 6, beginning at verse 12
12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
The Word of the Lord / Thanks be to God.
GRADUAL SONG – Come Ye Sinners (Nathan Drake)
Come ye sinners poor and needy Weak and wounded sick and sore Jesus ready stands to save you Full of pity, love and pow'r I will arise and go to Jesus He will embrace me in His arms And in the arms of my dear Savior Oh there are ten thousand charms Come, ye thirsty, come and welcome God's free bounty glorify True belief and true repentance Every grace that brings you nigh Feel Him prostrate in the garden On the ground your Maker lies On the bloody tree, behold him Sinner, will this not suffice?
GOSPEL READING
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
The Gospel of Christ. / Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
BIBLE STUDY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL GROUPS
Have a look at the questions below. They are deigned to help you make the most of the Gospel reading. There’s no need to answer every question. Draw on them as they seem helpful for your reflection and/or discussion. The hope by the end is that our reading and meditating will turn naturally to prayer.
READING
- Return to the Gospel and read it again
- What stands out for you? What are your impressions? Try to isolate a moment, image, theme, phrase or word that feels important. Write it down. Take some time to reflect. Give yourself freedom to wonder.
REFLECTING
- Imagine yourself in the story. Look around. What can you see? What can you hear? Who are the main characters? What do they look like? How do they sound?
- Where is Jesus in the story? How do the other characters relate to him? Who do they think he is?
- What is happening for you? What are you thinking and feeling? Where do you find yourself in the story? Which characters do you find easiest to relate to?
- Read the Gospel again.
- The word “Gospel” means “good news.” What makes this passage of scripture good news?
RESPONDING
- We believe that God speaks into our lives and reveals himself to us through scripture. What could God be saying through our readings for this morning? How is he making himself known to you?
- God not only speaks and reveals himself, but he invites us to respond to him. Are there parts of our readings you’d like to turn back to God in prayer? Is there something you’d like to celebrate? Something to confess? Something to ask for? Something to rest in?
- When you think about your life in connection with our readings is there something you’d like to start doing? Stop doing? Continue doing?
SONG – Call Me Higher (All Sons & Daughters)
I could just sit I could just sit And wait for all Your goodness Hope to feel Your presence And I could just stay I could just stay Right where I am and hope to feel You Hope to feel something again I could hold on I could hold on To who I am and never let You Change me from the inside I could be safe oh I could be safe Here in Your arms and never leave home Never let these walls down But You have called me higher You have called me deeper And I'll go where You will lead me Lord You have called me higher You have called me deeper And I'll go where You will lead me Lord Where You lead me Where You lead me Lord I will be Yours oh I will be Yours for all my life I will be Yours oh I will be Yours for all my life I will be Yours oh I will be Yours for all my life So let Your mercy Oh I will be Yours Lord And I will be Yours for all my life So let Your mercy Light the path before me (Oh) 'Cause You have called me higher You have called me deeper And I'll go where You will lead me Lord Oh 'cause You have called me higher You have called me deeper And I'll go where You will lead me Lord Where You lead me Where You lead me Lord Where You lead me Where You lead me Lord
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us confess our faith as we say, I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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.
INTERCESSIONS & THANKSGIVINGS
Living God, Lord of heaven and earth, as wise men from distant lands were called to worship before the Christ child, open our ears to your call, and open our eyes to your glory. Amen. In peace let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy. For peace from on high and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For bishop David, and for all clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For Elizabeth our Queen, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For this place where we live, for every city and community, and for those who live in them in faith, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For all who are affected by coronavirus, through illness or isolation or anxiety, that they may find relief and recovery, let us pray to the Lord, Lord, have mercy. For our own needs and the needs of others, for the lonely, the sick and the suffering … (we pray now for those in need, whether aloud or quietly in our own hearts ...) Together we pray, Lord have mercy Remembering all the saints, we commit ourselves, one another, and our whole life to Christ our God. To thee, O Lord. O Lord our God, you call us in the depths of our being: open our ears to your call, open our hearts to your love, open our minds to your will, that we may know you and give ourselves fully in your service, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
THE COLLECT
Almighty God, your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ is the light of the world. May your people, illumined by your word and sacraments, shine with the radiance of his glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us, let us pray with confidence as our Savior taught us, 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, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
SONG – My Lighthouse (Rend Collective)
In my wrestling and in my doubts In my failures You won't walk out Your great love will lead me through You are the peace in my troubled sea whoa oh You are the peace in my troubled sea In the silence You won't let go In the questions Your truth will hold Your great love will lead me through You are the peace in my troubled sea whoa oh You are the peace in my troubled sea My Lighthouse my Lighthouse Shining in the darkness I will follow You oh My Lighthouse my Lighthouse I will trust the promise You will carry me safe to shore Safe to shore safe to shore safe to shore I won't fear what tomorrow brings With each morning I'll rise and sing My God's love will lead me through You are the peace in my troubled sea whoa oh You are the peace in my troubled sea Fire before us You're the brightest You will lead us Through the storms (hey) (REPEAT 3X)
DISMISSAL
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.
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