Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Advent Matins Revised


Morning Prayer For Advent
From the First Sunday of Advent to Christmas Eve

Introductory Responses

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
show the light of your countenance,
and we shall be saved.
Will you not give us life again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your mercy, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
Blessed is your Beloved who comes in your name, O Lord!
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

Morning Prayer continues with the Invitatory or the Psalm.

The Invitatory

Song of Peace (Isaiah 2.2-5)
In the days to come *
            the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall tower as the highest of mountains *
            and be raised above the hills.
There shall all the nations flow; *
            many peoples shall come and say,
“Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, *
            to the house of the God of Jacob,
that the Holy One may teach us the ways of God *
            that we may walk in those ways.”
For the law shall go out from Zion, *
            from Jerusalem the word of the Lord.
God shall judge between the nations *
            and decide for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, *
            their spears into pruning-knives;
nation shall not lift sword against nation; *
            they shall never train for war again.
O people of Jacob, come, *
            let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Glory to God, Source of all being, eternal Word and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now and will be for ever.   Amen.
or
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 Psalm

The Psalm of the Day or one of the following may be used.

Sundays in Advent                Psalm 122
1 I was glad when they said to me, *
            “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2 Now our feet are standing *
            with your gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built as a city *
            that is at unity with itself;
4 to which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord, *
            the assembly of Israel,
            to praise the name of the Lord.
5 For there are the thrones of judgement, *
            the thrones of the house of David.
6 Prayer for the peace of Jerusalem: *
            “May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls *
            and quietness within your towers.
8 For the sake of my kindred and companions, *
            I pray for your prosperity.
9 Because of the house of the Lord our God, *
            I will see to do you good.”
           
God of pilgrims, give us the peace of the new Jerusalem and bring all nations into your loving embrace to share your gifts.  May we all render thanks to you without end and come to your eternal city.  Amen.

Mondays in Advent               Psalm 80.1-7, 17-19
1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *
            shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh, *
            stir up your strength and come to help us.
3 Restore us, O God; *
            let your face shine upon us,
            and we shall be saved.
4 O Lord God of hosts, *
            how long will your anger fume
            when your people pray?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
            you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
6 You have made us the derision of our neighbours, *
            and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
            let your face shine upon us,
            and we shall be saved.
17 Let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, *
            the one you have made so strong for yourself.
18 And so will we never turn away from you; *
            give us life, that we may call upon your name.
19 Restore, O Lord God of hosts; *
            let your face shine upon us,
            and we shall be saved.

Glory to you, Shepherd of Israel.  Forgive our careless indifference to your loving care for all your creatures and remake us in your likeness.  Amen.

Tuesdays in Advent               Psalm 25.1-10
1 To you, O Lord, *
            I lift up my soul.
2 My God, I put my truest in you;
let me not be put to shame, *
            nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 Let none who look to you be put to shame; *
            rather let those be put to shame who are treacherous.
4 Show me your ways, O Lord, *
            and teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, *
            for you are the God of my salvation;
            in you have I trusted all the day long.
6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, *
            for they are from everlasting.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *
            remember according to your steadfast love
            and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
8 You are gracious and upright, O Lord; *
            therefore you teach sinners in your way.
9 You lead the lowly in justice *
            and teach the lowly your way.
10 All your paths, O Lord, are steadfast love and faithfulness *
            to those who keep your covenant and your testimonies.

God of compassion and love, forgive our sins, relieve our misery, satisfy our longing and fulfil all our hopes for peace.  Amen.

Wednesdays in Advent          Psalm 72.1-7, 18-19
1 Give the king your justice, O God, *
            and your righteousness to the king’s son;
2 that he may rule your people righteously *
            and the poor with justice;
3 that the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, *
            and the hills, in righteousness.
4 Let him defend the needy among the people, *
            rescue the poor, and crush the oppressor.
5 May he live as long as the sun and moon endure, *
            from one generation to another.
6 Let him come down like rain upon the mown field, *
            like showers that water the earth.
7 In his time may the righteous flourish; *
            and let there be an abundance of peace
            till the moon shall be no more.
18 Blessed are you, Lord God, the God of Israel; *
            you alone do wondrous deeds!
19 And blessed be your glorious name for ever, *
            and may all the earth be filled with your glory.
            Amen.  Amen.

O God, bring our nation and all nations to a sense of justice and equity, that poverty, oppression and violence may vanish and all may know peace and plenty.  Amen.

Thursdays in Advent             Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13
1 You have been gracious to your land, O Lord; *
            you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.
2 You have forgiven the iniquity of your people *
            and blotted out all their sins.
8 I will listen to what the Lord God is saying; *
            for you speak peace to your faithful people
            and to those who turn their hearts to you.
9 Truly, your salvation is very near to those who fear you, *
            that your glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness have met together; *
            righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Faithfulness shall spring up from the earth, *
            and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, *
            and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before the Lord *
            and shall prepare for God a pathway.

God of grace, help us to rejoice in our salvation by showing mercy and truth and by walking in the way of righteousness and peace.  Amen.

Fridays in Advent                  Psalm 126
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, *
            then were we like those who dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy. *
            Then they said among the nations,
            “The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us, *
            and we are glad indeed.
4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, *
            like the watercourses of the Negeb.
5 Those who sowed with tears *
            will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
            will come again with joy, shouldering the sheaves.

Praise to you, God of our salvation.  Your generous gifts surpass all that we can ask or imagine.  You have delivered us from the exile of sin and restored us to new life.  Glory and honour and praise to you for ever and ever.  Amen.

Saturdays in Advent              Psalm 89.1-4, 19-26
1 Your love, O Lord, for ever will I sing; *
            from age to age my mouth will proclaim your faithfulness.
2 For I am persuaded that your steadfast love is established for ever; *
            you have set your faithfulness firmly in the heavens.
3 “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; *
            I have sworn an oath to David my servant;
4 ‘I will establish your line for ever, *
            and preserve your throne for all generations.’”
19 You spoke once in a vision and said to your faithful people: *
            “I have set the crown upon a warrior
            and have exalted one chosen out of the people.
20 I have found David my servant; *
            with my holy oil I have anointed him.
21 My hand will hold him fast *
            and my arm will make him strong.
22 No enemy shall deceive him, *
            nor shall the wicked bring him down.
23 I will crush his foes before him *
            and strike down those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and steadfast love are with him, *
            and he shall be victorious through my name.
25 I will set his hand on the sea, *
            and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He will say to me, ‘You are my father, *
            my God, and the rock of my salvation.’”

Remember us, gracious God, when we cannot see your way and purpose, and renew in us the joy of your reign of light and life.  Amen.

The Reading

A Reading from a daily lectionary or one of the following may be used.

Sundays in Advent                Sirach 48.1, 5, 9-11
Elijah arose, a prophet like fire, and his word burned like a torch.  How glorious you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!  Whose glory is equal to yours? You were taken up by a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with horses of fire.  At the appointed time, it is written, you are destined to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.  Happy are those who saw you and were adorned with your love!  For we also shall surely live.

Mondays in Advent               Numbers 24.2-3, 5-7a, 17b
Balaam looked up and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe.  Then the spirit of God came upon him, and he uttered his oracle, saying:  “How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!  Like palm groves that stretch far away, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.  Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall have abundant water.  A star shall come out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel.”

Tuesdays in Advent               Zephaniah 3.9-13
At that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.  From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, my scattered ones, shall bring my offering.  On that day you shall not be put to shame because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.  For I will leave in the midst of you a people humble and lowly.  They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord --- the remnant of Israel; they shall do no wrong and utter no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths.  Then they will pasture and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.

Wednesdays in Advent          Genesis 49.2, 8-10
Jacob said to his sons, “Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob; listen to Israel your father.  Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you.  Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up.  He crouches down, he stretches out like a lion, like a lioness --- who dares rouse him up?  The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and the obedience of the peoples is his.”

Thursdays in Advent             Jeremiah 23.5-8
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.  And this is the name by which he will be called:  “The is Lord is our righteousness.”  Therefore, the days are surely coming, says the Lord, when it shall no longer be said, “As the Lord lives who brought out and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the land of the north and out of all the lands where he had driven them.”  Then they shall live in their own land.

Fridays in Advent                  Song of Songs 2.8, 10-11, 13
The voice of my beloved!  Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.  My beloved speaks and says to me:  “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.  The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance.  Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

Saturdays in Advent              Malachi 3.1-4
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple.  The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight --- indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.  But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?  For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.  Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

After a period of silent reflection one of the following is said.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
or
Here what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.
or
Holy Word, Holy Wisdom.
Thanks be to God.

Morning Prayer continues with the Responsory or the Canticle.

The Responsory

My soul waits for you, O Lord; *
in your word is my hope.

My soul waits for you, O Lord; *
in your word is my hope.

Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice. *
In your word is my hope.

There is forgiveness with you;
therefore you shall be feared. *
In your word is my hope.

My soul waits for the Lord,
more than those who watch for the morning. *
In your word is my hope.

O Israel, wait for the Lord,
for with the Lord there is mercy. *
In your word is my hope.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. *
My soul waits for you, O Lord;
in your word is my hope.
or
Glory to God, Source of all being, eternal Word and Holy Spirit. *
My soul waits for you, O Lord;
in your word is my hope.

Morning Prayer continues with the Canticle.

The Canticle

A Song of Future Glory (Romans 8.18-23, 24a, 25)
I consider that the sufferings of this present time *
            are not worth comparing with the glory
            about to be revealed to us.
For the creation waits with eager longing *
            for the revealing of the children of God;
for the creation was subjected to futility, *
not of its own will
but by the will of the one who subjected it,
in the hope that the creation itself will be set free
from its bondage to decay*
            and will obtain the freedom of the glory
            of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation *
            has been groaning in labour pains until now;
and not only the creation, but we ourselves, *
            who have the first fruits of the Spirit,
groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, *
            the redemption of our bodies.
For in hope we were saved. *
            But if we hope for what we do not see,
            we wait for it with patience.

Glory to God, Source of all being, eternal Word and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now and will be for ever.   Amen.
or
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.

Morning Prayer continues with the Affirmation of Faith or the Litany.

Affirmation of Faith

One of the following may be said.

The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
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,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and 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.

Hear, O Israel
Hear, O Israel,
the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
           
This is the first and the great commandment.
The second is like it: 
Love your neighbour as yourself.
           
There is no commandment greater than these.

Morning Prayer continues with the Litany.

The Litany

In joyful expectation let us pray to our Saviour and Redeemer, saying, “Lord Jesus, come soon!”

O Wisdom, from the mouth of the Most High, you reign over all things to the ends of the earth:  come and teach us how to live.  Lord Jesus, come soon!

O Lord, and head of the house of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and you gave the law on Sinai:  come with outstretched arm and ransom us.  Lord Jesus, come soon!

O Branch of Jesse, standing as a sign among the nations, all rulers will keep silence before you and all peoples will summon you to their aid:  come, set us free and delay no more.  Lord Jesus, come soon!

O Key of David and sceptre of the house of Israel, you open and none can shut; you shut and none can open:  come and free the captives from prison.  Lord Jesus, come soon!

O Morning Star, splendour of the light eternal and bright Sun of righteousness:  come and enlighten all who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.  Lord Jesus, come soon!

O Sovereign of the nations, you alone can fulfil their desires:  Cornerstone, you make opposing nations one:  come and save the creature you fashioned from clay.  Lord Jesus, come soon!

O Emmanuel, hope of the nations and their Saviour:  come and save us, Lord our God.  Lord Jesus, come soon!

Free prayer may be offered and silence is kept.  After the silence the Collect of the Day or the following collect may be said.

God of justice and peace, from the heavens you rain down mercy and kindness, that all on earth may stand in awe and wonder before your marvellous deeds.  Raise our heads in expectation, that we may yearn for the coming day of the Lord and stand without blame before your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.  Amen.

Morning Prayer continues with the Lord’s Prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Saviour taught 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. 
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.  Amen.

Morning Prayer continues with the Dismissal.

The Dismissal

Let us bless the Lord who comes among us.
Thanks be to God.

Then may be said.

May the Sun of Righteousness shine upon us and scatter the darkness from before our path.  Amen.


Liturgical Resources Used

All scriptural passages are taken from the New Revised Standard Version, © 1989 by The National Council of Churches.

All Psalms are taken from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, © 2006 by The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and emended for Canadian orthography

All other liturgical texts including the Psalm Prayers are taken from The Book of Alternative Services, © 1985 by  The Anglican Church of Canada as emended by the Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett.

The prayer following the Litany is taken from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, © 2002 by The Consultation on Common Texts.

The doxology is adapted from The Book of Occasional Services 2003, p. 23 © 2004 by The Church Pension Fund.

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