Matins for Epiphany

morning prayer for epiphany

From Epiphany until Presentation inclusive

Introductory Responses

Blessed are you, Son of David;

born to rule,

you received gifts from the magi.

Blessed are you, Son of Man;

baptized by John,

you saved us from ourselves.

Blessed are you, servant Lord;

teaching and preaching, healing and comforting,

you proclaimed God’s gracious reign.

Let heaven and earth shout their praise.

With all the voices of heaven

we celebrate the coming of our Saviour.

Let heaven and earth shout their praise.

With all creatures on earth

we sing and dance at his birth.

Praise and honour and glory to you, O Lord most high.

Morning Prayer continues with the Invitatory or the Psalm.

The Invitatory

A Song of God’s Chosen One (Isaiah 11.1-4a, 6, 9)

There shall come forth a shoot from the stock of Jesse, *

            and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, *

            the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

The spirit of counsel and might, *

            the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see, *

            or decide by what his ears hear,

But with righteousness he shall judge the poor, *

            and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, *

            and the leopard shall lie down with the kid.

The calf and the lion cub together, *

            with a little child to lead them.

They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, *

            for the earth shall be full

            of the knowledge of the Lord

            as the waters cover the sea.

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 Psalm.

The Psalm

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

Sundays in Epiphany                         Psalm 98

¹ Sing to the Lord a new song,

who has done marvellous things, *

            whose right hand and holy arm

            has won the victory for the Lord.

² The Lord has made known the victory; *

            you have openly shown your righteousness

            in the sight of the nations.

³ You remember your mercy and faithfulness

to the house of Israel, *

            and all the ends of the earth

            have seen your victory, O God.

⁴ Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands; *

            lift up your voice, rejoice and sing.

⁵ Sing to the Lord with the harp, *

            with the harp and the voice of song.

⁶ With trumpets and the sound of the horn *

            shout with joy before our sovereign, the Lord.

⁷ Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, *

            the lands and those who dwell therein.

⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands, *

            and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord,

            who is coming to judge the earth.

⁹ In righteousness shall God judge the world *

            and the peoples with equity.

Lord God, we see your righteous rule in all your works, and we join our voices with the song of your whole creation in praising you.  Amen.

Mondays in Epiphany                        Psalm 2

¹  Why are the nations in an uproar? *

            Why do the peoples mutter empty threats?

²  Why do the rulers of the earth rise up in revolt,

and the princes plot together, *

            against the Lord and the Lord’s anointed?

³  “Let us break their yoke,” they say; *

            “let us cast off their bonds from us.”

⁴  The one whose throne is in heaven is laughing; *

            the Lord has them in derision.

⁵  Then God speaks to them in wrath, *

            and God’s rage fills them with terror.

⁶  “I myself have set my anointed *

            upon my holy hill of Zion.”

⁷  Let me announce the decree of the Lord, *

            who said to me, “You are my son;

            this day have I begotten you.

⁸  Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance *

            and the ends of the earth for your possession.

⁹  You shall crush them with an iron rod *

            and shatter them like a piece of pottery.”

¹⁰  And now, you monarchs, be wise; *

            be warned, you rulers of the earth.

¹¹  Submit to the Lord with fear, *

            and with trembling bow before God;

¹²  Lest God be angry and you perish;

for God’s wrath is quickly kindled. *

            Happy are they all

            who take refuge in God!

Ruler of heaven and earth, show us the power of your saving love and bring us to share in your eternal reign of peace and justice.  Amen.

Tuesdays in Epiphany                        Psalm 78.1-7

¹ Hear my teaching, O my people; *

            incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

² I will open my mouth in a parable; *

            I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.

³ that which we have heard and known,

            and what our ancestors have told us, *

            we will not hide from their children.

⁴ We will recount to generations to come

the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, *

            who has done wonderful works.

⁵ The Lord gave a decree to Jacob

and established a law for Israel, *

            commanding them to teach their children;

⁶ that the generations to come might know,

and the children yet unborn; *

            that they in their turn might tell it to their children;

⁷ so that they might put their trust in God, *

            nor forget those mighty deeds,

            but keep the commandments;

God of pilgrims, strengthen our faith, we pray.  Guide us through the uncertainties of our journey and hold before us the vision of your eternal reign of justice and peace.  Amen.

Wednesdays in Epiphany                   Psalm 111

¹ Hallelujah!

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, *

            in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.

² Great are the deeds of the Lord! *

            They are studied by all who delight in them.

³ Your work is full of majesty and splendour, *

            and your righteousness endures for ever.

⁴ You make your marvellous works to be remembered; *

            you, Lord, are gracious and full compassion.

⁵ You give food to those who fear you; *

            you are ever mindful of your covenant.

⁶ You have shown your people the power of your works *

            in giving them the lands of the nations.

⁷ The works of your hands are faithfulness and justice; *

            all your commandments are sure.

⁸ They stand fast for ever and ever, *

            because they are done in truth and equity.

⁹ You send redemption to your people;

you commanded your covenant for ever; *

            holy and awesome is your name.

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; *

            those who act accordingly have a good understanding;

            the praise of the Lord endures for ever.

Generous and bountiful God, give us grace always to thank you and share your gifts with others that the world may be filled with joy.  Amen.

Thursdays in Epiphany                      Psalm 29

¹ Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, *

            ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

² Ascribe to the Lord the glory due God’s name; *

            worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

³ The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;

the God of glory thunders; *

            the Lord is upon the mighty waters.

⁴ The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; *

            the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendour.

⁵ The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; *

            the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon,

⁶ making Lebanon skip like a calf, *

            and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

⁷ The voice of the Lord *

splits the flames of fire;

⁸ the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; *

            the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

⁹ The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe

and strips the forests bare. *

And in the temple of the Lord

            all are crying, “Glory!”

¹⁰ The sits enthroned above the flood; *

            the Lord sits enthroned as sovereign for evermore.

¹¹ The Lord shall give strength to this people; *

            the Lord shall give this people the blessing of peace.

God of mystery and power, open our eyes to the flame of your love, and open our ears to the thunder of your justice, that we may receive your gifts of blessing and peace, to the glory of your name.  Amen.

Fridays in Epiphany                           Psalm 57

¹ Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful,

for I have taken refuge in you; *

            in the shadow of your wings will I take refuge

            until this time of trouble has gone by.

² I will call upon you, the Most High God, *

            the God who maintains my cause.

³ You will send from heaven and save me;

you will confound those who trample upon me; *

            you will send forth your love and your faithfulness.

⁴ I lie in the midst of lions that devour the people; *

            their teeth are spears and arrows,

            their tongue a sharp sword.

⁵ They have laid a net for my feet,

and I am bowed low; *

            they have dug a pit before me,

            but have fallen into it themselves.

⁶ Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *

            and your glory over all the earth.

⁷ My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; *

            I will sing and make melody.

⁸ Wake up, my spirit;

awake, lute and harp; *

            I myself will waken the dawn.

⁹ I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord; *

            I will sing praise to you among the nations.

¹⁰ For your loving-kindness is greater than the heavens, *

            and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

¹¹ Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *

            and your glory over all the earth.

God our help and strength, look with mercy on all who are oppressed in mind, body or human dignity.  Shield and protect them, and give them that wholeness which is your will for all your children.  Amen.

Saturdays in Epiphany                       Psalm 145.1-12

¹  I will exalt you, O God my sovereign, *

            and bless your name for ever and ever.

² Every day will I bless you *

            and praise your name for ever and ever.

³  Great are you, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; *

            there is no end to your greatness.

⁴  One generation shall praise your works to another *

            and shall declare your power.

⁵  I will ponder the glorious splendour of your majesty *

            and all your marvellous works.

⁶  They shall speak of the might of your wondrous acts, *

            and I will tell of your greatness.

⁷  They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness; *

            they shall sing of your righteous deeds.

⁸  You, O Lord, are gracious and full of compassion, *

            slow to anger and of great kindness.

⁹  You are loving to everyone *

            and your compassion is over all your works.

¹⁰  All your works praise you, O Lord, *

            and your faithful servants bless you.

¹¹  They make known the glory of your realm *

            and speak of your power;

¹²  that the peoples may know of your power *

            and the glorious splendour of your realm.

Almighty God, give us grace to know you more and more, that knowing we may love and loving we may praise, that the whole world may hear your name and worship you.  Amen.

The Reading

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

Sundays in Epiphany                         Exodus 3.1-6a

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.  There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.  Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.”  When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!”  And he said, “Here I am.”  Then he said, “Come no closer!  Removed the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”  He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”  And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Mondays in Epiphany                        Genesis 17.1-5

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.  And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.”  Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you:  You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations.  No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations.”

Tuesdays in Epiphany                        Isaiah 41.17-20

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.  I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.  I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, so that all may see and know, all may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Wednesdays in Epiphany                   Micah 4.6-7

In that day, says the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away, and those whom I have afflicted.  The lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion now and forevermore.

                                                           

Thursdays in Epiphany                      Ezekiel 16.59-60, 62-63

Yes, thus says the Lord God:  I will deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath, breaking the covenant; yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish with you an everlasting covenant.  I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord, in order that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I forgive you all that you have done, says the Lord God.

Fridays in Epiphany                           Hosea 14.4-7

I will heal their disloyalty; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.  I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily, he shall strike root like the forests of Lebanon.  His shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like that of Lebanon.  They shall again live beneath my shadow, they shall flourish as a garden; they shall blossom like the vine, their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Saturdays in Epiphany                       Leviticus 23.1-3

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:  Speak to the people of Israel and say to them:  These are the appointed festivals of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations, my appointed festivals.  Six days shall work be done; but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no work; it is a Sabbath to the Lord throughout your settlements.

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

Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, *

you, O God, reveal yourself in glory.

Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, *

you, O God, reveal yourself in glory.

You, O Lord, the God of gods, have spoken;

you have called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. *

You, O God, reveal yourself in glory.

Let the heavens declare the rightness of your cause,

for you yourself are judge. *

You, O God, reveal yourself in glory.

Call upon me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you shall honour me.

You, O God, reveal yourself in glory.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. *

Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty,

you, O God, reveal yourself in glory.

or

Glory to God, Source of all being, eternal Word and Holy Spirit. *

Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty,

you, O God, reveal yourself in glory.

Morning Prayer continues with the Canticle.

The Canticle

A Song of Christ’s Appearing (1 Timothy 3.16; 6.16)

Christ Jesus was revealed in the flesh *

            and vindicated in the spirit.

He was seen by angels *

            and proclaimed among the nations.

Believed in throughout the world, *

            he was taken up in glory.

This will be made manifest at the proper time *

            by the blessed and only Sovereign,

Who alone has immortality, *

            and dwells in unapproachable light.

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

Either 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

Let us pray to Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, saying, “Word made manifest, hear our prayer.”

For all who walk in the darkness of violence and oppression, and for all who by their life and preaching cast into that darkness the light of God’s peace and justice, Word made manifest, hear our prayer.

For all who carry on the teaching of prophets and apostles, and for the full communion in life and worship of those who receive God’s word, Word made manifest, hear our prayer.

For all who have at their disposal this world’s riches, and for all who call out to them, Word made manifest, hear our prayer.

For all who raise their eyes to the heavens looking for healing and deliverance, Word made manifest, hear our prayer.

For the rulers of the earth, and for every child that stands in need of their protection, Word made manifest, hear our prayer.

For all who through death have passed into the full epiphany of God’s glory, Word made manifest, hear our prayer.

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

O God of light and peace, whose glory, shining in the child of Bethlehem, still draws the nations to yourself:  dispel the darkness that surrounds our path, that we may come to kneel before Christ in true worship, offer him our hearts and souls, and return from his presence to live as he has taught.  Amen.

or

God of grace and glory, you call us with your voice of flame to be your people, faithful and courageous.  As your beloved Son embraced his mission in the waters of baptism, inspire us with the fire of your Spirit to join in his transforming work.  We ask this in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.  Amen.

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 made manifest.

Thanks be to God.

Then may be said.

May Christ, the Son of God, be manifest in us, that our lives may be a light to the world.  Amen.

Liturgical Resources Used

All scriptural passages are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (c) 1989 by The National Council of Churches.

The Psalms are taken from The Book of Alternative Services (c) 1985 by The Anglican Church of Canada.  They have been emended by the Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett for inclusive language and, when necessary, renumbered to conform to the versification of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

The Psalm Prayers are taken from The Book of Alternative Services (c) 1985 by The Anglican Church of Canada and have been emended by the Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett.

The Apostles’ Creed which originally appeared in Praying Together (c) 1988 by the English Language Liturgical Consultation, is taken from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (c) by The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The Litany is adapted from Intercessions for the Christian People (c) 1990 by Liturgical Press, p. 11.

The Collects after the Litany are the thematic prayers for Epiphany and the Baptism of Christ as published in Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (c) 2002 by The Consultation on Common Texts.

The concluding Doxology is adapted from The Book of Occasional Services 2003 (c) 2004 by The Church Pension Fund.

All other liturgical texts are taken from The Book of Alternative Services (c) 1985 by The Anglican Church of Canada with emendations by the Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett.