Listen to Paul’s homily, here:
Morning Prayer, Rite II
The service printed here begins on p. 75 in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP).
Parish Announcements
Opening Sentence
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 repents of evil.
The Confession of Sin
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 neighbors 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.
The Absolution
Almighty God, have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.
Invitatory and Psalter
Officiant: Lord, open our lips.
People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
All: 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.
Venite “O come, and sing unto the Lord” sung by all; Duke Street
O come and sing unto the Lord, And in his saving strength rejoice, Come now before him giving thanks, And raise glad psalms with every voice.
The Lord is great, above all gods; The earth, the hills are in his hand; The sea is his and he made it, His hands prepared all the dry land.
Come, let us worship and fall down and kneel before our Maker’s throne; We are the people of his field, the sheep whom he has made his own.
O let the whole earth stand in awe of God arrayed in holiness; He cometh yet to judge the world, to judge with truth and righteousness.
To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the God whom earth and heav’n adore. Be glory, as it was of old, is now, and shall be evermore. Amen.
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 chanted by Mari Grace Smith
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, *
and his mercy endures for ever.
Let all those whom the Lord has redeemed proclaim *
that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
He gathered them out of the lands; *
from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
Some were fools and took to rebellious ways; *
they were afflicted because of their sins.
They abhorred all manner of food *
and drew near to death’s door.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, *
and he delivered them from their distress.
He sent forth his word and healed them *
and saved them from the grave.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his mercy *
and the wonders he does for his children.
Let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and tell of his acts with shouts of joy. Gloria Patri
The Lessons
The First Lesson Numbers 21:4-9
From Mount Hor the Israelites set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.
Canticle 14 Prayer of Manasseh (metrical); sung by all; Kingsfold
O Lord who rules the heaven’s hosts, O God of Abraham, Lord God of Isaac, Jacob, and of all their righteous clan; You made the heavens and formed the earth with all their vast array; Before you all things quake with fear and tremble in dismay.
But yet your love surpasses all the measure of our mind; You, Lord, are patient, merciful, and infinitely kind. You do not judge as we deserve, and in your goodness, Lord, You offer pardon that we may repent and be restored.
And now, O Lord, I bend my knee and make my sure appeal; For I have sinned, Lord, and I know my wickedness too well. I therefore make this prayer to you: Forgive me, Lord, forgive; Let me not perish in my sin, nor let me die but live.
All contrite hearts have you as God, in me your love is shown; I, though unworthy, shall be saved, thus is your love made known. I sing your praise unceasingly, both now and all my days. The powers of heaven sing your praise; and glory age to age.
The Second Lesson Ephesians 2:1-10
You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ– by grace you have been saved– and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God– not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.
Canticle 4 The Song of Zechariah (metrical); sung by all; Conditor alme siderum
Blessed be Israel’s Lord and God, for he hath visited his own and brought salvation down to us In David’s house and for his throne.
As he spake by his prophets, who have been since first the world was made; That he would save us from the hand of those of whom we are afraid.
Perform the mercy promised once to our forefathers in the past; To our forefather Abraham, perform the oath he swore at last.
That we, delivered from our foes, might serve him without fear always, In holiness and righteousness before the Lord through all our days.
And thou, child, shalt be called the Lord’s own prophet, go before his face to give his people saving truth, remission of their sins and grace.
Through God’s own tender love, whereby the dayspring from on high drew near to guide us in the way of peace, shine in the dark and calm our fear.
All glory to the Father, Son, And to the Holy Spirit be; As from the first it was, is now, And will be for eternity. Amen.
The Third Lesson John 3:14-21
Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.
The Homily The Rev. Paul A. Bennett
The Apostles’ Creed
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.
The Prayers
The Salutation
Officiant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Officiant: Let us pray.
The Lord’s Prayer Traditional
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, for ever and ever. Amen.
Suffrages A
Officiant: Show us your mercy, O Lord;
People: And grant us your salvation.
Officiant: Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
People: Let your people sing with joy.
Officiant: Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
People: For only in you can we live in safety.
Officiant: Lord, keep this nation under your care;
People: And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Officiant: Let your way be known upon earth;
People: Your saving health among all nations.
Officiant: Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
People: Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Officiant: Create in us clean hearts, O God;
People: And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
The Collect of the Day
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Office Hymn “My faith looks up to thee” sung by all; Olivet
My faith looks up to thee, thou lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away; O let me from this day Be wholly thine.
May thy rich grace impart strength to my fainting heart, my zeal inspire; As thou hast died for me, O may my love to thee pure, warm, and changeless be a living fire.
While life’s dark maze I tread, and griefs around me spread, be thou my guide; Bid darkness turn today, wipe sorrow’s tears away; Pure, warm, and changeless be a living fire.
When ends life’s transient dream, when death’s cold, sullen stream shall o’er me roll; Blest Savior, then in love, fear and distrust remove, O bear me safe above, a ransomed soul.
Prayers of the People Form II
In the course of the silence after each bidding, the People offer their own prayers, either silently or aloud.
I ask your prayers for God’s people throughout the world; for our Bishop; for this gathering; and for all ministers and people. Pray for the Church.
Silence
I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people. Pray for justice and peace.
Silence
I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. Pray for those in any need or trouble.
Silence
I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of God. Pray that they may find and be found by God.
Silence
I ask your prayers for the departed. Pray for those who have died.
Silence
Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored. Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.
Silence
Concluding Collect
The General Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of 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 our selves 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 honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
A Prayer of St. John Chrysostom
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
The Dismissal and Grace
Officiant: Let us bless the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
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