OPENING SENTENCES

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2

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.

Silence for reflection

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Lord, open our lips. *
And our mouths shall proclaim your praise!

MORNING PSALM

Psalm 41

Happy are they who consider the poor and needy! *
the LORD will deliver them in the time of trouble.

The LORD preserves them and keeps them alive,
so that they may be happy in the land; *
he does not hand them over to the will of their enemies.

The LORD sustains them on their sickbed *
and ministers to them in their illness.

I said, "LORD, be merciful to me; *
heal me, for I have sinned against you."

My enemies are saying wicked things about me: *
When will he die, and his name perish?"

Even if they come to see me, they speak empty words; *
their heart collects false rumors;
they go outside and spread them.

All my enemies whisper together about me *
and devise evil against me.

"A deadly thing," they say, "has fastened on him; *
he has taken to his bed and will never get up again."

Even my best friend, whom I trusted,
who broke bread with me, *
has lifted up his heel and turned against me.

But you, O LORD, be merciful to me and raise me up, *
and I shall repay them.

By this I know you are pleased with me, *
that my enemy does not triumph over me.

In my integrity you hold me fast, *
and shall set me before your face for ever.

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, *
from age to age. Amen. Amen.

Lord Jesus, healer of soul and body, you said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Teach us to come to the aid of the needy in a spirit of love, as we have been received and strengthened by you; and to you be the glory and praise now and forever.

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.

MORNING SONG

O Taste and See - Ralph Vaughan Williams

MORNING LESSONS

For those not receiving Evening Prayer emails, the lectionary OT & NT Lessons for today are Job 32:1-10, 32:19-33:1, 33:19-28; Acts 13:44-52.

John 10:19-30

Again the Jews were divided because of these words. Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?”Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand.The Father and I are one.”

Silence for reflection

CONCLUDING PRAYER

In the morning, pray for:

the day and its tasks
the world and its needs
the Church and her life

Conclude with the Lord's Prayer and/or the following Collect:

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. *
Thanks be to God!