OPENING SENTENCES
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. Joel 2:13
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
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.
Lord, open our lips. *
And our mouths shall proclaim your praise!
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him.
MORNING PSALM
Psalm 119:49-72
Zayin
Remember your word to your servant, *
because you have given me hope.
This is my comfort in my trouble, *
that your promise gives me life.
The proud have derided me cruelly, *
but I have not turned from your law.
When I remember your judgments of old, *
O LORD, I take great confort.
I am filled with a burning rage, *
because of the wicked who forsake your law.
Your statutes have been like songs to me *
wherever I have lived as a stranger.
I remember your Name in the night, O LORD, *
and dwell upon your law.
This is how it has been with me, *
because I have kept your commandments.
Heth
You only are my portion, O LORD; *
I have promised to keep your words.
I entreat you with all my heart, *
be merciful to me according to your promise.
I have considered my ways *
and turned my feet toward your decrees.
I hasten and do not tarry *
to keep your commandments.
Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, *
I do not forget your law.
At midnight I will rise to give you thanks, *
because of your righteous judgments.
I am a companion of all who fear you *
and of those who keep your commandments.
The earth, O LORD, is full of your love; *
instruct me in your statutes.
Teth
O LORD, you have dealt graciously with your servant, *
according to your word.
Teach me discernment and knowledge, *
for I have believed in your commandments.
Before I was afflicted I went astray, *
but now I keep your word.
You are good and you bring forth good; *
instruct me in your statutes.
The proud have smeared me with lies, *
but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.
Their heart is gross and fat, *
but my delight is in your law.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, *
that I might learn your statutes.
The law of your mouth is dearer to me *
than thousands in gold and silver.
Lord, you are just and your commandments are eternal. Teach us to love you with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves, for the sake of Jesus our Lord.
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
Draw Near (Psalm 69) - Wendell Kimbrough
MORNING LESSONS
For those not receiving Evening Prayer emails, the lectionary OT & NT Lessons for today are Genesis 37:25-36; 1 Corinthians 2:1-13.
Mark 1:29-45
As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!”Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.
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 for the first week of Lent:
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan; Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son 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!