OPENING SENTENCES

Thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, "I dwell in the high and holy place and also with the one who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite." Isaiah 57:15

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

May almighty God, who sent his Son into our world to save sinners, bring you his pardon and peace, now and forever. Amen.

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

MORNING PSALM
PSALM 144

Blessed be the LORD my rock! *
who trains my hands to fight and my fingers to battle;

My help and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, *
my shield in whom I trust,
who subdues the peoples under me.

O LORD, what are we that you should care for us? *
mere mortals that you should think of us?

We are like a puff of wind; *
our days are like a passing shadow.

Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down; *
touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

Hurl the lightning and scatter them; *
shoot out your arrows and rout them.

Stretch out your hand from on high; *
rescue me and deliver me from the great waters,
from the hand of foreign peoples,

Whose mouths speak deceitfully *
and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.

O God, I will sing to you a new song; *
I will play to you on a ten-stringed lyre.

You give victory to kings *
and have rescued David your servant.

Rescue me from the hurtful sword *
and deliver me from the hand of foreign peoples,

Whose mouths speak deceitfully *
and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.

May our sons be like plants well nurtured from their youth, *
and our daughters like sculptured corners of a palace.

May our barns be filled to overflowing with all manner
of crops; *
may the flocks in our pastures increase by thousands
and tens of thousands;
may our cattle be fat and sleek.

May there be no breaching of the walls, no going into exile, *
no wailing in the public squares.

Happy are the people of whom this is so! *
happy are the people whose God is the LORD!

Lord God of strength, you gave your Son victory over death. Direct your Church's fight against evil in the world; clothe us with the weapons of light; and unite us under the banner of love, that after the battle of earthly life we may rejoice in your presence 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

Lamb of God - Salt Of The Sound

MORNING LESSONS

For those not receiving Evening Prayer emails, the lectionary OT & NT Lessons for today are Micah 7:11-20; 1 Peter 4:7-19.

MATTHEW 20:29-34

As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!” Jesus stood still and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him.

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 Saturdays:

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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