Daily Office Readings

Week of Sunday, May-06-2012
Friday

Daily Evening Prayer: Rite Two

Officiant begins with the following:

Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.' John 8:12

Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2

Confession of Sin
Officiant says to the people:
Dear friends in Christ, here in the presence of Almighty God, let us kneel in silence, and with penitent and obedient hearts confess our sins, so that we may obtain forgiveness by his infinite goodness and mercy.

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence may be kept.
Officiant and People together, all kneeling

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.

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

*A deacon or lay person using the preceding form remains kneeling, and substitutes "us" for "you" and "our" for "your."

The Invitatory and Psalter
All stand
Officiant O God, make speed to save us.
People O Lord, make haste to help us.

Officiant and People

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: 
  as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen

-or-
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

O Gracious Light Phos hilaron

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

The Psalm or Psalms Appointed:

Psalm 106:19-48

Part 2
19Israel made a bull-calf at Horeb *
     and worshiped a molten image;
20And so they exchanged their Glory *
     for the image of an ox that feeds on grass.
21They forgot God their Savior, *
     who had done great things in Egypt,
22Wonderful deeds in the land of Ham, *
     and fearful things at the Red Sea.
23So he would have destroyed them,
     had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, *
     to turn away his wrath from consuming them.
24They refused the pleasant land *
     and would not believe his promise.
25They grumbled in their tents *
     and would not listen to the voice of the LORD.
26So he lifted his hand against them, *
     to overthrow them in the wilderness,
27To cast out their seed among the nations, *
     and to scatter them throughout the lands.
28They joined themselves to Baal-Peor *
     and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.
29They provoked him to anger with their actions, *
     and a plague broke out among them.
30Then Phinehas stood up and interceded, *
     and the plague came to an end.
31This was reckoned to him as righteousness *
     throughout all generations for ever.
32Again they provoked his anger at the waters of Meribah, *
     so that he punished Moses because of them;
33For they so embittered his spirit *
     that he spoke rash words with his lips.
34They did not destroy the peoples *
     as the LORD had commanded them.
35They intermingled with the heathen *
     and learned their pagan ways,
36So that they worshiped their idols, *
     which became a snare to them.
37They sacrificed their sons *
     and their daughters to evil spirits.
38They shed innocent blood,
     the blood of their sons and daughters, *
     which they offered to the idols of Canaan,
     and the land was defiled with blood.
39Thus they were polluted by their actions *
     and went whoring in their evil deeds.
40Therefore the wrath of the LORD was kindled against his people *
     and he abhorred his inheritance.
41He gave them over to the hand of the heathen, *
     and those who hated them ruled over them.
42Their enemies oppressed them, *
     and they were humbled under their hand.
43Many a time did he deliver them,
     but they rebelled through their own devices, *
     and were brought down in their iniquity.
44Nevertheless, he saw their distress, *
     when he heard their lamentation.
45He remembered his covenant with them *
     and relented in accordance with his great mercy.
46He caused them to be pitied *
     by those who held them captive.
47Save us, O LORD our God,
     and gather us from among the nations, *
     that we may give thanks to your holy Name
     and glory in your praise.
48Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
     from everlasting to everlasting; *
     and let all the people say, "Amen!"
     Hallelujah!

At the end of the Psalm is sung or said

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: 
  as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:* 
  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

The Gospel

Reader: A reading from the Gospel, according to St. .

Matthew 7:1-12
¹"Judge not, that you be not judged. ²For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. ³And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. ⁶"Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. ⁷"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ⁹Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? ¹¹If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! ¹²Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. -- NKJV

Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.

The Song of Mary Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
 for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. 

From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
 the Almighty has done great things for me,
 and holy is his Name. 

He has mercy on those who fear him *
 in every generation. 

He has shown the strength of his arm, *
 he has scattered the proud in their conceit. 

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
 and has lifted up the lowly. 

He has filled the hungry with good things, *
 and the rich he has sent away empty. 

He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
 for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise he made to our fathers, *
 to Abraham and his children for ever.
 
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.

-OR-

The Song of Simeon Nunc dimittis
Luke 2:29-32

Lord, you now have set your servant free *
 to go in peace as you have promised; 

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
 whom you have prepared for all the world to see: 

A Light to enlighten the nations, *
 and the glory of your people Israel. 

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. 

The Apostles' Creed
Officiant and People together, all standing

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 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 People stand or kneel

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. 

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. 

A
V. Show us your mercy, O Lord;
R. And grant us your salvation.
V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
R. Let your people sing with joy.
V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
R. For only in you can we live in safety.
V. Lord, keep this nation under your care;
R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
V. Let your way be known upon earth;
R. Your saving health among all nations.
V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
V. Create in us clean hearts, O God;
R. And sustain us by your Holy Spirit.

B
That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may depart this life in your faith and fear, and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in the communion of [_________ and] all your saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.

The Collect of the Day:

Fifth Sunday of Easter
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

A Collect for Fridays
Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies sake. Amen.

Then, unless the Eucharist or a form of general intercession is to follow, the following prayer for mission is added.

Prayer for Mission
O God, you manifest in your servants the signs of your presence: Send forth upon us the spirit of love, that in companionship with one another your abounding grace may increase among us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Authorized intercessions and thanksgivings may follow.

Before the close of the Office one or both of the following may be used

The General Thanksgiving
Officiant and People

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. 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.

Then may be said
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Alleluia, Alleluia

Officiant concludes with:

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20,21

Scripture taken from the New King James Version.
(Unless otherwise noted.)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
For a more complete Copyright, please go here.