Daily Office Readings

Week of Sunday, July-22-2012 - Proper 11 (7-20)
Saturday

Daily Morning Prayer: Rite Two

Officiant begins with the following:

Confession of Sin

Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of Almighty God our heavenly Father, to set forth his praise, to hear his holy Word, and to ask, for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things that are necessary for our life and our salvation. And so that we may prepare ourselves in heart and mind to worship him, let us kneel in silence, and with penitent and obedient hearts confess our sins, that we may obtain forgiveness by his infinite goodness and mercy.

Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

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 Lord, open our lips.
People And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

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.

On other Sundays and weekdays
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come, let us adore him.

On Feasts of the Incarnation
[Alleluia.] The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us: O come, let us adore him. [Alleluia.]

On all Saints and other Major Saints' Days
[Alleluia.] The Lord is glorious in his saints: O come, let us adore him. [Alleluia.]

Venite
Psalm 95:1-7

Come let us sing to the Lord; *
 let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation. 
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
 and raise a loud shout to him with psalms. 

[Antiphon, if used.]

For the Lord is a great God, *
 and a great King above all gods. 
In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *
 and the heights of the hills are his also. 
The sea is his, for he made it, *
 and his hands have molded the dry land. 

[Antiphon, if used.]

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *
 and kneel before the Lord our Maker. 
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *
 Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The Psalm or Psalms Appointed:

Psalm 55
^{To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David.
1}Give ear to my prayer, O God,
And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

²Attend to me, and hear me;
I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,

³Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression of the wicked;
For they bring down trouble upon me,
And in wrath they hate me.

⁴My heart is severely pained within me,
And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

⁵Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,
And horror has overwhelmed me.

⁶So I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.

⁷Indeed, I would wander far off,
And remain in the wilderness. Selah

⁸I would hasten my escape
From the windy storm and tempest."

⁹Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues,
For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

¹⁰Day and night they go around it on its walls;
Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.

¹¹Destruction is in its midst;
Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

¹²For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
Then I could bear it.
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.

¹³But it was you, a man my equal,
My companion and my acquaintance.

¹⁴We took sweet counsel together,
And walked to the house of God in the throng.

¹⁵Let death seize them;
Let them go down alive into hell,
For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.

¹⁶As for me, I will call upon God,
And the LORD shall save me.

¹⁷Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.

¹⁸He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
For there were many against me.

¹⁹God will hear, and afflict them,
Even He who abides from of old. Selah
Because they do not change,
Therefore they do not fear God.

²⁰He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
He has broken his covenant.

²¹The words of his mouth were smoother than butter,
But war was in his heart;
His words were softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn swords.

²²Cast your burden on the LORD,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

²³But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction;
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;
But I will trust in You.
-- NKJV

Psalm 138
^{A Psalm of David.
1}I will praise You with my whole heart;
Before the gods I will sing praises to You.

²I will worship toward Your holy temple,
And praise Your name
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.

³In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.

⁴All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD,
When they hear the words of Your mouth.

⁵Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
For great is the glory of the LORD.

⁶Though the LORD is on high,
Yet He regards the lowly;
But the proud He knows from afar.

⁷Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.

⁸The LORD will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
-- NKJV

Psalm 139:1-17(18-23)
¹O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

²You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.

³You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.

⁴For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

⁵You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.

⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

⁷Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?

⁸If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

⁹If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

¹⁰Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.

¹¹If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me,"
Even the night shall be light about me;

¹²Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

¹³For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother's womb.

¹⁴I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

¹⁵My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

¹⁶Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

¹⁷How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!

(¹⁸If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

¹⁹Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.

²⁰For they speak against You wickedly;
Your enemies take Your name in vain.

²¹Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

²²I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.

²³Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
)
-- NKJV

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 Lessons

The Old Testament Reading

Reader: A Reading (Lesson) from Joshua 23:1-16

Joshua 23:1-16
¹Now it came to pass, a long time after the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua was old, advanced in age. ²And Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them: "I am old, advanced in age. ³You have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the LORD your God is He who has fought for you. ⁴See, I have divided to you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the Great Sea westward. ⁵And the LORD your God will expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight. So you shall possess their land, as the LORD your God promised you. ⁶Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, ⁷and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, ⁸but you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. ⁹For the LORD has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day. ¹⁰One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the LORD your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you. ¹¹Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God. ¹²Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations-these that remain among you-and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you, ¹³know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the LORD your God has given you. ¹⁴"Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed. ¹⁵Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all the good things have come upon you which the LORD your God promised you, so the LORD will bring upon you all harmful things, until He has destroyed you from this good land which the LORD your God has given you. ¹⁶When you have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you." -- NKJV

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

12 A Song of Creation Benedicite, omnia opera Domini
Song of the Three Young Men, 35-65
One or more sections of this Canticle may be used. Whatever the selection,
it begins with the Invocation and concludes with the Doxology.

Invocation
Glorify the Lord, all you works of the Lord, *
 praise him and highly exalt him for ever. 

In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, *
 praise him and highly exalt him for ever. 

I  The Cosmic Order
Glorify the Lord, you angels and all powers of the Lord, *
 O heavens and all waters above the heavens. 

Sun and moon and stars of the sky, glorify the Lord, *
 praise him and highly exalt him for ever. 

Glorify the Lord, every shower of rain and fall of dew, *
 all winds and fire and heat. 

Winter and Summer, glorify the Lord, *
 praise him and highly exalt him for ever. 

Glorify the Lord, O chill and cold, *
 drops of dew and flakes of snow. 

Frost and cold, ice and sleet, glorify the Lord, *
 praise him and highly exalt him for ever. 

Glorify the Lord, O nights and days, *
 O shining light and enfolding dark. 

Storm clouds and thunderbolts, glorify the Lord, *
 praise him and highly exalt him for ever. 

II  The Earth and its Creatures
Let the earth glorify the Lord, *
 praise him and highly exalt him for ever. 

Glorify the Lord, O mountains and hills,
and all that grows upon the earth, *
 praise him and highly exalt him for ever. 

Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas, and streams, *
 O whales and all that move in the waters. 

All birds of the air, glorify the Lord, *
 praise him and highly exalt him for ever. 

Glorify the Lord, O beasts of the wild, *
 and all you flocks and herds. 

O men and women everywhere, glorify the Lord, *
 praise him and highly exalt him for ever. 

III  The People of God
Let the people of God glorify the Lord, *
 praise him and highly exalt him for ever. 

Glorify the Lord, O priests and servants of the Lord, *
 praise him and highly exalt him for ever. 

Glorify the Lord, O spirits and souls of the righteous, *
 praise him and highly exalt him for ever. 

You that are holy and humble of heart, glorify the Lord, *
 praise him and highly exalt him for ever. 

Doxology
Let us glorify the Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *
 praise him and highly exalt him forever.
In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, *
 praise him and highly exalt him forever.

The New Testament Reading

Reader: A Reading (Lesson) from Romans 15:25-33

Romans 15:25-33
²⁵But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. ²⁶For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. ²⁷It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. ²⁸Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. ²⁹But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. ³⁰Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, ³¹that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, ³²that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. ³³Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. -- NKJV

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

19 The Song of the Redeemed Magna et mirabilia
Revelation 15:3-4

O ruler of the universe, Lord God,
great deeds are they that you have done, *
 surpassing human understanding. 

Your ways are ways of righteousness and truth, *
 O King of all the ages. 

Who can fail to do you homage, Lord,
and sing the praises of your Name? *
 for you only are the Holy One. 

All nations will draw near and fall down before you, *
 because your just and holy works have been revealed. 

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.

Matthew 27:11-23
¹¹Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Jesus said to him, "It is as you say." ¹²And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. ¹³Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" ¹⁴But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. ¹⁵Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. ¹⁶And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" ¹⁸For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. ¹⁹While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him." ²⁰But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. ²¹The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!" ²²Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!" ²³Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!" -- NKJV

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

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
V. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
R. Govern and uphold them, now and always.
V. Day by day we bless you;
R. We praise your name for ever.
V. Lord, keep us from all sin today;
R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
V. Lord, show us your love and mercy;
R. For we put our trust in you.
V. In you, Lord, is our hope;
R. And we shall never hope in vain.

The Collect of the Day:

Proper 11
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

A 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.

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 have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; 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
Officiant

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.

Officiant concludes with:

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Romans 15:13

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.