Daily Office Readings

Week of Sunday, April-29-2012
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.]

Jubilate
Psalm 100

Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *
 serve the Lord with gladness
 and come before his presence with song. 

[Antiphon, if used.]

Know this:  The Lord himself is God; *
 he himself has made us, and we are his;
 we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. 

[Antiphon, if used.]

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise; *
 give thanks to him and call upon his Name. 

[Antiphon, if used.]
 
For the Lord is good;
his mercy is everlasting; *
 and his faithfulness endures from age to age. 

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 Exodus 40:18-38

Exodus 40:18-38
¹⁸So Moses raised up the tabernacle, fastened its sockets, set up its boards, put in its bars, and raised up its pillars. ¹⁹And he spread out the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on top of it, as the LORD had commanded Moses. ²⁰He took the Testimony and put it into the ark, inserted the poles through the rings of the ark, and put the mercy seat on top of the ark. ²¹And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung up the veil of the covering, and partitioned off the ark of the Testimony, as the LORD had commanded Moses. ²²He put the table in the tabernacle of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil; ²³and he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses. ²⁴He put the lampstand in the tabernacle of meeting, across from the table, on the south side of the tabernacle; ²⁵and he lit the lamps before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses. ²⁶He put the gold altar in the tabernacle of meeting in front of the veil; ²⁷and he burned sweet incense on it, as the LORD had commanded Moses. ²⁸He hung up the screen at the door of the tabernacle. ²⁹And he put the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the LORD had commanded Moses. ³⁰He set the laver between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and put water there for washing; ³¹and Moses, Aaron, and his sons would wash their hands and their feet with water from it. ³²Whenever they went into the tabernacle of meeting, and when they came near the altar, they washed, as the LORD had commanded Moses. ³³And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the screen of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. ³⁴Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. ³⁵And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. ³⁶Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. ³⁷But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. ³⁸For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. -- 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 1Thessalonians 4:1-12

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
¹Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; ²for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, ⁵not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. ⁷For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. ⁸Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. ⁹But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; ¹⁰and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; ¹¹that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, ¹²that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. -- 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 5:38-48
³⁸"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' ³⁹But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. ⁴⁰If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. ⁴¹And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴²Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. ⁴³"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? ⁴⁸Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. -- 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:

Fourth Sunday of Easter
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and 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
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 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.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

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.