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   Morning Prayer on Thursday
     
     
   
Preparation
 
     
    O Lord, open our lips
All
  and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
     
    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.
    Alleluia.
     
      A Song of God's Blessing, or a suitable hymn, may be said or sung
 
   
1
  God be gracious to us and bless us  •  
      and make his face to shine upon us,
 
   
2
  That your way may be known upon earth,  • 
      your saving power among all nations.
                   
   
3
  Let the peoples praise you, O God;  •   
      let all the peoples praise you.
 
   
4
  O let the nations rejoice and be glad,  •
      for you will judge the peoples righteously
            and govern the nations upon earth.
                   
   
5
  Let the peoples praise you, O God;  •   
      let all the peoples praise you.
                 
   
6
  Then shall the earth bring forth her increase,  • 
      and God, our own God, will bless us.
                   
   
7
  God will bless us,  •
      and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
     
 Psalm 67
 
      This opening prayer may be said       
 
      The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
      Let us pray with one heart and mind.
 
      Silence is kept.
 
      As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
      so may the light of your presence, O God,
      set our  hearts on fire with love for you;
      now and for ever.
   
All
  Amen.
 
 
     
The Word of God
 
 
     
Psalmody
 
 
    The appointed psalmody is said or sung.
 
 
      Each psalm or group of psalms may end with
 
      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.
 
     
Old Testament Canticle
 
 
      If there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here,
      or both may be read after the Old Testament canticle.
 
      A Song of the Covenant, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 41 (page 533), may be said or sung
 
      Refrain:
   
All
  I have given you as a light to the nations,
      and I have called you in righteousness.
       
   
1
  Thus says God, who created the heavens,  •
      who fashioned the earth and all that dwells in it; 
       
   
2
  Who gives breath to the people upon it  •  
      and spirit to those who walk in it,    
       
   
3
  'I am the Lord and I have called you in righteousness,  •
      I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
       
   
4
  'I have given you as a covenant to the people,  • 
      a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind,
       
   
5
  'To bring out the captives from the dungeon,  •
      from the prison, those who sit in darkness.
       
   
6
  'I am the Lord, that is my name;  •
      my glory I give to no other.'  
     
Isaiah 42,5-8a
      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.
       
   
All
  I have given you as a light to the nations,
      and I have called you in righteousness.
 
     
Scripture Reading
 
 
    One or more readings appointed for the day are read.
      The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence. 
 
      A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow
 
      Fear not, for I have redeemed you.
   
All
  I have called you by name; you are mine.
      When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
   
All
  Fear not, for I have redeemed you.
      When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned.
   
All
  I have called you by name; you are mine.
      For I am the Lord your God,
      the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.
   
All
  Fear not, for I have redeemed you.
      I have called you by name; you are mine.
 
     
Gospel Canticle
 
     
    The Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah) is said or sung
 
  Refrain:
All
  You promised, O God, to save us from our enemies,
    from the hands of all that hate us.
 
1
  Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,  •     
    who has come to his people and set them free.  
 
2
  He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,  • 
    born of the house of his servant David.
     
3
  Through his holy prophets God promised of old  •   
    to save us from our enemies,
          from the hands of all that hate us.
 
4
  To show mercy to our ancestors,  •  
    and to remember his holy covenant.
 
5
  This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:  • 
    to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
 
6
  Free to worship him without fear,  •   
    holy and righteous in his sight
          all the days of our life.
 
7
  And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,  •  
    for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
 
8
  To give his people knowledge of salvation  • 
    by the forgiveness of all their sins. 
     
9
  In the tender compassion of our God  •  
    the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
     
10
  To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,  •
    and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
     
Luke 1.68-79
    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.
   
All
You promised, O God, to save us from our enemies,
  from the hands of all that hate us.
 
 
   
Prayers
 
 
    Intercessions are offered
    for the day and its tasks
    for the world and its needs
    for the Church and her life
 
      These responses may be used
 
      Lord, in your mercy        (or)    Lord, hear us.
      hear our prayer.                     Lord, graciously hear us.
 
      The cycle on page 328 and the prayers on pages 330-331 may be used.
 
      Silence may be kept.
 
    The Collect of the day or the following Collect is said
 
    O God, the author of peace
    and lover of concord,
    to know you is eternal life,
    to serve you is perfect freedom.
    Defend us your servants
    from all assaults of our enemies;
    that we may trust in your defence,
    and not fear the power of any adversaries;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
  Amen.
 
    The Lord's Prayer is said
 
    As our Saviour has taught us, so we pray
     
All
  Our Father in heaven …
       
    (or)
 
    Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
     
All
  Our Father, who art in heaven …
     
     
   
The Conclusion
 
     
    The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
    and keep us in eternal life.
All
  Amen.
 
      Let us bless the Lord.
   
All
  Thanks be to God.
 
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
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