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   Morning Prayer on Wednesday
     
     
   
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 Glorious Name, or a suitable hymn, may be said or sung
 
   
1
  O Lord our governor,  •  
      how glorious is your name in all the world!
 
   
2
  Your majesty above the heavens is praised  •  
      out of the mouths of babes at the breast.
                   
   
3
  You have founded a stronghold against your foes,  •  
      that you might still the enemy and the avenger.
 
   
4
  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,  • 
      the moon and the stars that you have ordained,
                   
   
5
  What are mortals, that you should be mindful of them;  • 
      mere human beings, that you should seek them out?
                 
   
6
  You have made them little lower than the angels  • 
      and crown them with glory and honour.
                   
   
7
  You have given them dominion over the works of your hands  • 
      and put all things under their feet,
       
   
8
  All sheep and oxen,  •
      even the wild beasts of the field,
       
   
9
  The birds of the air, the fish of the sea  •  
      and whatsoever moves in the paths of the sea.
       
   
10
  O Lord our governor,  •  
      how glorious is your name in all the world!
     
 Psalm 8
 
      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 Word of the Lord, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 33 (page 525), may be said or sung
 
      Refrain:
   
All
  Return to the Lord, who will have mercy,
      to our God, who will richly pardon.
       
   
1
  Seek the Lord while he may be found,  •
      call upon him while he is near; 
       
   
2
  Let the wicked abandon their ways,  • 
      and the unrighteous their thoughts;    
       
   
3
  Return to the Lord, who will have mercy;  • 
      to our God, who will richly pardon.
       
   
4
  'For my thoughts are not your thoughts,  •  
      neither are your ways my ways', says the Lord.
       
   
5
  For as the heavens are higher than the earth,  • 
      so are my ways higher than your ways
            and my thoughts than your thoughts.
       
   
6
  'As the rain and the snow come down from above,  •
      and return not again but water the earth
       
   
7
  Bringing forth life and giving growth,  • 
      seed for sowing and bread to eat,
       
   
8
  'So is my word that goes forth from my mouth,  •
      it will not return to me fruitless,
       
   
9
  But will accomplish that which I purpose,  •
      and succeed in the task I gave it'.
     
Isaiah 55.6-11
      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
  Return to the Lord, who will have mercy,
      to our God, who will richly pardon.
 
     
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
 
      Lord, you will guide me by your counsel
      and afterwards receive me with glory.
   
All
  Lord, you will guide me by your counsel
      and afterwards receive me with glory.
      For I am always with you;
      you hold me by my right hand.
   
All
  And afterwards receive me with glory.
      Glory to the Father, and to the Son
      and to the Holy Spirit.
   
All
  Lord, you will guide me by your counsel
      and afterwards receive me with glory.
 
     
Gospel Canticle
 
     
    The Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah) is said or sung
 
  Refrain:
All
  You show mercy to our ancestors,
    and remember your holy covenant.
 
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 show mercy to our ancestors,
  and remember your holy covenant.
 
 
   
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
 
    Almighty and everlasting God,
    we thank you that you have brought us safely
    to the beginning of this day.
    Keep us from falling into sin
    or running into danger,
    order us in all our doings
    and guide us to do always
    what is righteous in your sight;
    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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