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   Morning Prayer
    from the day after Ascension Day
    until the day of Pentecost
     
   
Preparation
 
     
    O Lord, open our lips
All
  and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
     
    Send your Holy Spirit upon us,
All
  and clothe us with power from on high. Alleluia.
     
    Blessed are you, creator God,
    to you be glory and praise for ever.
    Your Spirit moved over the face of the waters
    to bring light and life to your creation.
    Pour out your Spirit on us this day
    that we may walk as children of light
    and by your grace reveal your presence.
    Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
All
  Blessed be God for ever.
     
      A Song of God's Righteousness, or a suitable hymn, may be said or sung
 
   
1
  Bless the Lord, O my soul,  •  
      and all that is within me bless his holy name.
 
   
2
  Bless the Lord, O my soul,  •  
      and forget not all his benefits;
                   
   
3
  Who forgives all your sins  •   
      and heals all your infirmities;
 
   
4
  Who redeems your life from the Pit  •
      and crowns you with faithful love and compassion;
                   
   
5
  Who satisfies you with good things,  •  
      so that your youth is renewed like an eagle's.
                 
   
6
  The Lord executes righteousness  • 
      and judgement for all who are oppressed.
                   
   
7
  He made his ways known to Moses  •   
      and his works to the children of Israel.
       
   
8
  The Lord has established his throne in heaven,  • 
      and his kingdom has dominion over all.
       
   
9
  Bless the Lord, you angels of his,  •  
      you mighty ones who do his bidding
            and hearken to the voice of his word.
       
   
10
  Bless the Lord, all you his hosts,  •
      you ministers of his who do his will.
       
   
11
  Bless the Lord, all you works of his,  
            in all places of his dominion;  •
      bless the Lord, O my soul.
     
 Psalm 103.1-7,19-22
       
     
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 Ezekiel, or another suitable canticle for example, number  42 (page 534), may be said or sung
 
      Refrain:
   
All
  The Spirit of God fills the whole world. Alleluia.
       
   
1
  I will take you from the nations,  •   
      and gather you from all the countries.
       
   
2
  I will sprinkle clean water upon you,  • 
      and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses.
       
   
3
  A new heart I will give you,  • 
      and put a new spirit within you,
       
   
4
  And I will remove from your body the heart of stone  •
      and give you a heart of flesh.
       
   
5
  You shall be my people,  •     
      and I will be your God.
     
Ezekiel 36.24-26,28b
      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
  The Spirit of God fills the whole world. Alleluia.
 
     
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
 
      Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people
   
All
  and kindle in us the fire of your love.
      All who are led by the Spirit of God
      are children of God and fellow-heirs with Christ.
   
All
  Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people.
      Renew the face of your creation, Lord,
      pouring on us the gifts of your Spirit,
   
All
  and kindle in us the fire of your love.
      For the creation waits with eager longing
      for the glorious liberty of the children of God.
   
All
  Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people
      and kindle in us the fire of your love.
 
     
Gospel Canticle
 
     
    The Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah) is said or sung
 
  Refrain:
All
  Christ has gone up on high
    and has led captivity captive.  Alleluia.
 
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
  Christ has gone up on high
    and has led captivity captive.  Alleluia.
 
   
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 329 and the prayers on pages 342-343 may be used.
 
      Silence may be kept.
 
    The Collect of the day or the following Collect is said
 
    O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
All
  Amen.
 
    The Lord's Prayer is said
 
    Being made one by the power of the Spirit,
    as our Saviour has taught us, so we pray
     
All
  Our Father in heaven …
       
    (or)
 
    Being made one by the power of the Spirit,   
    let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
     
All
  Our Father, who art in heaven …
     
     
   
The Conclusion
 
     
    May the Spirit kindle in us the fire of God's love.
All
  Amen.
 
      Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia. Alleluia.
   
All
  Thanks be to God. Alleluia. Alleluia.
 
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
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