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  Morning Prayer
    from All Saints' Day until
    the day before the First Sunday of Advent
     
   
Preparation
 
     
    O Lord, open our lips
All
  and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
     
    Your faithful servants bless you.
All
  They make known the glory of your kingdom.
     
    Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
    ruler and judge of all;
    to you be praise and glory for ever.
    In the darkness of the age that is passing away,
    may the glory of your kingdom
    which the saints enjoy
    surround our steps as we journey on.
    May we reflect the light of your glory this day
    and so be made ready to come into your presence.
    Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
All
  Blessed be God for ever.
     
      A Song of Trust in God, or a suitable hymn, may be said or sung
 
   
1
  As the deer longs for the water brooks,     
      so longs my soul for you, O God.
 
   
2
  My soul is athirst for God, even for the living God;  
      when shall I come before the presence of God?
                   
   
3
  My tears have been my bread day and night,     
      while all day long they say to me, 'Where is now your God?'
 
   
4
  Now when I think on these things, I pour out my soul:  
      how I went with the multitude
            and led the procession to the house of God,             
       
   
5
  With the voice of praise and thanksgiving,   
      among those who kept holy day.
                 
   
6
  Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul,  
      and why are you so disquieted within me?
                   
   
7
  O put your trust in God;     
      for I will yet give him thanks,
            who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
     
 Psalm 42.1-7
       
     
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 New Creation, or another suitable canticle for example, number 43 (page 535) or number 44 (page 536), may be said or sung
 
      Refrain:
   
All
  I will make a way in the wilderness,
      and rivers in the desert.
       
   
1
  'I am the Lord, your Holy One,    
      the Creator of Israel, your King.'
       
   
2
  Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea,   
      a path in the mighty waters,
       
   
3
  'Remember not the former things,   
      nor consider the things of old.
       
   
4
  'Behold, I am doing a new thing;    
      now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
       
   
5
  'I will make a way in the wilderness
            and rivers in the desert,   
      to give drink to my chosen people,
       
   
6
  'The people whom I formed for myself,  
      that they might declare my praise.' 
     
Isaiah 43.15,16,18,19,20c,21
      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 will make a way in the wilderness,
      and rivers in the desert.
 
     
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
 
      I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord,
      my lips shall proclaim your faithfulness.
   
All
  I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord,
      my lips shall proclaim your faithfulness.
      The heavens bear witness to your wonders;
   
All
  my lips shall proclaim your faithfulness.
      The assembly of your saints proclaims your truth.
   
All
  I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.
      Glory to the Father and to the Son
      and to the Holy Spirit.
   
All
  I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord,
      my lips shall proclaim your faithfulness.
 
     
Gospel Canticle
 
     
    The Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah) is said or sung
 
  Refrain:
All
  You will guide us with your counsel, O God,
    and after, receive us with glory.
 
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 will guide us with your counsel, O God,
    and after, receive us with glory.
 
   
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 344-345 may be used.
 
      Silence may be kept.
 
    The Collect of the day or the following Collect is said
 
    Almighty God,
you have knit together your elect
in one communion and fellowship
      in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord:
give us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living
that we may come to those inexpressible joys
that you have prepared for those who truly love you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
  Amen.
 
    The Lord's Prayer is said
 
    Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven,
    as our Saviour has taught us, so we pray
     
All
  Our Father in heaven …
       
    (or)
 
    Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven,   
    let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
     
All
  Our Father, who art in heaven …
     
     
   
The Conclusion
 
     
    May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven,
    bring us to reign with him in glory.
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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