Morning Prayer

Opening Sentence

The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. habakkuk 2:20

Psalms

144

First Lesson

II Samuel 16

Second Lesson

Colossians 4

Evening Prayer

Opening Sentence

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth stand in awe of him. psalm 96:9

Psalms

145

First Lesson

Obadiah

Second Lesson

Matthew 1:18–25

Collects

Seasonal Collect

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Special Collect

Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant N., may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last, with him, we attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Or this: Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy; for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Remembrance

The Beheading of John the Baptist