Morning Prayer 4th Sunday of Lent:

Morning Prayer:

4^th Sunday of Lent:

Lord, who throughout these forty days

For us didst fast and pray,

Teach us with thee to mourn our sins,

And close by thee to stay.

As thou with Satan didst contend,

And didst the victory win,

O give us strength in thee to fight,

In thee to conquer sin.

As thirst and hunger thou didst bear,

So teach us, gracious Lord,

To die to self, and daily live

By thy most holy word.

And through these days of penitence,

And through thy Passiontide,

Yea, evermore, in life and death,

Jesus, with us abide.

Psalm 117 (118)
A cry of rejoicing and triumph

You are my God: I thank you. My God, I praise you.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,

and his kindness is for ever.

Now let Israel say, he is good

and his kindness is for ever.

Now let the house of Aaron say it too:

that his kindness is for ever.

Now let all who fear the Lord say it too:

that his kindness is for ever.

In my time of trial I called out to the Lord:

he listened, and led me to freedom.

The Lord is with me,

I will fear nothing that man can do.

The Lord, my help, is with me,

and I shall look down upon my enemies.

It is good to seek shelter in the Lord,

better than to trust in men.

It is good to seek shelter in the Lord,

better than to trust in the leaders of men.

All the nations surrounded me,

and in the Lord’s name I slew them.

They crowded in and besieged me,

and in the Lord’s name I slew them.

They surrounded me like swarms of bees,

they burned like a fire of dry thorns,

and in the Lord’s name I slew them.

They chased and pursued me, to make me fall,

and the Lord came to my help.

The Lord is my strength and my rejoicing:

he has become my saviour.

A cry of joy and salvation

in the dwellings of the righteous:

“The Lord’s right hand has triumphed!

The Lord’s right hand has raised me up;

the Lord’s right hand has triumphed.”

I shall not die, but live,

and tell of the works of the Lord.

The Lord chastised me severely

but did not let me die.

Open the gates of righteousness:

I will go in, and thank the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord;

it is the upright who enter here.

I will thank you, for you listened to me,

and became my saviour.

The stone that the builders rejected

has become the corner-stone.

It was the Lord who did this –

it is marvellous to behold.

This is the day that was made by the Lord:

let us rejoice today, and be glad.

Lord, keep me safe;

O Lord, let me prosper!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

We bless you from the house of the Lord.

The Lord is God, he shines upon us!

Arrange the procession, with close-packed branches,

up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, I will give thanks to you;

my God, I will give you praise.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,

and his kindness is for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

You are my God: I thank you. My God, I praise you.

Let every creature praise the Lord

Lord, you can deliver us from the hand of the one who is stronger than we are: save us, Lord, our God.

Blessed are you, Lord God of our fathers,

praised and exalted for ever.

Blessed is the holy name of your glory

praised above all things and exalted for ever.

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory

praised and glorious above all things for ever.

Blessed are you who gaze on the depths,

seated on the cherubim,

praised and exalted for ever.

Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven

praised and glorious for ever.

Bless the Lord, all his works,

praise and exalt him for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Lord, you can deliver us from the hand of the one who is stronger than we are: save us, Lord, our God.

Psalm 150
Praise the Lord

Praise God in his wonderful works.

Praise the Lord in his sanctuary,

praise him in his mighty firmament.

Praise him for his mighty deeds,

praise him for all his greatness.

Praise him with trumpet-blasts,

praise him with the harp and lyre,

praise him with timbrel and dance,

praise him with strings and pipes,

praise him with cymbals resounding,

praise him with cymbals of jubilation.

All that breathes, praise the Lord!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Praise God in his wonderful works.

This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep. For this day is sacred to our Lord. Do not be sad: the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.

Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

– Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

You were wounded because of our sins.

– Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

The Messiah and his forerunner

The man called Jesus put a paste on my eyes, and I went away and washed, and I can see. (Year A)

Or: Ever since the world began it is unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man who was born blind. Only Christ, the son of God, has done this.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.

He has raised up the sign of salvation

in the house of his servant David,

as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones,

his prophets through the ages:

to rescue us from our enemies

and all who hate us,

to take pity on our fathers,

to remember his holy covenant

and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,

that he would give himself to us,

that we could serve him without fear

– freed from the hands of our enemies –

in uprightness and holiness before him,

for all of our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High:

for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,

to let his people know their salvation,

so that their sins may be forgiven.

Through the bottomless mercy of our God,

one born on high will visit us

to give light to those who walk in darkness,

who live in the shadow of death;

to lead our feet in the path of peace.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

The man called Jesus put a paste on my eyes, and I went away and washed, and I can see. (Year A)

Or: Ever since the world began it is unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man who was born blind. Only Christ, the son of God, has done this.

Let us glorify God for his wealth of goodness and pray to him through Jesus Christ, who is always living to intercede for us.

– Inflame our hearts with your love.

God of mercy, help us to enrich this day with deeds of kindness;

let men know by our actions that we are all one family.

– Inflame our hearts with your love.

At the time of the flood you saved Noah through the ark;

grant salvation through water to those preparing for baptism.

– Inflame our hearts with your love.

May we never live by bread alone;

give us life by every word you speak.

– Inflame our hearts with your love.

Help us to avoid all anger and dissension;

let us find joy in your peace and love.

– Inflame our hearts with your love.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Lord God, in your surpassing wisdom

you reconcile man to yourself through your Word.

Grant that your Christian people may come with eager faith and ready will

to celebrate the Easter festival.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

O God come to our aid.

O Lord make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Sole hope of all the world and Lord,

Bestower of the great reward,

Receive the prayers thy servants raise

Mixed with meet psalms and chants of praise.

And though our conscience doth proclaim

Our deep transgressions and our shame,

Cleanse us, O God, we humbly plead,

From sins of thought and word and deed.

Our sins remember thou no more;

Forgive: thou art of mighty pow’r:

So take upon thee, Lord, our care

That pure in heart we make our prayer.

Therefore accept, O Lord, this tide

Of fast which thou hast sanctified,

That we may reach by mystic ways

The sacraments of Easter days.

Psalm 109 (110)
The Messiah, king and priest

God has appointed him to judge everyone, living or dead.

The Lord has said to my lord:

“Sit at my right hand

while I make your enemies your footstool.”

From Zion the Lord will give you a sceptre,

and you will rule in the midst of your foes.

Royal power is yours in the day of your strength,

among the sacred splendours.

Before the dawn, I begot you from the womb.

The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent:

“You are a priest for ever,

a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech.”

The Lord is at your right hand,

and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings.

He will drink from the stream as he goes –

he will hold his head high.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

God has appointed him to judge everyone, living or dead.

Psalm 111 (112)
How blessed are the just

Happy is the man to whom the Lord takes mercy: he will never waver.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord

and loves his commands above all things.

His seed will be powerful on earth:

the descendants of the just will be blessed.

Glory and riches will fill his house,

and his righteousness will stand firm for ever.

He rises up in the darkness,

a light for the upright,

compassionate, generous, and just.

Happy the man who takes pity and lends,

who directs his affairs with wisdom –

he will never be shaken.

The just man will be remembered for ever,

no slander will he fear.

His heart is ready, hoping in the Lord;

his heart is strong, it will not fear,

until he looks down on his defeated enemies.

He gives alms and helps the poor:

his righteousness will endure for ever,

his future will be glorious.

The transgressor will see, and be enraged:

he will grind his teeth and fade away.

The desires of the wicked will perish.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Happy is the man to whom the Lord takes mercy: he will never waver.

Christ’s passion, freely chosen

God fulfilled what he had foretold in the words of all the prophets: that Christ would suffer.

Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, to follow in his path.

He committed no sin, in his speech there was no deceit;

when they cursed him, he did not curse them;

when he suffered, he did not threaten retribution, but committed them to the one just judge.

He endured our sins in the sufferings of his body on the tree,

so that we would die to our sins and live for righteousness –

and by his bruises you have been healed.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

God fulfilled what he had foretold in the words of all the prophets: that Christ would suffer.

All the runners at the stadium are trying to win, but only one of them gets the prize. You must run in the same way, meaning to win. All the fighters at the games go into strict training; they do this just to win a wreath that will wither away, but we do it for a wreath that will never wither.

Hear us, Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.

Listen, Christ, to the prayers of those who cry to you.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.

My soul rejoices in the Lord

Ever since the world began it is unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man who was born blind; except for Christ, the Son of God. (Year A)

Or: My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was right that we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.

For he has shown me such favour –

me, his lowly handmaiden.

Now all generations will call me blessed,

because the mighty one has done great things for me.

His name is holy,

his mercy lasts for generation after generation

for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:

he has scattered the proud and conceited,

torn princes from their thrones;

but lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things;

the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,

he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Ever since the world began it is unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man who was born blind; except for Christ, the Son of God. (Year A)

Or: My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was right that we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.

We give thanks to Christ, our head and our master. Let us pray to him with trust and humility, for he served all men and was good to everyone.

– Lord Jesus, visit your family.

Lord, help the bishops and priests of your Church, who share in your office of head and pastor;

unite them with yourself to lead all men to the Father.

– Lord Jesus, visit your family.

Send your angels to protect those who travel;

keep them from harm and bring them safely home.

– Lord Jesus, visit your family.

Teach us to care for everyone;

make us more like you in serving others.

– Lord Jesus, visit your family.

Help us to form a human community where all men live in friendship;

Lord, unite us in your love.

– Lord Jesus, visit your family.

Show your love for the dead:

let them see the light of your face.

– Lord Jesus, visit your family.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Lord God, in your surpassing wisdom

you reconcile man to yourself through your Word.

Grant that your Christian people may come with eager faith and ready will

to celebrate the Easter festival.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.