Daily Prayer
THE SEASON OF EASTER
Thursday
CALL TO WORSHIP AND OPENING PRAYER
The Lord is risen. Alleluia!
Come, let us worship.
Give praise to the Father almighty,
to his Son, Jesus Christ, the Lord,
to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,
both now and for ever. Amen.
Blessed and praised are you, God our Father,
for raising Christ our Lord from the dead
and giving us the hope of immortality.
words of gratitude and adoration may be said here
The joy of the resurrection renews the whole world:
a new age has dawned,
the reign of sin is ended,
a broken world is being renewed,
and humanity is once again made whole.
Blessed be God for ever!
PSALM, AND SCRIPTURE SONG
Psalm 24
1 The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;
2 for he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
and do not swear deceitfully.
5 They will receive blessing from the Lord,
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
6 Such is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.*
7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory.
Give praise to the Father almighty;
to his Son, Jesus Christ the Lord;
to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,
both now and for ever. Amen.
A Song of God’s Grace
[Ephesians 1.3-10]
Blessed are you, the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
for you have blest us in Christ Jesus
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
You chose us to be yours in Christ
before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and blameless before you.
In love you destined us to be your children,
through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of your will,
to the praise of your glorious grace
which you freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
In you, we have redemption through the blood of Christ –
the forgiveness of our sins,
according to the riches of your grace
which you have lavished upon us.
You have made known to us
in all wisdom and insight
the mystery of your will;
according to your purpose
which you set forth in Christ
as a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in Christ,
things in heaven and things on earth.
Give praise to the Father almighty,
to his Son, Jesus Christ, the Lord,
to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,
both now and for ever. Amen.
SHORT READING
John 14.23-27
Jesus answered, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.’
a time for reflection on the scriptures …
… completed with:
Although you have not seen him, you love him.
You believe in him and rejoice. You love him.
[1 Peter 1.8]
CANTICLE OF THE SEASON
A Song of the Church
(Te Deum)
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
all creation worships you,
the Father everlasting.
To you all angels,
all the powers of heaven,
the cherubim and seraphim,
sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all praise,
the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you took our flesh to set us free
you humbly chose the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come to be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.
THE LORD'S PRAYER,
thanksgiving, petition, intercession
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
a time for personal prayer and intercession …
… you may include this ‘Prayer for the Earth’:
God of glory, the bodily ascension of Christ
reveals the significance of the material world.
As he was exalted to heaven,
may we in heart and mind also ascend,
so as to view the environment
from a kingdom perspective.
Help us to see the world as you see it
and care for the earth because you love it. Amen.
… and sum up your own prayers with these responses:
Give thanks to the Lord for he is gracious;
he has loved us from all eternity.
By his cross and resurrection he has redeemed the world,
and has washed us from our sins in his blood.
On the third day he rose again,
and has given us the victory.
He ascended into heaven,
and opened for us the gate to everlasting life.
He is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and lives for ever to intercede for us.
A CONCLUDING PRAYER, AND ENDING
Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,
ignite in us your holy fire;
strengthen your children
with the gift of faith,
revive your Church
with the breath of love,
and renew the face of the earth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May Christ, who
out of defeat has brought us hope,
fill us with new life. Amen.
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