Notes
The Morning Prayer service is a form of conversation between God and his people. God declares himself in the opening sentences and calls his people to worship and confession. God gives his pardon and we sing the praises of our Redeemer. In each reading we listen to God's word and respond in the canticle. The Baptismal profession of faith is both a statement of what God has done for us in Christ and an act of faith on our part, which we turn to practical application in the prayers which complete the liturgy. We then consider God's Word to us.Archbishop Cranmer designed this service in the sixteenth century to reflect the central doctrine of the Reformation - justification by grace through faith. It seeks to take us through the steps necessary for us to stand approved in God's sight. Repentance and forgiveness is followed by praise, the hearing of God's Word and prayer. The essential element in the service is the recognition of our unworthiness and the declaration of God's forgiveness and acceptance.
The liturgy
Call to worship.
The gathering hymn.
The greeting. This unites the congregation in the act of worship such that we meet with Christ as a family of believers.
Sentence and prayer of Invocation. This responsive verse of scripture and 2nd Collect, sets the theme of the service, and is found in the 3 year series AAPB
The Exhortation. This reminds us that we are rebels in the sight of God and that in ourselves we have no right of approach to God. The General Confession is not so much a confession for personal failings which may have occurred over the past week, but rather a recognition of our fallenness. We confess the state of mankind. As such it is a reaffirmation of our repentance.
The AbsolutionThis is a declaration of forgiveness for all who have turned to Christ. It therefore serves to remind us of the basis upon which we approach God. The Absolution from BCP is rather messy. It is not clear what it is trying to do.
The Lord's Prayer. In recognition of our right standing in the sight of God as a gift of God's grace appropriated through repentance and faith, we may join together in the family prayer of God's people.
Versicles and Responses. An act of commitment and self-dedication to our crucified Lord.
The Office Hymn, a hymn of praise and thanksgiving formed from verses out of the New Testament. A useful chant setting was composed by Ian Forrester 1984, and is found in the Australian Hymn Book -supp.
Bible Readings. Two readings from the Three Year Series.
A hymn, psalm or chorus, may follow the Old Testament reading.
The Apostles Creed. Our affirmation of faith in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Greeting (optional), Call to Prayer, Kyrie Elesion (reminding us that all prayer rests on God's mercy), Lord's Prayer (Christ's family prayer) and Responsory (general supplications).
The Collects. The Collect of the Day focuses on the theme of the service. This is followed by a Collect for peace and grace.
Supplication and Intercession. The minister leads in a time of general prayer. This may be followed by the congregation joining in saying the General Thanksgiving. In this prayer we give thanks to God for all his blessings to us. In particular we remember our salvation.
Prayer of Saint Chrysostom. In this prayer we ask that God might give us those things which are according to his will. We conclude with the Grace, which is a general request that God's gracious mercy might be experienced by all present.
Morning Prayer
Gathering in the Lord's NameCALL TO WORSHIP A call to recognize Christ's presence.
GATHERING HYMN
THE GREETING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
RESPONSIVE SENTENCE and PRAYER [A] Thematic Sentence and 2nd Collect 3 years series AAPB. Rev.4:11, John 4:24, Habakkuk 2:20.
THE EXHORTATION Verse/s, followed by an exhortation to confess our sins "with a penitent and obedient heart." Dan.9:9,10, Ezek.18:27, 32. Ps.143:2, Jo.2:13, Mk.1:15, Lk.15:18,19, 1Jn.1:8,9.
Kneel..........
THE GENERAL CONFESSION
Almighty and most merciful Father,
We have strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have left undone what we ought to have done.
and we have done what we ought not to have done.
We have followed our own ways and the desires of our own hearts.
We have broken your holy laws.
Yet, good Lord, have mercy on us;
restore those who are penitent,
according to your promises declared to mankind in Jesus Christ our Lord.
And grant, merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may live a godly and obedient life,
to the glory of your name. Amen.
THE ABSOLUTION. Declaration of forgiveness.
1. (BCP) The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ pardons and absolves all who truly repent and believe his holy gospel. For God desires, not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live, and has given authority and commandment to his ministers to declare to his people, when they repent, the forgiveness of their sins. Therefore lest us ask him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit, that what we do now may please him, and that the rest of our life may be pure and holy, so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
2. (AAPB - Minister) Merciful Lord, grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve you with a guiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
3. (APBA - 2nd Order) God deisres that none should perish, but that all should turn to Christ, and live. In response to his will we acknowledge our sins. God pardons those who humbly repent, and truly believe the gospel. Therefore we have peace with God, through Jesus Christ. Amen
Mercy is unmerited favour from God himself to an erring people who can do nothing to earn it except hold out their hands. Sherwood Wirt.
[THE LORD'S PRAYER
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.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.]
RESPONSORY
Open our lips, O Lord;
And we shall declare your praise.
O God make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
(Modern form)
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
His steadfast love endures for ever!
Grace and peace be with you
and also with you.*
Stand............
Gloria Patri
Glory to God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
Let us praise the Lord.
The Lord's name be praised.
(Modern)
Come, let us sing to the Lord,
shout to the rock of our salvation.
Serve the Lord with gladness,
come before his face with songs of joy.*
Christ has no body now on earth but mine, no feet but mine. Mine are the eyes through which he is to look with compassion on the world; mine are the feet with which he is to go about doing good; and mine are the hands with which he will bless. St.Teresa of Avila.
![[Canticle for the Hymn of the Risen Christ]](images/mpc.jpg)
Christ our passover has been | sacrificed for us:
so let us cele|brate the feast,
not with the old leaven of cor|ruption and wickedness:
but with the unleavened bread of sin|cerity and truth.
Christ once raised from the dead | dies no more:
death has no more do|minion over him.
In dying he died to sin | once for all:
in living he | lives to God.
See yourselves therefore as | dead to sin:
and alive to God in Jesus | Christ our Lord.
Christ has been | raised from the dead:
the first fruits of | those who sleep.
For as by | man came death:
by man has come also the resurrection | of the dead;
For as in | Adam all die:
even so in Christ shall all be | made alive.
Glo|ry to God:
Father, Son and | Holy Spirit;
As in the be|ginning so now:
and for ever | Amen.
Alternate Canticles may be used. eg:
Psalm 95. p.22
The Song of Zechariah. p.25
The Hymn of the Word, John 1. p.70
Ephesians 1:3-6. p.73
A Song of Christ's Glory, Philippians 2:6-11. p.76
Hebrews 10:19-22. p.79
Sit................
OLD TESTAMENT READING
This is the Word of the Lord This response from the Communion is used sometimes
Thanks be to God
[HYMN, PSALM or SPIRITUAL SONG May be used]
NEW TESTAMENT READING
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
THE APOSTLES' CREED [A]
This is the faith of the Church. This is our faith. We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead and buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy catholic Church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
And also with you.]
Let us pray.
Kneel............
Lord, have mercy on us. Kyrie Elesion
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Jesus said: "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever - the Spirit of truth...." John.14:16-18.
SHORTER LITANY
Lord, show us your mercy,
and grant us your salvation.
Keep our nation under your care* [Lord, save the Queen],
and mercifully hear our prayers.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness,
and make your chosen people joyful.
Lord save your people,
and bless your inheritance.
Give peace in our time, O Lord,
for you are our help and strength.
Create in us clean hearts, O God.
and renew us by your Holy Spirit.
(Modern form)
Be exalted, Lord, above the heavens,
let your glory cover the earth.
Keep our nation under your care,
and guide us in justice and truth.
Let your way be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Send out your light and your truth,
that we may tell of your saving works.
Have mercy on the poor and oppressed.
Hear the cry of those in need.
Hear our prayers, O Lord,
for we put our trust in you.*
THE COLLECT OF THE DAY
1st Collect AAPB are from BCP.
THE COLLECTS FOR PEACE and GRACE
O God, the author and lover of peace, in knowledge of whom stands our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; defend us your servants in all assaults of our enemies, that, surely trusting in your defence, we may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Eternal God and Father, by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed: guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, that we may give ourselves to your service, and live this day in love to one another and to you; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
SUPPLICATION and INTERCESSION
Appropriate prayers for ourselves and others. [A]
THE GENERAL THANKSGIVING Optional prayer
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give humble and hearty thanks for all your goodness and loving kindness to us and to all men; we bless you for our creation, preservation and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your amazing love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace; and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us that due sense of all your mercies, that our hearts may be truly thankful and that we may declare your praise not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
THE PRAYER OF SAINT CHRYSOSTOM
Almighty God, you have given us grace to bring before you with one accord our common supplications, and you promise that when two or three are gathered together in your name you will grant them their requests; fulfil now, Lord, the desires and petitions of your servants, as may be most expedient for them, granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.
THE GRACE 2Cor.13:14
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.
Sit..............
NOTICES
Stand............
HYMN [A]
Sit.................
SERMON
Stand...........
OFFERTORY HYMN
SENDING OUT GOD'S PEOPLE (Modern form)
Lord Jesus Christ,
send us out with confidence in your word to tell the world of your saving acts, and bring glory to your name. Amen.
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen.*
BENEDICTION A thematic blessing may be used or a sung form
Now unto him who is able to keep us from falling, and present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. Jude.24,25.
[A]. Assistant Priest, Deacon, Minister, or Lay Reader.
* The sentence comes from A Prayer Book for Australia
Merciful God, to you we commend ourselves and all those who need your help and correction. Where there is hatred, give love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is sadness, joy; Where there is darkness, light; Grant that we may not seek so much; to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; For in giving we receive, in pardoning we are pardoned, and in dying we are born into eternal life. St.Francis of Assisi.
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