DAY 29 MORNING PRAYER Call to Prayer Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: O come, let us adore him. Confession of Faith I believe that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time. 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 Canticle May the name of God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to him. He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals the deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him. Daniel 2:20-23 Morning Psalms Psalm 139 1 Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. 3 You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord. 5 You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me. 6 This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it. 7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 275 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. 9 If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, 10 even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night” — 12 even the darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you. 13 For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. 15 My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began. 17 God, how precious your thoughts are to me; how vast their sum is! 18 If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with you. 19 God, if only you would kill the wicked — you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me — 20 who invoke you deceitfully. Your enemies swear by you falsely. 21 Lord, don’t I hate those who hate you, and detest those who rebel against you? 22 I hate them with extreme hatred; I consider them my enemies. 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way. 276 Psalm 140 1 Rescue me, Lord, from evil men. Keep me safe from violent men 2 who plan evil in their hearts. They stir up wars all day long. 3 They make their tongues as sharp as a snake’s bite; viper’s venom is under their lips. Selah 4 Protect me, Lord, from the power of the wicked. Keep me safe from violent men who plan to make me stumble. 5 The proud hide a trap with ropes for me; they spread a net along the path and set snares for me. Selah 6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.” Listen, Lord, to my cry for help. 7 Lord, my Lord, my strong Savior, you shield my head on the day of battle. 8 Lord, do not grant the desires of the wicked; do not let them achieve their goals. Otherwise, they will become proud. Selah 9 When those who surround me rise up, may the trouble their lips cause overwhelm them. 10 Let hot coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into the abyss, never again to rise. 11 Do not let a slanderer stay in the land. Let evil relentlessly hunt down a violent man. 12 I know that the Lord upholds the just cause of the poor, justice for the needy. 13 Surely the righteous will praise your name; the upright will live in your presence. Gloria Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever, world without end. 277 The Lord’s Prayer Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Intercessions and Personal Requests Prayer of the Church Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. The Book of Common Prayer Blessing The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen. DAY 29 MIDDAY PRAYER Call to Prayer For the High and Exalted One, who lives forever, whose name is holy, says this: “I live in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the oppressed.” Isaiah 57:15 Midday Psalms Psalm 141 1 Lord, I call on you; hurry to help me. Listen to my voice when I call on you. 278 2 May my prayer be set before you as incense, the raising of my hands as the evening offering. 3 Lord, set up a guard for my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. 4 Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing or perform wicked acts with men who commit sin. Do not let me feast on their delicacies. 5 Let the righteous one strike me — it is an act of faithful love; let him rebuke me — it is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. Even now my prayer is against the evil acts of the wicked. 6 When their rulers will be thrown off the sides of a cliff, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasing. 7 As when one plows and breaks up the soil, turning up rocks, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol. 8 But my eyes look to you, Lord, my Lord. I seek refuge in you; do not let me die. 9 Protect me from the trap they have set for me, and from the snares of evildoers. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely. Gloria Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever, world without end. The Lord’s Prayer Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread 279 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Blessing The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. 2 Corinthians 13:14 DAY 29 EVENING PRAYER Call to Prayer May my prayer be set before you as incense, the raising of my hands as the evening offering. Psalm 141:2 Confession of sin O Lord and Master, I am unworthy both of heaven and of earth, because I have surrendered myself to sin, and become the slave of worldly pleasures. Yet, since you created me, and since you can shape me as you want, I do not despair of salvation; but made bold by your compassionate love, I come before you. Receive me, dear Lord, as you received the harlot, the thief, the tax collector and even the prodigal son. You love all people, so pour out your love upon me. Lift from me the heavy burden of sin, cleanse every stain of unrighteousness from me, and wash me white with the waters of holiness. Basil of Caesarea The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God. Canticle Born as a Son, led forth as a lamb, sacrificed as a sheep, buried as a man, he rose from the dead as a God, for he was by nature God and man.