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Saint Stephen

26th December 2016

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Daily Prayer (Morning)

Preparation

A Sentence of Scripture

The righteous will be remembered for ever; the memory of the righteous is a blessing. Psalm 112: 6, Proverbs 10: 7

Versicles and Responses

O Lord, open our lips

All and our mouth will proclaim your praise.

O God, make speed to save us.

All O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

All as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.

Praise the Lord.

All The Lord’s name be praised.

The Word of God

A Psalm

Psalm 13

1How long will you forget me, O | Lord; for | ever?
How long will you | hide your | face | from me?

2How long shall I have anguish in my soul and grief in my heart, | day after | day?
How long shall my | enemy | triumph | over me?

3Look upon me and answer, O | Lord my | God;
lighten my eyes, | lest I | sleep in | death;

4Lest my enemy say, ‘I have pre | vailed a | gainst him,’
and my foes re | joice that | I have | fallen.

5But I put my trust in your | steadfast | love;
my heart will re | joice in | your sal | vation.

6I will | sing to the | Lord,
for he has | dealt so | bountifully | with me.


Psalm 31:1–8

A Canticle

Which may be said here or between the readings

1 We praise you, O God,
We acclaim you as the Lord; all creation worships you,
the Father everlasting.

2 To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:

3 Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.

4 The glorious company of apostles praise you;
the noble fellowship of prophets praise you.

5 The white-robed army of martyrs praise you;
throughout the world, the holy Church acclaims you:

6 Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all praise,
the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

Part 2

7 You, Christ, are the King of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.

8 When you took our flesh to set us free,
you humbly chose the Virgin’s womb.

9 You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

10 You are seated at God’s right hand in glory:
we believe that you will come to be our judge.

11 Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,

12 and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.

One or two readings

The Gospel Canticle

Benedictus

1 Blessèd be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.

2 The Lord has raised up for us a mighty saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.

3 Through the holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of those who hate us,

4 to show mercy to our forebears,
and to remember his holy covenant.

5 This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hand of our enemies.

6 Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous before him all the days of our life.

7 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

8 To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.

9 In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

10 To shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning is now and shall be forever. Amen

The Apostles’ Creed

Prayer

Kneel

Let us pray

Lord, have mercy

All Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy

Weekday Intercessions and Thanksgivings

Creation in Christ: Creation and Providence

Almighty God,
maker of all good things:
Father, Lord of all creation,
in Christ you have shown us the purpose of your providence,
and call us to be responsible in the world.

Intercession

We pray for [The World]
all the nations ...
our own country ...
those in authority ...
the peace of the world ...
racial harmony ...
those who maintain order ...

Thanksgiving

Almighty God, we give you thanks
for the order of created things, the resources of the earth,
and the gift of human life ...
for the continuing work of creation,
our share in it,
and for creative vision and inventive skill ...
for your faithfulness to us in patience and in love,
and for every human response of obedience
and humble achievement ...

Concluding Prayer

May we delight in your purpose
and work to bring all things to their true end;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect of the Day

Gracious Father,
who gave the first martyr Stephen
grace to pray for those who stoned him:
Grant that in all our sufferings for the truth
we may learn to love even our enemies
and to seek forgiveness for those who desire our hurt,
looking up to heaven to him who was crucified for us,
Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Advocate,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Alternative collects

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.

Going out as God’s people

The Lord be with you

All and also with you.

Let us bless the Lord.

All Thanks be to God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.

All Amen

To the King of Ages, immortal, invisible, the only God

be honour and glory for ever and ever.

All Amen

May the God of hope

fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

so that by the Holy Spirit

you may abound in hope.

All Amen

Daily Prayer (Evening)

Preparation

Penitence

All say

Heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault;
by what we have done
and by what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name. Amen.

The priest pronounces the absolution.

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy on you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

If no priest is present the absolution is omitted and the following prayer may be said:

Merciful Lord,
grant to your faithful people pardon and peace,
that we may be cleansed from all our sins,
and serve you with a quiet mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Versicles and Responses

O Lord, open our lips

All and our mouth will proclaim your praise.

O God, make speed to save us.

All O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

All as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.

Praise the Lord.

All The Lord’s name be praised.

A Psalm

Psalm 57

1Be merciful to me, O God, be | merciful to | me,
for my | soul takes | refuge in | you;

2In the shadow of your wings will | I take | refuge
until the storm of des | truction | has passed | by.

3I will call upon the | Most High | God,
the God who ful | fils his | purpose | for me.

4He will send from heaven and save me and rebuke those that would | trample up | on me;
God will send forth his | love | and his | faithfulness.

5I lie in the | midst of | lions,
people whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their | tongue a | sharp | sword.

6Be exalted, O God, a | bove the | heavens,
and your glory | over | all the | earth.

7They have laid a net for my feet; my soul is | pressed | down;
they have dug a pit before me and will | fallinto | it them | selves.

8My heart is ready, O God, my | heart is | ready;
I will | sing and | give you | praise.

9Awake, my soul; awake, | harp and | lyre,
that | Imay a | waken the | dawn.

10I will give you thanks, O Lord, a | mong the | peoples;
I will sing praise to | you a | mong the | nations.

11For your loving-kindness is as | high as the | heavens,
and your faithfulness | reaches | to the | clouds.

12Be exalted, O God, a | bove the | heavens,
and your glory | over | all the | earth.


Psalm 86

1Incline your ear, O | Lord, and | answer me,
for I am | poor | and in | misery.

2Preserve my soul, for | I am | faithful;
save your servant, for I | put my | trust in | you.

3Be merciful to me, O Lord, for | you are my | God;
I call up | on you | all the day | long.

4Gladden the | soul of your | servant,
for to you, O | Lord, I | lift up my | soul.

5For you, Lord, are | good and for | giving,
abounding in steadfast love to | all who | call up | on you.

6Give ear, O | Lord,to my | prayer
and listen to the | voice of my | suppli | cation.

7In the day of my distress I will | call up | on you,
for | you will | answer | me.

8Among the gods there is none like | you, O | Lord,
nor | any | works like | yours.

9All nations you have made shall come and | worshipyou, O | Lord,
and shall | glori | fy your | name.

10For you are great and do | wonderful | things;
you a | lone | are | God.

11Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will | walk in your | truth;
knit my heart to you, that | I may | fear your | name.

12I will thank you, O Lord my God, with | all my | heart,
and glorify your | name for | ever | more;

13For great is your steadfast | love to | wards me,
for you have delivered my | soulfrom the | depths of the | grave.

14O God, the proud rise up against me and a ruthless horde seek | after my | life;
they have not | set you be | fore their | eyes.

15But you, Lord, are gracious and | full of com | passion,
slow to anger and | full of | kindness and | truth.

16Turn to me and have | mercy up | on me;
give your strength to your servant and | save the | childof your | handmaid.

17Show me a token of your favour, that those who hate me may see it and | be a | shamed;
because you, O | Lord, have | helped and | comforted me.

A Canticle

Which may be said here or between the readings

Great and Wonderful

1 Great and wonderful are your deeds Lord God, the Almighty:
just and true are your ways O King of the nations.

2 Who shall not revere and praise your name O Lord?
for you alone are holy.

3 All nations shall come and worship in your presence:
for your just dealings have been revealed.

4 To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honour, glory and might,
for ever and ever. Amen.

One or two readings

The Gospel Canticle

Magnificat

1 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

2 who has looked with favour on his lowly servant;
from this day all generations will call me blessèd;

3 the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his name.

4 God has mercy on those who fear him,
from generation to generation.

5 The Lord has shown strength with his arm
and scattered the proud in their conceit,

6 casting down the mighty from their thrones
and lifting up the lowly.

7 God has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.

8 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel
to remember the promise of mercy,

9 The promise made to our forebears,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory

Kneel

Let us pray

Lord, have mercy

All Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy

Weekday Intercessions and Thanksgivings

Creation in Christ: Creation and Providence

Almighty God,
maker of all good things:
Father, Lord of all creation,
in Christ you have shown us the purpose of your providence,
and call us to be responsible in the world.

Intercession

We pray for [The World]
all the nations ...
our own country ...
those in authority ...
the peace of the world ...
racial harmony ...
those who maintain order ...

Thanksgiving

Almighty God, we give you thanks
for the order of created things, the resources of the earth,
and the gift of human life ...
for the continuing work of creation,
our share in it,
and for creative vision and inventive skill ...
for your faithfulness to us in patience and in love,
and for every human response of obedience
and humble achievement ...

Concluding Prayer

May we delight in your purpose
and work to bring all things to their true end;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect of the Day

may be said or one of the following alternative collects

Eternal God,
who made this most holy night
to shine with the brightness of your one true light:
Bring us, who have known the revelation
of that light on earth,
to see the radiance of your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Alternative collects

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.

The Ending

The Lord be with you

All and also with you.

Let us bless the Lord.

All Thanks be to God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.

All Amen

To God, who by the power at work within us,

is able to do far more abundantly

than all we ask or think,

to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus

to all generations for ever and ever.

All Amen

To the King of Ages, immortal, invisible, the only God

be honour and glory for ever and ever.

All Amen

May the God of hope

fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

so that by the Holy Spirit

you may abound in hope.

All Amen

Holy Communion

Preparation for Communion

Jesus says: Come to me all that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. (Matthew 11: 28)

God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that all who believe in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3: 16)

I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall never be hungry and whoever believes in me shall never be thirsty. (John 6: 35)

Thanksgiving

Thank God for all the many blessings you have received, and for all that is at present being done for you; for all doctors and nurses; (for this hospital and all who work here).

Repentance

Ask God’s forgiveness for the ways in which you have failed him and others.

Intercession and petition

Pray for all those you love: (for the other patients in your ward;) (for all who will be receiving communion with you;) for all who look after you; for all in need; for yourself, that you may come closer to God and his healing power.

All Lord Jesus Christ, you came to the poor and powerless and gave them hope. Come to me in this wonderful sacrament and raise me up in love to you, for I am helpless without you.

Be calm in the knowledge that you are under the protection of Almighty God.

The following prayer may be used in place of the Collect for Purity:

God of peace, you teach us that in returning to you we shall be saved:
By the power of your Spirit lift us to your presence,
where quietness and confidence shall be our strength;
and where we may be still and know that you are God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Collect of the Day

Eternal God,
who made this most holy night
to shine with the brightness of your one true light:
Bring us, who have known the revelation
of that light on earth,
to see the radiance of your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Ministry of the Word

One or two readings

a gospel reading should normally be included.

The priest says

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1: 8)

Let us confess our sins.

A short pause for self-examination.

All Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned in thought and word and deed, and in what we have left undone. We are truly sorry, and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may walk in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.

The priest says

Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy on you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Prayer

Those present may mention personal needs and thanksgivings. The laying on of hands and/or anointing with oil may take place here or after receiving Holy Communion

The Great Thanksgiving

The priest takes the bread and wine.

The Lord is here.

All His Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts.

All We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All It is right to give our thanks and praise.

We give you thanks, our God and Father, for you have created us and you sustain us. Through your only Son Jesus Christ you have revealed your love and your care for all your people; you are ready to forgive and to save in time of need; so we proclaim your glory, saying

All Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night that he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way, after supper he took the cup; and when he had given thanks to you, he gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Therefore, Father, with this bread and this cup we do as Christ your Son commanded:

All we remember his passion and death, we celebrate his resurrection and ascension, and we look for the coming of his kingdom.

Accept through him our great high priest this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; and, as we eat and drink these holy gifts, grant by the power of the life-giving Spirit, that we may be made one in your holy Church and partakers of the body and blood of your Son, that he may dwell in us and we in him:

Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

All all honour and glory are yours, Almighty Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

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.

The priest breaks the bread, saying

The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.

All We, being many, are one body for we all share in the one bread.

Communion

After all have received, silence is kept for a space and the priest says

Let us pray.

All Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Strengthen us by the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.

The Blessing

The peace of God, which passes all understanding,
keep your heart and mind
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 with you and remain with you always.
Amen.

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