Wednesday morning November 28

Thursday morning
Tuesday morning

Preparation


Opening response


Lord, open our lips

and our mouth will proclaim your praise.


All your faithful ones bless you.

They speak of the glory of your kingdom.


Prayer of thanksgiving


Blessed are you, Sovereign God,

ruler and judge of all,

to you be praise and glory forever.

In the darkness of this age that is passing away

may the light of your presence which the saints enjoy

surround our steps as we journey on.

May we reflect your glory this day

and so be made ready to see your face

in the heavenly city where night shall be no more.

Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Blessed be God forever.


The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;

let us pray with one heart and mind.


Silence is kept.


As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,

so may the light of your presence, O God,

set our hearts on fire with love for you;

now and forever.

Amen.


Hymn


Light of Those Whose Dreary Dwelling


Charles Wesley

Light of those whose dreary dwelling

Borders on the shades of death,

Come, and by thy love's revealing

Dissipate the clouds beneath.

The new heaven and earth's Creator,

In our deepest darkness rise,

Scattering all the night of nature,

Pouring eyesight on our eyes.


Still we wait for thine appearing;

Life and joy thy beams impart,

Chasing all our fears, and cheering

Every poor benighted heart.

Come, and manifest the favor

God hath for our ransomed race;

Come, thou universal Savior,

Come, and bring the gospel grace.


Save us in thy great compassion,

O thou mild, pacific Prince;

Give the knowledge of salvation,

Give the pardon of our sins.

By thine all restoring merit

Every burdened soul release;

Every weary, wandering spirit

Guide into thy perfect peace.


Confession of sin


The Lord is compassionate and merciful,

very patient, and full of faithful love.

He doesn’t deal with us according to our sin

or repay us according to our wrongdoing.

Because as high as heaven is above the earth,

that’s how large God’s faithful love is for those who honor him.


Silence is kept for reflection.


Holy God,

Holy and strong,

Holy and immortal,

have mercy upon us.


As far as east is from west—

that’s how far God has removed our sin from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

that’s how the Lord feels compassion for those who honor him.

Let my whole being bless the Lord.

Let everything inside me bless his holy name.

Let my whole being bless the Lord,

and never forget all his good deeds.


The Word of God


Psalm 110


Refrain:

The Lord rules! He is robed in majesty.


What the Lord says to my master:

“Sit right beside me

until I make your enemies

a footstool for your feet!”

May the Lord make your mighty scepter

reach far from Zion!

Rule over your enemies!

Your people stand ready

on your day of battle.

“In holy grandeur, from the dawn’s womb, fight!

Your youthful strength is like the dew itself.”

The Lord has sworn a solemn pledge and won’t change his mind:

“You are a priest forever in line with Melchizedek.”

My master, by your strong hand,

God has crushed kings on his day of wrath.

God brings the nations to justice,

piling the dead bodies, crushing heads throughout the earth.

God drinks from a stream along the way,

then holds his head up high.


Glory to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning is now

and will be forever. Amen.


Refrain:

The Lord rules! He is robed in majesty.


Psalm prayer


Lord Jesus, divine Son and eternal priest,

inspire us with the confidence of your final conquest of evil,

and grant that daily on our way

we may drink of the brook of your eternal life

and so find courage against all adversities;

for your mercy’s sake.


Psalm 111


Refrain:

The Lord is full of mercy and compassion.


Praise the Lord!

I thank the Lord with all my heart

in the company of those who do right, in the congregation.

The works of the Lord are magnificent;

they are treasured by all who desire them.

God’s deeds are majestic and glorious.

God’s righteousness stands forever.

God is famous for his wondrous works.

The Lord is full of mercy and compassion.

God gives food to those who honor him.

God remembers his covenant forever.

God proclaimed his powerful deeds to his people

and gave them what had belonged to other nations.

God’s handiwork is honesty and justice;

all God’s rules are trustworthy—

they are established always and forever:

they are fulfilled with truth and right doing.

God sent redemption for his people;

God commanded that his covenant last forever.

Holy and awesome is God’s name!

Fear of the Lord is where wisdom begins;

sure knowledge is for all who keep God’s laws.

God’s praise lasts forever!


Glory to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning is now

and will be forever. Amen.


Refrain:

The Lord is full of mercy and compassion.


Psalm prayer


Gracious God, you are full of compassion;

may we who long for your kingdom to come

rejoice to do your will

and acknowledge your power alone to save;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Psalm 112


Refrain:

The righteous will be remembered forever!


Praise the Lord!

Those who honor the Lord,

who adore God’s commandments, are truly happy!

Their descendants will be strong throughout the land.

The offspring of those who do right will be blessed;

wealth and riches will be in their houses.

Their righteousness stands forever.

They shine in the dark for others who do right.

They are merciful, compassionate, and righteous.

Those who lend generously are good people—

as are those who conduct their affairs with justice.

Yes, these sorts of people will never be shaken;

the righteous will be remembered forever!

They won’t be frightened at bad news.

Their hearts are steady, trusting in the Lord.

Their hearts are firm; they aren’t afraid.

In the end, they will witness their enemies’ defeat.

They give freely to those in need.

Their righteousness stands forever.

Their strength increases gloriously.

The wicked see all this and fume;

they grind their teeth, but disappear to nothing.

What the wicked want to see happen comes to nothing!


Glory to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning is now

and will be forever. Amen.


Refrain:

The righteous will be remembered forever!


Psalm prayer


Generous God,

save us from the meanness

that calculates its interest and hoards its earthly gain;

as we have freely received,

so may we freely give;

in the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord.


Old Testament reading
Isaiah 40:27-41:7


Why do you say, Jacob,

and declare, Israel,

“My way is hidden from the Lord

my God ignores my predicament”?

Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the creator of the ends of the earth.

He doesn’t grow tired or weary.

His understanding is beyond human reach,

giving power to the tired

and reviving the exhausted.

Youths will become tired and weary,

young men will certainly stumble;

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength;

they will fly up on wings like eagles;

they will run and not be tired;

they will walk and not be weary.

Victor from the east

Be quiet before me, coastlands.

Let the nations renew their strength.

Let them approach and speak.

Let’s draw near for a judgment.

Who has awakened one from the east

and has authority to summon him to serve—

giving him nations,

conquering kings,

making them like dust with his sword,

like scattered straw with his bow?

He pursues them and passes untouched,

needing no path for his feet.

Who has acted and who has done this,

calling upon generation after generation since the beginning?

I, the Lord, was first,

and I will be the last!

The coastlands see and fear;

the ends of the earth tremble;

they draw near and arrive.

Each helps the other,

each saying to the other, “Take courage!”

The craftsman encourages the metalworker;

the one who smoothes with the hammer

encourages the one who strikes the anvil,

saying of the welding, “That’s good,”

and strengthening it with nails so it won’t move.


Silence may be kept.


New Testament reading
Revelation 16:1-11


Then I heard a loud voice from the temple say to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of God’s anger on the earth.” So the first angel poured his bowl on the earth, and a nasty and terrible sore appeared on the people who had the beast’s mark and worshipped its image. The second angel poured his bowl into the sea, and the sea turned into blood, like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing in the sea died. The third angel poured his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they turned into blood. Then I heard the angel of the waters say,

“You are just, holy one, who is and was,

because you have given these judgments.

They poured out the blood of saints and prophets,

and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve it!”

And I heard the altar say,

“Yes, Lord God Almighty, your judgments are true and just.”

The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to burn people with fire. The people were burned by intense heat, and they cursed the name of the God who had power over these plagues. But they didn’t change their hearts and lives and give him glory. The fifth angel poured his bowl over the beast’s throne, and darkness covered its kingdom. People bit their tongues because of their pain, and they cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores; but they didn’t turn away from what they had done.


Silence may be kept.


Gospel canticle
The Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)


Refrain:

You have shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and remembered your holy covenant.


Bless the Lord God of Israel

because he has come to help and has delivered his people.

He has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house,

just as he said through the mouths of his holy prophets long ago.

He has brought salvation from our enemies

and from the power of all those who hate us.

He has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,

and remembered his holy covenant,

the solemn pledge he made to our ancestor Abraham.

He has granted that we would be rescued

from the power of our enemies

so that we could serve him without fear,

in holiness and righteousness in God’s eyes,

for as long as we live.

You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.

You will tell his people how to be saved

through the forgiveness of their sins.

Because of our God’s deep compassion,

the dawn from heaven will break upon us,

to give light to those who are sitting in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide us on the path of peace.”


Luke 1:68-79


Glory to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning is now

and will be forever. Amen.


Refrain:

You have shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and remembered your holy covenant.


Brief silence.


The Apostle’s Creed


Let us unite in this historic confession of the Christian faith:


I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe 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, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and will come again 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.


Prayers


Intercession and thanksgiving


Prayers may be offered for:

the day and its tasks

the world and its needs

the church and her life


Prayers may include the following concerns:

The saints on earth, that they may live as citizens of heaven

All people, that they may hear and believe the word of God

All who fear the winter months

All sovereigns and political leaders, that they may imitate the righteous rule of Christ

All who grieve or wait with the dying


Other intercessions and supplications may be offered as the Holy Spirit leads.


Response


Lord, hear your people

and answer our prayers.


Silence may be kept.


Collect of the day


Eternal Father,

whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven

that he might rule over all things as Lord and King:

keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit

and in the bond of peace,

and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet;

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven, as our Savior taught us, so we pray


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 forever.

Amen.


Conclusion


May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven, bring us to reign with him in glory.

Amen.