Daily Prayer from the Anglican Prayer Book for Australia
Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
Saturday Morning Prayer 25th November 2023; Readings: Psalm 62, 63; 2 Kings 22.12 – 23.3; Mark 1.14 – 28.
Led by Felicity Scott, Liturgical Assistant at St John the Baptist Anglican Church Bulimba, QLD, Australia.
Prayer Transcript:
Welcome to Saturday Morning Prayer according to the Anglican ‘A Prayer book for Australia’.
Blessed be God Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Blessed be God forever;
Let us pray.
1
God has shone in our hearts,
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4.6
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of Creation
Bless the Lord all created things:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Bless the Lord all people of the earth:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
O people of God bless the Lord:
bless the Lord you priests of the Lord,
Bless the Lord you servants of the Lord:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Bless the Lord all you of upright spirit:
bless the Lord you that are holy and humble in heart.
Bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Song of the Three 35ff
3 The Opening Prayer
The night has passed and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be 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 for ever.
Amen.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each.
Psalm 62; 63
62
1 My soul waits in silence for God:
for from him comes my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation:
my strong tower, so that I shall never be moved.
3 How long will you all plot against me to destroy me:
as though I were a leaning fence or a buckling wall?
4 Their design is to thrust me from my height,
and their delight is in lies:
they bless with their lips, but inwardly they curse.
5 Nevertheless, my soul, wait in silence for God:
for from him comes my hope.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation:
my strong tower, so that I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my deliverance and my glory:
God is my strong rock and my shelter.
8 Trust in him at all times, O my people:
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.
9 The children of Adam are but breath,
the children of earth are a lie:
place them in the scales and they fly upward,
they are as light as air.
10 Put no trust in extortion,
do not grow worthless by robbery:
if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11 God has spoken once, twice have I heard him say:
that power belongs to God,
12 That to the Lord belongs a constant goodness:
for you reward each one of us according to our works.
63
1 O God, you are my God:
eagerly will I seek you.
2 My soul thirsts for you, my flesh longs for you:
as a dry and thirsty land where no water is.
3 So it was when I beheld you in the sanctuary:
and saw your power and your glory.
4 For your unchanging goodness is better than life:
therefore my lips shall praise you.
5 And so I will bless you as long as I live:
and in your name will I lift my hands on high.
6 My longing shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness:
my mouth shall praise you with exultant lips.
7 When I remember you upon my bed:
when I meditate upon you in the night watches,
8 How you have been my helper:
then I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings,
9 Then my soul clings to you:
and your right hand upholds me.
10 Those that seek my life are marked for destruction:
they shall go down to the deep places of the earth.
11 They shall be delivered to the sword:
they shall be a portion for jackals.
12 The king will rejoice in God,
and all who take oaths on his name shall glory:
but the mouths of liars shall be stopped.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
Creator God, whose praise and power are proclaimed by the whole creation: receive our morning prayers, we pray, and renew us in your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.
1st Reading
2 Kings 22.12–23.3
12 Then the king commanded the priest Hil-kiah, Ahi-kam son of Sha-phan, Ach-bor son of Mica-iah, Shaphan the secretary, and the king’s servant Asa-iah, saying, 13 ‘Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our ancestors did not obey the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.’ 14 So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the prophetess Hul-dah the wife of Shallum son of Tik-vah, son of Har-has, keeper of the wardrobe; she resided in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter, where they consulted her. 15 She declared to them, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 Thus says the Lord , I will indeed bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have abandoned me and have made offerings to other gods, so that they have provoked me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. 18 But as to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord , thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord , the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 19 because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord , when you heard how I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, says the Lord . 20 Therefore, I will gather you to your ancestors, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring on this place.’ They took the message back to the king. 1 Then the king directed that all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem should be gathered to him. 2 The king went up to the house of the Lord , and with him went all the people of Judah, all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the prophets, and all the people, both small and great; he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord . 3 The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord , to follow the Lord , keeping his commandments, his decrees, and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. All the people joined in the covenant.
2nd Reading
Mark 1.14–28
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’ 16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. 21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ 26 And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
The readings may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, A Song of Redemption
Christ is the image of the invisible God:
the first-born of all creation.
For in him all things were created:
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
All things were created through him and for him:
he is before all things
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the Church:
he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead.
For it pleased God that in him
all fullness should dwell:
and through him all things be reconciled to himself.
Colossians 1.15–20
8 The Apostles’ Creed may be said.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
from there he will 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.
9 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
10 The Lord’s Prayer and the Collect of the Day
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.
James Noble, pioneer Aboriginal deacon (d. 1941)
[A Pastor]
Heavenly Father,
loving shepherd of your people,
we thank you for your servant James Noble, Pioneer and Aboriginal Deacon,
who was faithful in the care and nurture of your flock;
and we pray that we may follow the good of his example
and grow into the fullness of the stature
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of the Week
Almighty God,
whose sovereign purpose none can make void:
give us faith to be steadfast amid the tumults of this world,
knowing that your kingdom shall come and your will be done,
to your eternal glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
Lord our God, how greatly you impart with us your words, how greatly you ask for our conformity, how great you lend us your love; we honour you and give thanks for your everything in our name. We will be still and know you are God. Blessings and honour and glory are all Gods, now and forever. Amen
Merciful Lord, we ask for your mercy to be given to the country of Ukraine. We ask for your intervention, to impart peace as an initiative in the minds of all those at war across the world. We ask this in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen
We pray for those listed on the Anglican cycle of prayer:
Loving God, we ask for your blessing on;
God of Grace: Hear our prayer
12 The Morning Collect
Lord and heavenly Father,
you have brought us safely to this new day:
keep us by your mighty power, protect us from sin,
guard us from every kind of danger,
and in all we do this day
direct us in the fulfilling of your purpose,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
13
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
Philippians 4.7
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