Begin Your Day with the Daily Office Morning Prayers

Advent
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. Isaiah 40:5

Confession of Sin

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. 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 delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

The Absolution
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen

The Invitatory and Psalter
Lord, open our lips. And our mouth shall proclaim your praise
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 Alleluia

Venite Psalm 95:1 to 7
Come, let us sing to the Lord;
   let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving
   and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God,
   and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the caverns of the earth,
   and the heights of the hills are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
   and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee,
   and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
    Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The Antiphon:

ⓘ a short sentence recited before or after a psalm to help us understand the readings

Our King and Savior now draws near: Come, let us adore him.

The Lessons

Psalm 146

⁽¹⁾ Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.⁽²⁾ I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.⁽³⁾ Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.⁽⁴⁾ When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

⁽⁵⁾ Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,⁽⁶⁾ the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-- the LORD, who remains faithful forever.⁽⁷⁾ He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free,⁽⁸⁾ the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous.

⁽⁹⁾ The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.⁽¹⁰⁾ The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.

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.

Psalm 147

⁽¹⁾ Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!⁽²⁾ The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.⁽³⁾ He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.⁽⁴⁾ He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

⁽⁵⁾ Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.⁽⁶⁾ The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.⁽⁷⁾ Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.⁽⁸⁾ He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.

⁽⁹⁾ He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.⁽¹⁰⁾ His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man;⁽¹¹⁾ the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.⁽¹²⁾ Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion,

⁽¹³⁾ for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.⁽¹⁴⁾ He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.⁽¹⁵⁾ He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.⁽¹⁶⁾ He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.

⁽¹⁷⁾ He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?⁽¹⁸⁾ He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.⁽¹⁹⁾ He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.⁽²⁰⁾ He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD.

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.

Isaiah Chapter 1

⁽¹⁾ The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.⁽²⁾ Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: 'I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.⁽³⁾ The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.'⁽⁴⁾ Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.

⁽⁵⁾ Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted.⁽⁶⁾ From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness-- only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil.⁽⁷⁾ Your country is desolate, your cities burned with fire; your fields are being stripped by foreigners right before you, laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.⁽⁸⁾ The Daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a city under siege.

⁽⁹⁾ Unless the LORD Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

2 Peter Chapter 3

⁽¹⁾ Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.⁽²⁾ I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.⁽³⁾ First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.⁽⁴⁾ They will say, 'Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.'

⁽⁵⁾ But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.⁽⁶⁾ By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.⁽⁷⁾ By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.⁽⁸⁾ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

⁽⁹⁾ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.⁽¹⁰⁾ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Matthew Chapter 25

⁽¹⁾ At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.⁽²⁾ Five of them were foolish and five were wise.⁽³⁾ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.⁽⁴⁾ The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

⁽⁵⁾ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.⁽⁶⁾ At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'⁽⁷⁾ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.⁽⁸⁾ The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

⁽⁹⁾ 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'⁽¹⁰⁾ But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.⁽¹¹⁾ Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'⁽¹²⁾ But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

⁽¹³⁾ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

ⓘ A canticle is a hymn, or other Christian song of praise with lyrics taken from biblical texts

The Canticles

The Song of Zechariah Luke 1: 68 to 79

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old,
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham,
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
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 will be forever. Amen.

The Third Song of Isaiah Isaiah 60:1 to 3, 11a, 14c, 18 to 19

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.
For behold, darkness covers the land;
deep gloom enshrouds the peoples.
But over you the Lord will rise,
and his glory will appear upon you.
Nations will stream to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawning.
Your gates will always be open;
by day or night they will never be shut.
They will call you, The City of the Lord,
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Violence will no more be heard in your land,
ruin or destruction within your borders.
You will call your walls, Salvation,
and all your portals, Praise.
The sun will no more be your light by day;
by night you will not need the brightness of the moon.
The Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.

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.

You are God

You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord; we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you became man to set us free
you did not shun the Virgin's womb.
You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God's right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.

The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He 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, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He 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.

The Prayers

Officiant : The Lord be with you.
People : And with your Spirit.
Officiant : Let us pray.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

Suffrages

ⓘa short intercessory prayer

Show us your mercy, O Lord;
And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
Let your people sing with joy.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
For only in you can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under your care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth;
Your saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And sustain us by your Holy Spirit.

Seasonal Collect: First Sunday of Advent
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect of the Day: O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Mission: Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Personal Prayers and Reflection

This is a time to pause, consider and listen. Pray for yourself and others.

Closing Prayers

The General Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable 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 such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth 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 honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

Today's Readings

The Lessons

The Lessons

Psalm 146

Psalm 147

Isaiah Chapter 1

2 Peter Chapter 3

Matthew Chapter 25

The Canticles

The Canticles

The Prayers

The Prayers

Personal Prayers and Reflection

DAILY PRAYER

DAILY PRAYER