Wednesday Morning Prayer – 6th December 2023

Wednesday Morning Prayer

Wednesday Morning Prayer – 6th December 2023 Readings: Psalm 86; Isaiah 41. 1-16; 1 Thessalonians 2. 13-20.

Led by Felicity Scott, Liturgical Assistant at St John the Baptist Anglican Church Bulimba, QLD, Australia. Accompanied with guest reader Olivia Scott.

The full prayer transcript is available by going to this episode on the Podcast website.

https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com

Welcome to Wednesday Morning prayer from the Anglican ‘A prayer book for Australia’.

We proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ:

GOD in his infinite mercy, forgives all sins, and through our baptism in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are given a rebirth into new life, free from the burden of all sin. ALLELUIA

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Blessed be God forever.

Let us Pray.

 

1

Rejoice always pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks;

For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus. 

  

 

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 God’s Grace

Blessed are you the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:

For you have blessed us in Christ Jesus

with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 

You chose us to be yours in Christ,

before the foundation of the world:

That we should be holy and blameless before you. 

In love you destined us to be your children,

through Jesus Christ:

according to the purpose of your will, 

to the praise of your glorious grace:

which you freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1.3-6  

 

3 The Opening Prayer

The night has now 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 86.

 

5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow

We consecrate this day to your service, O Lord; may all our thoughts, words, and actions be well-pleasing to you and serve the good of our brothers and sisters; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 

Amen.

 

6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.

 

The 1st Reading is from Isaiah beginning at chapter 41. Verse 1-16

1Listen to me in silence, O coastlands;

let the peoples renew their strength;

let them approach, then let them speak;

let us together draw near for judgment.

2Who has roused a victor from the east,

summoned him to his service?

He delivers up nations to him,

and tramples kings under foot;

he makes them like dust with his sword,

like driven stubble with his bow.

3He pursues them and passes on safely,

scarcely touching the path with his feet.

4Who has performed and done this,

calling the generations from the beginning?

I, the Lord, am first,

and will be with the last.

5The coastlands have seen and are afraid,

the ends of the earth tremble;

they have drawn near and come.

6Each one helps the other,

saying to one another, “Take courage!”

7The artisan encourages the goldsmith,

and the one who smooths with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good”;

and they fasten it with nails so that it cannot be moved.

8But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

9you whom I took from the ends of the earth,

and called from its farthest corners,

saying to you, “You are my servant,

I have chosen you and not cast you off!”;

10do not fear, for I am with you,

do not be afraid, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

11Yes, all who are incensed against you

shall be ashamed and disgraced;

those who strive against you

shall be as nothing and shall perish.

12You shall seek those who contend with you,

but you shall not find them;

those who war against you

shall be as nothing at all.

13For I, the Lord your God,

hold your right hand;

it is I who say to you, “Do not fear,

I will help you.”

14Do not fear, you worm Jacob,

you insect Israel!

I will help you, says the Lord;

your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

15Now, I will make of you a threshing sledge,

sharp, new, and having teeth;

you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,

and you shall make the hills like chaff.

16You shall winnow them and the wind shall carry them away,

and the tempest shall scatter them.

Then you shall rejoice in the Lord;

in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.

 

2nd Reading is from 1 Thessalonians 2. 13-20.

13We also constantly give thanks to God for this,

that when you received the word of God that you heard from us,

you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is,

God's word, which is also at work in you believers.

14For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God

 in Christ Jesus that are in Judea,

for you suffered the same things from your own compatriots

 as they did from the Jews,

15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out; they displease God and oppose everyone

16by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they have constantly been filling up the measure of their sins; but God's wrath has overtaken them at last.

17As for us, brothers and sisters, when, for a short time, we were made orphans by being separated from you—in person, not in heart—we longed with great eagerness to see you face to face.

18For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again—but Satan blocked our way.

19For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20Yes, you are our glory and joy!

 

7 The Canticle,

We praise you O God we claim you as Lord.

All creation worships you the father everlasting.

To you all angels all the powers of heaven the cherubim

and Serafim 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 praise,

the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory,

The eternal son of the father.

When you took our flesh to set us free;

You humbly chose the virgin's womb.

You overcame the sting of death;

And opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at the God's right hand in glory;

We believe that you will come to 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.

 

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. 

 

Collect of a bishop:

O God, our heavenly father,

Who raised up your faithful servant Nicholas of Myra;

To be a bishop in your church

And to feed your flock:

Give abundantly to all bishops and other pastors

The gifts of your Holy Spirit,

So that they may minister in your household

As true servants of Christ

And stewards of your Holy mysteries;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,

Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

One God for ever and ever. Amen

 

Prayer of the Week

Almighty God,

give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness

and put on the armour of light,

now in the time of this mortal life

in which your Son 

Jesus Christ came among us in great humility,

that on the last day,

when he shall come again in his glorious majesty

to judge 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 for ever. Amen.

 

11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.

Let us pray

Loving God We give you thanks, that through your son Jesus Christ, you have shown us the way to live in your righteousness. Give us strength to remain in your presence in all we do.

God of grace; Hear our prayer.

 

Saviour God, we thank you for the faithfully departed and your servants in every age. We ask that our ancestors and all your saints may be brought to a joyful resurrection and the fulfilment of your kingdom.

God of grace; Hear our prayer.

 

God, we ask your blessing for those listed on the Anglican cycle of prayer:

• The Diocese of Baringo – The Anglican Church of Kenya
• The Diocese of Bendigo: †Matt Brain; Clergy and People
• The Parish of North Pine: David Ruthven, Bruce Worthington, Dylan Blocksidge
• Brisbane Correctional Centre: Kevin Bell
• Fraser Coast Anglican College, Hervey Bay: Principal – Joe Wright; Chaplain – Jeff Jarvis; Chair of College Council – Kirsti Kee; members of College Council; staff & students
• All Parishes seeking new incumbents.
• All Anglican schools seeking new chaplains.
• All Prison ministry chaplaincy teams

God of Grace; Hear our prayer

 

 

12 The Morning Collect

Eternal God and Father, 

by whose power we are created 

and by whose love we are redeemed: 

guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, 

that we may give ourselves to your service, 

and live this day in love to one another and to you; 

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 God of steadfastness and encouragement grant us to live in such harmony with one another in accord with Christ Jesus, that we may with one voice glorify our God and Father. 

Amen.

Romans 15.5-6