Saturday
Morning
Prayer – Proper 8 in Year 1
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Phillipians 1:2
Versicle and Response
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 for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
Jubilate
Be joyful in the
Lord, all you lands; *
serve the Lord with
gladness
and come before his presence with a
song.
Know this: The
Lord himself is God; *
he himself has made us,
and we are his;
we are his people and the
sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates
with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise; *
give thanks to him and call upon his Name.
For the Lord is
good;
his mercy is everlasting; *
and his
faithfulness endures from age to age.
Psalm 137
1 By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept,*
when we remembered you, O Zion.
2 As for our harps, we hung them up*
on the trees in the midst of that land.
3 For those who led us away captive asked us for a song,
and our oppressors called for mirth:*
"Sing us one of the songs of Zion."
4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song*
upon an alien soil?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,*
let my right hand forget its skill.
6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth
if I do not remember you,*
if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.
7 Remember the day of Jerusalem, O LORD,
against the people of Edom,*
who said, "Down with it! down with it!
even to the ground!"
8 O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction,*
happy the one who pays you back
for what you have done to us!
9 Happy shall he be who takes your little ones,*
and dashes them against the rock!
Psalm 144
1 Blessed be the LORD my rock!*
who trains my hands to fight and my fingers to battle;
2 My help and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer,*
my shield in whom I trust,
who subdues the peoples under me.
3 O LORD, what are we that you should care for us?*
mere mortals that you should think of us?
4 We are like a puff of wind;*
our days are like a passing shadow.
5 Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down; *
touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Hurl the lightning and scatter them;*
shoot out your arrows and rout them.
7 Stretch out your hand from on high;*
rescue me and deliver me from the great waters,
from the hand of foreign peoples,
8 Whose mouths speak deceitfully*
and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.
9 O God, I will sing to you a new song;*
I will play to you on a ten-stringed lyre.
10 You give victory to kings*
and have rescued David your servant.
11 Rescue me from the hurtful sword*
and deliver me from the hand of foreign peoples,
12 Whose mouths speak deceitfully*
and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.
13 May our sons be like plants well nurtured from their youth,*
and our daughters like sculptured corners of a palace.
14 May our barns be filled to overflowing with all manner of crops;*
may the flocks in our pastures increase by thousands and tens of thousands;
may our cattle be fat and sleek.
15 May there be no breaching of the walls, no going into exile,*
no wailing in the public squares.
16 Happy are the people of whom this is so! *
happy are the people whose God is 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 for ever. Amen.
1 Samuel 14:16-30
Saul’s lookouts in Gibeah of Benjamin were watching as the multitude was surging back and forth.* Then Saul said to the troops that were with him, ‘Call the roll and see who has gone from us.’ When they had called the roll, Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not there. Saul said to Ahijah, ‘Bring the ark* of God here.’ For at that time the ark* of God went with the Israelites. While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more; and Saul said to the priest, ‘Withdraw your hand.’ Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle; and every sword was against the other, so that there was very great confusion. Now the Hebrews who previously had been with the Philistines and had gone up with them into the camp turned and joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise, when all the Israelites who had gone into hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed closely after them in the battle. So the Lord gave Israel the victory that day.
The battle passed beyond Beth-aven, and the troops with Saul numbered altogether about ten thousand men. The battle spread out over the hill country of Ephraim.
Now Saul committed a very rash act on that day.* He had laid an oath on the troops, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food before it is evening and I have been avenged on my enemies.’ So none of the troops tasted food. All the troops* came upon a honeycomb; and there was honey on the ground. When the troops came upon the honeycomb, the honey was dripping out; but they did not put their hands to their mouths, for they feared the oath. But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the troops with the oath; so he extended the staff that was in his hand, and dipped the tip of it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened. Then one of the soldiers said, ‘Your father strictly charged the troops with an oath, saying, “Cursed be anyone who eats food this day.” And so the troops are faint.’ Then Jonathan said, ‘My father has troubled the land; see how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. How much better if today the troops had eaten freely of the spoil taken from their enemies; for now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.’
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Canticle 12 A Song of Creation
Invocation
Glorify the Lord,
all you works of the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for
ever.
In the firmament
of his power, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him
for ever.
I The Cosmic Order
Glorify the Lord,
you angels and all powers of the Lord, *
O heavens and all waters
above the heavens.
Sun and moon and
stars of the sky, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt
him for ever.
Glorify the Lord,
every shower of rain and fall of dew, *
all winds and fire and
heat.
Winter and
Summer, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for
ever.
Glorify the Lord,
O chill and cold, *
drops of dew and flakes of snow.
Frost and cold,
ice and sleet, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him
for ever.
Glorify the Lord,
O nights and days, *
O shining light and enfolding dark.
Storm clouds and
thunderbolts, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him
for ever.
II The Earth and its Creatures
Let the earth
glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord,
O mountains and hills,
and all that grows upon the earth, *
praise
him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord,
O springs of water, seas, and streams, *
O whales and all that
move in the waters.
All birds of the
air, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord,
O beasts of the wild, *
and all you flocks and herds.
O men and women
everywhere, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him
for ever.
III The People of God
Let the people of
God glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord,
O priests and servants of the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt
him for ever.
Glorify the Lord,
O spirits and souls of the righteous, *
praise him and highly
exalt him for ever.
You that are holy
and humble of heart, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly
exalt him for ever.
Doxology
Let us glorify
the Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *
praise him and highly
exalt him for ever.
In the firmament
of his power, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him
for ever.
Acts 9:10-19a
Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision* a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul* and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus,
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
O ruler of the
universe, Lord God,
great deeds are they that you have done,
*
surpassing human understanding.
Your ways are ways of
righteousness and truth, *
O King of all the
ages
Who can fail to do you homage, Lord
and sing the praises
of your Name
for you only are the Holy One.
All nations will
draw near and fall down before you
because your just and holy
works have been revealed.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in
the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
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
power of 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 Lord be with
you.
And also with you.
Let us 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.
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.
Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
Govern and uphold them, now and always.
Day by day we bless you;
We praise your name for ever.
Lord, keep us from all sin today;
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy;
For we put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope;
And we shall never hope in vain.
Collect of the Day: Proper 8
Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Saturdays
Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Mission
O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray now for our own needs and those of others.
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 our selves 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.
Let us bless the Lord.
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. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:14