Easter 4 Morning Prayer, Wednesday 6th May 2020

Holy One, open our lips: and we shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to God, Source of all being, Eternal Word and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.  Amen.

OPENING

Wednesdays: From Psalm 18, Diligam te, Domine 

I love you, O Lord my strength, O Lord my stronghold,
my crag and my haven.
My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, my shield,
the horn of my salvation and my refuge; you are worthy of praise.
I called upon the Lord in my distress and cried out to my God for help.
You heard my voice from your heavenly dwelling;
to your ears came my cry of anguish.

You reached down from on high and grasped me;
you drew me out of great waters.
You brought me out into an open place;
you rescued me because you delighted in me. 

READING: 1 Thessolonians 2:1–12

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully maltreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

You remember our labour and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was towards you believers. As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you should lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Silence 

BENEDICTUS

PRAYERS
The power of the risen Christ sets us free from evil’s grip!
Lord, have mercy upon us.
The touch of the risen Christ heals our deepest wounds and sorrow!
Christ, have mercy upon us.
The life of the risen Christ swallows up our fear of death!
Lord, have mercy upon us.

WEDNESDAYS:
O Risen Christ, your heart exults and your soul rejoices:
comfort all who are living in sorrow.
Risen Lord, you come to transfigure our being:
kindle in us the fire of your love.
Risen Lord, in you our resurrection has already begun on this earth:
kindle in us the fire of your love.
Risen Lord, you come to fill our hearts with peace:
kindle in us the fire of your love.
Risen Lord, your Spirit burns away sadness in us:
kindle in us the fire of your love.
Risen Lord, you come to gather us in your Body, the Church:
kindle in us the fire of your love.

Lord’s Prayer
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.
Do not bring us to the time of trial,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.

COLLECTS

WEDNESDAYS: Risen Christ, when we have the simple desire to welcome your love, little by little a flame is kindled in the depths of our being. Fuelled by the Holy Spirit, this flame of love may be quite faint at first. The amazing thing is that it keeps on burning. And when we realise that you love us, the trust of faith becomes our own song. Amen 

O God, the light of whose truth stretches out to those who go astray, that they may return to the path of righteousness: give your grace to all who profess themselves Christians, that they may cast out what is harmful, and pursue all that gives life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, world without end. Amen.

God most holy, we give you thanks for bringing us out of the shadow of night into the light of morning; and we ask you for the joy of spending this day in your service, so that when evening comes, we may once more give you thanks, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

The Lord bless us and preserve us from all evil; and bring us to life eternal. Amen.

Compiled with Materials from:  SEC Daily Prayer; Jim Cotter, Lectionary Resources; Taizé A prayer for each day; GS2016 Pointed Liturgical Psalter 2016 04 08; Chris Thorpe, Touching the Sacred.

A priest and poet in the Scottish Episcopal Church, exploring the workings of the Holy Spirit in Banchory .