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.
PSALMODY
O Come, O Come, thou haunting sound,
that wakes the silenced underground,
that gives the dungeoned words hard won
to claim their place beneath the sun.
Rejoice! Rejoice! voice enfleshed
in word and deed shall free th’oppressed.
OPENING
From Psalm 19, Cæli Enarrant
The heavens declare the glo-|ry of God, *
and the firmament shows the handiwork |of the Lord.
One day tells its tale |to another, *
and one night imparts knowledge |to another.
Although they have no |words or language, *
and their voices |are not heard,
their sound has gone out in-|to all lands, *
and their message to the ends |of the world.
In the deep has God set a pavilion |for the sun; *
it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
it rejoices like a champion to |run its course.
It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
and runs about to the end of |it again; *
nothing is hidden from its |burning heat.
The law of the Lord is perfect and re-|vives the soul; *
the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom |to the innocent.
The statutes of the Lord are just and re-|joice the heart; *
the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light |to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean and en-|dures for ever; *
the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous |altogether.
More to be desired are |they than gold, *
more than much fine gold, sweeter |far than honey,
than honey |in the comb.
By them also is your ser-|vant enlightened, *
and in keeping them there is |great reward.
Who can tell how often |they offend? *
Cleanse me from my |secret faults.
Above all, keep your servant from presump-|tuous sins; *
then shall I be |innocent of a great offense.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart
be acceptable |in your sight; *
O Lord, my strength and |my redeemer.
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.
Closing
Reading – Revalation 1.9-16
I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, ‘Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.’
Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining with full force.
SILENCE
Responsory
There is a longing, deep within us,
to be with you, O God.
We are expectant
of your coming to walk the earth.
BENEDICTUS
Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,*
for he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty saviour,*
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 that hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our forebears,*
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 all 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 shall be for ever. Amen.
PRAYERS
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
On this day, we lift into the blessing of God’s compassionate gaze:
the peoples of Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Syria and their neighbours;
all who hear voices that others cannot;
all who work to build better relationships within communities. Amen.
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.
Collect
Gracious God,
as we listen once more to your messengers the prophets
turning us around and preparing us to receive our liberation:
give us the humility, insight, and grace to listen to their warnings,
and to heed the still small voice that whispers in our hearts,
that we may look once more upon your face
and greet your every coming with joy. Amen.
Blessing
As we go from this place,
help us to remember that we are cradled in your loving hand,
developing alongside our brother, Jesus
and gifted with life by your Holy breath. Amen.
St Ternans Banchory 