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Chapter 1

The Morning OfficeTo Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour

Between 6 and 9 a.m.

The Call to Prayer

Give praise, you servants of the Lord;* praise the Name of the Lord.



The Request for Presence

Test me, O Lord, and try me;* examine my heart and mind.



The Greeting

All your works praise you, O Lord,* and your faithful servants bless you.

They make known the glory of your kingdom* and speak of your power.



The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Those who sowed with tears* will reap with songs of joy.

Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed,* will come again with joy,

shouldering their sheaves.



A Reading

Jesus taught us, saying: "Be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to attract attention; otherwise you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win human admiration. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right hand is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you."



The Refrain

Those who sowed with tears* will reap with songs of joy.

Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed,* will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

The Morning PsalmWho Is Like You, O God?

Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens;* you have done great things; who is like you, O God?

You have showed me great troubles and adversities,* but you will restore my life and bring me up again from the deep places of the earth.

You strengthen me more and more;* you enfold and comfort me,

Therefore I will praise you upon the lyre for your faithfulness, O my God;* I will sing to you with the harp, O Holy One of Israel.

My lips will sing with joy when I play to you,* and so will my soul, which you have redeemed.

My tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long,* for they are ashamed and disgraced who sought to do me harm.



The Refrain

Those who sowed with tears* will reap with songs of joy.

Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed,* will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

The Cry of the Church

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

The Lord's Prayer

The Prayer Appointed for the Week

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in me a new and contrite heart, that I, worthily lamenting my sins and acknowledging my wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Ý

The Concluding Prayer of the Church

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. Ý

The Midday OfficeTo Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour

Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Call to Prayer

"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord.

The Request for Presence

Hear the voice of my prayer when I cry out to you,* when I lift up my hands to your holy of holies.



The Greeting

Who is like you, Lord God of hosts?* O mighty Lord, your faithfulness is all around you.



The Refrain for the Midday Lessons

But it is good for me to be near God;* I have made the Lord God my refuge.



A Reading

Blow the ram's horn in Zion, sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let everybody in the country tremble, for the Day of Yahweh is coming, yes, it is near. Day of darkness and gloom, Day of cloud and blackness. Like the dawn, across the mountains spreads a vast and mighty people, such as has never been before, such as will never be again to the remotest ages. . . . 'But now-declares Yahweh-come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning.' Tear your hearts and not your clothes, and come back to Yahweh your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love . . .



The Refrain

But it is good for me to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge.

The Midday PsalmI Will Thank You with an Unfeigned Heart

Happy are they whose way is blameless,* who walk in the law of the Lord!

Happy are they who observe his decrees* and seek him with all their hearts!

Who never do any wrong,* but always walk in his ways.

You laid down your commandments,* that we should fully keep them.

Oh, that my ways were made so direct* that I might keep your statutes!

Then I should not be put to shame,* when I regard all your commandments.

I will thank you with an unfeigned heart,* when I have learned your righteous judgments.

I will keep your statutes;* do not utterly forsake me.



The Refrain

But it is good for me to be near God;* I have made the Lord God my refuge.

The Cry of the Church

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

The Lord's Prayer

The Prayer Appointed for the Week

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in me a new and contrite heart, that I, worthily lamenting my sins and acknowledging my wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Ý

The Concluding Prayer of the Church

Almighty and eternal God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully accept my prayers, and strengthen me to do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Ý

The Vespers OfficeTo Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour

Between 5 and 8 p.m.

The Call to Prayer

Create in me a clean heart, O God,* and renew a right spirit within me.



The Request for Presence

Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God,* and your glory over all the earth.



The Greeting

May God give us his blessing,* and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.



Litany of Penance

Most holy and merciful Father:

I confess to you and to the whole communion of saints

in heaven and on earth,

that I have sinned by my own fault

in thought, word, and deed;

by what I have done, and by what I have left undone.

I have not loved you with my whole heart, and mind, and strength. I have not

loved my neighbors as myself. I have not forgiven others, as I have been forgiven.

Have mercy on me, Lord.

I have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us. I have not been true to

the mind of Christ. I have grieved your holy spirit.

Have mercy on me, Lord.

I confess to you, Lord, all my past unfaithfulness: the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience of my life.

I confess to you, Lord.

My self-indulgent appetites and ways, and my exploitation of other people,

I confess to you, Lord.

My anger at my own frustration, and my envy of those more fortunate than I,

I confess to you, Lord.

My intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and my dishonesty in daily life and work,

I confess to you, Lord.

My negligence in prayer and worship, and my failure to commend the faith that is in me,

I confess to you, Lord.

Accept my repentance, Lord, for the wrongs I have done: for my blindness to human need and suffering, and my indifference to indulgence and cruelty,

Accept my repentance, Lord.

For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward my neighbors, and for my prejudice and contempt towards those who differ from me,

Accept my repentance, Lord.

For my waste and pollution of your creation, and my lack of concern for those who come after us,

Accept my repentance, Lord.

Restore me, good Lord, and let your anger depart from me,

Favorably hear me for your mercy is great.

Accomplish in me and all of your church the work of your salvation,

That I may show forth all your glory in the world.

By the cross and passion of your Son, our Lord,

Bring me with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection. Ý

The Refrain for the Vespers Lessons

Let your ways be known upon earth,* your saving health among all nations.



The Vespers PsalmSummon Me by Night

Weigh my heart, summon me by night,* melt me down; you will find no impurity in me.

I give no offense with my mouth as others do;* I have heeded the words of your lips.

My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law;* in your paths my feet shall not stumble.

I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me;* incline your ear to me and hear my words.

Show me your marvelous loving-kindness,* O Savior of those who take refuge at your right hand from those who rise up against them.

Keep me as the apple of your eye;* hide me under the shadow of your wings.



The Refrain

Let your ways be known upon earth,* your saving health among all nations.

The Cry of the Church

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

The Lord's Prayer

The Prayer Appointed for the Week

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in me a new and contrite heart, that I, worthily lamenting my sins and acknowledging my wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Ý

The Concluding Prayer of the Church

Almighty and eternal God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully accept the prayers of your people everywhere, and strengthen each of us to do your will; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. Ý

The Morning OfficeTo Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour

Between 6 and 9 a.m.

The Call to Prayer

The Lord is King; let the people tremble;* he is enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth shake.



The Request for Presence

Be seated on your lofty throne, O Most High;* O Lord, judge the nations.



The Greeting

Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations,* that we may give thanks to your holy Name and glory in your praise.



The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Let all the earth fear the Lord;* let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him.



A Reading

Jesus taught us, saying: "So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win human admiration. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you."



The Refrain

Let all the earth fear the Lord;* let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him.

The Morning PsalmThe Just Shall Not Put Their Hands to Evil

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,* which cannot be moved, but stands fast for ever.

The hills stand about Jerusalem;* so does the Lord stand round about his people, from this time forth for evermore.

The scepter of the wicked shall not hold sway over the land allotted to the just,* so that the just shall not put their hands to evil.



The Refrain

Let all the earth fear the Lord;* let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him.

The Small Verse

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.



The Lord's Prayer

The Prayer Appointed for the Week

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in me a new and contrite heart, that I, worthily lamenting my sins and acknowledging my wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Ý

The Concluding Prayer of the Church

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. Ý

The Midday OfficeTo Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour

Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Call to Prayer

Sing to the Lord, you servants of his;* give thanks for the remembrance of his

holiness.

For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye,* his favor for a lifetime.



The Request for Presence

Look upon your covenant;* the dark places of the earth are haunts of violence.



The Greeting

O Lord, your love endures for ever;* do not abandon the works of your hands.



The Refrain for the Midday Lessons

He has not dealt with us according to our sins,* nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.



A Reading

With what shall I enter Yahweh's presence and bow down before God All-high? Shall I enter with burnt offerings, with calves one year old? Will he be pleased with rams by the thousand, with ten thousand streams of oil? Shall I offer my eldest son for my wrong-doing, the child of my own body for my sin? You have already been told what is right and what Yahweh wants of you. Only this, to do what is right, to love loyalty and to walk humbly with your God.



The Refrain

He has not delt with us according to our sins,* nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.

The Midday PsalmHow Exalted Is Your Name

O Lord our Governor,* how exalted is your Name in all the world!

Out of the mouths of infants and children* your majesty is praised above the heavens.

You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries,* to quell the enemy and the avenger.