Thursday Morning Prayer – 4th January 2024

Thursday Morning Prayer

Thursday Morning Prayer – 4th January 2024. Readings: Psalm 11, 12; Isaiah 66. 1-9; Ephesians 3.1-13

Led by Felicity Scott, Liturgical Assistant at St John the Baptist Anglican Church Bulimba, QLD, Australia.

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

https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com

Welcome to Thursday 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

This is the message we have heard from Christ:

That God is light, in whom there is no darkness at all.

   

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

Go up to a high mountain

Herald of good tidings to Zion:

Lift up your voice with strength,

Herald of good tidings to Jerusalem.

Lift up your voice, fear not:

Say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!’

See the Lord God coming with power:

Coming to rule with his mighty arm.

He brings his reward for the people of God:

the recompense for those who are saved.

God will feed his flock like a shepherd:

And gather the lambs in his arms;

He will hold them to his breast:

And gently lead those that are with young.

Isaiah 40.9-11  

 

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 11; 12

11

¹ In the Lord I have found my refuge:

how then can you say to me

‘Flee like a bird to the mountains;

² ‘Look how the wicked make ready the bow,

and notch their arrows upon the string:

to shoot from the darkness at the true of heart;

³ ‘If the foundations are destroyed:

what can the righteous do?’

⁴ The Lord is in his holy place,

the Lord is enthroned in heaven:

his eyes search out, his glance tries the children of Adam.

⁵ He tries the righteous and the wicked:

and those that delight in violence his soul abhors.

⁶ He will rain down coals of fire and brimstone

upon the wicked:

a scorching wind shall be their cup to drink.

⁷ For the Lord is righteous and loves righteous acts:

the upright shall see his face.

12

¹ Help, Lord, for there is not one godly person left:

the faithful have vanished from among

the children of Adam.

² Everyone tells lies to their neighbour:

they flatter with their lips,

but speak from a double heart.

³ If only the Lord would cut off all flattering lips:

and the tongue that speaks so proudly!

⁴ They say ‘By our tongues we shall prevail:

our lips are our servants—who is lord over us?’

⁵ Because of the oppression of the poor,

because of the groaning of the needy:

‘I will arise’, says the Lord,

‘and set them in safety from those that

snarl after them.’

⁶ The words of the Lord are pure,

as silver refined in a crucible:

as gold that is seven times purified in the fire.

⁷ You will surely guard us, O Lord:

and shield us for ever from this evil generation,

⁸ Though the ungodly strut on every side:

though the vilest lord it over the children of Adam.

 

 

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

Almighty God, who wonderfully created us in your own image and yet more wonderfully restored us in your son Jesus Christ: grant that as he came to share our human nature so we may be partakers in his divine glory; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. 

Amen.

 

6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.

 

1st Reading

Isaiah 66.1-9

¹ Thus says the Lord :
Heaven is my throne
     and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
     and what is my resting-place? 
² All these things my hand has made,
     and so all these things are mine, 

says the Lord .
But this is the one to whom I will look,
     to the humble and contrite in spirit,
     who trembles at my word. 
³ Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who kills a human being;
     whoever sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
whoever presents a grain-offering, like one who offers swine’s blood;
     whoever makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol.
These have chosen their own ways,
     and in their abominations they take delight; 
⁴ I also will choose to mock them,
     and bring upon them what they fear;
because, when I called, no one answered,
     when I spoke, they did not listen;
but they did what was evil in my sight,
     and chose what did not please me. 
⁵ Hear the word of the Lord ,
     you who tremble at his word:
Your own people who hate you
     and reject you for my name’s sake
have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified,
     so that we may see your joy’;
     but it is they who shall be put to shame. 
⁶ Listen, an uproar from the city!
     A voice from the temple!
The voice of the Lord ,
     dealing retribution to his enemies! 
⁷ Before she was in labour
     she gave birth;
before her pain came upon her
     she delivered a son. 
⁸ Who has heard of such a thing?
     Who has seen such things?
Shall a land be born in one day?
     Shall a nation be delivered in one moment?
Yet as soon as Zion was in labour
     she delivered her children. 
⁹ Shall I open the womb and not deliver?
     says the Lord ;
shall I, the one who delivers, shut the womb?
     says your God. 

2nd Reading

Ephesians 3.1-13

¹ This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— ² for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³ and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, ⁴ a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. ⁵ In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: ⁶ that is, the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ⁷ Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power. ⁸ Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; ¹⁰ so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him. ¹³ I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.

 

The readings may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or

May your word live in us 

and bear much fruit to your glory.

 

 

7 The Canticle,

In the beginning was the word:

 and the word was with God,

 and the word was god:

 he was in the beginning with god.

 all things were made through him:

 and without him, was not anything made that was made.

In him was life:

And the life was the light of all the people.

The light shines in the darkness:

And the darkness has not overcome it.

He was in the world:

And the world was made through him

 yet the world knew him not.

 he came to his own home:

and his own people received him not.

but to all who received him who believed on his name:

He has given power to become children of God;

who were born not of blood

nor of the will of the flesh:

nor of the will of a man but of God.

And the word became flesh

And dwelt among us full of grace and truth;

we have beheld his glory:

 glory as of the only son from the father

and from his fullness have we all received:

And grace upon grace.

 

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. 

 

Prayer of the Week

Almighty God,

you have shed upon us the light of your incarnate Word:

may this light, kindled in our hearts,

shine forth in our lives;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

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 pray thanks to you for bringing forward the people needed to create our loving community’s. We ask you to bless the local council workers in their contributions towards providing a safe community.

God of grace; Hear our prayer.

 

Saviour God, we thank you for all you provide to us in our time of need. We ask you to help the persecuted and raise them up to your glory, help us all to be accepting of those who follow different roads of faith while we still maintain justice and peace.

God of grace; Hear our prayer.

 

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

• The Diocese of Brechin – The Scottish Episcopal Church
• The Diocese of Bathurst: †Mark Calder; Clergy and People
• The Parish of Toowong: Tom Sullivan, Alan Dale, Elsie Clack, Michael Faragher
• Anglicare SQ Community Aged & Disability, West (Chinchilla)
• Canterbury College, Waterford: 
• All Parishes seeking new incumbents.
• All Anglican schools seeking new chaplains
• All Prison Chaplaincy Ministry Teams

God of Grace; Hear our prayer

 

 

12 The Morning Collect

Lord and Heavenly Father,

you have brought us safely to this new day:

Keep us by your mighty power, protect us from sin,

guard us from every kind of danger,

and in all we do this day

direct us in the fulfilling of your purpose,

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 peace equip us with everything good so that we may do his will, and may he work in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever.  

Amen.

Hebrew 13.20