1
Through Christ let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,
the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
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
We have complete freedom:
to go into the most holy place by means of the death of Jesus.
He opened for us a new way, a living way:
through the curtain, through his own body.
Since we have a great high priest
set over the household of God:
let us draw near with a sincere heart and a sure faith,
With hearts that have been made clean
from a guilty conscience:
and bodies washed with pure water.
3 The Opening Prayer
The night has 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.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each.
Psalm 124; 125; 126
124
1 If the Lord had not been on our side,
now may Israel say:
if the Lord had not been on our side,
when our enemies rose against us,
2 Then they would have swallowed us alive:
when their anger was kindled against us.
3 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,
and the torrent gone over us:
the raging waters would have gone clean over us.
4 But praised be the Lord:
who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.
5 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler:
the snare is broken, and we have gone free.
6 Our help is in the name of the Lord:
who has made heaven and earth.
125
1 Those who put their trust in the Lord
shall be as Mount Zion:
which cannot be shaken, but endures for ever.
2 As the mountains stand about Jerusalem,
so stands the Lord about his people:
from this time forward for evermore.
3 For the sceptre of wickedness shall have no sway
over the land apportioned to the righteous:
lest the righteous set their hands to do evil.
4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good:
to those that are upright in heart.
5 As for those who turn aside to crooked ways,
let the Lord lead them away with the evildoers:
and in Israel let there be peace.
126
1 When the Lord turned again the fortunes of Zion:
then were we like those restored to life.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter:
and our tongue with singing.
3 Then said they among the heathen:
‘The Lord has done great things for them.’
4 Truly the Lord has done great things for us:
and therefore we rejoiced.
5 Turn again our fortunes, O Lord:
as the streams return to the dry south.
6 Those who sow in tears:
shall reap with songs of joy.
7 They that go out weeping, bearing the seed:
shall come again in gladness,
bringing their sheaves with them.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
Holy God, through your beloved Son you reconciled all things to yourself, making peace by the blood of his cross: fill us and those for whom we pray with your peace and joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.
1st Reading
Ezra 10.1-19
1 While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him out of Israel; the people also wept bitterly. 2 Shecaniah son of Jehiel, of the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra, saying, ‘We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. 3 So now let us make a covenant with our God to send away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. 4 Take action, for it is your duty, and we are with you; be strong, and do it.’ 5 Then Ezra stood up and made the leading priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear that they would do as had been said. So they swore. 6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God, and went to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, where he spent the night. He did not eat bread or drink water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles. 7 They made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem, 8 and that if any did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all their property should be forfeited, and they themselves banned from the congregation of the exiles. 9 Then all the people of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. All the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, ‘You have trespassed and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel. 11 Now make confession to the Lord the God of your ancestors, and do his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.’ 12 Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, ‘It is so; we must do as you have said. 13 But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for many of us have transgressed in this matter. 14 Let our officials represent the whole assembly, and let all in our towns who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of every town, until the fierce wrath of our God on this account is averted from us.’ 15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levites supported them. 16 Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men, heads of families, according to their families, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter. 17 By the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women. 18 There were found of the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women, of the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 They pledged themselves to send away their wives, and their guilt-offering was a ram of the flock for their guilt.
2nd Reading
1 Peter 4.12-19
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
13 But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.
14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief-maker.
16 Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name.
17 For the time has come for judgement to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 And
‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinners?’
19 Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.
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, Saviour of the World
Jesus, Saviour of the world, come to us in your mercy: we look to you to save and help us. By your cross and your life laid down, you set your people free: we look to you to save and help us. When they were ready to perish, you saved your disciples: we look to you to come to our help. In the greatness of your mercy, loose us from our chains: forgive the sins of all your people. Make yourself known as our saviour and mighty deliverer: save and help us that we may praise you. Come now and dwell with us, Lord Christ Jesus: hear our prayer and be with us always. And when you come in your glory: make us to be one with you and to share the life of your kingdom.
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.
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
Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost
Almighty God,
your Son has opened for us
a new and living way into your presence:
give us pure hearts and steadfast wills
to worship you in spirit and in truth;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
12 The Morning Collect
Eternal God and Father,
by whose power we are created
and by whose love we are redeemed;
guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,
that we may give ourselves to your service,
and live this day in love
to one another and to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
13
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Peace be to us all, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Ephesians 6.23