Said or sung all together except for the sentences marked ‘Call’ which are for the Leader only.
+ indicates that you may make the sign of the cross.
ff
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
ff
Opening sentences
My soul waits for the Lord
more than those
who watch for the morning,
more than those
who watch for the morning.
ff
Call: Out of the depths I have cried to You.
Response: O Lord, hear my voice.
Call: With my whole heart I want to praise You.
Response: O Lord, hear my voice.
Call: If you, Lord, should mark iniquities:
Response: Who could stand? who could stand?
ff
I will wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in His word do I hope.
ff
Expressions of faith
Lord, You have always given
bread for the coming day;
and though I am poor,
today I believe.
ff
Lord, You have always given
strength for the coming day;
and though I am weak,
today I believe.
ff
Lord, You have always given
peace for the coming day;
and though of anxious heart,
today I believe.
ff
Lord, You have always kept
me safe in trials;
and now, tried as I am,
today I believe.
ff
Lord, You have always marked
the road for the coming day;
and though it may be hidden,
today I believe.
ff
Lord, You have always lightened
this darkness of mine;
and though the night is here,
today I believe.
ff
Lord, You have always spoken
when time was ripe;
and though you be silent now,
today I believe.
ff

Today’s Scripture Reading

23 April

Psalm 90:17 Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands—O prosper the work of our hands!

Exodus 4:10-16 But Moses said to the Lord, ‘O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.’ 11 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Who gives speech to mortals? Who makes them mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak.’ 13 But he said, ‘O my Lord, please send someone else.’ 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, ‘What of your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he can speak fluently; even now he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you his heart will be glad. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. 16 He indeed shall speak for you to the people; he shall serve as a mouth for you, and you shall serve as God for him.

Colossians 1:10-14 so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

These scripture readings relate to the Colman readings (Buechner’s ABC) in Celtic Daily Prayer Book 2.

Today’s Meditation

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that I am following Your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please You
does in fact please You.
And I hope that I have that desire
in all that I am doing.

And I know that if I do this,
You will lead me by the right road
although I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust You always,
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death,
I will not fear, for You are ever with me,
and will never leave me
to face my perils alone.

Thomas Merton

 

Prayers for others

ff
Canticle
In the shadow of Your wings
I will sing Your praises, O Lord.
ff
The Lord is my light, my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the refuge of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
ff
In the shadow of Your wings
I will sing Your praises, O Lord.
One thing I ask of the Lord,
one thing I seek;
to dwell in the presence of my God,
to gaze on Your holy place.
ff
In the shadow of Your wings
I will sing Your praises, O Lord.
ff
I believe I shall see the goodness
of the Lord in the land of the living.
O wait for the Lord!
Have courage and wait,
wait for the Lord.
ff
In the shadow of Your wings
I will sing Your praises, O Lord.
ff
Blessing
See that ye be at peace among yourselves, my children,
and love one another.
Follow the example of the wise and good
and God will comfort you and help you,
both in this world
and in the world which is to come.
ff

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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