Morning Prayer, 3rd Sunday in Eastertide
Lo, with praises to Jehovah,
blessing give with one accord,
all of you who faithful service
to Jehovah do afford,
standing serving him each night
in the dwelling of the Lord.
Toward his holy sanctuary
let your hands be lifted high
to give blessing to Jehovah.
And from Zion in reply
may Jehovah blessing give,
he who made the earth and sky.
THE CALL TO WORSHIP
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1a)
Those who dwell in the land of deep darkness, on them has the light shined. We have seen Christ’s glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (Isaiah 9:2b; John 1:14b)
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Let us worship God.
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me;
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.
THE OPENING SENTENCES
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:1-6)
All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
him serve with fear, his praise forth tell,
come ye before him and rejoice.
The Lord ye know is God indeed;
without our aid he did us make;
we are his folk, he doth us feed,
and for his sheep he doth us take.
O enter then his gates with praise,
approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud, and bless his name always,
for it is seemly so to do.
For why? The Lord our God is good,
his mercy is forever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.
To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
the God whom heav’n and earth adore,
from men and from the angel host
be praise and glory ever more!
Most worthy are you of all praise and worship, O good and gracious God, surpassing all things in goodness, holiness, and truth. By you alone are we made holy and sanctified. We praise you for our glorious redemption, purchased for us by your dearly beloved Son, Christ Jesus. Give us your Holy Spirit to govern us and to lift us up now in worship to you. And grant that all things that breathe with life may praise you as the true life of all creatures, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Ghost, one God forever and ever. AMEN.
THE GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN.
THE CALL TO CONFESSION
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are but dust. (Psalm 103:13-14)
THE PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
Heavenly Father, we humbly acknowledge our many sins and offenses against you. We have neglected opportunities for doing good that you have sent our way. We have been overcome by temptations from which you stood ready to protect us. We have trusted in the wisdom of this world rather than in the wisdom and way of Christ. We have looked too little to the good and blessing of others and too much to our own pleasure and gain in what we have planned, and we have lived as though there is no life to come. Have mercy on us, O Lord, and forgive us, for Jesus’ sake, we pray…
A time of Silent Confession
God of all truth and grace, who has caused the Sun of Righteousness to arise upon a dark and benighted world, in bringing up your Holy One from the grave; be pleased graciously so to illuminate the hearts of your people with the beams of heavenly wisdom, that they may continually walk in your light, and know both to avoid evil and to follow after that which is good; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. AMEN.
THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Hear what the Lord says to those who repent and believe in him:
We know that a person is not counted righteous by works of the law, but through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, so we have believed in Jesus Christ, in order to be counted righteous by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be counted righteous. (Galatians 2:16)
The Lord Jesus has commanded his Church to declare the forgiveness of sins to all who repent and believe his Gospel, so as his minister, I tell you, if you have cast the burden of your sins upon the Lord in true repentance, if you believe in Christ as he is freely offered in the Gospel, and if from now on you desire to keep to his ways in the power of the Spirit given to you, I tell you, your sins are forgiven.
I hear the Savior say,
“Your strength indeed is small,
child of weakness, watch and pray,
find in me your all in all.”
Jesus paid it all,
all to him I owe;
sin had left a crimson stain,
he washed it white as snow.
Lord, now indeed I find
your power, and yours alone,
can change the leper’s spots,
and melt the heart of stone.
Jesus paid it all,
all to him I owe;
sin had left a crimson stain,
he washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I
whereby thy grace to claim —
I’ll wash my garments white
in the blood of Calv’ry’s lamb.
Jesus paid it all,
all to him I owe;
sin had left a crimson stain,
he washed it white as snow.
And when, before the throne,
I stand in him complete,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
my lips shall still repeat.
Jesus paid it all,
all to him I owe;
sin had left a crimson stain,
he washed it white as snow.
THE MORNING PSALM
Psalm 136
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
THE PSALM PRAYER
Such is your goodness, O Lord, such is your goodness that you not only desire to encourage us by it, but also you desire that we feel and know and acknowledge it. It is our happiness so to do, O heavenly Father! You have made all things, and you have made them wonderfully and in great beauty. Grant that we may study the works of your hands with a devout heart, so that our hearts may turn again and again to you in song and love and wonder. And especially, Father, as you have poured out all the treasures of your goodness in Christ Jesus, our Lord and your beloved Son so that your people might be delivered from eternal death, cause us always to celebrate your praises and give you thanks—not as much as you deserve, but as much as we can—and with all our heart and strength. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON
A reading from Daniel 4:1-18
King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream, saying, “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
“I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’ This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
A SONG OF THE MULTITUDE IN HEAVEN
Alleuia!
Praise God, all you who serve him, both great and small.
Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,
for his judgments are true and just. Alleuia!
Sing praise to our God, all you his servants,
all who fear him, great and small. Alleuia!
The Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns as King;
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come
and his bride is prepared to welcome him. Alleuia!
Praise God, all you who serve him, both great and small, alleluiaI
Amen! Alleluia! (based on Revelation 19:1-7)
THE EPISTLE LESSON
A reading from 1 Peter 4:7-11
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
THE PRAYER FOR GRACE
Lord Jesus, give us such a love for you, such an awareness of your life in us, such a strong desire to resemble you, that we shall cease to do evil and learn to do good. Preserve us from blindness to our own defects and from all pretense and deceiving of ourselves. Let your compassion and love always be over us; make us brave to bear your mark and seal openly in the sight of all people. O Lord and Master, deliver us and save us to the uttermost, we pray. AMEN.
THE GOSPEL LESSON
A reading from John 21:15-25
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
THE ANTHEM—PSALM 23
THE PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING
Give us teachable hearts, O Lord, receptive to your Word, and alive to understand it. Fill us with divine Wisdom, that we may forever rejoice in the Truth. For Jesus’ sake, we pray. AMEN.
THE HOMILY
THE MORNING PRAYERS
Almighty and Everlasting God: by you all things were created; things we can see and things we can’t. We praise you for your might and goodness that preserve and sustain us. We thank you for the love that surrounds us, for kind thoughts and encouraging words, for self-effacing sacrifices—for every blessing and benefit, we thank you and bless you.
But above all these good things, we bless you and praise you and thank you for our redemption in Jesus Christ, and for the power of your love that breaks through every barrier we set up. We thank you for the new and better covenant in the sprinkled blood of Christ, for the Communion of all the Saints in Christ, for the Sacraments of Grace that reveal, seal, and apply to us the benefits of Christ, and for the certain hope that one day we shall see your face in light and glory.
Keep us, O Lord—keep us, we pray, in thankful remembrance of your great goodness, that we may always walk in your ways and live to your praise. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Prayers for Grace
Lord, hear our humble prayers in the name of Christ—prayers for the whole family of humankind. Dispel the great darkness of disordered loves and false worship. Destroy every godless and oppressive power. Free the captives, give sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. Lead the nations in righteousness and peace. Let the Gospel go forth in power, and let your Kingdom come, we pray.
Have mercy on your Church, Lord. Bless her, and let your people confess the name of Christ, in public and in private, with boldness. Let your saints die to sin and live by the power of the life of Christ. Let your Good News of Salvation – in all its richness and deepness – let that Good News go out that sinners may be converted, forgiven, cleansed, and raised to new life. Bring home the wanderers, we pray.
Look with favor on our nation. Give wisdom and justice to our President and his advisors. Guide the Congress into ways of righteousness and equity. Bless the judiciary with purity of purpose, impartial judgment according to the law. Subdue in our land love of luxury, hatred and envy of others, the covetousness that so fills our hearts, and the pretentions to understanding and wisdom that seem to fill our public discourse; claiming to be wise, we have become fools Have mercy on us, O Lord!. Make us content with what we have. Overcome racism and classism in all its subtle ugliness; teach us to love one another.
Bless our city of Ozark – its elected leaders, its doctors and nurses, its teachers and school administrators. Bless also all those who work against ignorance and suffering and poverty and all the evils of life in this present evil age. Bless the rescue mission, the Salvation Army, meals on wheels—all those who serve our neighbors in need. Bless our hospital. Increase among us the grace of liberality, so that the various works of love among us may not suffer lack.
Remember in tender mercy those who are sick or in pain of mind or body, especially those whom we lift up before you now in our hearts… Be with them in all their trials, comfort them, heal them, deliver them, O Lord, through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Holy and mighty Lord, who turned back the angel of the plague from the dwellings of your people: We beseech you to hear our cry for those who are suffering and dying under this present pestilence. In your mercy give understanding and sound judgment to those called to make decisions of public policy; bless the means which are used to stay the spread of sickness; strengthen those who labor to heal and comfort the afflicted; support those who are in pain and distress; speedily restore those who have been brought low; and unto all who are beyond healing in this life, grant your heavenly consolation and your saving grace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Good Father, we ask all these things in Jesus’ name, even as we pray together the prayer that he taught us:
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. AMEN.
Rise, O church, and lift your voices,
Christ has conquered death and hell.
Sing as all the earth rejoices;
resurrection anthems swell.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the Risen King!
See the tomb where death had laid him,
Empty now, its mouth declares:
“Death and I could not contain him,
for the Throne of Life he shares.”
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the Risen King!
Hear the earth protest and tremble,
see the stone removed with pow’r;
all hell’s minions may assemble
but cannot withstand his hour.
He has conquered! He has conquered!
Christ the Lord, the Risen King!
Doubt may lift its head to murmur,
scoffers mock and sinners jeer;
but the truth proclaims a wonder
thoughtful hearts receive with cheer.
He is risen! He is risen!
Now receive the Risen King!
We acclaim your life, O Jesus,
Now we sing your victory.
Sin or hell may seek to seize us,
but your conquest keeps us free.
Stand in triumph! Stand in triumph!
Worship Christ, the Risen King!
THE CONFESSION OF OUR FAITH
I believe in God the Father
Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost;
Born of the Virgin Mary;
Suffered under Pontius Pilate;
Was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven;
And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
The holy catholic Church;
The communion of saints;
The forgiveness of sins;
The resurrection of the body;
And the life everlasting.
AMEN.
THE DISMISSAL
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
For his steadfast love endures forever!
Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The peace of Christ be with you all.
Bless, O Lord, the worship of your people, here and in all places; and grant us, we pray, always to seek the light of your Word and to love the fellowship of your Spirit, that we may have the will and the power to walk in the way of him whose holy humanity was given up to do your will. Through Jesus our Redeemer and Example. AMEN.
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. ALLELUIA!AMEN!