Morning and Evening Prayer

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The Bible encourages us repeatedly to acknowledge and confess our many sins and evil ways and that we should not try to hide them from Almighty God our heavenly Father. We are to confess them with a humble, lowly, penitent and obedient heart so that we may receive forgiveness through God's infinite goodness and mercy.

We should humbly admit our sins to God at all times, but especially when we come together to give thanks for the blessings we have received from him, to offer the praise that is his due, to hear his most holy Word, to ask him to supply all our needs, and to pray for others as well as ourselves.

Let us then with a pure heart and humble voice approach our Father's throne of grace, and pray together:

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We have come together in our Father's presence to offer him, through our Lord Jesus Christ, praise and thanksgiving; to hear his most holy Word; to pray for others as well as ourselves; and to ask forgiveness for our sins. Let us then confess our sins to Almighty God and pray together:

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Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices
and desires of our own hearts.
We have broken your holy laws.
We have left undone what we ought to have done, and
we have done what we ought not to have done.
O Lord, have mercy on us pitiful sinners.
Spare those, O God, who confess their faults.
Restore those who truly repent,
as you have promised through Jesus Christ our Lord.
And grant, O merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may live a godly, righteous and disciplined life,
to the praise of your holy name. Amen.

or
Most merciful Father, our Creator and Judge,
we acknowledge and confess
that we have sinned against you
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with all our heart;
and we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
We earnestly repent,
and are truly sorry for all our sins.
For your Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake forgive us,
and strengthen us to serve and obey you
in lives wholly renewed by your Spirit;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

either
Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, does not desire the death of sinners but rather that they should turn from their wickedness and live. He has commanded and authorised his ministers to reassure his people that they will be forgiven when they repent of their sins. God pardons and forgives all who truly repent and sincerely believe his holy gospel. Therefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit; so that what we do now may please him, that the rest of our lives may be pure and holy, and that finally we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Loving Father we rejoice that you pardon and forgive all those who truly repent and sincerely believe your holy gospel: grant us true repentance and your holy Spirit; so that we may live godly, righteous and holy lives and that we may come at the last to your eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Merciful God, grant to your faithful people pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A psalm, hymn or canticle may be said or sung between the readings from the Old and New Testaments. A period of silence may follow the response after each reading.

After each reading the reader says:

This the word of the Lord.
All        Thanks be to God.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
From there he shall come again
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.

O Lord our heavenly Father,
Almighty and Everlasting God,
we praise you for bringing us safely
to the beginning of this day:
defend us with your mighty power,
and grant that we fall into no sin,
nor run into any kind of danger,
but govern and guide us at all times,
so that we may do what is right in your sight;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, the author and lover of peace,
whom to know is eternal life
and to serve is perfect freedom:
defend us your humble servants
against all assaults of our enemies,
that trusting in your defence,
we may not fear the power of any adversary;
through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

          At EVENING PRAYER one or both of these prayers are used:

O God, the author of all holy desires,
all good purposes, and all just works:
give to us your servants that peace
which the world cannot give,
so that we, obeying your commands,
and being delivered from the fear of our enemies,
may live in rest and quietness;
through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Lighten our darkness, Lord:
and by your great mercy defend us
from all peril and danger this night;
for the love of your only Son
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore. Amen.

These BLESSINGS may be used:

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face towards you and give you his peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.