Home Devotions (Mid-week Message)

Fr. Tony’s Mid-week Message

August 28, 2012

Home Devotions

On page 137 of the Prayer Book is found a short and very useable form for private and family devotions.  Each lasts about 5-10 minutes only, can be used for anytime of the day, and is based on the monastic liturgy of the hours.  I encourage you all to use them if you aren’t already doing so. 

If you currently don’t have a daily prayer regime, then I suggest starting out committing yourself to say one of these a day (either morning, noon, early evening, or bedtime) either alone or with your spouse or partner or family for a specific amount of time (say, a month).  Then see where it goes from there.

I enclose here the texts for convenience: 

In the Morning

From Psalm 51

Open my lips, O Lord, *

    and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, *

    and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence *

    and take not your holy Spirit from me.

Give me the joy of your saving help again *

    and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

    as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

A Reading

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Peter 1:3

A period of silence may follow.

A hymn or canticle may be used; the Apostles’ Creed may be said.

Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought

us in safety to this new day:  Preserve us with your mighty

power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by

adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your

purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

At Noon

From Psalm 113

Give praise, you servants of the LORD; *

    praise the Name of the LORD.

Let the Name of the LORD be blessed, *

    from this time forth for evermore.

From the rising of the sun to its going down *

    let the Name of the LORD be praised.

The LORD is high above all nations, *

    and his glory above the heavens.

A Reading

O God, you will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are

fixed on you; for in returning and rest we shall be saved; in

quietness and trust shall be our strength.  Isaiah 26:3; 30:15

Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect

Blessed Savior, at this hour you hung upon the cross,

stretching out your loving arms:  Grant that all the peoples of

the earth may look to you and be saved; for your mercies’

sake.  Amen.

or this

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, “Peace I give to

you; my own peace I leave with you:”  Regard not our sins,

but the faith of your Church, and give to us the peace and

unity of that heavenly City, where with the Father and the

Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and for ever.  Amen.

In the Early Evening

This devotion may be used before or after the evening meal.

O gracious Light,

pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,

O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,

and our eyes behold the vesper light,

we sing your praises O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,

O Son of God, O Giver of life,

and to be glorified through all the worlds.

A Reading

It is not ourselves that we proclaim; we proclaim Christ

Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants, for Jesus’ sake.

For the same God who said, “Out of darkness let light

shine,” has caused his light to shine within us, to give the

light of revelation — the revelation of the glory of God in the

face of Jesus Christ.  2 Corinthians 4:5-6

Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is

past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and

awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in

Scripture and the breaking of bread.  Grant this for the sake

of your love.  Amen.

At the Close of Day

Psalm 134

Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, *

    you that stand by night in the house of the LORD.

Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; *

   the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

A Reading

Lord, you are in the midst of us and we are called by your

Name:  Do not forsake us, O Lord our God.  Jeremiah 14:9,22

The following may be said

Lord, you now have set your servant free *

    to go in peace as you have promised;

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *

    whom you have prepared for all the world to see:

A Light to enlighten the nations, *

    and the glory of your people Israel.

Prayers for ourselves and others may follow.  It is appropriate that

prayers of thanksgiving for the blessings of the day, and penitence for our sins, be included.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect

Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the

enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in

peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus

Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

bless us and keep us.  Amen.

Grace and Peace. 

--Fr. Tony+