An Order Morning Prayer for the Sunday next before Lent

Preparation

O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
 
Blessed are you, creator of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As your dawn renews the face of the earth
bringing light and life to all creation,
may we rejoice in this day you have made;
as we wake refreshed from the depths of sleep,
open our eyes to behold your presence
and strengthen our hands to do your will,
that the world may rejoice and give you praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
 
Hymn
 
1          Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
            Christ, the true, the only light,
            sun of righteousness, arise,
            triumph o'er the shades of night;
            day-spring from on high, be near;
            day-star, in my heart appear.
 
2          Dark and cheerless is the morn
            unaccompanied by thee:
            joyless is the day's return,
            till thy mercy's beams I see,
            till they inward light impart,
            glad my eyes, and warm my heart.
  
3          Visit then this soul of mine;
            pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
            fill me, radiancy divine;
            scatter all my unbelief;
            more and more thyself display,
            shining to the perfect day.

Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

 
The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.

Silence is 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.
Amen.
 

The Word of God

 
2 Kings 2.1–12
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel. The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, ‘Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I know; keep silent.’
 
 Elijah said to him, ‘Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.’ But he said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So they came to Jericho.The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, ‘Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?’ And he answered, ‘Yes, I know; be silent.’
 
Then Elijah said to him, ‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.’ But he said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
 
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha said, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’ He responded, ‘You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.’ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, ‘Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
 
Psalm 50.1–6
1  The Lord, the most mighty God, has spoken
   and called the world from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2  Out of Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth; 
   our God comes and will not keep silence.
3  Consuming fire goes out before him
   and a mighty tempest stirs about him.
4  He calls the heaven above
   and the earth, that he may judge his people:
5  ‘Gather to me my faithful,
   who have sealed my covenant with sacrifice.’
6  Let the heavens declare his righteousness,
   for God himself is judge.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. 
Amen.

Mark 9.2–9
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’ Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
 
As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
 
The Benedictus
 
Bless the Lord, the God of Israel,
who has come to set us free.
He has raised for us a Saviour
sprung from royal David’s tree.
Through his prophets God had spoken
of the hope the Christ would bring;
of his faithfulness and mercy
let each generation sing.
 
Long ago God made a promise
he would set his people free,
that in all our life and worship
we might know true liberty,
to be holy, to be righteous
in his sight throughout our days;
now this child will be a herald
making ready all God’s ways.
 
Let all people know salvation
through forgiveness of their sin,
as our God in his compassion
bids a shining dawn begin.
So may all who dwell in darkness
see the shadows disappear
while he guides our feet in pathways
where his peace is ever near.
 
To the Father be all glory
with the Spirit and the Son,
as it was, is now and shall be
while eternal ages run.

Words: Anne Harrison

 
Reflection
 
Anthem
A Song of the Light – Simon Lole
sung by St Martin’s Voices
 
Light of the world, in grace and beauty,
mirror of God’s eternal face.
Transparent flame of love’s free duty,
you bring salvation to our race. 
 
Now as we see the lights of evening,
we raise our voice in hymns of praise.
Worthy are you of endless blessing,
sun of our night, lamp of our days. 
 
Phos Hilaron (from ‘Celebrating Common Prayer’).
 

Prayers

 Which conclude with... 

Collect for the Sunday next before Lent
Almighty Father,
whose Son was revealed in majesty
before he suffered death upon the cross:
give us grace to perceive his glory,
that we may be strengthened to suffer with him
and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen

The Lord’s Prayer
 
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
 
Hymn
 
1          O God beyond all praising,
            we worship you today
            and sing the love amazing
            that songs cannot repay;
            for we can only wonder
            at every gift you send,
            at blessings without number
            and mercies without end:
            we lift our hearts before you
            and wait upon your word,
            we honour and adore you,
            our great and mighty Lord.
 
2          Then hear, O gracious Saviour,
            accept the love we bring,
            that we who know your favour
            may serve you as our king;
            and whether our tomorrows
            be filled with good or ill,
            we'II triumph through our sorrows
            and rise to bless you still:
            to marvel at your beauty
            and glory in your ways,
            and make a joyful duty
            our sacrifice of praise.

Michael Perry (1942-1996) © Mrs B Perry/Jubilate Hymns.

 The Conclusion
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 among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
 
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
 

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide