Friday 16th December 2022

Meeting details

Morning prayer is hosted by Graham on weekday mornings at 07:30 when it is not a public holiday. If you want to recall a particular day's liturgy you can add the date to the end of the web address (YYYY-MM-DD). Here is a real-world example https://morningprayer.torrix.uk/2020-11-16.

Join via Zoom

Meeting ID: 886 6182 8034
Passcode: morning

You can join by telephone if you wish:

+44 203 901 7895 (United Kingdom)
Passcode: 5521199

Meeting expectations

This is a short service that you are welcome to invite anyone to. It will last no more than 20 minutes.

There will be opportunities for you to contribute by saying some of the prayers or reading scripture. There is no obligation to participate.

You are welcome to join with your camera off and to keep your microphone muted.

Opening

One thing I have asked of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life;
to behold the beauty of the Lord
and to seek Him in His temple.

Call: Who is it that you seek?
Response: We seek the Lord our God.
Call: Do you seek Him with all your heart?
Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Call: Do you seek Him with all your soul?
Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Call: Do you seek Him with all your mind?
Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Call: Do you seek Him with all your strength?
Response: Amen. Christ, have mercy.

Declaration of faith

We believe in God who celebrates and affirms every person and does not discriminate.

We will allow ourselves to be challenged and will not discriminate against people on grounds of

  • disability or economic power,
  • ethnicity or gender,
  • gender identity or mental health,
  • neurodiversity or sexuality.

We believe in a Church that:

  • welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ;
  • Listens to the scriptures and learns from them;
  • seeks to share the stories of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit;
  • And allows all people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ.

Scripture reading

Proverbs 29

29One who is often reproved, yet remains stubborn,
   will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
   but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 A child who loves wisdom makes a parent glad,
   but to keep company with prostitutes is to squander one’s substance.
4 By justice a king gives stability to the land,
   but one who makes heavy exactions ruins it.
5 Whoever flatters a neighbour
   is spreading a net for the neighbour’s feet.
6 In the transgression of the evil there is a snare,
   but the righteous sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous know the rights of the poor;
   the wicked have no such understanding.
8 Scoffers set a city aflame,
   but the wise turn away wrath.
9 If the wise go to law with fools,
   there is ranting and ridicule without relief.
10 The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
   and they seek the life of the upright.
11 A fool gives full vent to anger,
   but the wise quietly holds it back.
12 If a ruler listens to falsehood,
   all his officials will be wicked.
13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
   the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king judges the poor with equity,
   his throne will be established for ever.
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom,
   but a mother is disgraced by a neglected child.
16 When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases,
   but the righteous will look upon their downfall.
17 Discipline your children, and they will give you rest;
   they will give delight to your heart.
18 Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint,
   but happy are those who keep the law.
19 By mere words servants are not disciplined,
   for though they understand, they will not give heed.
20 Do you see someone who is hasty in speech?
   There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that.
21 A slave pampered from childhood
   will come to a bad end.*
22 One given to anger stirs up strife,
   and the hothead causes much transgression.
23 A person’s pride will bring humiliation,
   but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honour.
24 To be a partner of a thief is to hate one’s own life;
   one hears the victim’s curse, but discloses nothing.*
25 The fear of others* lays a snare,
   but one who trusts in the Lord is secure.
26 Many seek the favour of a ruler,
   but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.
27 The unjust are an abomination to the righteous,
   but the upright are an abomination to the wicked.

NRSV

Prayers for others

Canticle

Christ, as a light
illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield
overshadow me.
Christ under me;
Christ over me;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks to me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

Acknowledgements

Structure, Opening, Canticle and Blessing:
Taken from Morning Prayer from Northumbria Community’s Celtic Daily Prayer published by Collins.
Declaration of Faith
Adapted from http://inclusive-church.org/.
Scriptures
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.