Wednesday, January 28

The Morning Office To Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour Between 6 and 9 a.m.

The Call to Prayer

Bless God in the congregation;* bless the LORD, you that are of the fountain of Israel.

Psalm 68:26

The Request for Presence

Look upon your covenant;* the dark places of the earth are haunts of violence.

Psalm 74:19

The Greeting

Deliver me, O LORD, by your hand* from those whose portion in life is this world.

Psalm 17:14

The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”* All are corrupt and commit abominable acts; there is none who does any good.

Psalm 53:1

A Reading

Jesus taught us, saying: “If your brother does something wrong, rebuke him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I am sorry,’ you must forgive him.”

Luke 17:3–4

The Refrain

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”* All are corrupt and commit abominable acts; there is none who does any good.

The Morning Psalm

I Have Washed My Hands in Innocence

Truly, God is good to Israel,* to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had nearly slipped;* I had almost tripped and fallen; Because I envied the proud* and saw the prosperity of the wicked: For they suffer no pain,* and their bodies are sleek and sound; In the misfortunes of others they have no share;* they are not afflicted as others are; Therefore they wear their pride like a necklace* and wrap their violence about them like a cloak. Their iniquity comes from gross minds,* and their hearts overflow with wicked thoughts. They scoff and speak maliciously;* out of their haughtiness they plan oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens,* and their evil speech runs through the world. And so the people turn to them* and find in them no fault. They say, “How should God know?* is there knowledge in the Most High?” So then, these are the wicked;* always at ease, they increase their wealth. In vain have I kept my heart clean,* and washed my hands in innocence. I have been afflicted all day long,* and punished every morning. Had I gone on speaking this way,* I should have betrayed the generation of your children. When I tried to understand these things,* it was too hard for me; Until I entered the sanctuary of God* and discerned the end of the wicked.

Psalm 73:1–17

The Refrain

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”* All are corrupt and commit abominable acts; there is none who does any good.

The Cry of the Church

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your Name. May your kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Prayer Appointed for the Week

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.†

The Concluding Prayer of the Church

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.†