The Book of Common Prayer and The Scottish Liturgy. Episcopal Church in Scotland
For fair Weather.
O Lord God, who hast justly humbled us by thy late plague of immoderate rain and waters, and in thy mercy hast relieved and comforted our souls by this seasonable and blessed change of weather: We praise and glorify thy holy Name for this thy mercy, and will always declare thy loving-kindness from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Plenty.
O most merciful Father, who of thy gracious goodness hast heard the devout prayers of thy Church, and turned our dearth and scarcity into cheapness and plenty: We give thee humble thanks for this thy special bounty; beseeching thee to continue thy loving-kindness unto us, that our land may yield us her fruits of increase, to thy glory and our comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Peace and Deliverance from our Enemies.
O almighty God, who art a strong tower of defence unto thy servants against the face of their enemies: We yield thee praise and thanksgiving for our deliverance from those great and apparent dangers wherewith we were compassed: We acknowledge it thy goodness that we were not delivered over as a prey unto them; beseeching thee still to continue such thy mercies towards us, that all the world may know that thou art our Saviour and mighty Deliverer; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For restoring Public Peace at Home.
O eternal God, our heavenly Father, who alone makest men to be of one mind in a house, and stillest the outrage of a violent and unruly people: We bless thy holy Name, that it hath pleased thee to appease the seditious tumults which have been lately raised up amongst us: most humbly beseeching thee to grant to all of us grace, that we may henceforth obediently walk in thy holy commandments; and leading a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty, may continually offer unto thee our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for these thy mercies towards us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Deliverance from the Plague, or other common Sickness.
O Lord God, who hast wounded us for our sins, and consumed us for our transgressions, by thy late heavy and dreadful visitation; and now, in the midst of judgement remembering mercy, hast redeemed our souls from the jaws of death: We offer unto thy fatherly goodness ourselves, our souls and bodies which thou hast delivered, to be a living sacrifice unto thee, always praising and magnifying thy mercies in the midst of thy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Or this.
We humbly acknowledge before thee, O most merciful Father, that all the punishments which are threatened in thy law might justly have fallen upon us, by reason of our manifold transgressions and hardness of heart: Yet seeing it hath pleased thee of thy tender mercy, upon our weak and unworthy humiliation, to assuage the contagious sickness wherewith we lately have been sore afflicted, and to restore the voice of joy and health into our dwellings: We offer unto thy Divine Majesty the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, lauding and magnifying thy glorious Name for such thy preservation and providence over us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
| THE BIDDING PRAYER | | | Let us pray for Christ's Holy Catholic Church throughout the | world, especially for the Churches of Great Britain and Ireland; | for all Christian Sovereigns, Princes and Governors, particularly | our Sovereign Lord King GEORGE, over all estates of men in | these his dominions supreme; for our gracious Queen Mary, | for Alexandra the Queen Mother, for Edward Prince of Wales, | and all the Royal Family; for the ministers of God's holy Word | and Sacraments, especially for N. Bishop of this diocese and | all he clergy of the same; for the great Council of the nation | [now in Parliament assembled], for the Nobility, Judges, and | Magistrates of the realm, * especially for the [Lord] Provost | and Magistrates of this ancient [and royal] city [or burgh]: | that all these in their several callings may serve truly and | faithfully to the glory of God and the edifying and well | governing of his people, remembering always the strict and | solemn account which they must give before the judgement seat | of Christ. And for all other subjects of this realm, let us pray | that they may live in the true faith and fear of God, in dutiful | obedience to the King and brotherly charity one to another. And | that there may never be wanting a supply of fit persons to serve | God in Church and State, let us pray for a blessing on our | universities [especially on. … . ], and on all colleges | and schools, especially on the Theological College of our | Church, that in these and in all places set apart for God's | honour and service true religion and sound learning may ever | flourish and abound. [+ And let us give thanks to Almighty God | for all his servants, both living and departed, who have given | of their substance or service towards the founding, building, | maintenance, and adornment of this church ++ and especially are | we bound to remember. … . ] | | Finally, let us praise God for those who are departed out of | this life in the faith of Christ, and let us pray unto him that | we may be made partakers with them in the glorious resurrection | unto life everlasting. All which things let us humbly ask in | the words which Christ himself hath taught us, saying: | | Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom | come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us | this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we | forgive them that 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. | | [Margin Notes:] * to be used in cities and burghs. | | + to be used at Dedication Festivals or Commemorations of | benefactors. | | ++ or institution or college.
THE COLLECTS EPISTLES AND GOSPELS
TO BE USED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Note that the Collect appointed for every Sunday, or for any Holy-day that hath a Vigil or Eve, shall be said at the Evening Service next before.
| Before the Collect of the day may be said Let us pray.
THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
THE COLLECT.
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.
This Collect is to be repeated every day with the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas Eve.
THE EPISTLE. Rom. xiii. 8.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
THE GOSPEL. St. Matth. xxi. 1.
When they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose