Prayers have been shattered into pieces

Each line or fragment is from the Daily Office: Morning and/or Evening Prayer Rite I.
Inspired in part by the social media account, BCP minus context.


Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? 
Behold and see
if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow 
which is done unto me.

We have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep,
we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts,
we have offended against thy holy laws,
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.     

Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties,
may be duly prepared for the service of thy sanctuary; 
we, reaching forth our hands in love.

*

O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.
O Lord, let thy mercy be upon us; As our trust is in thee.
O Lord, in thee have I trusted; Let me never be confounded.

In Adam all die.
Jesus 
descended into hell.

even so
we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies 
might serve him without fear,

neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness,
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties,
may be duly prepared for the service of thy sanctuary; 
we, reaching forth our hands in love.

*

O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.

Thou art worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices; 
make thy chosen people joyful.

The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee.
The noble army of martyrs praise thee.

Their sound is gone out into all lands, 
and their words into the ends of the world.

Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties,
may be duly prepared for the service of thy sanctuary; 
we, reaching forth our hands in love.

*

Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give, 
that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, 
that by thee, we, being defended from the fear of all enemies, 
may pass our time in rest and quietness; 

Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties,
may be duly prepared for the service of thy sanctuary; 
we, reaching forth our hands in love.

*

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; 
and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers. 

Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties,
may be duly prepared for the service of thy sanctuary; 
we, reaching forth our hands in love.


Unknown's avatar

About Rosalind C Hughes

Rosalind C Hughes is an Episcopal priest, poet, and author living near the shores of Lake Erie. After growing up in England and Wales, and living briefly in Singapore, she is now settled in Ohio. Rosalind is the author of A Family Like Mine: Biblical Stories of Love, Loss, and Longing , and Whom Shall I Fear? Urgent Questions for Christians in an Age of Violence, both from Upper Room Books. She loves the lake, misses the ocean, and is finally coming to terms with snow.
This entry was posted in current events, poetry, prayer and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a comment