Morning Prayer — from All Saints’ Day until — the day before the First Sunday of Advent — Thursday, 12 November 2026

Preparation

O Lord, open our lips and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Your faithful servants bless you. They make known the glory of your kingdom. Alleluia.

One or more of the following is said or sung:

this or another prayer of thanksgiving

Blessed are you, Sovereign God, ruler and judge of all, to you be praise and glory for ever. In the darkness of this age that is passing away may the light of your presence which the saints enjoy surround our steps as we journey on. May we reflect your glory this day and so be made ready to see your face in the heavenly city where night shall be no more. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Blessed be God for ever.

a suitable hymn, or A Song of Trust in God

1 As the deer longs for the water brooks, ♦ so longs my soul for you, O God.

2 My soul is athirst for God, even for the living God; ♦ when shall I come before the presence of God?

3 My tears have been my bread day and night, ♦ while all day long they say to me, ‘Where is now your God?’

4 Now when I think on these things, I pour out my soul: ♦ how I went with the multitude and led the procession to the house of God,

5 With the voice of praise and thanksgiving, ♦ among those who kept holy day.

6 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul, ♦ and why are you so disquieted within me?

7 O put your trust in God; ♦ for I will yet give him thanks, who is the help of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 42.1-7

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.

This opening prayer may be said

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

Psalmody

The appointed psalmody is said.

Psalm 26

Lord, I love the place where your glory abides.

1 Give judgement for me, O Lord, for I have walked with integrity; ♦ I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.

2 Test me, O Lord, and try me; ♦ examine my heart and my mind.

3 For your love is before my eyes; ♦ I have walked in your truth.

4 I have not joined the company of the false, ♦ nor consorted with the deceitful.

5 I hate the gathering of evildoers ♦ and I will not sit down with the wicked.

6 I will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord, ♦ that I may go about your altar,

7 To make heard the voice of thanksgiving ♦ and tell of all your wonderful deeds.

8 Lord, I love the house of your habitation ♦ and the place where your glory abides.

9 Sweep me not away with sinners, ♦ nor my life with the bloodthirsty,

10 Whose hands are full of wicked schemes ♦ and their right hand full of bribes.

11 As for me, I will walk with integrity; ♦ redeem me, Lord, and be merciful to me.

12 My foot stands firm; ♦ in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.

Lord, I love the place where your glory abides.

Have mercy on us and redeem us, O Lord, for our merits are your mercies and in your judgement is our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? ♦ The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, ♦ they stumbled and fell.

3 Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not be afraid, ♦ and though there rise up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him.

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord and that alone I seek; ♦ that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

5 To behold the fair beauty of the Lord ♦ and to seek his will in his temple.

6 For in the day of trouble he shall hide me in his shelter; ♦ in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me and set me high upon a rock.

7 And now shall he lift up my head ♦ above my enemies round about me;

8 Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness; ♦ I will sing and make music to the Lord.

9 Hear my voice, O Lord, when I call; ♦ have mercy upon me and answer me.

10 My heart tells of your word, ‘Seek my face.’ ♦ Your face, Lord, will I seek.

11 Hide not your face from me, ♦ nor cast your servant away in displeasure.

12 You have been my helper; ♦ leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

13 Though my father and my mother forsake me, ♦ the Lord will take me up.

14 Teach me your way, O Lord; ♦ lead me on a level path, because of those who lie in wait for me.

15 Deliver me not into the will of my adversaries, ♦ for false witnesses have risen up against me, and those who breathe out violence.

16 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord ♦ in the land of the living.

17 Wait for the Lord; be strong and he shall comfort your heart; ♦ wait patiently for the Lord.

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

God, our light and our salvation, illuminate our lives, that we may see your goodness in the land of the living, and, looking on your beauty, may be changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Each psalm or group of psalms may end with

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.

If there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here, or both may be read after the canticle.

Daniel 6

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, stationed throughout the whole kingdom, and over them three presidents, including Daniel; to these the satraps gave account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Soon Daniel distinguished himself above all the other presidents and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom. So the presidents and the satraps tried to find grounds for complaint against Daniel in connection with the kingdom. But they could find no grounds for complaint or any corruption, because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption could be found in him. The men said, ‘We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.’

So the presidents and satraps conspired and came to the king and said to him, ‘O King Darius, live for ever! All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an interdict, that whoever prays to anyone, divine or human, for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions. Now, O king, establish the interdict and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.’ Therefore King Darius signed the document and interdict.

Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open towards Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously. The conspirators came and found Daniel praying and seeking mercy before his God. Then they approached the king and said concerning the interdict, ‘O king! Did you not sign an interdict, that anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human, within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions?’ The king answered, ‘The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.’ Then they responded to the king, ‘Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the interdict you have signed, but he is saying his prayers three times a day.’

When the king heard the charge, he was very much distressed. He was determined to save Daniel, and until the sun went down he made every effort to rescue him. Then the conspirators came to the king and said to him, ‘Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.’

Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!’ A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no food was brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

Then, at break of day, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions. When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, ‘O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Daniel then said to the king, ‘O king, live for ever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.’ Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. The king gave a command, and those who had accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

Then King Darius wrote to all peoples and nations of every language throughout the whole world: ‘May you have abundant prosperity! I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: For he is the living God, enduring for ever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end. He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; for he has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.’ So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Canticle

A Song of the New Creation, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 28 (page 579), number 46 (page 598) or number 47 (page 599), may be said

I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Alleluia.

1 ‘I am the Lord, your Holy One, ♦ the Creator of Israel, your King.’

2 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, ♦ a path in the mighty waters,

3 ‘Remember not the former things, ♦ nor consider the things of old.

4 ‘Behold, I am doing a new thing; ♦ now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

5 ‘I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, ♦ to give drink to my chosen people,

6 ‘The people whom I formed for myself, ♦ that they might declare my praise.’

Isaiah 43.15, 16, 18, 19, 20c, 21

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.

I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Alleluia.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence.

Revelation 8

When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets made ready to blow them.

The first angel blew his trumpet, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were hurled to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many died from the water, because it was made bitter.

The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light was darkened; a third of the day was kept from shining, and likewise the night.

Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew in mid-heaven, ‘Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!’

A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord, my lips shall proclaim your faithfulness. The heavens bear witness to your wonders; I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord. The assembly of your saints proclaims your truth; my lips shall proclaim your faithfulness. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord, my lips shall proclaim your faithfulness.

from Psalm 89

Gospel Canticle

The Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah) is normally said, or the Te Deum Laudamus (A Song of the Church) (page 636) may be said

You will guide us with your counsel, O God, and afterwards receive us with glory.

1 Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, ♦ who has come to his people and set them free.

2 He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, ♦ born of the house of his servant David.

3 Through his holy prophets God promised of old ♦ to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all that hate us,

4 To show mercy to our ancestors, ♦ and to remember his holy covenant.

5 This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham: ♦ to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

6 Free to worship him without fear, ♦ holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

7 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, ♦ for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

8 To give his people knowledge of salvation ♦ by the forgiveness of all their sins.

9 In the tender compassion of our God ♦ the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

10 To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, ♦ and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 1.68-79

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.

You will guide us with your counsel, O God, and afterwards receive us with glory.

Prayers

Intercessions are offered for the day and its tasks for the world and its needs for the Church and her life

Prayers may include the following concerns from the cycle on pages 364–365

The saints on earth, that they may live as citizens of heaven All people, that they may hear and believe the word of God All who fear the winter months All sovereigns and political leaders, that they may imitate the righteous rule of Christ All who grieve or wait with the dying

A form of prayer found on page 384 may be used.

These responses may be used

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer

(or)

Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

Silence may be kept.

The Collect of the day is said

Almighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule; 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 is said

Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven, as our Saviour taught us, so we pray

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, 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 the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

(or)

Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven, let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

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.

The Conclusion

May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven, bring us to reign with him in glory. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia. Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

© The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2000–2005 Official Common Worship apps, books and eBooks are available from Church House Publishing.

The Bible readings (other than the psalms) are from The New Revised Standard Version Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Implemented by Simon Kershaw at Crucix. Implementation copyright © Simon Kershaw, 2002–2021.