Morning Prayer — from All Saints’ Day until — the day before the First Sunday of Advent — Sunday, 15 November 2026 — The Second Sunday before Advent

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 98

The Lord has made known his salvation.

1 Sing to the Lord a new song, ♦ for he has done marvellous things.

2 His own right hand and his holy arm ♦ have won for him the victory.

3 The Lord has made known his salvation; ♦ his deliverance has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.

4 He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness towards the house of Israel, ♦ and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

5 Sound praises to the Lord, all the earth; ♦ break into singing and make music.

6 Make music to the Lord with the lyre, ♦ with the lyre and the voice of melody.

7 With trumpets and the sound of the horn ♦ sound praises before the Lord, the King.

8 Let the sea thunder and all that fills it, ♦ the world and all that dwell upon it.

9 Let the rivers clap their hands ♦ and let the hills ring out together before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.

10 In righteousness shall he judge the world ♦ and the peoples with equity.

The Lord has made known his salvation.

Lord God, just and true, you make your salvation known in the sight of the nations; tune the song of our hearts to the music of creation as you come among us to judge the earth; through our Saviour Jesus Christ.

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 10.19-end

He said, ‘Do not fear, greatly beloved, you are safe. Be strong and courageous!’ When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.’ Then he said, ‘Do you know why I have come to you? Now I must return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I am through with him, the prince of Greece will come. But I am to tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth. There is no one with me who contends against these princes except Michael, your prince.

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 4

After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne! And the one seated there looks like jasper and cornelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald. Around the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones are twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads. Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God; and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like crystal.

Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, ‘Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.’ And whenever the living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’

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

Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the devil and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life: grant that we, having this hope, may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that when he shall appear in power and great glory we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he 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.