Thursday Evening Devotion

Psalm 85

Lord, thou art become gracious unto thy land *

 thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.

  Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy people *

 and covered all their sins.

  Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure *

 and turned thyself from thy wrathful indignation.

  Turn us then, O God our Saviour *

 and let thine anger cease from us.

  Wilt thou be displeased at us for ever *

 and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another?

  Wilt thou not turn again, and quicken us *

 that thy people may rejoice in thee?

  Shew us thy mercy, O Lord *

 and grant us thy salvation.

  I will hearken what the Lord God will say concerning me *

 for he shall speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, that they turn not again.

  For his salvation is nigh them that fear him *

 that glory may dwell in our land.

  Mercy and truth are met together *

 righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

  Truth shall flourish out of the earth *

 and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.

  Yea, the Lord shall shew loving-kindness *

 and our land shall give her increase.

  Righteousness shall go before him *

 and he shall direct his going in the way.

(Translation: Coverdale)

A Reading

(1 Corinthians 6:12-20)

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

(Translation: Authorized Version)

A period of silence may follow.

Canticle

Gloria in Excelsis

Glory be to God on high,

    and on earth peace, good will towards men.

We praise thee, we bless thee,

    we worship thee,

    we glorify thee,

    we give thanks to thee for thy great glory,

O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

    that takest away the sins of the world,

    have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sins of the world,

    receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father,

    have mercy upon us.

For thou only art holy,

thou only art the Lord,

thou only, O Christ,

    with the Holy Ghost,

    art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Prayers for Ourselves and Neighbors

Everlasting God, I pray for my own needs and those of others:

Silence or add individual intentions here

I confess to Almighty God that I have sinned by my own fault in thought, word, and deed, in things done and left undone; especially these sins which I have committed today:

Silence or add individual intentions here

For these and all other sins which I cannot now remember, I am truly sorry. I pray God to have mercy upon me. I firmly intend amendment of life, and I humbly beg forgiveness of God and his Church.

+May the Almighty God grant me forgiveness of all my sins, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Holy Trinity, One God, Thou art the bearer of good things, grant unto me a grateful heart that I may go forth with thanksgiving for all thy blessings:

Silence or add individual intentions here

And now, I gather my all prayers in the words Thy Son hath 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, and the power, and the glory,

    for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know thee as thou art revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread.  Grant this for the sake of thy love. Amen.

+The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless me and keep me. Amen.