Thursday Morning Devotion

Psalm 37:10-18

Yet a little while, and the ungodly shall be clean gone *

 thou shalt look after his place, and he shall be away.

  But the meek-spirited shall possess the earth *

 and shall be refreshed in the multitude of peace.

  The ungodly seeketh counsel against the just *

 and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

  The Lord shall laugh him to scorn *

 for he hath seen that his day is coming.

  The ungodly have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow *

 to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as are of a right conversation.

  Their sword shall go through their own heart *

 and their bow shall be broken.

  A small thing that the righteous hath *

 is better than great riches of the ungodly.

  For the arms of the ungodly shall be broken *

 and the Lord upholdeth the righteous.

  The Lord knoweth the days of the godly *

 and their inheritance shall endure for ever.

(Translation: Coverdale)

A Reading

(Ezra 1:1-11)

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.

Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.

And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.

Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;

Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.

And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,

Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.

All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.

(Translation: Authorized Version)

A period of silence may follow.

Canticle

Cantemus Domino

Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18 

I will sing unto the Lord,
for he hath triumphed gloriously; *
    the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and song, *
    and he is become my salvation:
He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; *
    my father's God and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a man of war: *
    the Lord is his name.
Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: *
    his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.
The depths have covered them: *
    they sank into the bottom as a stone.
Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: *
    thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? *
    who is like thee, glorious in holiness,
    fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, *
    the earth swallowed them.
Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people
which thou hast redeemed: *
    thou hast guided them in thy strength
    unto thy holy habitation.
Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them *
    in the mountain of thine inheritance,
In the place, O Lord, which thou hast
made for thee to dwell in; *
    in the sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
The Lord shall reign *
    for ever and ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *
    and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *
    world without end. Amen. 

(Source: Anglican Service Book)

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

    maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;

    who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,

    born of the Virgin Mary,

    suffered under Pontius Pilate,

    was crucified, dead, and buried.

    He descended into hell.

    The third day he rose again from the dead.

    He ascended into heaven,

    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.

    From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost,

    the holy catholic Church,

    the communion of saints,

    the forgiveness of sins,

    the resurrection of the body,

    and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers for Ourselves and Neighbors

Almighty and everliving God, I pray unto Thee for thy Universal Church and all her members, past, present and yet to come:

Silence or add individual intentions here

Christ, the ruler of all the nations, I pray for the health and well-being of my nation and all the nations and leaders of the earth:

Silence or add individual intentions here

God, the Holy Ghost, I pray Thee to be poured out upon all who are sick and suffering in body, mind, or spirit, that Thy healing grace may be infused in them and in myself:

Silence or add individual intentions here

Heavenly Father, I commend unto Thee those who are departed, that they may be judged with magnanimity and see Thy Heavenly Kingdom:

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 Guidance

O heavenly Father, in whom we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray thee so to guide and govern us by thy Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget thee, but may remember that we are ever walking in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.