THURSDAY MORNING
The Holy Spirit

OPENING  RESPONSES

O Lord, open my lips.
 And my mouth shall declare your praise.

In the last days, says the Lord,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your young people shall see visions,
and your old people shall dream dreams.

All may bow.

Glory be to God - Maker, Christ and Holy Spirit -
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever,
world without end.  Amen.

CHANT

The Lord is my song
the Lord is my praise
All my hope comes from God
The Lord is my song
The Lord is my praise
God the wellspring of life.

SCRIPTURE READING(S) OF THE DAY

Silent reflection.

Either this Morning Canticle or the Benedictus  is said or sung:

CANTICLE OF THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
 because the Lord has anointed me
 to bring good news to the oppressed.
The Lord has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted,
 to proclaim liberty to the captives,
 and release for those in prison,
to comfort all who mourn,
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
 a garment of splendour for the heavy heart.
They shall be called trees of righteousness,
planted for the glory of the Lord.

Therefore I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
 my whole being shall exult in my God,
for God has robed me with salvation as a garment,
and clothed me with integrity as a cloak.
For the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all nations.

The Psalms, Readings and Canticles conclude with the Gloria Patri:

Glory be to God - Maker, Christ and Holy Spirit -
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever,
world without end.  Amen.

PRAYERS

All may kneel.

Lord, have mercy
 Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy,

The Lord's Prayer  may be said or sung.

Warm-winged Spirit,
Be beside us and between us today:
 as we go about our work
 as we seek to celebrate the gift of life
 as we explore the universe
 as we wrestle with intimacy
 as we take new steps in the way of Jesus.
Amen.

Prayers of thanksgiving and intercession may be offered.

The prayers arc concluded with the Morning Collect .

BLESSING

God's grace fall on us,
Christ's grace fall on us,
the Spirit’s grace fall on us,
each day and each night of our portion in this world.

OPENING RESPONSES

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

The Spirit helps us in our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit intercedes with groans too deep for words.

All may bow.

Glory be to God - Maker, Christ and Holy Spirit -
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever,
world without end.  Amen.

CHANT

Come Holy Spirit,
gracious heavenly dove;
come, fire of love.

SCRIPTURE READING(S) OF THE DAY

Silent reflection.

Either this Evening Canticle or the Magnificat is said or sung:  

CANTICLE OF THE NEW BIRTH

I tell you the truth:
Unless a person is born through water and the Spirit,
 they shall not enter the kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh:
what is born of Spirit is spirit.
Do not be surprised when I say
 you must be born from above.
The wind blows wherever it pleases;
you hear its sound
 but you cannot tell where it comes from
 or where it is going.
This is how it is
with all who are born of the Spirit.

Glory be to God - Maker, Christ and Holy Spirit -
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever,
world without end.  Amen.

PRAYERS

All may kneel.

Lord, have mercy
 Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy.

The Lord's Prayer is said or sung.

Prayers of thanksgiving and intercession may be offered.

The prayers are concluded with this Evening Collect :

Abide with us, O Lord,
for evening comes and the day is almost over.
Abide with us,
for the days are hastening on
and we hasten with them.
Abide with us and with all your faithful people,
until the daystar rises and the morning light appears,
and we shall abide with you forever.
Amen.

BLESSING

We depart in peace.
And may God the Father,
God the Son,
and God the Spirit Holy
fill us with a flame of love for all the world.