Noonday Prayer • December 11, 2024

The Lesser Feast of Frederick Howden, Jr., Priest and Chaplain of the Armed Forces

Learn more about today’s feast


Page numbers listed are from The Book of Common Prayer.

Opening Sentence, page 103

Officiant: O God, make speed to save us.

People: O Lord, make haste to help us.

All: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

Psalm 18:1-6, 18-20, page 602

All:

I love you, O Lord my strength, *
                O Lord my stronghold, my crag, and my haven.
 My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, *
                my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge;
you are worthy of praise.
 I will call upon the Lord, *
                and so shall I be saved from my enemies.
 The breakers of death rolled over me, *
                and the torrents of oblivion made me afraid.
 The cords of hell entangled me, *
                and the snares of death were set for me.
 I called upon the Lord in my distress *
                and cried out to my God for help.
He delivered me from my strong enemies and from those who hated me; *
                for they were too mighty for me.
 They confronted me in the day of my disaster; *
                but the Lord was my support.
 He brought me out into an open place; *
                he rescued me because he delighted in me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *        
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Lesson: John 10:11-18

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”



Reflection

The Prayers, pages 106-107

Officiant: Lord have mercy.

People: Christ have mercy.

Officiant: Lord have mercy.

All: 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.


Officiant: Lord, hear our prayer;

People: And let our cry come to you.

Officiant: Let us pray.

Almighty God, our sure defense: We give you thanks for your servant[s] Frederick Howden, [N.,] and all military chaplains who provided comfort and inspiration in time of battle; and, following the example of Jesus the Good Shepherd, laid down their lives in the service of others. Inspire and strengthen us, also, for the duties of life still before us, that we may be faithful to the end; through the same Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Intercessions and Thanksgivings

Dismissal, page 107

Officiant: Let us bless the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

Officiant: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.