Noonday Prayer • April 19, 2023

The Lesser Feast of Alphege, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Martyr

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 34:1-8, page 627

All:

1 I will bless the LORD at all times; *
his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2 I will glory in the LORD; *
let the humble hear and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD; *
let us exalt his Name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me *
and delivered me out of all my terror.
5 Look upon him and be radiant, *
and let not your faces be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction and the LORD heard me *
and saved me from all my troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encompasses those who fear him, *
and he will deliver them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; *
happy are they who trust in him!

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: Luke 12:35-40

Jesus said, “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

All: Thanks be to God.

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.

Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly walked the way of the cross: Strengthen your church through the example and prayers of your servant Alphege to hold fast to the path of discipleship; for with the Father and Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. 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.