Worship & prayer

The Church at prayer

Morning and Evening Prayer, the collects, psalms, canticles and hymns we use in worship, drawn from the Book of Common Prayer and arranged by the season of the Church's year.

The Order for Morning Prayer

1Sentences of Scripture
2The Exhortation
3A General Confession
4The Absolution
5The Lord's Prayer
6O Lord, open thou our lips — Versicles
7Venite, exultemus Domino (Psalm 95)
8The Psalms appointed for the day
9The First Lesson (Old Testament)
10Te Deum Laudamus or Benedicite
11The Second Lesson (New Testament)
12Benedictus (Song of Zechariah)
13The Apostles' Creed
14The Lesser Litany & the Lord's Prayer
15The Suffrages (Versicles and Responses)
16The Collect of the Day
17The Collects for Peace and for Grace
18Prayers and Thanksgivings
19The Grace

The Order for Evening Prayer

1Sentences of Scripture
2The Exhortation
3A General Confession
4The Absolution
5The Lord's Prayer
6O Lord, open thou our lips — Versicles
7The Psalms appointed for the day
8The First Lesson (Old Testament)
9Magnificat (Song of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
10The Second Lesson (New Testament)
11Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon)
12The Apostles' Creed
13The Lesser Litany & the Lord's Prayer
14The Suffrages (Versicles and Responses)
15The Collect of the Day
16The Collects for Peace and for Aid against all Perils
17Prayers and Thanksgivings
18The Grace

The Collect for this season

Trinity Sunday

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity: We beseech thee, that thou wouldest keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities; who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.

The First Sunday in Advent

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

Christmas Day | The Nativity of our Lord

Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin: Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The Epiphany | The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles

O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles: Mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ash Wednesday | The First Day of Lent

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Good Friday

Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Easter Day | The Resurrection of our Lord

Almighty God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: We humbly beseech thee, that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Whitsunday | The Day of Pentecost

God, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by the sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 23 Dominus regit me

The Lord is my shepherd

1The Lord is my shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing.
2He shall feed me in a green pasture: and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.
3He shall convert my soul: and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his Name's sake.
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
5Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me: thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.
6But thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 51 Miserere mei, Deus

Have mercy upon me, O God

1Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness: according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
2Wash me throughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me.
4Make me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.
5Cast me not away from thy presence: and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
6O give me the comfort of thy help again: and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
7Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth shall shew thy praise.

Psalm 95 Venite, exultemus

O come, let us sing unto the Lord

1O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
2Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving: and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms.
3For the Lord is a great God: and a great King above all gods.
4O come, let us worship and fall down: and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
5For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Psalm 100 Jubilate Deo

O be joyful in the Lord

1O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands: serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song.
2Be ye sure that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
3O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name.
4For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting: and his truth endureth from generation to generation.

Psalm 121 Levavi oculos

I will lift up mine eyes

1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills: from whence cometh my help.
2My help cometh even from the Lord: who hath made heaven and earth.
3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: and he that keepeth thee will not sleep.
4Behold, he that keepeth Israel: shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5The Lord himself is thy keeper: the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand;
6The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.
7The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in: from this time forth for evermore.

Psalm 130 De profundis

Out of the deep

1Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice.
2O let thine ears consider well: the voice of my complaint.
3If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss: O Lord, who may abide it?
4For there is mercy with thee: therefore shalt thou be feared.
5I look for the Lord; my soul doth wait for him: in his word is my trust.
6O Israel, trust in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy: and with him is plenteous redemption.

Psalm 150 Laudate Dominum

O praise God in his holiness

1O praise God in his holiness: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2Praise him in his noble acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3Praise him in the sound of the trumpet: praise him upon the lute and harp.
4Praise him in the cymbals and dances: praise him upon the strings and pipe.
5Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals: praise him upon the loud cymbals.
6Let every thing that hath breath: praise the Lord.

The Psalter in 30 days

The Book of Common Prayer appoints the whole Psalter to be read through each month.

Day	Morning Prayer	Evening Prayer
1	Ps 1–5	Ps 6–8
2	Ps 9–11	Ps 12–14
3	Ps 15–17	Ps 18
4	Ps 19–21	Ps 22–23
5	Ps 24–26	Ps 27–29
6	Ps 30–31	Ps 32–34
7	Ps 35–36	Ps 37
8	Ps 38–40	Ps 41–43
9	Ps 44–46	Ps 47–49
10	Ps 50–52	Ps 53–55
11	Ps 56–58	Ps 59–61
12	Ps 62–64	Ps 65–67
13	Ps 68	Ps 69–70
14	Ps 71–72	Ps 73–74
15	Ps 75–77	Ps 78
16	Ps 79–81	Ps 82–85
17	Ps 86–88	Ps 89
18	Ps 90–92	Ps 93–94
19	Ps 95–97	Ps 98–101
20	Ps 102–103	Ps 104
21	Ps 105	Ps 106
22	Ps 107	Ps 108–109
23	Ps 110–113	Ps 114–115
24	Ps 116–118	Ps 119:1–32
25	Ps 119:33–72	Ps 119:73–104
26	Ps 119:105–144	Ps 119:145–176
27	Ps 120–125	Ps 126–131
28	Ps 132–135	Ps 136–138
29	Ps 139–140	Ps 141–143
30	Ps 144–146	Ps 147–150

Venite

Venite, exultemus Domino

Morning Prayer

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving: and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God: and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are all the corners of the earth: and the strength of the hills is his also.

The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands prepared the dry land.

O come, let us worship and fall down: and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Te Deum Laudamus

We praise thee, O God

Morning Prayer

We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.

All the earth doth worship thee: the Father everlasting.

To thee all Angels cry aloud: the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.

To thee Cherubin and Seraphin: continually do cry,

Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Sabaoth;

Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty: of thy glory.

The glorious company of the Apostles: praise thee.

The goodly fellowship of the Prophets: praise thee.

The noble army of Martyrs: praise thee.

The holy Church throughout all the world: doth acknowledge thee;

The Father: of an infinite Majesty;

Thine honourable, true: and only Son;

Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter.

Benedictus

Song of Zechariah · St Luke 1

Morning Prayer

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: for he hath visited and redeemed his people;

And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us: in the house of his servant David;

As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets: which have been since the world began;

That we should be saved from our enemies: and from the hands of all that hate us.

To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers: and to remember his holy covenant;

That we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies: might serve him without fear;

In holiness and righteousness before him: all the days of our life.

Magnificat

The Song of Mary · St Luke 1

Evening Prayer

My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden.

For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations.

He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Nunc Dimittis

Song of Simeon · St Luke 2

Evening Prayer

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen: thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people;

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles: and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

These are historic public-domain texts (Book of Common Prayer 1662 and the Coverdale Psalter) provided for reference and personal devotion. The diocesan office should confirm them against the Church of Nigeria's authorised liturgy before use as an official order of service.

The Church at prayer

The Order for Morning Prayer

The Order for Evening Prayer

Trinity Sunday

The First Sunday in Advent

Christmas Day | The Nativity of our Lord

The Epiphany | The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles

Ash Wednesday | The First Day of Lent

Good Friday

Easter Day | The Resurrection of our Lord

Whitsunday | The Day of Pentecost

Psalm 23 Dominus regit me

Psalm 51 Miserere mei, Deus

Psalm 95 Venite, exultemus

Psalm 100 Jubilate Deo

Psalm 121 Levavi oculos

Psalm 130 De profundis

Psalm 150 Laudate Dominum

The Psalter in 30 days

Venite

Te Deum Laudamus

Benedictus

Magnificat

Nunc Dimittis

advent

christmas

epiphany

lent

holyweek

easter

pentecost

trinity