Daily Devotions for Families and Individuals

These devotions follow the basic structure of the Daily Office of the Church.

When more than one person is present, the Reading and the Collect should be read by one person, and the other parts said in unison, or in some other convenient manner. (For suggestions about reading the Psalms, see page 582.)

For convenience, appropriate Psalms, Readings, and Collects are provided in each service. When desired, however, the Collect of the Day, or any of the Collects appointed in the Daily Offices, may be used instead.

The Psalms and Readings may be replaced by those appointed in

1. the Lectionary for Sundays, Holy Days, the Common of Saints, and Various Occasions, page 888.
2. the Daily Office Lectionary, page 934
3. some other manual of devotion which provides daily selections for the Church Year.

In the Morning

Psalm
-- NKJV

At the end of the Psalm is sung or said

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: 
  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
    world without end.  Amen

- OR -

From Psalm 51

Open my lips, O Lord, *
 and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. 
Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
 and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence *
 and take not your holy Spirit from me.
Give me the joy of your saving help again *
 and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen. 

The Old Testament Reading

Reader: A Reading (Lesson) from

Reader:The Word of the Lord.
Answer: Thanks be to God.

- OR -

A Reading
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3

A period of silence may follow.
A hymn or canticle may be used; the Apostles' Creed may be said.
Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.

The Lord's Prayer

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. 

Our Father in heaven,
 hallowed be your Name,
 your kingdom come,
 your will be done,
	on earth as in heaven. 

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
 as we forgive those
	who sin against us. 

Save us from the time of trial,
 and deliver us from evil. 

For the kingdom, the power,
 and the glory are yours,
 now and for ever.  Amen. 

The Collect
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

- OR -

At Noon

From Psalm 113

Give praise, you servants of the LORD; *
 praise the Name of the LORD. 

Let the Name of the LORD be blessed, *
 from this time forth for evermore. 

From the rising of the sun to its going down *
 let the Name of the LORD be praised. 

The LORD is high above all nations, *
 and his glory above the heavens. 

A Reading
O God, you will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are fixed on you; for in returning and rest we shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be our strength. Isaiah 26:3; 30:15

Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.

The Lord's Prayer

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. 

Our Father in heaven,
 hallowed be your Name,
 your kingdom come,
 your will be done,
	on earth as in heaven. 

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
 as we forgive those
	who sin against us. 

Save us from the time of trial,
 and deliver us from evil. 

For the kingdom, the power,
 and the glory are yours,
 now and for ever.  Amen. 

The Collect
Blessed Savior, at this hour you hung upon the cross, stretching out your loving arms: Grant that all the peoples of the earth may look to you and be saved; for your mercies' sake. Amen

or this

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, "Peace I give to you; my own peace I leave with you:" Regard not our sins, but the faith of your Church, and give to us the peace and unity of that heavenly City, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and for ever. Amen

- OR -

In the Early Evening

This devotion my be used before or after the evening meal.
The Order of Worship for the Evening, page 109, may be used instead.

O gracious light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed! 

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds. 

A Reading
It is not ourselves that we proclaim; we proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants, for Jesus' sake. For the same God who said, "Out of darkness let light shine," has caused his light to shine within us, to give the light of revelation--the revelation of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

- OR -

The New Testament Reading

Reader: A Reading (Lesson) from

Reader:The Word of the Lord.
Answer: Thanks be to God.

Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.

The Lord's Prayer

The Collect
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen

- OR -

At the Close of Day

Psalm
-- NKJV

At the end of the Psalm is sung or said

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: 
  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
    world without end.  Amen

- OR -

Psalm 134

Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, *
 you that stand by night in the house of the LORD. 

Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; *
 the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion. 

A Reading
Lord, you are in the midst of us and we are called by your Name: Do not forsake us, O Lord our God. Jeremiah 14:9,22

- OR -

The Gospel

Reader: A reading from the Gospel according to St. .
-- NKJV

Reader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

The following may be said

Lord, you now have set your servant free *
 to go in peace as you have promised; 

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
 whom you have prepared for all the world to see; 

A Light to enlighten the nations, *
 and the glory of your people Israel. 

Prayers for ourselves and others may follow. It is appropriate that prayers of thanksgiving for the blessings of the day, and penitence for our sins, be included.

The Lord's Prayer

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. 

Our Father in heaven,
 hallowed be your Name,
 your kingdom come,
 your will be done,
	on earth as in heaven. 

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
 as we forgive those
	who sin against us. 

Save us from the time of trial,
 and deliver us from evil. 

For the kingdom, the power,
 and the glory are yours,
 now and for ever.  Amen. 

The Collect
Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

- OR -

The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us. Amen