Today's Psalms

Welcome

24th January

Opening Prayer

6 1) May the Lord open our minds, hearts and mouths to sing and speak his praise. Amen

Hear my Word, says God. Listen to my call. Follow me wherever I lead you, and be my flock.

Lord, we hear your word. Your call reaches us. We will follow.

Give us the strength, the wisdom, the love to do what you require of us. Let us spread your divine power through the world

The Psalms

Wait for the Lord. Be courageous, and he will make your heart strong.

The Lord is my light, and he is my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strongpoint in my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked ones came up against me, to devour my flesh, and my enemies and foes came to attack me, they stumbled and fell.

Even if a whole army comes to surround me, I will not fear. Though my heart rises in my mouth, I will be confident in this fight.

I have wanted one thing from the Lord, and actively I seek it: that I might dwell in the Lord's house all my life; to admire the Lord's beauty and to be an inquirer in his temple.

For he will hide me in his tents; when I am troubled he will keep me in his holy tabernacle. He will set me high upon a rock.

Now I can raise my head above my enemies who are all around me, and I will offer joyful sacrifices in his tabernacle; I will sing - yes, I will sing praises - to the Lord.

Hear my voice, Lord, when I call to you. Have mercy on me and answer when I cry to you.

My heart has spoken about you: "Seek his face". I will seek your face, O Lord.

Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger. I am your servant. You have been my help. Do not leave me, do not desert me, O God who saves me.

Even when my parents desert me, the Lord will take care of me.

Lord, teach me your way and lead me in a path smoothed out because of my enemies.

Do not hand me over into the hands of my enemies, for false witnesses have risen against me: they breathe violence and hatred.

If I had not believed, I would not have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord. Be courageous, and he will make your heart strong. Wait for the Lord...

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it is, always has been and always will be, through the infinite ages. Amen.

Wait for the Lord. Be courageous, and he will make your heart strong.

Bible Reading Matthew 4:13-22

And Jesus left Nazareth and came to stay at Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphthali. And so the words of the prophet came true: "In the Land of Zebulun and the Land of Naphthali, on the sea road, beyond the Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles; there, the poeple who sat in darkness have seen a great light. On those who sat in the land under the shadow of death - on them a light has dawned.

And from that time Jesus began to preach and proclaim: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near."

As he was walking beside the Sea of Galilee Jesus saw two brothers, Simon - called Peter - and his brother Andrew, casting their net into the sea (they were fishermen). And he said to them: "Come, follow me. I am going to make you fishers of my people". And they left their nets immediately, and followed him. And moving on, he saw two more brothers - James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in a boat with their father. They were mending their nets. And he called them. They, too, at once left their boat and their father, and followed him.

Canticle

Take up your cross and follow me, says the Lord

My soul magnifies the Lord’s greatness, and my spirit rises within me at the thought of God my Saviour.

As he has seen the humility of his servant, so future generations will all call me blessed.

Glorious and powerful, he has made me stronger: and his name is holy.

Never-ending mercies fall on all who fear him.

In his strength he has wielded strength; he has undone the proud through their own self-importance.

From their seats of power the mighty have been thrown; he has lifted the humble.

In his goodness he has given food to the hungry; cowering, the rich have been sent away with nothing.

All his people, from ancient times, have been supported by him: that was the promise he made to Abraham, and all our ancestors, for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it is, always has been and always will be, through the infinite ages. Amen.

Take up your cross and follow me, says the Lord

Closing Prayers

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, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.

Amen

 

May the Lord keep us day and night in his care, safe in the hope of eternal joy. Amen