Sabbath’s Printable Hours with Complete Texts
Lauds : Prayer Upon Rising
I thank you, O living and eternal King, for you have graciously given me another day to serve you. You are forever faithful and abounding in compassion! May your kingdom reign this day in my life and my home. I acknowledge you as Lord, and declare myself your servant.
Prime : Morning Prayer
(Sabbath morning prayer and Psalm after breakfast (Prime and Terce are done together as rising may have been later due to consecrated Sabbath, morning rest)
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 92
It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
How great are your works, O LORD!
Your thoughts are very deep!
The stupid man cannot know;
the fool cannot understand this:
that though the wicked sprout like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever;
but you, O LORD, are on high forever.
For behold, your enemies, O LORD,
for behold, your enemies shall perish;
all evildoers shall be scattered.
But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
you have poured over mea fresh oil.
My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.
The righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the LORD;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the LORD is upright;
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Morning Prayer
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant.
He Who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.
And His mercy is for those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His offspring forever.
Speak to my heart of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Cause me to know the way that I should go, for to You I lift up my soul, to You I dedicate this day.
HEAR, O ISRAEL, THE LORD IS OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE.
(Whispered) Blessed be His name, Whose glorious kingdom is for ever and ever.
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Today, Father, may Your words be always in front of my eyes; may my hands be engaged in the practices of Your commands.
I recall the power of Your outstretched arm in redeeming us from the house of bondage, and today I will lean on the same arm for strength to live in a redemptive manner. May I be honored to partner with You in the repair of the world.
May it be Your will and may it be my will, LORD our God, and God of our forefathers, that the body, soul, and spirit You have given me be subject to Your service.
Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, who has consecrated us by Your Son and consecreates us by His commandments.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath that He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
Satisfy us in morning with your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Sext : Noonday Prayer – 1200
First Testament Reading: Genesis 18.1-16
Afternoon Sabbath Prayer: Likrat Shabbat
We cannot merely pray to you, O God, to end war;
For we know that You have made the world in a way
That man must find his own path to peace.
Within himself and with his neighbor.
We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end starvation;
For You have already given us the resources
With which to feed the entire world,
If we would only use them wisely.
We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to root out prejudice;
For You have already given us eyes
With which to see the good in all men,
If we would only use them rightly.
We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end despair,
For You have already given us the power
To clear away slums and to give hope,
If we would only use our power justly.
We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end disease;
For You have already given us great minds
With which to search out cures and healing,
If we would only use them constructively.
Therefore we pray to You instead, O God,
For strength, determination and will power,
To do instead of just pray,
To become instead of merely to wish.
None : Afternoon – 1500
Reading from the Epistles: Hebrews 10.26-39
Afternoon Prayer: A Song of Light (Phos Heron)
Joyful Light,
From the pure glory of the eternal heavenly Father
O holy, blessed Jesus Christ.
As we come to the setting of the sun
And see the evening light
We give thanks and praise to the Father and to the Son
And to the Holy Spirit of God
Worthy are You are all times
To be praised with holy voices,
Son of God, Giver of life
And to be glorified through all creation.
Vespers : Evening – 1800
Evening Psalm Reading: Psalm 61
Prayer: Benedictus es Domine
Blessed are You, Lord, the God of our fathers: worthy of praise, and highly exalted forever.
Blessed is Your holy and glorious Name: to be highly praised and highly exalted forever.
Blessed are You in Your holy and glorious temple: most worthy to be worshipped and glorified forever.
Blessed are You seated between the cherubim and beholding the depths: worthy of praise and highly exalted forever.
Blessed are You on Your royal throne: worthy of praise and highly exalted forever.
Blessed are You on Your royal throne: worthy of praise and highly exalted forever.
Blessed are You in the dome of heaven: worthy to be worshipped and glorified forever.
Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: sing praise to Him and highly exalt Him forever.
Matins : Night watch – 2100
Prayer of Examine, Night Prayer
Presence Begin this practice by recognizing the presence of God. Remind yourself of God’s presence with you and His desire to be with you. Consider praying for the Holy Spirit to help you be attentive to God’s presence. To become more focused, it might be helpful to repeat a simple phrase during this time, like 10 “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46.10 ). It’s important to begin this practice in a calm and centered state. There may be days when you’ll need the entire time to remember and focus on the nearness of God. Don’t rush past this portion. Take the necessary time to wait and find comfort in God’s presence.
“Gracious God, in these moments please remind me of Your presence and generosity, and give me the wisdom and courage to live gracefully with myself, others, and the world you have wonderfully made. For the sake of Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Amen.”
Take some time and focus on the nearness of God. Open yourself to His presence.
18 “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145.18)
9 “The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. 10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!” (Psalm 145: 9-10).
Gratitude “If the only prayer you say in your entire life is ‘Thank You,’: wrote Meister Eckhart, “that would suffice.” As you think about the past 24 hours, what causes you to be thankful? Look back over the past day, the big and small aspects of life, and recognize what reasons you have to be grateful. Focus on these experiences and encounters, helping your mind and spirit center on the goodness and generosity of God.
If you’re using a journal, consider capturing your thanks in writing, expressing words of gratitude and giving testimony to God’s generosity and faithfulness. Find encouragement and reminders of God’s goodness, and be thankful.
Looking back over the past 24 hours, for what are you most grateful? What makes you feel thankful? Using simple words, express your gratitude to God.
3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3)
Review Over-packed lives can rob us of the opportunity to learn from the past, to see how yesterday might inform today. “Where did the time go?!” we ask ourselves, often struggling to remember what we did just a week ago. Here we can benefit again from taking time to look back over the past 24 hours. By intentionally reviewing our interactions, responses, feelings and intentions, we can avoid letting days speed by. We can pause to learn more about ourselves and about God’s activity in our lives.
Try to look back objectively as you review. Rather than interpreting, justifying, or rationalizing, the intent is to observe and remember. Allow your mind to wander the situations you’ve been in and to notice details. The questions in this exercise should help you bring specific experiences to mind.
- When or where in the past 24 hours were you cooperating most fully with God’s action in your life?
- When were you resisting?
- What habits and life patterns do you notice from the past day?
- When did I feel most alive? Most drained of life?
- When did I have the greatest sense of belonging? When did I feel most alone?
- When did I give love? Where did I receive love?
- When did I feel most fully myself? Least myself?
- When did I feel most whole? Most fragmented?
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!
I have fled to you for refuge!a
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground! (Psalm 143.8-10)
Response Having spent time remembering, it seems natural to want to respond in some way. Take time to journal or pray, expressing your thoughts on the actions, attitudes, feelings, and interactions you’ve remembered as a part of this exercise. You might need to seek forgiveness, ask for direction, share a concern, express gratitude, or resolve to make changes and move forward.
Allow your observations to guide your responses:
- Beginning today, how do you want to live your life differently?
- What patterns do you want to keep living tomorrow?
“Ever-present Father, help me to meet You in the Scriptures I read and the prayers I say; in the bread I break and the meals I share; in my investments at work and my enjoyments at play; and in the neighbors and family I welcome, love, and serve, for Your sake and that Your love and peace may reign now and forever. Amen.”
20Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in usa that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13.20-21)
Compline : Bedside Prayer
The Nunc Dimittis
Save us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping,
That awake we may watch with Christ and asleep may rest in peace.
Now, Lord, You let Your servant go in peace: Your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of every people;
A light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your people Israel.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, Cross Way Bibles, 2001. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Art Work
Praying man at the Wailing Wall, by Fotolia, licensed and used by permission.
Untitled, depictions of the hours (associated wording: Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None Vespers, Matins, Compline). Found randomly on the internet; no citing available.
Lauds
Prayer upon Rising from Morning Prayer & More Rev. Fr. Nathan Long, OAC, KMF Press (2007).
Prime & Terce
Prayer and Psalm from Morning Prayer & More Rev. Fr. Nathan Long, OAC, KMF Press 2007).>
Sext
Torah reading from Torah Portions First Fruits of Zion or First Testament from Daily Office Lectionary ESV online Likrat Shabbat Sabbath Prayer, by Jack Reimer
None
Prayers/inspiration of the Cloud of Witnesses complied and/or by Rev. Fr. Will Armstrong
Torah from Torah Portions First Fruits of Zion or Epistle from Daily Office Lectionary ESV online
Vespers
Evening Psalms or Wisdom Reading compiled by Brother Nathan or Brother Will. Book of Wisdom from Scripture taken from the Good News Translation – Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission. (Good News Translation w/ Apocrypha)
Gospel from Daily Office Lectionary English Standard Version online.
Benedictus es, Domine from The Song of the Three Young Men. Anglican Prayer Book, page 20.
Matins
Prayer of Examin by St. Ignatius, taken from St. Ignatius Examination of Conscience Mar’s Hill Church, Grand Rapids.
Compline
Nunc Dumittis from An Anglican Prayer Book, The Anglican Mission of
the Americas, Preservation Press of the Prayer Book Society of the
USA (2008) p14.
