Friday, July 1
The Morning Office To Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour Between 6 and 9 a.m.


The Call to Prayer
Search for the LORD and his strength;* continually seek his face.
Psalm 105:4

The Request for Presence
Show your goodness, O LORD, to those who are good* and to those who are true of heart.
Psalm 125:4


The Greeting

Seven times a day do I praise you,* because of your righteous judgments.
Psalm 119:164

The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Our days are like the grass;* we flourish like a flower of the field; When the wind goes over it, it is gone,* and its place shall know it no more.
Psalm 103:15–16

A Reading

He put another parable before them. ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, the darnel appeared as well. The owner’s laborers went to him and said, “Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?” He said to them, “Some enemy has done this.” And the laborers said, “Do you want us to go and weed it out?” But he said, “No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it into bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn.” ’
Matthew 13:24–30

The Refrain

Our days are like the grass;* we flourish like a flower of the field; When the wind goes over it, it is gone,* and its place shall know it no more.

The Morning Psalm

He That Planted the Ear, Does He Not Hear?

How long shall the wicked, O LORD,* how long shall the wicked triumph? They bluster in their insolence;* all evildoers are full of boasting. They crush your people, O LORD,* and afflict your chosen nation. They murder the widow and the stranger* and put the orphans to death. Yet they say, “The LORD does not see,* the God of Jacob takes no notice,” Consider well, you dullards among the people;* when will you fools understand? He that planted the ear, does he not hear?* he that formed the eye, does he not see? He who admonishes the nations, will he not punish?* he who teaches all the world, has he no knowledge? The LORD knows our human thoughts:* how like a puff of wind they are. Happy are they whom you instruct, O Lord!* whom you teach out of your law.
Psalm 94:3–12

The Refrain

Our days are like the grass;* we flourish like a flower of the field; When the wind goes over it, it is gone,* and its place shall know it no more.

The Small Verse

Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your Name. May your kingdom come, and 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Prayer Appointed for the Week

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant that all of us may be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.†

The Concluding Prayer of the Church

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