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

First Week of Advent


The Call to Prayer
Let my mouth be full of your praise* and your glory all the day long.
Psalm 71:8

The Request for Presence
Your word is a lantern to my feet* and a light upon my path.
Psalm 119:105


The Greeting

O God, you have taught me since I was young,* and to this day I tell of your wonderful works.
Psalm 71:17

The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

This is the LORD’s doing,* and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Psalm 118:23

A Reading

And he went on to tell his parable, ‘A man planted a vineyard and leased it to tenants and went abroad for a long while. When the right time came, he sent a servant to the tenant to get his share of the produce of the vineyard. But the tenants thrashed him, and sent him away empty-handed. But he went on to send a second servant; they thrashed him too and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty-handed. He still went on to send a third; they wounded this one too, and threw him out. Then the owner of the vineyard thought, “What am I to do? I will send them my own beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.” But when the tenants saw him they put their heads together saying, “This is the heir, let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.” So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. ‘Now what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and make an end of these tenants and give the vineyard to others.’ Hearing this they said, ‘God forbid!’ But he looked hard at them and said, ‘Then what does this text in scripture mean: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone? Anyone who falls on that stone will be dashed to pieces; anyone it falls on will be crushed.’
Luke 20:9-18

The Refrain

This is the LORD’s doing,* and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Psalm 118:23

The Morning Psalm

Early in the Morning I Make My Appeal

Give ear to my words, O LORD;* consider my meditation. Hearken to my cry for help, my King and my God,* for I make my prayer to you. In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;* early in the morning I make my appeal and watch for you. For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,* and evil cannot dwell with you. Braggarts cannot stand in your sight;* you hate all those who work wickedness. You destroy those who speak lies;* the bloodthirsty and deceitful, O LORD, you abhor. But as for me, through the greatness of your mercy I go into your house;* I will bow down toward your holy temple in awe of you.
Psalm 5:1-7

The Refrain

This is the LORD’s doing,* and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Psalm 118:23

The Cry of the Church

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

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, give all of us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your 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 living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for 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.†