Saturday, July 27
The Morning Office To Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour Between 6 and 9 a.m.


The Call to Prayer
Bless the LORD, O my soul,* and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.
Psalm 103:1

The Request for Presence
Set watch before my mouth, O LORD, and guard the door of my lips;* let not my heart incline to any living thing. Let me not be occupied in wickedness with evildoers,* nor eat of their choice foods. Let the righteous smite me in friendly rebuke; let not the oil of the unrighteous anoint my head;* for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds. Let their rulers be overthrown in stony places,* that they may know my words are true.
Psalm 141:3–6


The Greeting

Show me your ways, O LORD,* and teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me,* for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.
Psalm 25:3–4

The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

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

A Reading

With a large crowd gathering and people from every town finding their way to him, he told this parable: ‘A sower went out to sow his seed. Now as he sowed, some fell on the edge of the path and was trampled on; and the birds of the air ate it up. Some seed fell on rock, and when it came up it withered away, having no moisture. Some seed fell in the middle of thorns and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell into good soil and grew and produced its crop a hundredfold.’ Saying this he cried, ‘Anyone who has ears for listening, should listen!’ His disciples asked him what his parable might mean, and he said, ‘To you is granted to understand the secrets of the kingdom of God; for the rest it remains in parables, so that they may look but not perceive, listen but not understand. ‘This, then, is what the parable means: the seed is the word of God. Those on the edge of the path are people who have heard it, and then the devil comes and carries away the word from their hearts in case they should believe and be saved. Those on the rock are people who, when they first hear it, welcome the word with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in a time of trial they give up. As for the part that fell into thorns, this is people who have heard, but as they go on their way they are choked up by the worries and riches and pleasures of life and never produce any crop. As for the part in the rich soil, this is people with a noble and generous heart who have heard the word and take it to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.’
Luke 8:4–15

The Refrain

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

The Morning Psalm

The LORD Preserves All Those Who Love Him

The LORD is near to those who call upon him,* to all who call upon him faithfully. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;* he hears their cry and helps them. The LORD preserves all those who love him,* but he destroys all the wicked.
Psalm 145:19–21

The Refrain

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

The Small Verse

I will remember the works of the LORD,* and call to mind your wonders of old time. I will meditate on all your acts* and ponder your mighty deeds.
Psalm 77:11–12

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, the fountain of all wisdom, you know my necessities before I ask and my ignorance in asking: Have compassion on my weakness, and merci-fully give me those things which for my unworthiness I dare not, and for my blindness I cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ my Lord, 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.†