St Margaret’s Day

A Morning Prayer

O God, come to our aid: O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father, glory to the Son,
Glory to the Holy Spirit now and for ever.
Amen.

Psalm 62: O God, you are my God, for you I long.

O God, you are my God, for you I long, for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you, my God, like a dry weary land without water.
O God, you are my God, for you I long.

I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and glory,
for your love is better than life itself; my lips will speak your praise.
O God, you are my God, for you I long.

On you I muse throughout the night, on my bed I remember you,
for you have been my refuge and your right hand holds me fast.
O God, you are my God, for you I long.

Let us pray
Father, we are grateful that your love for your people
Has been seen so powerfully
in the life and work of St Margaret.
Renew your grace within us,
so that we too may always be able
to find the good in any situation,
face difficulties that lie before us with courage,
and walk together along our pilgrim way.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

A Canticle: from Ephesians 1: 3-10 tune Bunessan (Christ be Beside Me)

We bless the God and Father of Jesus for he has blessed us freely in Christ.
He chose to lavish spiritual blessings from highest heaven.
All this through Christ.

Long before founding all of creation, God made his plan and chose us in Christ,
that we be holy, blameless and loving, children adopted.
All this through Christ.

God’s will is always that we might love him, source of all graces, witnessed in Christ;
love manifested, gift of redemption, pardon for sinners.
All this through Christ.

A Reading from the Apocalypse 7:10, 12

Victory to our God who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb!
Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving
And honour and power and strength
To our God for
ever and ever.
Amen.

Blest be the Lord: The Canticle of Zechariah: The Benedictus. Tune: Finlandia.

Blest be the Lord the God of Israel, who came to us; and brought us back from sin.
God raised for us a Saviour who is mighty; his Saviour-Son from David’s house and line.
God promised this through holy men and women who spoke for him down through the mists of time.

The Saviour comes to free us from our foes, from evil hands, from those who wish us ill.
So God’s great love for all his chosen people is thus fulfilled; in these our present times.
God’s sacred oath his covenant most holy is called to mind, his promises made true.

Intercessions:

Let us pray:

As we rejoice in God’s goodness seen in the life of St Margaret,
we place our petitions before God our Father.

We pray for the leaders of the Church that they may be loving shepherds
to the flock they are called to serve. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.

We pray for teachers and leaders of youth.
May the example of St Margaret inspire them in their work. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.

We pray for those who have suffered so much from the effects of war, unrest and natural disasters. May the United Nations, national governments and the aid agencies be generous and speedy in bringing them relief.
Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.

We pray for ourselves that we may be generous to all who are afflicted in mind and in body.
Lord hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.

We pray for our own country of Scotland, for the Queen and the governments at Westminster and Edinburgh, that our community may be one to which all our citizens and guests are glad to belong.
Lord hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.

Our Father . . . . . . . . . .

Blessing

Hymn

Copyrights: Ps 62: Words taken from The Psalms : A New Translation published by William Collins & Co Ltd (c) The Grail; music © Gerry Fitzpatrick. Canticle from the Letter to the Ephesians 1: 3-10: words © Stephen E Smyth; tune Bunessan (Christ be Beside me); 2 verses from the Benedictus © Stephen E Smyth