Morning Prayer for Monday in Holy Week

Today is Monday in Holy Week Here is a link to our liturgy: Morning Prayer 3.30.26, Monday in Holy Week | Daily Office Network

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Good morning and welcome. I'm Father Tom Roy, the Vicar of the Daily Office Network. The Daily Office Network is a community of Christians who gather together on a daily basis to pray morning prayer. We use the 1979 Episcopal Church's Book of Common Prayer as our guide. We mix in artwork and a news story. We come from several different faith traditions in several different countries. All are welcome here, where we do our best to exercise tolerance and decency with one another. Let's settle in and begin morning prayer. Today is March the 30th, 2026. It is Monday in Holy Week. If you're searching for our podcast, there are ways to find that. You can either search by Daily Office Network on Apple or Spotify or come back here and click on one of these links. Let's begin. It is nothing to you, all you who pass by, look and see if there is any like my any sorrow like my sorrow which was brought upon me, which the Lord inflicted on the day of his fierce anger. An Episcopal Church in Ocean City, Maryland is facing fines of up to$5,000 a day if it continues to allow people to sleep in church-provided tents on its property. Last fall, St. Paul's by the Sea has provided a safe place for about a dozen people to sleep. Currently there are eight tents that are set up in the small side courtyard, and another three under an alcove near the front door. The tents provide shelter for people who are chronically homeless and generationally homeless. Among the 40 or 50 people in the town of 70,000 who are unhoused, the Reverend Jill Williams, the church's rector, said in May 2025, both Ocean City and the surrounding Worcester County adopted ordinances making it illegal for people to sleep in public places. Six months later, Williams knew the church needed to find a place to keep unhoused people from going to jail just for trying to find a place to sleep. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful will forgive. God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I'll lead us in the general confession, after which I'll ask Mother Angel to pronounce absolution and Addie to lead us in the inventory in this altar. First, the general confession. God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you, opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done, and the evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen.

SPEAKER_09 3:32

Almighty God, have mercy on you. Forgive you all your sins through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 3:46

Lide open our lips and our mouths shall proclaim your praise.

SPEAKER_03 3:52

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen. Come, let us sing to the Lord. Let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before God's presence with thanksgiving and raise to the Lord a shout with song. For you are a great God. You are great above all gods. In your hands are the caverns of the earth, and the heights of the hills are yours also. The sea is yours, for you made it, and your hands have molded the dry land. Come, let us bow down and bend the knee and kneel before the Lord our Maker. For you are our God, and we are the people of your pasture and the sheep of your hand. Oh, that today we would hearken to your voice.

SPEAKER_00 5:04

Thank you, Addie. Our psalm this morning is Psalm number 51, or a portion thereof, verses 1 through 18. I'm going to ask Martha and Jill to lead our psalm. Martha, would you start?

SPEAKER_02 5:26

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving kindness. In your great compassion, loud out my offenses.

SPEAKER_12 5:38

Wash me through and through from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin.

SPEAKER_02 5:48

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

SPEAKER_12 5:55

Against you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.

SPEAKER_02 6:06

And so you are justified when you speak and upright in your judgment.

SPEAKER_12 6:13

Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, a sinner from my mother's womb.

SPEAKER_02 6:28

And will make me understand wisdom secretly.

SPEAKER_12 6:33

Purge me from my sin and I shall be pure. Wash me and I shall be clean indeed.

SPEAKER_02 6:43

Make me a year of joy and gladness. That your body you have broken me rejoice.

SPEAKER_12 6:51

Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.

SPEAKER_02 7:04

And renew a right spirit within me.

SPEAKER_12 7:08

Cast me not away from your presence and take not your holy spirit from me.

SPEAKER_02 7:18

Give me the joy of your saving help again, and sustain me with your wonderful spirit.

SPEAKER_12 7:32

And sinners shall return to you. Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

SPEAKER_02 7:57

Had you desire it, I would have offered sacrifice, but you take no delight in point offerings.

SPEAKER_12 8:06

The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 8:35

Thank you, Jill and Martha. So it's back during the pandemic. Our first reading talks about a lonely city. A lonely sits Las Vegas back during the pandemic in March of 2020, as evidenced by this photograph. Our first reading is from Lamentations, chapter one, verses one through two and six through twelve. Patricia, would you lead this?

SPEAKER_08 9:12

How lonely sits the city that once was full of people. How like a widow she has become. She that was great among the nations. She that was a princess among the provinces has become a vassal. She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears in her cheeks, among all her lovers. She has no one to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her. They have become her enemies. From daughter Zion has departed all her majesty. Her princes have become like stags that find no pasture. They fled without strength before the pursuer. Jerusalem remembers in the days of her affliction and wondering all the precious things that were hers in days of old. When her people fell into the hand of the foe, and there was no one to help her, the foe looked on mocking over her downfall. Jerusalem sinned grievously, so she has become a mockery. All who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness. She herself groans and turns her face away. Her uncleanness was in her skirts. She took no thought of her future. Her downfall was appalling, with none to comfort her. Oh Lord, look at my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed. Enemies have stretched out their hands over all her precious things. She has even seen the nations invade her sanctuary, those whom you forbade to enter your congregation. All her people groan as they search for bread. They trade their treasures for food to revive their strength. Lord, look, O Lord, and see how worthless I have become.

SPEAKER_00 11:35

Thank you, Patricia. Our first canticle is the first song of Isaiah. Mother Angel, would you lead this?

SPEAKER_10 11:50

For he has done great things. Surely it is God who saves me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. For the Lord is my stronghold and my surety friends, and he will be my Savior. Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing from the springs of salvation. And momentum you shall say, Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name. Make your states known among the peoples. See that they remember that his name is Exalted. Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, and this is known in all the world. Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out in the journey, for the great one in the midst of you is the holy one and love is real. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning and is now and will be forever. Amen. Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things.

SPEAKER_00 13:46

Paul, would you leave this?

SPEAKER_11 13:53

Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the Church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints throughout Achaia. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation. If for we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.

SPEAKER_00 15:27

Thanks be to God. Thank you, Paul. Our second canticle is Song of the Redeemed. Mother Angel, would you lead this?

SPEAKER_10 15:38

All nations will draw near and fall down before you, because your just and holy works have been revealed. O ruler of the universe, Lord God, great deeds of any that you have done, surpassing human understanding. Your ways are ways of righteousness and truth, O King of all the ages, who can fail to do you homage, Lord, and sing the praises of your name, for you only the Holy One. Aminations will turn in and fall down before you, because your just and holy works have been revealed. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever. All nations will draw near and fall down before you because your just and holy works have been revealed.

SPEAKER_00 17:03

Thank you, Mother Angel. I like this image. It is more modern, of course, but it is Jesus flipping the tables, driving out the money changers. By Douglas Blanchard. Deacon Elizabeth, would you lead this?

SPEAKER_07 17:37

Sure. On the following day when they came from Bethany, Jesus was angry, seeing in the distance a fig tree and leave. He went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, may no one ever eat fruit from you again. And his disciples added. Then they came to Jerusalem, and he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple. And he overturned the tables of the money, changes, and the seeds of those who sold dubs, and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He was teaching and saying, Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? But you have made it a den of robbers. And when the chief priests and the scribes added, they kept looking for a way to kill him, for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. In the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. Then Peter remembered and said to him, Rabbi, look, the fig tree that you cast us has withered. Jesus answered them, have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, be taken up and thrown into the sea. And if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. Whenever you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone, so that your father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. The word of the Lord.

SPEAKER_00 20:00

Thanks be to God. Thank you, Deacon. And now the Apostles' Creed, Annie, would you lead us in the creed?

SPEAKER_01 20:16

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again, he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 20:58

Amen. Thank you, Annie. And now the prayers begin with our Lord's Prayer. Marcia in Barbados, would you lead us in the Lord's Prayer and then we'll read the suffrages?

SPEAKER_05 21:12

The Lord be with you.

SPEAKER_00 21:14

And also with you.

SPEAKER_05 21:16

Let us pray. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 21:45

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.

SPEAKER_05 21:49

Govern and uphold them now and always.

SPEAKER_00 21:53

Day by day we bless you.

SPEAKER_05 21:55

We praise your name forever.

SPEAKER_00 21:58

Lord, Keep us from all sin today.

SPEAKER_05 22:02

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

SPEAKER_00 22:06

Lord, show us your love and mercy.

SPEAKER_05 22:09

For we put our trust in you.

SPEAKER_00 22:12

In you, Lord, is our hope.

SPEAKER_05 22:14

And we shall never hope in vain.

SPEAKER_00 22:17

Thank you, Marcia. This is a painting of Jesus in the wilderness by Ivan Kemskov or Kanskoy. The weight he is carrying just looks enormous in this painting. And now three prayers, the collect of the day for Monday and Holy Week, a collect for the renewal of life, and the Anglican Rosary Prayer. Jacqueline, would you lead us in these three prayers?

SPEAKER_04 23:05

Almighty God, whose most dear son went not up to joy, but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified. Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace. Through Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. O God, the King Eternal, whose light divides the day from the night, and turns the shadow of death into morning. Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace, that having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks through Christ our Lord. Amen. Dear Lord Jesus, help me to do the things I should be to others kind and good and in all I do or say grow more loving every day.

SPEAKER_00 24:51

Amen. Thank you, Jacqueline. And now our Monday morning prayer list, our most recent. We continue praying for the health and well-being of the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Sean Rowe, for the primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Shane Parker, for the Archbishop of the Province of the West Indies, Philip Wright of Belize. We're also praying for Bishop Sarah Malele, who was installed last week, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Prayers for those immigrants to our country who are being persecuted and pursued by ICE. Pray for Josh Thomas, our founding vicar in a skilled nursing facility. Pray for his continued improvement from a stroke. Danielle is a 30-something with stage four breast cancer that has metastasized to parts of her other parts of her body. Pray for Danielle. Pray for Ian and his struggles with his mental health. Dawn has hernier discs and severe pain in her back. Pray for Dawn. Reverend Elaine has undergone multiple surgeries and has more to go. Continue praying for Elaine. Louise is experiencing a change of her life circumstances and is going into a senior independent living community after a hurricane destroyed her home. She asks that we continue to pray for her. She's concerned and reliant on a system to help her and the government. She doesn't feel real confident about that right now. Maria has experienced three brain aneurysms recently. She is slowly recovering, but it will take months. Pray for her restoration to health. Pray for Patricia for healing and relief of her pain. And continue to pray for Yvonne, our Yvonne, who's been fighting cancer for seven plus years. We'll continue with the prayer for the mission of the church. And I'm going to ask Robert to lead us in the prayer for the mission of the church, and then I'll bless the Lord and bless us.

SPEAKER_06 27:26

Ever-living God, by whose will it is that all should come to youth through your Son Jesus Christ. Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 27:49

Let us bless the Lord.

SPEAKER_06 27:50

Thanks be to God.

SPEAKER_00 27:52

Glory to God, whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever. And the blessing of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon you now and remain with you always. Amen. And that is morning prayer on this Monday. Thank you for coming to pray today. Wherever you go, take that love of Jesus that lives inside of you in your heart. Share that Jesus with the world. Hope to see you back with us tomorrow safe and sound.