Morning Prayer for Monday 5.4.26

Morning Prayer 5.4.26, Monica, Mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387 (International Firefighters’ Day) | 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 for morning prayer Monday through Friday at 7 and 9 a.m. Eastern time. We come from several different faith traditions in several different countries. We use the Episcopal Church's Book of Common Prayer as our guide. We mix in artwork, a news story, and we usually have a video at the end. All are welcome here where we do our best to exercise tolerance and decency with one another. Now let's settle in and begin morning prayer. It is Monday, the 4th of May, 2026. In the life of the church, our saint is Monica, the mother of Augustine of Hippo, who died in the year 387. It is also International Firefighters Day. If you're looking for our podcast, you can find us on Apple or Spotify. Many people have, and they download the podcast and take it with them and listen during the day, or pray on their way to work and their car and the train. However, they get to work. The bus. Let's begin. Then we who were alive who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together. We'll meet with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will be with the Lord forever. Our news story shows a book jacket with the title The Election of Pope Leo the Fourteenth, The Last Surprise of Pope Francis, by Gerald O'Connell and Elizabeth Piquet. Two books have been released about the election of Pope Leo the Fourteenth, one available only in Italian, entitled Pope's Dollars and Wars. The other, The Election of Pope Leo XIV, The Last Surprise of Pope Francis by Gerald O'Connell and Elizabeth Piquet is pictured above. Both books delve into the backstory of electing Pope Leo and interesting stories about the process. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Addie, would you lead us in the inventory in the Psalter this morning?

SPEAKER_12 2:33

Lord, open our lips.

SPEAKER_00 2:36

And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

SPEAKER_12 2:39

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. Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Death no longer has dominion over him. The death that he died, he died to sin once for all. But the life he lives, he lives to God. So also consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God and Jesus Christ our Lord. Hallelujah. Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruit of those who have fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

SPEAKER_00 4:11

Thank you, Addie. Our psalm appointed for our psalms appointed for this morning, are number 56 and number 57. I'm going to ask Martha and Jill to lead our psalm. Martha, would you start?

SPEAKER_11 4:32

Have mercy on me, O God, for my enemies are hounding me. All day long, they assault and oppress me.

SPEAKER_04 4:43

They hound me all the day long. Truly there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

SPEAKER_11 4:51

Whenever I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

SPEAKER_04 4:56

In God, whose word I praise, and God I trust and will not be afraid. For what can flesh do to me?

SPEAKER_11 5:06

All day long they damage my cause. Their only thought is to do me evil.

SPEAKER_04 5:14

They band together, they lie in wait. They spy upon my footsteps because they seek my life.

SPEAKER_11 5:24

Shall they escape despite their weakness? Oh God, in your anger, cast down the people.

SPEAKER_04 5:33

You have noted my lamentation, put my tears into your bottle. Are they not recorded in your book?

SPEAKER_11 5:43

Whenever I call upon you, my enemies will be put to flight. This I know, for God is on my side.

SPEAKER_04 5:54

And God the Lord, whose word I praise, and God I trust and will not be afraid. For what can mortals do to me?

SPEAKER_11 6:05

I am bound by the power I made to you, O God. I will present to you thy softening.

SPEAKER_04 6:13

For you have rescued my soul from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

SPEAKER_11 6:24

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful, for I have taken refuge in you. In the shadow of your wings will I take refuge until this time of trouble has gone by.

SPEAKER_04 6:40

I will call upon you, O Most High God, the God who maintains my cause.

SPEAKER_11 6:48

You will send from heaven and save me. You will confound those who trample upon me. O God, you will send forth your love and your faithfulness.

SPEAKER_04 7:01

I lie in the midst of lions that devour the people. Their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongue a sharp sword.

SPEAKER_11 7:12

You have laid a net for my feet, and I am bowed over. They have dug a pit before me, but I have fallen into it themselves, but have fallen into it themselves.

SPEAKER_04 7:26

Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, and your glory over all the earth.

SPEAKER_11 7:34

My heart is firmly fixed, O God. My heart is fixed. I will sing and make melody.

SPEAKER_04 7:43

Wake up, my spirit, awake, loot, and harp. I myself will waken the dawn.

SPEAKER_11 7:51

I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord. I will sing praise to you among the nations.

SPEAKER_04 8:00

For your loving kindness is greater than the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

SPEAKER_11 8:12

And your glory, O all the eye.

SPEAKER_04 8:16

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.

SPEAKER_00 8:26

Amen.

SPEAKER_11 8:28

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 8:30

Thank you, Martha and Jill. That was a great reading. Priests and Levites at the altar. Our first reading is from Leviticus chapter 16, verses 1 through 19. Patricia, would you lead this?

SPEAKER_06 8:59

The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lord and died. The Lord said to Moses, Tell your brother Aaron not to come just at any time into the sanctuary inside the curtain before the mercy seat that is upon the ark, or he will die. Or I appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He shall put on the holy linen tunic and shall have the linen undergarments next to his body, fasten the linen sash, and wear the linen turban. These are the holy vestments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on. He shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering. Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall cast lots on the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Asiel. Aaron shall present the goat in which the lot fell for the Lord and offer it as a sin offering. But the goat on which the Lot fell for Azel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away in into the wilderness to Asiel. Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall slaughter the bull as a sin offering for himself. He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of brushed sweet incense, and he shall bring it inside the curtain and put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the covenant, or he will die. He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle the blood with his finger seven times. He shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the curtain, and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. Thus he shall make atonement for the sanctuary because of the uncleanness of the people of Israel, and because of their transgressions, all their sins, and so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which remains with them in the midst of their uncleanness. No one shall be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the century until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for the house of all the assembly of Israel. Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement on its behalf, and he shall take some of the blood of the bull and the blood of the goat and put it on each of the horns of the altar. He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and hollow it from the uncleanness of the people of Israel. The word of the Lord.

SPEAKER_00 12:49

Thanks be to God. Thank you, Patricia. Our first canical is the song of Hannah. Mother Angel, would you lead this?

SPEAKER_07 13:01

My heart exalts in you, O God. My triumph song is lifted in you. My mouth to remits my enemies, for I rejoice in your salvation. The numbers number you.

SPEAKER_00 14:55

Paul, would you lead this?

SPEAKER_10 15:02

But we do not want to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that he that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord Himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who are left will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words the word of the Lord.

SPEAKER_00 16:17

Thanks be to God. Thank you, Paul. Our next canticle is a song of Christ's humility, Mother Until in the form of God.

SPEAKER_07 17:14

Every meeting in heaven and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

SPEAKER_00 17:34

Thank you, Mother Angel. This is a called The Head of the Christ. It's one of seven such studies. It's by Rembrandt from sixteen forty-eight. Deacon Elizabeth, would you lead this?

SPEAKER_08 18:11

Sure. Jesus said, Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them. For then you have no reward from your father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your arms may be done in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your father who is in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you fast, do not look dismore like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward, but when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others, but by your father who is in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you. The word of the Lord.

SPEAKER_00 19:54

Thanks be to God. Thank you, Deacon. And now the apostles' creed Michael Brown, would you lead us in the creed?

SPEAKER_09 20:06

Yes. 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 sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 21:00

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

SPEAKER_03 21:13

The Lord be with you.

SPEAKER_00 21:15

And also with you.

SPEAKER_03 21:17

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 prayer. 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 21:46

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.

SPEAKER_03 21:51

Govern and uphold them now and always.

SPEAKER_00 21:54

Day by day we bless you.

SPEAKER_03 21:57

We praise your name forever.

SPEAKER_00 22:00

Lord, keep us from all sin today.

SPEAKER_03 22:04

Have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy.

SPEAKER_00 22:07

Lord, show us your love and mercy.

SPEAKER_03 22:11

For we put our trust in you.

SPEAKER_00 22:14

In you, Lord, is our hope.

SPEAKER_03 22:17

And we shall never hope in vain.

SPEAKER_00 22:19

Thank you, Marcia. This is a painting of the angel as it appears to Saint Monica. Pietro Maji from 1714 is who did the painting. Augustine, the great theologian of the Western Church, studied many philosophies before he finally surrendered to Christ. His mother Monica kept after him until he did. They were very close. His spiritual autobiography called the Confession. Confessions is a shrine to her. And now four prayers. The collect of the day for Monica, the mother of Augustine of Hippo, a prayer in honor of International Firefighters Day. A collect for the renewal of life, and the Anglican Rosary Prayer. Deacon Diana, if you would take the first two prayers, and Robert, if you would take the second two prayers.

SPEAKER_05 23:59

That inspired by the example of your servant Monica, we may bring others to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns one God forever and ever. Amen. A firefighter's prayer. When sirens sound, when I respond, when urgency is there, I ask, O God, that you would heed a firefighter's prayer. When I encounter any scene, smoke and flames in force, help me hear the faintest cry, and then locate its source. Help me to work effectively, extinguishing the flames, protecting lives and property, regardless of their needs. Please keep me focused on my task and help me to be brave, to give the very best in me to rescue and to save. And should it be through circumstance, my life you cannot spare, surround my family with your love and keep them in your care. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 25:10

Amen. Thank you, Deacon.

SPEAKER_01 25:18

O God, the King Eternal, whose light divides the day from the night, and turns the shadow of death into the 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 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Dear Lord Jesus, help me do the things I should to be to others kind and good, and in all I do or say, grow more loving every day.

SPEAKER_00 26:01

Thank you, Robert. And now our Monday morning prayer list, excuse me, our most recent. We pray for the continued health and well-being of the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Sean Rowe. Pray for the primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Shane Parker, and for the Archbishop of the province of the West Indies, Philip Wright of Belize. Pray for those immigrants to our country who are being persecuted and pursued by ICE. Prayers for our founding vicar, Josh Thomas, in a skilled nursing facility for his continued improvement after a stroke. Sarah H. from our second service fell last week and did a faceplant on concrete. She spent four or five days in the hospital. She's home recovering from that fall. Pray for Ian and his struggles with mental health. Dawn has herniated discs and severe pain in her back. Pray for Dawn. Reverend Elaine has undergone multiple surgeries, and there's more yet to go. Pray for Reverend Elaine. Patricia's in an assisted living facility. Pray for her healing and for relief of her pain. And continue to pray for Yvonne, our Yvonne, who's been fighting cancer for more than seven years. And prayers for all of the firefighters, those who are still serving, those who are retired, and those who have paid the ultimate price. We'll continue with the prayer for the mission of the church. I'm going to ask Jacqueline to lead that, and then I'll bless the Lord and bless us.

SPEAKER_02 27:52

Ever living God, whose will it is that all should come to you 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 28:21

Let us bless the Lord, alleluia, alleluia.

SPEAKER_02 28:25

Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

SPEAKER_00 28:30

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. That Jesus that lives in your heart. Share that Jesus with the world. Show that Jesus to the world. Hope to see you back with us tomorrow, safe and sound.