Years ago when my daughters were young, my husband Evan and I decided that we wanted to have a family service every day. This new habit sounded challenging, so we decided to keep it as simple as possible. We picked a time, a room in our home, and the easiest format we could find. It was a one-page liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer called Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families.

If you would like a visual copy and you’ve got a Book of Common Prayer, you can find it  on page 136. Or you can go to the online book of common prayer. https://www.bcponline.org/

Today I invite you to join me and some of my friends — Stephanie, Megan, Claire, and Sam — as we do the liturgy provided for the morning. 

Book of Common Prayer — Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families.

From Psalm 51

Open my lips, O Lord, *
    and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
    and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence *
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Give me the joy of your saving help again *
    and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
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.

A Reading
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3

A period of silence may follow.

A hymn or canticle may be used; the Apostles’ Creed may be said.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,  maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,  suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. 

Hymn

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen 

The Collect

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought
us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty
power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by
adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your
purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thank-you for joining us.