Matins

1

Somewhere, out at the edges, the night
Is turning and the waves of darkness
Beging to brighten the shore of dawn.

The heavy dark falls back to earth
And the freed air goes wild with light,
The heart fills with fresh, bright breath
And thoughts stir to give birth to colour.

2
I arise today

In the name of Silence,
Womb of the Word,
In the name of Stillness,
Home of Belonging,
In the name of the Solitude
Of the Soul and the Earth.

I arise today

Blessed by all things,
Wings of breath,
Delight of eyes,
Wonder of whisper,
Intimacy of touch,
Eternity of soul,
Urgency of thought,
Miracle of health,
Embrace of God.

May I live this day

Compassionate of heart,
Clear in word,
Gracious in awareness,
Courageous in thought,
Generous in love.

- John O'Donohue (1956-2008) Irish poet, philosopher, author, environmental activitist, popularizer of Celtic Spirituality, and Roman Catholic priest (1979-2000).

Intercessory Prayers at Morning

One: That this day may be holy, good and joyful:
All: we pray to you, O Lord. 

One: That we may offer to you our worship and our work:
All:  we pray to you, O Lord.

One: That we may strive for the well-being of all creation:
All:  we pray to you, O Lord.

One: That in the pleasures and pains of life, we may know the love of Christ and be thankful:
All:  we pray to you, O Lord.

One: That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit, in communion with [N and with] all your saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ:
All:  we pray to you, O Lord.

One: Let us commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray, to the mercy and protection of God.

(petitions offered silently or aloud)


--from the Church of England

Prayer of Thanksgiving

The world is alive with your goodness, O God,
it grows green from the ground
and ripens into the roundness of fruit.
Its taste and its touch
enliven my body amd stir my soul.
Generously given
profusely displayed
your grsaces of goodness pour forth from the earth.
As I have received
sp free me to give.
As I have been granted
so may I give.

-- J Philip Newell, "Tuesday Morning Prayer", from Celtic Benediction: Morning and Night Prayer

Image: Rocky Valley labyrinth carving, Cornwall.

A Collect for Guidance

Heavenly Father,
in you we live and move and have our being:
We humbly pray to you
so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit,
that in the cares and occupations of our life
we may not forget you,
but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

--Book of Common Prayer 1979, Morning Prayer  Rite II, p.100