18th Terce

see caption — St Luke the Evangelist
Luke as depicted in the head-piece of an Armenian Gospel manuscript from 1609 held at the Bodleian Library.

Prayer

Bless the Lord, whose name is to be praised,
Our Father who art in heaven,
who has given us his laws,
to show us the error of our ways,
Blessed is his son, Christ the Messiah,
who redeemed us from having broken them.
Blessed are you, O Holy Spirit,
who assists us in sinning no more,
and sustains us in the way of the Lord,
grant us wisdom and understanding this day.
Amen.

Old Testament Reading - Honour a physician

¹Honour physicians for their services,
for the Lord created them;
²for their gift of healing comes from the Most High,
and they are rewarded by the king.
³The skill of physicians makes them distinguished,
and in the presence of the great they are admired.
⁴The Lord created medicines out of the earth,
and the sensible will not despise them.
⁵Was not water made sweet with a tree
in order that its^a power might be known?
⁶And he gave skill to human beings
that he^b might be glorified in his marvellous works.
⁷By them the physician^c heals and takes away pain;
⁸the pharmacist makes a mixture from them.
God’s^d works will never be finished;
and from him health^e spreads over all the earth.
⁹My child, when you are ill, do not delay,
but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you.
¹⁰Give up your faults and direct your hands rightly,
and cleanse your heart from all sin.
¹¹Offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice, and a memorial portion of choice flour,
and pour oil on your offering, as much as you can afford.^f
¹²Then give the physician his place, for the Lord created him;
do not let him leave you, for you need him.
¹³There may come a time when recovery lies in the hands of physicians,^g
¹⁴for they too pray to the Lord
that he will grant them success in diagnosis^h
and in healing, for the sake of preserving life.

. . . . .Ecclesiasticus 38:1-14

Or his
Or they
Heb: Gk he
Gk His
Or peace
Heb: Lat lacks as much as you can afford; Meaning of Gk uncertain
Gk in their hands
Heb: Gk rest

Intercession

Please remember our Prayer Requests

We pray for all people in their daily life and work;
For our families, friends, and neighbours
and for those who are alone.
For this community,
the nation,
and the world;
For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
Hear us, Lord;
For your mercy is great.
Amen.

MORNING TEA/COFFEE BREAK (Terce)

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Prayer

Old Testament Reading - Honour a physician

Intercession

Please remember our Prayer Requests