Saint Macartin’s Cathedral Enniskillen
MORNING PRAYER (1) – PAGE 84 
The Sunday after Ascension 1/5/25

Hymn: 6 Immortal, invisible
A GENERAL CONFESSION
Almighty and most merciful Father; We have erred and strayed from Thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against Thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare Thou them, O God, which confess their faults. Restore Thou them that are penitent; According to Thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for His sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of Thy holy Name. Amen.
THE ABSOLUTION
Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness, and live; and hath given power, and commandment, to His Ministers, to declare and pronounce to His people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins: He pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe His holy Gospel. Wherefore let us beseech Him to grant us true repentance, and His Holy Spirit, that those things may please Him which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy; so that at the last we may come to His eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord, open Thou our lips and our mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Praise ye the Lord. The Lord's Name be praised.

VENITE

The First Lesson: 1 Samuel 12: 19-24 (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised)

All the people said to Samuel, ‘Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of demanding a king for ourselves.’ And Samuel said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart; and do not turn aside after useless things that cannot profit or save, for they are useless. For the Lord will not cast away His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for Himself. Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; and I will   instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. 

The Psalm: 97 - page 704 (422)
1  The Lord is King: let the earth rejoice; ♦
   let the multitude of the isles be glad.
2  Clouds and darkness are round about Him; ♦
   righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
3  Fire goes before Him ♦
   and burns up His enemies on every side.
4  His lightnings lit up the world; ♦
   the Earth saw it and trembled.
5  The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, ♦
   at the presence of the Lord of the whole Earth.
6  The heavens declared His righteousness, ♦
   and all the peoples have seen His glory.
7  Confounded be all who worship carved images
      and delight in mere idols. ♦
   Bow down before Him, all you gods.
8  Zion heard and was glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoiced, ♦
   because of Your judgements, O Lord.
9  For You, Lord, are most high over all the earth; ♦
   You are exalted far above all gods.
10  The Lord loves those who hate evil; ♦
   He preserves the lives of His faithful
      and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11  Light has sprung up for the righteous ♦
   and joy for the true of heart.
12  Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, ♦
   and give thanks to His holy name.

The Epistle: Revelation 22: 12-14, 16-17, 20-21 New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
‘See, I am coming soon; My reward is with Me, to repay according to everyone’s work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.’ Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. ‘It is I, Jesus, Who sent My angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright Morning Star.’ The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. The One who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

Hymn: 281 Rejoice the Lord is King!

The Gospel: John 17: 20-26 New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
 ‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one. As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. The glory that You have given Me I have given them, so that they may be one, as We are one, I in them and You in Me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as you have loved Me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory, which you have given Me because you loved Me before the foundation of the world. ‘Righteous Father, the world does not know You, but I know You; and these know that You have sent Me. I made Your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.’ 

THE APOSTLES' CREED
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 Spirit, 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 sitteth on 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 Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Lord, have mercy upon us Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.

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. Amen.

O Lord, show thy mercy upon us and grant us Thy salvation.

O Lord, save the King and mercifully hear us when we call upon Thee.

Endue Thy ministers with righteousness and make Thy chosen people joyful.

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

Give peace in our time, O Lord, because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only Thou, O God.

O God, make clean our hearts within us and take not Thy Holy Spirit from us.

THE COLLECTS

The Collect of the Day - page 278
O God the King of Glory, You have exalted Your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to Your Kingdom in Heaven: Mercifully give us faith to know that, as He promised, He abides with us on Earth to the end of time; who is alive and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

THE SECOND COLLECT For Peace
O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of Whom standeth our eternal life, Whose service is perfect freedom; Defend us Thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in Thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE THIRD COLLECT For Grace
O Lord, our Heavenly Father, Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day: Defend us in the same with Thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by Thy governance, to do always that is righteous in Thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYERS
Hymn: 303 Lord of the Church

SERMON

Offertory Hymn: 285 The head that once was crowned

 THE BLESSING
Hymn: 647	 Guide me, O thou great Jehovah

ANNOUNCEMENTS for Sunday 1st June
Newsletters Distributors
The June edition of Cathedral News is ready for distribution.  Please collect your copies from the Cathedral porch. If your copy is posted it is also available in the porch today.
Diocesan Magazine
The June edition of the Diocesan Magazine is now available. Copies are named and in the porch today. Please collect.
Scott Elliott Appointed Curate
We congratulate Scott Elliott who has been appointed Curate to Limerick Cathedral and who will be ordained on Sunday 8th June at 7.30pm.
To support Scott the minibus will take those who wish to travel to Limerick for the service. If you wish to secure one of the sixteen seats available, please put your name on the sheet in the Cathedral porch. The minibus will leave the Cathedral Hall car park at 1.00pm and stop en route for refreshments, please bring your own packed lunch. An evening meal will be provided in Limerick.
Mid Week Services
Thursday 5th June
11.00am – Holy Communion
Sunday 8th June - The Day of Pentecost - Whit Sunday
9.00am – Holy Communion  
11.00am – Holy Communion