THE DAILY OFFICE

        Prayers of the Hours

Daily Morning Prayer

Rite I page 37 BCP
  Rite II page 75 BCP

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

In the Daily Office, the term “Officiant’ is used to denote the person, clerical or lay, who leads the Office.

It is appropriate that other persons be assigned to read the Lessons, and to lead other parts of the service not assigned to the officiant. The bishop, when present, appropriately concludes the Office with a blessing.

At celebrations of the Holy Eucharist, the Order for Morning or Evening Prayer may be used in place of all that precedes the Offertory.

Any of the opening sentences of Scripture, including those listed for specific seasons or days, may be used at any time according to the discretion of the officiant.

In the Intercessions and Thanksgivings, opportunity may be given for the members of the congregation to express intentions or objects of prayer and thanksgiving, wither at the bidding, or in the course of the prayer; and opportunity may be given for silent prayer.

A sermon may be preached after the office; or, within the Office, after the Readings or at the time of the hymn or anthem after the Collects.

On occasion, at the discretion of the Minister, a reading from non-biblical Christian literature may follow the biblical Readings.

An offering may be received and presented at the Office.

When there is a Communion

When Morning or Evening Prayer is used as the Liturgy of the Word at the Eucaharist, the Nicene creed may take the place of the Apostles’ Creed, and the officiant may pass at once from the salutation “The Lord be with you,” and its response, to the collect of the Day. A Lesson from the Gospel is always included.

The service then continues with the Peace and Offertory.

An Order of Service for Noonday
Pg 103 BCP

This is the Order for Noonday Service, like Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, the term Officiant is used to denote the clergy or lay person that leads this service. The service like its name is usually held at the noon time.

An Order of Evening Worship
Pg. 1109

This service provides a form of evening service or vespers for use on suitable occasions in the late afternoon or evening. It may be used as a complete rite in place of Evening Prayer, or as the introduction to Evening Prayer or some other service, or as the prelude to an evening meal or other activity. It is appropriate also for use in private homes.

Any part or parts of this service may be led by a lay person. A priest or deacon, when presiding, should read the Prayer for Light, and the Blessing or Dismissal at the end. The bishop when present, should give the Blessing.

Daily Evening Prayer:
Rite I Pg. 61 BCP
Rite: II Pg. 115 BCP

Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. psalm 141:2

The same procedure that is used in Morning Prayer applies to Evening Prayer.
This Daily Office is led by Clergy or a lay reader known as the Officiant.

An Order for Compline

An evening service to end the day; although the service is an old Christian usage, it has only recently been added to the Prayerbook of the Episcopal Church.