Daily Devotions

Moving towards a whole-gendered conception of God also means replacing the Lords and Kingdoms, etc. with other metaphors...

Daily Devotions (original at bcponline.org)

In the Morning

From Psalm 51

Open my lips, O Creator, *
    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 Mother and Father, and to the Son and daughters, and to the Holy Spirit: *
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

A Reading

Blessed be the God and Creator of our Help 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.

Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.

The Lord's Prayer

The Collect

O God, almighty and everlasting Mother, 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 Redeemer. Amen.

At Noon

From Psalm 113

Give praise, you servants of the Builder; *
    praise the Name of our God.
Let the Name of the Creator be blessed, *
    from this time forth for evermore.
From the rising of the sun to its going down *
    let the Name of the Creator be praised.
Our God is high above all nations, *
    and her glory above the heavens.

A Reading

O God, you will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are
fixed on you; for in returning and rest we shall be saved; in
quietness and trust shall be our strength.    Isaiah 26:3; 30:15

Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.

The Lord's Prayer

The Collect

Blessed Savior, at this hour you hung upon the cross,
stretching out your loving arms: Grant that all the peoples of
the earth may look to you and be saved; for your mercies'
sake. Amen.

or this

Savior Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, "Peace I give to
you; my own peace I leave with you:" Regard not our sins,
but the faith of your Church, and give to us the peace and
unity of that heavenly City, where with the Father and the
Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and for ever. Amen.

In the Early Evening

This devotion my be used before or after the evening meal.

The Order of Worship for the Evening, page 109, may be used instead.

O gracious light,
pure brightness of the everliving Mother in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

A Reading

It is not ourselves that we proclaim; we proclaim Christ
Jesus as Ruler, and ourselves as your servants, for Jesus' sake.
For the same God who said, "Out of darkness let light
shine," has caused her light to shine within us, to give the
light of revelation--the revelation of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ.     2 Corinthians 4:5-6

Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.

The Lord's Prayer

The Collect

Sweet Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is
past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and
awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in
Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake
of your love. Amen.

At the Close of Day

Psalm 134

Behold now, bless the Creator, all you servants of God, *
    you that stand by night in the house of the One.
Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless our God; *
    the Creator who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

A Reading

God, you are in the midst of us and we are called by your
Name: Do not forsake us, O God.    Jeremiah 14:9,22

The following may be said

God, you now have set your servant free *
    to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
    whom you have prepared for all the world to see;
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
    and the glory of your people Israel.

Prayers for ourselves and others may follow. It is appropriate that
prayers of thanksgiving for the blessings of the day, and penitence for our
sins, be included.

The Lord's Prayer

The Collect

Visit this place, O God, and drive far from it all snares of the
enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in
peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus
Christ our Light. Amen.

The almighty and merciful Ruler, Father, Mother, Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless us and keep us. Amen.

Compline

I'm starting with Compline because I love it. Just before you fall asleep, deep in the woods, among friends, there is quiet (and quick) Compline. Original text is at http://www.bcponline.org/

The Officiant begins

Our God Almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect
end. Amen.

	Our help is in the Name of our God;
People	The maker of heaven and earth.

The Officiant may then say

Let us confess our sins.

Officiant and People

Almighty God, our heavenly Creator:
We have sinned against you,
through our own fault,
in thought, and word, and deed,
and in what we have left undone.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
forgive us all our offenses;
and grant that we may serve you
in newness of life,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Officiant

May the Almighty grant us forgiveness of all our sins,
and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Officiant then says 

	O God, make speed to save us.
People	Builder, make haste to help us.

Officiant and People
Glory to the Mother and Father, and to the Son and daughters, and to the Holy Spirit: as
it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Except in Lent, add    Alleluia.

One or more of the following Psalms are sung or said. Other suitable
selections may be substituted.

     Psalm 4  Cum invocarem

1    Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; *
         you set me free when I am hard-pressed;
         have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2    "You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; *
         how long will you worship dumb idols
         and run after false gods?"

3    Know that our God does wonders for the faithful; *
         when I call upon our God, she will hear me.

4    Tremble, then, and do not sin; *
         speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.

5    Offer the appointed sacrifices *
         and put your trust in the Creator.

6    Many are saying,
         "Oh, that we might see better times!" *
         Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O God.

7    You have put gladness in my heart, *
         more than when grain and wine and oil increase.

8    I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; *
         for only you, O Divine, make me dwell in safety.

     Psalm 31  In te, Domine, speravi

1    In you, O Creator, have I taken refuge;
         let me never be put to shame: *
         deliver me in your righteousness.

2    Incline your ear to me; *
         make haste to deliver me.

3    Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
         for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
         for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.

4    Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
         for you are my tower of strength.

5    Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
         for you have redeemed me,
         O Great One, O God of truth.

     Psalm 91  Qui habitat 

1    She who dwells in the shelter of the Most High *
         abides under the shadow of the Almighty.

2    She shall say to the Builder,
         "You are my refuge and my stronghold, *
         my God in whom I put my trust."

3    He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter *

         and from the deadly pestilence.

4    He shall cover you with his pinions,
      and you shall find refuge under his wings; *
         his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.

5    You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, *
         nor of the arrow that flies by day;

6    Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, *
         nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.

7    A thousand shall fall at your side
      and ten thousand at your right hand, *
         but it shall not come near you.

8    Your eyes only have to behold *
         to see the reward of the wicked.

9    Because you have made the Creator your refuge, *
         and the Most High your habitation,

10    There shall no evil happen to you, *
           neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.

11    For he shall give his angels charge over you, *
           to keep you in all your ways.

12    They shall bear you in their hands, *
           lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13    You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; *
           you shall trample the young lion and the serpent
                          under your feet.

14    Because he is bound to me in love,
        therefore will I deliver him; *
            I will protect him, because he knows my Name.

15    He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *
           I am with him in trouble;
           I will rescue him and bring him to honor.

16    With long life will I satisfy him, *
           and show him my salvation.

     Psalm 134  Ecce nunc 

1    Behold now, bless the Creator, all you servants of the Divine, *
         you that stand by night in the house of God.

2    Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless Her; *
         the One who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

At the end of the Psalms is sung or said

Glory to the Mother and Father, and to the Son and daughters, and to the Holy Spirit: *
   as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

One of the following, or some other suitable passage of Scripture, is read

Creator, you are in the midst of us, and we are called by your
Name: Do not forsake us, our God most high.    Jeremiah 14:9,22

People    Thanks be to God.

or this

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;
for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

People    Thanks be to God.

or the following

May the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our

dear Jesus, and great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of
the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you
may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his
sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and
ever.    Hebrews 13:20-21

People    Thanks be to God.

or this

Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls
around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Resist him, firm in your faith.    1 Peter 5:8-9a

People    Thanks be to God.

A hymn suitable for the evening may be sung. 

Then follows

V.    Into your hands, O God, I commend my spirit;
R.    For you have redeemed me, O Judge, O God of truth.
V.    Keep us, O God, as the apple of your eye;
R.    Hide us under the shadow of your wings.

God, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.God, have mercy.

Officiant and People

Our Mother among us,     hallowed be thy Name,     thy reign come,     thy love be done,         in flesh and in spirit.

Our Mother among us,     hallowed be your Name,     your reign come,     your love be done,         in flesh and in spirit.

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our tresspasses,     as we forgive those         who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,     but deliver us from evil.

Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins     as we forgive those         who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial,     and deliver us from evil.

Officiant	God, hear our prayer;
People	And let our cry come to you.
Officiant	Let us pray.

The Officiant then says one of the following Collects

Be our light in the darkness, O Mother, and in your great mercy
defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the
love of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours
of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and
chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness;
through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Look down, O God, from your heavenly throne, and
illumine this night with your celestial brightness; that by
night as by day your people may glorify your holy Name;
through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Visit this place, O God, and drive far from it all snares of the
enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in
peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus
Christ. Amen.

A Collect for Saturdays

We give you thanks, O God, for revealing Jesus
Christ to us by the light of his resurrection: Grant that as we
sing your glory at the close of this day, our joy may abound
in the morning as we celebrate the Paschal mystery; through
Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.

One of the following prayers may be added

Keep watch, dear God, with those who work, or watch, or
weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who
sleep. Tend the sick, Jesus; give rest to the weary, bless
the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the
joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.

or this

O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we live
in and the life we live: Watch over those, both night and day,
who work while others sleep, and grant that we may never
forget that our common life depends upon each other's toil;
through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Silence may be kept, and free intercessions and thanksgivings may be
offered.

The service concludes with the Song of Simeon with this Antiphon, which
is sung or said by all

Guide us waking, O God, and guard us sleeping; that awake
we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

In Easter Season, add    Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Creator, you now have set your servant free *
   to go in peace as you have promised;

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
   whom you have prepared for all the world to see:

A Light to enlighten the nations, *
   and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Mother and Father, and to the Son and daughters, and to the Holy Spirit: *
   as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. 

All repeat the Antiphon

Guide us waking, O God, and guard us sleeping; that awake
we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

In Easter Season, add    Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Officiant	Let us bless the Creator.
People	Thanks be to God.

The Officiant concludes

The almighty and merciful Mother and Holy Spirit, and her angels,
bless us and keep us. Amen.

The project - A whole-gendered Book of Common Prayer

So the project is this: Draft a whole-gendered version of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. Because I like the book, and I have one, but I get a little sad about how everybody is male all the time in it. So I'm God-ing it up and Father-ing it down. Don't worry, there will still be some Father in there, but there will be some Mother, too. Cause She's cool. God, that is...