Announcing: Liturgical Letters
A simple daily liturgy of prayer and scripture reading.
For a long time, I’ve wanted a short simple way to start my day with prayer and scripture. I tried different apps but they all seem to have too many bells and whistles when all I really wanted was something simple, so I just decided to make it myself.
Here is Liturgical Letters.
Each morning, the new Substack will send out a short daily office: a historic collect, a psalm, a brief Scripture reading, and a closing prayer. The whole thing takes about five minutes to read. The idea was to give people a way to start every day with a little bit of prayer and scripture in a way that was still small enough to become a habit.
If a short, consistent pattern of Scripture and prayer would be helpful to you, you can sign up here.
Here is today’s office so you can see what it’s like:
A New Teaching with Authority
Ordinary Time • Week 9
“They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!’”
—Mark 1:27
Collect
Merciful Father, whose Son stretched out his hand to cleanse the leper and restore the outcast: Grant that we, having received your mercy, may show compassion without fear, welcome those who are forgotten, and faithfully bear witness to the healing power of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 111
World English Bible (WEB)
1 Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the council of the upright, and in the congregation.
2 The Lord’s works are great,
pondered by all those who delight in them.
3 His work is honor and majesty.
His righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered.
The Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He has given food to those who fear him.
He always remembers his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are truth and justice.
All his precepts are sure.
8 They are established forever and ever.
They are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He has sent redemption to his people.
He has ordained his covenant forever.
His name is holy and awesome!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
All those who do his work have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!
Mark 1:21–28
World English Bible (WEB)
21 They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.
22 They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.
23 Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,
24 saying, “Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!”
25 Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”
26 The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
27 They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!”
28 The report of him went out immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, whose word is full of truth and authority, teach us to hear your voice with humble hearts. Deliver us from every power that opposes your kingdom, establish us in your truth, and make us faithful disciples who gladly obey your commands; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
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