Saint Macartin’s Cathedral Enniskillen
MORNING PRAYER (1) – PAGE 84 
The Second Sunday before Lent 8th February 2026

Processional Hymn 97: Jesus shall reign
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 Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 49.8-16a
Thus says the Lord: In a time of favour I have answered you, on a day of salvation I have helped you; I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages; saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out’, to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’ They shall feed along the ways, on all the bare heights shall be their pasture; they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down, for He who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. And I will turn all My mountains into a road, and My highways shall be raised up. Lo, these shall come from far away, and lo, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene. Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have compassion on His suffering ones. But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me.’ Can a woman forget her nursing-child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.

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Psalm 131 page 748 (469)
1  O Lord, my heart is not proud; ♦
   my eyes are not raised in haughty looks.
2  I do not occupy myself with great matters, ♦
   with things that are too high for me.
3  But I have quieted and stilled my soul,
      like a weaned child on its mother’s breast; ♦
   so my soul is quieted within me.
4  O Israel, trust in the Lord, ♦
   from this time forth for evermore

The Epistle: 1 Corinthians 4: 1-5
Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they should be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgement before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.

Hymn: T&P 11 Before the Throne 
 
The Gospel: Matthew 6: 25-34
‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

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 256 (169)
Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth and made us in Your own image:
Teach us to discern Your hand in all Your works and Your likeness in all Your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with You and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things, 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: 637 O for a closer walk with God

 SERMON
Offertory Hymn 627 What a friend we have in Jesus

 THE BLESSING
Hymn: 218 And can it be

ANNOUNCEMENTS for Sunday 8th February
Confirmation
Confirmation Class continues tomorrow night, Monday 9th February at 6.30pm in the Hilliard Room, Cathedral Hall. 
Mothers’ Union
Next meeting is on Monday 9th February at 7.30pm in the Main Hall. Rev Maureen Desborough is the speaker on History of Fashion. All are welcome.
Spirit and Soul
Next meeting is on Tuesday 10th February at 7.30pm in the Hilliard Room, Cathedral Hall. The subject is ‘Poetry’.
Ash Wednesday
There will be a service of Holy Communion at 7.30pm on Ash Wednesday (18th February).
FRCI Workshop
FRCI are providing a Free Workshop ‘Raising Emotionally Resilient Children’ on Thursday 19th February from 7.00 to 9.00pm at their premises, 56a Tempo Road Enniskillen.  To book a place, please contact their office on 02866326478.
Daily Reading for Lent
Draw Near is a booklet for Lent 2026. It invites you to develop a rhythm of life that will help you grow as a disciple of Christ day by day, especially as we prepare to celebrate the mystery of God’s saving love at Easter. Each week a different contributor explores an activity central to Christian discipleship: worship, prayer, Scripture, communion, service to others and sharing the good news. For each day of Lent it offers daily Bible readings, images, short reflections, prayers and practical responses to help you draw near to God this Lent and beyond. Books are available in the Cathedral Porch or the Cathedral Office for £3.00 each.
Lenten Project - Mission Focus - Mothers’ Union Overseas Fund
This Lenten Season we, the Parish of Enniskillen are going to support this vital work. Please take a Lenten Box or a Gift Aid Envelope, available in the Cathedral porch, and return it during Holy Week.
Tuesday Club
The next meeting is on Tuesday 24th February at 2.00pm in the Hilliard Room with Claire Holmes for the Garden Party Talk and Quiz . All are welcome to join us.
Parenting Wellness Group
Saturday 28th February in St. Macartin’s Cathedral Hall at 2.00pm, The Parenting Wellness Group will enjoy Thai arts and crafts. This will include Thai fan painting and sand mandalas. The children can also try traditional Thai costumes. For further information or to add your name to the list, please contact Linda Kingston on 07342045474 
Thursday 12th February
11.00am –       Holy Communion
Sunday 15th February - The Sunday before Lent
9.00am –         Holy Communion 
11.00am –       Holy Communion