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Got the wrong paper today, didn't get on with this.
1a Author has dreamy eye movements, taken aback by little sparrow? (8)
M-----t-
17d Grumble when evening service is cut short, penning article (8)
---p-a--
27d Modern message that is extracted from the Bible? (4)
-e--

1, MER Edith.

27, Text ?

17, Complain.

Thank you.
I thought about Text for 27 but can't see why it applies to an extract from the Bible specifically, as opposed to any other book.
Also thought about Complain for 17 but can't parse it.

compline or complin known as the evening prayer

def :text: a short passage from the bible taken as the subject of a sermon

Never liked cryptic clues which need obscure knowledge to solve.