O God, make speed to save us.
AllO Lord, make haste to help us.
The Blessing of Light (page 110) may replace the Preparation at Evening Prayer on any occasion.
One or more of the following is said or sung:
A prayer of thanksgiving (page 110),
Blessed are you, Lord God, creator of day and night:
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As darkness falls you renew your promise
to reveal among us the light of your presence.
By the light of Christ, your living Word,
dispel the darkness of our hearts
that we may walk as children of light
and sing your praise throughout the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
AllBlessed be God for ever.
or a suitable hymn,
or A Song of God’s Chosen One
1There shall come forth
a shoot from the stock of Jesse, ♦
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2And the Spirit of the
Lord shall rest upon him, ♦
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
3The spirit of counsel
and might, ♦
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
4He shall not judge by
what his eyes see, ♦
or decide by what his ears hear,
5But with righteousness
he shall judge the poor, ♦
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.
6The wolf shall dwell
with the lamb, ♦
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid.
7The calf, the lion and
the fatling together, ♦
with a little child to lead them.
8They shall not hurt
or destroy in all my holy mountain, ♦
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 11.1,2,3b-4a,6,9
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
This opening prayer may be said
That this evening may be holy, good and peaceful,
let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence is kept.
As our evening prayer rises before you, O God,
so may your mercy come down upon us
to cleanse our hearts
and set us free to sing your praise
now and for ever.
AllAmen.
The appointed psalmody is said.
Refrain: Your loving-kindness, O Lord, endures for ever.
1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; ♦
before the gods will I sing praise to you.
2 I will bow down towards your holy temple and praise your name,
because of your love and faithfulness; ♦
for you have glorified your name
and your word above all things.
3 In the day that I called to you, you answered me; ♦
you put new strength in my soul. R
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, ♦
for they have heard the words of your mouth.
5 They shall sing of the ways of the Lord, ♦
that great is the glory of the Lord.
6 Though the Lord be high, he watches over the lowly; ♦
as for the proud, he regards them from afar. R
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you will preserve me; ♦
you will stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;
your right hand will save me.
8 The Lord shall make good his purpose for me; ♦
your loving-kindness, O Lord, endures for ever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
Refrain: Your loving-kindness, O Lord, endures for ever.
Lord our God, supreme over all things,
look upon the humble and lowly
and put new strength into our souls
to complete your purpose for us
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Refrain: Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked.
1 Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers ♦
and protect me from the violent,
2 Who devise evil in their hearts ♦
and stir up strife all the day long.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; ♦
adder’s poison is under their lips.
4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; ♦
protect me from the violent
who seek to make me stumble.
5 The proud have laid a snare for me
and spread out a net of cords; ♦
they have set traps along my path. R
6 I have said to the Lord, ‘You are my God; ♦
listen, O Lord, to the voice of my supplication.
7 ‘O Lord God, the strength of my salvation, ♦
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 ‘Do not grant the desires of the wicked, O Lord, ♦
do not prosper their wicked plans. R
9 ‘Let not those who surround me lift up their heads; ♦
let the evil of their own lips fall upon them.
10 ‘Let hot burning coals rain upon them; ♦
let them be cast into the depths, that they rise not again.’
11 No slanderer shall prosper on the earth, ♦
and evil shall hunt down the violent to overthrow them. R
12 I know that the Lord will bring justice for the oppressed ♦
and maintain the cause of the needy.
13 Surely, the righteous will give thanks to your name, ♦
and the upright shall dwell in your presence.
Refrain: Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked.
Glorious Saviour,
rescue us from the subtle evils that are too strong for us,
from poisonous words and the spirit of war;
by your judgement overthrow the forces of violence,
that all the world may join to worship you
in thanksgiving and peace,
now and for ever.
Refrain: Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord.
1 O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly; ♦
hear my voice when I cry to you.
2 Let my prayer rise before you as incense, ♦
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, ♦
and guard the door of my lips;
4 Let not my heart incline to any evil thing; ♦
let me not be occupied in wickedness with evildoers,
nor taste the pleasures of their table. R
5 Let the righteous smite me in friendly rebuke;
but let not the oil of the unrighteous anoint my head; ♦
for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds.
6 Let their rulers be overthrown in stony places; ♦
then they may know that my words are sweet.
7 As when a plough turns over the earth in furrows, ♦
let their bones be scattered at the mouth of the Pit. R
8 But my eyes are turned to you, Lord God; ♦
in you I take refuge; do not leave me defenceless.
9 Protect me from the snare which they have laid for me ♦
and from the traps of the evildoers.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, ♦
while I pass by in safety.
Refrain: Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord.
Lord God, our protector and guide,
who made us knowing both good and evil,
help us to desire all that is good,
that the offering of our lives may be acceptable to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Each psalm or group of psalms may end with
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
If there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here, or both may be read after the canticle.
After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; already they are at Hazazon-tamar’ (that is, En-gedi). Jehoshaphat was afraid; he set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the towns of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said, ‘O Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven? Do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand are power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you. Did you not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it for ever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? They have lived in it, and in it have built you a sanctuary for your name, saying, “If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgement, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, for your name is in this house, and cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and save.” See now, the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy—they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you have given us to inherit. O our God, will you not execute judgement upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.’
Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. Then the spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly. He said, ‘Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you: “Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them; they will come up by the ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.” Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.’
Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God and you will be established; believe his prophets.’
When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy splendour, as they went before the army, saying,
‘Give thanks to the Lord,
for his steadfast love endures for ever.’
As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.
For the Ammonites and Moab attacked the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them utterly; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.
Great and Wonderful, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 63 (page 621), may be said
Refrain:
AllAll nations shall come and
worship you, O Christ,
and share in the feast of your kingdom. Alleluia.
1Great and wonderful
are your deeds, ♦
Lord God the Almighty.
2Just and true are your
ways, ♦
O ruler of the nations.
3Who shall not revere
and praise your name, O Lord? ♦
for you alone are holy.
4All nations shall come
and worship in your presence: ♦
for your just dealings have been revealed.
Revelation 15.3, 4
AllTo the One who sits on the
throne and to the Lamb ♦
be blessing and honour and glory and might,
for ever and ever. Amen.
AllAll nations shall come and
worship you, O Christ,
and share in the feast of your kingdom. Alleluia.
One or more readings appointed for the day are read.
The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence.
But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God and know his will and determine what is best because you are instructed in the law, and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth, you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You that forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You that abhor idols, do you rob temples? You that boast in the law, do you dishonour God by breaking the law? For, as it is written, ‘The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.’
Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So, if those who are uncircumcised keep the requirements of the law, will not their uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the law will condemn you that have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.
A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow
Fear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
AllFear not, for I have
redeemed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned.
AllI have called you by
name; you are mine.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllFear not, for I have
redeemed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
from Isaiah 43
The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is normally said,
or A Song of Christ’s Appearing
(page 621) may be said
Refrain:
AllYou have filled the hungry
with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
1My soul proclaims the
greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; ♦
he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.
2From this day all generations
will call me blessed; ♦
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his name.
3He has mercy on those
who fear him, ♦
from generation to generation.
4He has shown strength
with his arm ♦
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
5Casting down the mighty
from their thrones ♦
and lifting up the lowly.
6He has filled the hungry
with good things ♦
and sent the rich away empty.
7He has come to the aid
of his servant Israel, ♦
to remember his promise of mercy,
8The promise made to our
ancestors, ♦
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Luke 1.46-55
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
Refrain:
AllYou have filled the hungry
with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
Thanksgiving may be made for the day.
Intercessions are offered
¶ for peace
¶ for individuals and their needs
Prayers may include the following concerns from the cycle on pages 362–363
¶ Local government, community leaders
¶ All who provide local services
¶ Those who work with young or elderly people
¶ Schools, colleges and universities
¶ Emergency and rescue organizations
One of the forms of prayer found on pages 362–371 may be used.
These responses may be used
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer
(or)
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Silence may be kept.
The Collect of the day is said
O Lord, from whom all good things come:
grant to us your humble servants,
that by your holy inspiration
we may think those things that are good,
and by your merciful guiding may perform the same;
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
AllAmen.
The Lord’s Prayer is said
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
AllOur Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
(or)
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
AllOur 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.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
All The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
AllThanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
©
The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2000–2005
Official Common Worship apps, books and eBooks are available from
Church House Publishing.
The Bible readings (other than the psalms) are from The New Revised Standard Version Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Implemented by Simon Kershaw at
Crucix.
Implementation copyright © Simon Kershaw, 2002–2021.