Evening Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Tuesday, 22 October 2019
  The introduction to the service is used on Sundays, and may be used on any occasion. If the Introduction is not used, the service begins with the opening responses.
  Introduction
   
  The minister may use a seasonal sentence before using one or more of the penitential sentences.
   
  The minister introduces the service
     
    Dearly beloved [brethren],
    the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge
       and confess our manifold sins and wickedness;
     
    [and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before
       the face of almighty God our heavenly Father;
    but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent and
       obedient heart;
    to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same
       by his infinite goodness and mercy.
    And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge
       our sins before God;
    yet ought we most chiefly so to do,
    when we assemble and meet together
    to render thanks for the great benefits that we have
       received at his hands,
    to set forth his most worthy praise,
    to hear his most holy word,
    and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary,
    as well for the body as the soul.]
     
    Wherefore I pray and beseech you,
    as many as are here present,
    to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice,
    unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying [after me]:
     
    (or)
     
    Beloved, we are come together in the presence of almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and shew forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all men such things as their well-being doth require.
     
    Wherefore let us kneel in silence, and remember God's presence with us now.
   
All
   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 Jesu 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.
   
  A priest says
     
    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.
All
   Amen.
   
  or other ministers may say
     
    Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord,
    to thy faithful people pardon and peace,
    that they may be cleansed from all their sins,
    and serve thee with a quiet mind;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
   
All
   Our Father, which art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy name;
    thy kingdom come;
    thy will be done,
    in earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our trespasses,
  as we forgive them that 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.
  Evening Prayer
     
    The introduction to the service is used on Sundays, and may be used on any occasion. If the Introduction is not used, the service begins with the opening responses.
     
    These responses are used
     
    O Lord, open thou our lips
All
   and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
     
    O God, make speed to save us.
All
   O Lord, make haste to help us.
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
    and to the Holy Ghost;
All
   as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
    world without end. Amen.
     
    Praise ye the Lord.
All
   The Lord's name be praised.
     
  Psalmody  
   

Psalm 108

  
 

  
1
 O God, my heart is ready, my heart is ready :
  I will sing and give praise with the best member that I have.
  
 
  
2
 Awake, thou lute, and harp :
  I myself will awake right early.
  
 
  
3
 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the people :
  I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
  
 
  
4
 For thy mercy is greater than the heavens :
  and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
  
 
  
5
 Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens :
  and thy glory above all the earth.
  
 
  
6
 That thy beloved may be delivered :
  let thy right hand save them, and hear thou me.
  
 
  
7
 God hath spoken in his holiness :
  I will rejoice therefore, and divide Sichem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
  
 
  
8
 Gilead is mine, and Manasses is mine :
  Ephraim also is the strength of my head.
  
 
  
9
 Judah is my law-giver, Moab is my wash-pot :
  over Edom will I cast out my shoe; upon Philistia will I triumph.
  
 
  
10
 Who will lead me into the strong city :
  and who will bring me into Edom?
  
 
  
11
 Hast not thou forsaken us, O God :
  and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?
  
 
  
12
 O help us against the enemy :
  for vain is the help of man.
  
 
  
13
 Through God we shall do great acts :
  and it is he that shall tread down our enemies.
  
 

Psalm 109

  
 

  
1
 Hold not thy tongue, O God of my praise :
  for the mouth of the ungodly, yea, the mouth of the deceitful is opened upon me.
  
 
  
2
 And they have spoken against me with false tongues :
  they compassed me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
  
 
  
3
 For the love that I had unto them, lo, they take now my contrary part :
  but I give myself unto prayer.
  
 
  
4
 Thus have they rewarded me evil for good :
  and hatred for my good will.
  
 
  
5
 Set thou an ungodly man to be ruler over him :
  and let Satan stand at his right hand.
  
 
  
6
 When sentence is given upon him, let him be condemned :
  and let his prayer be turned into sin.
  
 
  
7
 Let his days be few :
  and let another take his office.
  
 
  
8
 Let his children be fatherless :
  and his wife a widow.
  
 
  
9
 Let his children be vagabonds, and beg their bread :
  let them seek it also out of desolate places.
  
 
  
10
 Let the extortioner consume all that he hath :
  and let the stranger spoil his labour.
  
 
  
11
 Let there be no man to pity him :
  nor to have compassion upon his fatherless children.
  
 
  
12
 Let his posterity be destroyed :
  and in the next generation let his name be clean put out.
  
 
  
13
 Let the wickedness of his fathers be had in remembrance in the sight of the Lord :
  and let not the sin of his mother be done away.
  
 
  
14
 Let them alway be before the Lord :
  that he may root out the memorial of them from off the earth;
  
 
  
15
 And that, because his mind was not to do good :
  but persecuted the poor helpless man, that he might slay him that was vexed at the heart.
  
 
  
16
 His delight was in cursing, and it shall happen unto him :
  he loved not blessing, therefore shall it be far from him.
  
 
  
17
 He clothed himself with cursing, like as with a raiment :
  and it shall come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
  
 
  
18
 Let it be unto him as the cloke that he hath upon him :
  and as the girdle that he is alway girded withal.
  
 
  
19
 Let it thus happen from the Lord unto mine enemies :
  and to those that speak evil against my soul.
  
 
  
20
 But deal thou with me, O Lord God, according unto thy Name :
  for sweet is thy mercy.
  
 
  
21
 O deliver me, for I am helpless and poor :
  and my heart is wounded within me.
  
 
  
22
 I go hence like the shadow that departeth :
  and am driven away as the grasshopper.
  
 
  
23
 My knees are weak through fasting :
  my flesh is dried up for want of fatness.
  
 
  
24
 I became also a reproach unto them :
  they that looked upon me shaked their heads.
  
 
  
25
 Help me, O Lord my God :
  O save me according to thy mercy;
  
 
  
26
 And they shall know, how that this is thy hand :
  and that thou, Lord, hast done it.
  
 
  
27
 Though they curse, yet bless thou :
  and let them be confounded that rise up against me; but let thy servant rejoice.
  
 
  
28
 Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame :
  and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a cloke.
  
 
  
29
 As for me, I will give great thanks unto the Lord with my mouth :
  and praise him among the multitude;
  
 
  
30
 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor :
  to save his soul from unrighteous judges.
  
 

     
    At the end of each psalm these words are said or sung
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
    and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
    world without end. Amen.
     
    Old Testament Reading  
 
   

First Reading: 2 Kings 6.1-23

 

And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.
 And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.
 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
 Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

       
  Magnificat  
     
    Either the Magnificat (as follows) or Cantate Domino (Psalm 98) is said or sung.
     
1
   My soul doth magnify the Lord :
    and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
     
2
   For he hath regarded :
    the lowliness of his handmaiden.
     
3
   For behold, from henceforth :
    all generations shall call me blessed.
     
4
   For he that is mighty hath magnified me :
    and holy is his Name.
     
5
   And his mercy is on them that fear him :
    throughout all generations.
     
6
   He hath shewed strength with his arm :
    he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
     
7
   He hath put down the mighty from their seat :
    and hath exalted the humble and meek.
     
8
   He hath filled the hungry with good things :
    and the rich he hath sent empty away.
     
9
   He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel :
    as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
   
Luke 1.46-55
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
    and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
    world without end. Amen.
     
  New Testament Reading  
 
   

Second Reading: Acts 26.24-end

And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

     
  Nunc dimittis  
     
    Either the Nunc dimittis (as follows) or Deus misereatur (Psalm 67) is said or sung.
     
1
   Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace :
    according to thy word.
     
2
   For mine eyes have seen :
    thy salvation;
     
3
   Which thou hast prepared :
    before the face of all people;
     
4
   To be a light to lighten the Gentiles :
    and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
   
Luke 2.29-32
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
    and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
    world without end. Amen.
     
  The Apostles' Creed  
     
All
   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 Ghost,
    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 Ghost;
    the holy catholic Church;
    the communion of saints;
    the forgiveness of sins;
    the resurrection of the body,
    and the life everlasting.
    Amen.
     
  Prayers  
     
    The Lord be with you.
All
   And with thy spirit.
     
    Let us pray.
     
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
All
   Christ, have mercy upon us.
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
     
All
   Our Father, which art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy name;
    thy kingdom come;
    thy will be done,
    in earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our trespasses,
    as we forgive them that trespass against us.
    And lead us not into temptation;
    but deliver us from evil. Amen.
     
    O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us.
All
   And grant us thy salvation.
     
    O Lord, save the Queen.
All
   And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
     
    Endue thy ministers with righteousness.
All
   And make thy chosen people joyful.
     
    O Lord, save thy people.
All
   And bless thine inheritance.
     
    Give peace in our time, O Lord.
All
   Because there is none other that fighteth for us,
    but only thou, O God.
     
    O God, make clean our hearts within us.
All
   And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
     
    Three Collects are said.
     
  The Collect of the Day  
     
    Lord, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
     
     
  The Collect for Peace  
     
    O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels,
         and all just works do proceed;
    give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give;
    that both, our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments,
    and also that, by thee,
    we being defended from the fear of our enemies
    may pass our time in rest and quietness;
    through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
All
   Amen.
     
  The Collect for Aid against all Perils  
     
    Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord;
    and by thy great mercy defend us
         from all perils and dangers of this night;
    for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
All
   Amen.
     
    The order for the end of the service may include:
     
    hymns or anthems
       a sermon
    further prayers (which may include prayers from here)
     
    This prayer may be used to conclude the service
     
    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    and the love of God,
    and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost,
    be with us all evermore.
All
   Amen.
     
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