Evening Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Saturday, 28 November 2020
  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 136

  
 

  
1
 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious *
 and his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
2
 O give thanks unto the God of all gods *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
3
 O thank the Lord of all lords *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
4
 Who only doeth great wonders *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
5
 Who by his excellent wisdom made the heavens *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
6
 Who laid out the earth above the waters *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
7
 Who hath made great lights *
 for his mercy endureth for ever;
  
 
  
8
 The sun to rule the day *
 for his mercy endureth for ever;
  
 
  
9
 The moon and the stars to govern the night *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
10
 Who smote Egypt with their first-born *
 for his mercy endureth for ever;
  
 
  
11
 And brought out Israel from among them *
 for his mercy endureth for ever;
  
 
  
12
 With a mighty hand, and stretched out arm *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
13
 Who divided the Red sea in two parts *
 for his mercy endureth for ever;
  
 
  
14
 And made Israel to go through the midst of it *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
15
 But as for Pharaoh and his host, he overthrew them in the Red sea *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
16
 Who led his people through the wilderness *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
17
 Who smote great kings *
 for his mercy endureth for ever;
  
 
  
18
 Yea, and slew mighty kings *
 for his mercy endureth for ever;
  
 
  
19
 Sehon king of the Amorites *
 for his mercy endureth for ever;
  
 
  
20
 And Og the king of Basan *
 for his mercy endureth for ever;
  
 
  
21
 And gave away their land for an heritage *
 for his mercy endureth for ever;
  
 
  
22
 Even for an heritage unto Israel his servant *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
23
 Who remembered us when we were in trouble *
 for his mercy endureth for ever;
  
 
  
24
 And hath delivered us from our enemies *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
25
 Who giveth food to all flesh *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
26
 O give thanks unto the God of heaven *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 
  
27
 O give thanks unto the Lord of lords *
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
  
 

Psalm 137

  
 

  
1
 By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept *
 when we remembered thee, O Sion.
  
 
  
2
 As for our harps, we hanged them up *
 upon the trees that are therein.
  
 
  
3
 For they that led us away captive required of us then a song, and melody, in our heaviness *
 Sing us one of the songs of Sion.
  
 
  
4
 How shall we sing the Lord’s song *
 in a strange land?
  
 
  
5
 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem *
 let my right hand forget her cunning.
  
 
  
6
 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth *
 yea if I prefer not Jerusalem in my mirth.
  
 
  
7
 Remember the children of Edom, O Lord, in the day of Jerusalem *
 how they said, Down with it, down with it, even to the ground.
  
 
  
8
 O daughter of Babylon, wasted with misery *
 yea, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee, as thou hast served us.
  
 
  
9
 Blessed shall he be that taketh thy children *
 and throweth them against the stones.
  
 

Psalm 138

  
 

  
1
 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart *
 even before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
  
 
  
2
 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy Name, because of thy loving-kindness and truth *
 for thou hast magnified thy Name, and thy Word, above all things.
  
 
  
3
 When I called upon thee, thou heardest me *
 and enduedst my soul with much strength.
  
 
  
4
 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord *
 for they have heard the words of thy mouth.
  
 
  
5
 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord *
 that great is the glory of the Lord.
  
 
  
6
 For though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly *
 as for the proud, he beholdeth them afar off.
  
 
  
7
 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet shalt thou refresh me *
 thou shalt stretch forth thy hand upon the furiousness of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
  
 
  
8
 The Lord shall make good his loving-kindness toward me *
 yea, thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever; despise not then the works of thine own hands.
  
 

     
    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: Isaiah 24

 

Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.
And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.
 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word.
 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.
 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
 The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.
 The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.
 They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.
 The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.
 There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.
 In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.
 When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.
 They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea.
 Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea.
 From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.
 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.
 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.
 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.
 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

       
  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: Matthew 11.20-end

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

     
  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  
     
    Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever.
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.
     
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
All of the official Common Worship publications are available from Church House Publishing.

Implemented by Simon Kershaw at Crucix.
Implementation copyright © Simon Kershaw, 2002-2019.