Evening Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Monday, 17 November 2025
Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, 1200
  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 89

  
 

  
1
 My song shall be alway of the loving kindness of the Lord *
 with my mouth will I ever be shewing thy truth from one generation to another.
  
 
  
2
 For I have said, Mercy shall be set up for ever *
 thy truth shalt thou stablish in the heavens.
  
 
  
3
 I have made a covenant with my chosen *
 I have sworn unto David my servant;
  
 
  
4
 Thy seed will I stablish for ever *
 and set up thy throne from one generation to another.
  
 
  
5
 O Lord, the very heavens shall praise thy wondrous works *
 and thy truth in the congregation of the saints.
  
 
  
6
 For who is he among the clouds *
 that shall be compared unto the Lord?
  
 
  
7
 And what is he among the gods *
 that shall be like unto the Lord?
  
 
  
8
 God is very greatly to be feared in the council of the saints *
 and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about him.
  
 
  
9
 O Lord God of hosts, who is like unto thee *
 thy truth, most mighty Lord, is on every side.
  
 
  
10
 Thou rulest the raging of the sea *
 thou stillest the waves thereof when they arise.
  
 
  
11
 Thou hast subdued Egypt, and destroyed it *
 thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arm.
  
 
  
12
 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine *
 thou hast laid the foundation of the round world, and all that therein is.
  
 
  
13
 Thou hast made the north and the south *
 Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy Name.
  
 
  
14
 Thou hast a mighty arm *
 strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
  
 
  
15
 Righteousness and equity are the habitation of thy seat *
 mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
  
 
  
16
 Blessed is the people, O Lord, that can rejoice in thee *
 they shall walk in the light of thy countenance.
  
 
  
17
 Their delight shall be daily in thy Name *
 and in thy righteousness shall they make their boast.
  
 
  
18
 For thou art the glory of their strength *
 and in thy loving-kindness thou shalt lift up our horns.
  
 
  
19
 For the Lord is our defence *
 the Holy One of Israel is our King.
  
 
  
20
 Thou spakest sometime in visions unto thy saints, and saidst *
 I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
  
 
  
21
 I have found David my servant *
 with my holy oil have I anointed him.
  
 
  
22
 My hand shall hold him fast *
 and my arm shall strengthen him.
  
 
  
23
 The enemy shall not be able to do him violence *
 the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.
  
 
  
24
 I will smite down his foes before his face *
 and plague them that hate him.
  
 
  
25
 My truth also and my mercy shall be with him *
 and in my Name shall his horn be exalted.
  
 
  
26
 I will set his dominion also in the sea *
 and his right hand in the floods.
  
 
  
27
 He shall call me, Thou art my Father *
 my God, and my strong salvation.
  
 
  
28
 And I will make him my first-born *
 higher than the kings of the earth.
  
 
  
29
 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore *
 and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
  
 
  
30
 His seed also will I make to endure for ever *
 and his throne as the days of heaven.
  
 
  
31
 But if his children forsake my law *
 and walk not in my judgements;
  
 
  
32
 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments *
 I will visit their offences with the rod, and their sin with scourges.
  
 
  
33
 Nevertheless, my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him *
 nor suffer my truth to fail.
  
 
  
34
 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips *
 I have sworn once by my holiness, that I will not fail David.
  
 
  
35
 His seed shall endure for ever *
 and his seat is like as the sun before me.
  
 
  
36
 He shall stand fast for evermore as the moon *
 and as the faithful witness in heaven.
  
 
  
37
 But thou hast abhorred and forsaken thine Anointed *
 and art displeased at him.
  
 
  
38
 Thou hast broken the covenant of thy servant *
 and cast his crown to the ground.
  
 
  
39
 Thou hast overthrown all his hedges *
 and broken down his strong holds.
  
 
  
40
 All they that go by spoil him *
 and he is become a reproach to his neighbours.
  
 
  
41
 Thou hast set up the right hand of his enemies *
 and made all his adversaries to rejoice.
  
 
  
42
 Thou hast taken away the edge of his sword *
 and givest him not victory in the battle.
  
 
  
43
 Thou hast put out his glory *
 and cast his throne down to the ground.
  
 
  
44
 The days of his youth hast thou shortened *
 and covered him with dishonour.
  
 
  
45
 Lord, how long wilt thou hide thyself, for ever *
 and shall thy wrath burn like fire?
  
 
  
46
 O remember how short my time is *
 wherefore hast thou made all men for nought?
  
 
  
47
 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death *
 and shall he deliver his soul from the hand of hell?
  
 
  
48
 Lord, where are thy old loving-kindnesses *
 which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?
  
 
  
49
 Remember, Lord, the rebuke that thy servants have *
 and how I do bear in my bosom the rebukes of many people;
  
 
  
50
 Wherewith thine enemies have blasphemed thee, and slandered the footsteps of thine Anointed *
 Praised be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen.
  
 

     
    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: Daniel 8.1-14

 

In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.
 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down.
 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

       
  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: Revelation 10

 

And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

     
  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 King.
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 to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy Name; 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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