EVENING PRAYER
E V E N I N G P R A Y E R What is a Daily Prayer Liturgy? Our Muslim and Jewish siblings have marked their daily lives with prayer practices. The Church has also used Daily Prayer to enable the church to celebrate throughout each day the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sometimes Daily Prayer is called The Liturgy of the Hours, or The Daily Office. Certain monastic communities developed up to nine times a day for prayer, the Anglican tradition has included four offices: Morning Prayer: at the beginning of your day. Midday Prayer: at the middle of your day. Evening Prayer: at sunset. Also called Vespers. If it is sung, it is called Evensong. Night Prayer: at bedtime. Also called Compline. Individuals, groups, families, or friends may also choose to adapt these services for use throughout the day. These orders may be used on any occasion when the Church gathers, but they are not adequate substitutes for the full Sunday Eucharist. Peace, The Rev. Jacob Breeze Founding Pastor, Holy Family Church
O P E N I N G S E N T E N C E S In darkness or partial darkness we stand: Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Thanks be to God. God said that light should shine out of the darkness. He is the same one who shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God s glory in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Let us pray. Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. E V E N I N G P R A Y E R L I G H T As we light the candles or lamps: O gracious light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed! Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of Life, and to be glorified through all the worlds.
E V E N I N G P R A Y E R C O N F E S S Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. I N V I T A T O R Y Make the sign of the cross on our lips + O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us. Bow Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
P S A L M Read the appointed Psalm. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. E V E N I N G P R A Y E R R E A D I N G A Reading from Read an appointed text. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
E V E N I N G P R A Y E R M A G N I F I C A T Let us join in Mother Mary s song: With all my heart I glorify the Lord! In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior. God has looked with favor on the low status of her servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is the name of the Lord. God shows mercy to everyone, from one generation to the next, who honors the Lord as God. God has shown strength with her arm. God has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations. God has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. God has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed. God has come to the aid of her servant Israel, remembering her mercy, Just as she promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to Abraham s descendants forever. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Luke 1:46-55
N U N C D I M I T T I S Let us join in St. Simeon s song: Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word, Because my eyes have seen your salvation. You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples. A light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Luke 2:29-32 E V E N I N G P R A Y E R
E V E N I N G P R A Y E R C R E E D Standing: I believe and trust in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth; I believe and trust in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe and trust in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
O U R F A T H E R Standing or kneeling: The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. Our 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. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen. E V E N I N G P R A Y E R
E V E N I N G P R A Y E R S U F F R A G E S That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful, We entreat you, O Lord. That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill, We entreat you, O Lord. That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses, We entreat you, O Lord. That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world, We entreat you, O Lord. That we may depart this life in your faith and fear, and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ, We entreat you, O Lord. That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in the communion of all your saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ, We entreat you, O Lord. C O L L E C T S Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen. Let us offer intercessions, intentions, and thanksgivings
T H A N K S G I V I N G Let us join in St. Chrysostom s Prayer. Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. E V E N I N G P R A Y E R Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
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