Evening Prayer (Evensong) in Contemporary Language

¶ Evening Prayer on Saturday
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Gilbert of Sempringham, Founder of the Gilbertine Order, 1189 [Commemoration]

Preparation

O God, make speed to save us.
AllO Lord, make haste to help us.

One or more of the following is said or sung:
a prayer of thanksgiving (page 110),
a suitable hymn,
or A Song of God’s Light

1The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear? •
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid?

2Though a host encamp against me,
my heart shall not be afraid, •
and though there rise up war against me,
yet will I put my trust in him.

3One thing have I asked of the Lord
and that alone I seek: •
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,

4To behold the fair beauty of the Lord •
and to seek his will in his temple.

5For in the day of trouble
he shall hide me in his shelter; •
in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me
and set me high upon a rock.

6Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation
with great gladness; •
I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Psalm 27.1, 3-6, 8

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 Word of God

Psalmody

The appointed psalmody is said.

Psalm 24

Refrain: The Lord of hosts: he is the King of glory.

1 The earth is the Lord’s and all that fills it, •
the compass of the world and all who dwell therein.

2 For he has founded it upon the seas •
and set it firm upon the rivers of the deep. R

3 ‘Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord, •
or who can rise up in his holy place?’

4 ‘Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, •
who have not lifted up their soul to an idol,
nor sworn an oath to a lie;

5 ‘They shall receive a blessing from the Lord, •
a just reward from the God of their salvation.’

6 Such is the company of those who seek him, •
of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob. R

7 Lift up your heads, O gates;
be lifted up, you everlasting doors; •
and the King of glory shall come in.

8 ‘Who is the King of glory?’ •
‘The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord who is mighty in battle.’

9 Lift up your heads, O gates;
be lifted up, you everlasting doors; •
and the King of glory shall come in.

10 ‘Who is this King of glory?’ •
‘The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory.’

Refrain: The Lord of hosts: he is the King of glory.

O Lord of hosts,
purify our hearts
that the King of glory may come in,
your Son, Jesus our redeemer.

Psalm 25

Refrain: Remember, Lord, your compassion and love.

1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
O my God, in you I trust; •
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies triumph over me.

2 Let none who look to you be put to shame, •
but let the treacherous be shamed and frustrated.

3 Make me to know your ways, O Lord, •
and teach me your paths.

4 Lead me in your truth and teach me, •
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you have I hoped all the day long.

5 Remember, Lord, your compassion and love, •
for they are from everlasting. R

6 Remember not the sins of my youth
or my transgressions, •
but think on me in your goodness, O Lord,
according to your steadfast love.

7 Gracious and upright is the Lord; •
therefore shall he teach sinners in the way.

8 He will guide the humble in doing right •
and teach his way to the lowly.

9 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth •
to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. R

10 For your name’s sake, O Lord, •
be merciful to my sin, for it is great.

11 Who are those who fear the Lord? •
Them will he teach in the way that they should choose.

12 Their soul shall dwell at ease •
and their offspring shall inherit the land.

13 The hidden purpose of the Lord is for those who fear him •
and he will show them his covenant.

14 My eyes are ever looking to the Lord, •
for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. R

15 Turn to me and be gracious to me, •
for I am alone and brought very low.

16 The sorrows of my heart have increased; •
O bring me out of my distress.

17 Look upon my adversity and misery •
and forgive me all my sin.

18 Look upon my enemies, for they are many •
and they bear a violent hatred against me.

19 O keep my soul and deliver me; •
let me not be put to shame, for I have put my trust in you.

20 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, •
for my hope has been in you.

21 Deliver Israel, O God, •
out of all his troubles.

Refrain: Remember, Lord, your compassion and love.

Free us, God of mercy,
from all that keeps us from you;
relieve the misery of the anxious and the ashamed
and fill us with the hope of peace;
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.

Canticle

A Song of God’s Love, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 53 (page 606), may be said

Refrain:

AllGod’s love was revealed among us
so that we might live through Jesus.

1Beloved, let us love one another,
for love is of God; •
everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

2Whoever does not love does not know God, •
for God is love.

3In this the love of God was revealed among us, •
that God sent his only Son into the world,
so that we might live through him.

4In this is love,
not that we loved God but that he loved us, •
and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins.

5Beloved, since God loved us so much, •
we ought also to love one another.

6For if we love one another, God abides in us, •
and God’s love will be perfected in us.

1 John 4.7-11, 12b

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.

AllGod’s love was revealed among us
so that we might live through Jesus.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence.

Joel 3.1-3, 9-end

For then, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will enter into judgement with them there, on account of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations. They have divided my land, and cast lots for my people, and traded boys for prostitutes, and sold girls for wine, and drunk it down.
Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare war,
   stir up the warriors.
Let all the soldiers draw near,
   let them come up.
Beat your ploughshares into swords,
   and your pruning-hooks into spears;
   let the weakling say, ‘I am a warrior.’

Come quickly,
   all you nations all around,
   gather yourselves there.
Bring down your warriors, O Lord.
Let the nations rouse themselves,
   and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat;
for there I will sit to judge
   all the neighbouring nations.

Put in the sickle,
   for the harvest is ripe.
Go in, tread,
   for the wine press is full.
The vats overflow,
   for their wickedness is great.

Multitudes, multitudes,
   in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
   in the valley of decision.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
   and the stars withdraw their shining.

The Lord roars from Zion,
   and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
   and the heavens and the earth shake.
But the Lord is a refuge for his people,
   a stronghold for the people of Israel.

So you shall know that I, the Lord your God,
   dwell in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
   and strangers shall never again pass through it.

On that day
the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
   the hills shall flow with milk,
and all the stream beds of Judah
   shall flow with water;
a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord
   and water the Wadi Shittim.

Egypt shall become a desolation
   and Edom a desolate wilderness,
because of the violence done to the people of Judah,
   in whose land they have shed innocent blood.
But Judah shall be inhabited for ever,
   and Jerusalem to all generations.
I will avenge their blood, and I will not clear the guilty,
   for the Lord dwells in Zion.

John 16.23-end

On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

‘I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.’

His disciples said, ‘Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’

A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow

Your salvation is near to those who fear you;
that glory may dwell in our land.
AllYour salvation is near to those who fear you;
that glory may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth have met together;
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
AllThat glory may dwell in our land.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllYour salvation is near to those who fear you;
that glory may dwell in our land.

from Psalm 85

Gospel Canticle

The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is normally said,
or A Song of Praise (page 627) may be said

Refrain:

AllYou have looked with favour on your lowly servant,
from this day all generations will call her blessed.

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 looked with favour on your lowly servant,
from this day all generations will call her blessed.

Prayers

Thanksgiving may be made for the day.

Intercessions are offered
¶ for peace
¶ for individuals and their needs

The cycle on pages 364–365 and the prayer on page 377 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

Almighty God,
who alone can bring order
to the unruly wills and passions of sinful humanity:
give your people grace
so to love what you command
and to desire what you promise,
that, among the many changes of this world,
our hearts may surely there be fixed
where true joys are to be found;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
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.

The Conclusion

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.
AllThanks be to God.

© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2005
All of the official Common Worship publications 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.