Evening Prayer (Evensong) in Contemporary Language

¶ Evening Prayer on Thursday
Thursday, 18 October 2018
Luke the Evangelist

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 Chosen One

1There shall come forth a shoot from the stock of Jesse, ♦
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

2And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, ♦
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

3The spirit of counsel and might, ♦
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

4He shall not judge by what his eyes see, ♦
or decide by what his ears hear,

5But with righteousness he shall judge the poor, ♦
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.

6The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, ♦
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid.

7The calf, the lion and the fatling together, ♦
with a little child to lead them.

8They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, ♦
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11.1,2,3b-4a,6,9

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 103

Refrain: The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, ♦
and all that is within me bless his holy name.

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, ♦
and forget not all his benefits;

3 Who forgives all your sins ♦
and heals all your infirmities;

4 Who redeems your life from the Pit ♦
and crowns you with faithful love and compassion;

5 Who satisfies you with good things, ♦
so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s. R

6 The Lord executes righteousness ♦
and judgement for all who are oppressed.

7 He made his ways known to Moses ♦
and his works to the children of Israel.

8 The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, ♦
slow to anger and of great kindness.

9 He will not always accuse us, ♦
neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, ♦
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness. R

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, ♦
so great is his mercy upon those who fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, ♦
so far has he set our sins from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children, ♦
so is the Lord merciful towards those who fear him. R

14 For he knows of what we are made; ♦
he remembers that we are but dust.

15 Our days are but as grass; ♦
we flourish as a flower of the field;

16 For as soon as the wind goes over it, it is gone, ♦
and its place shall know it no more.

17 But the merciful goodness of the Lord is from of old
and endures for ever on those who fear him, ♦
and his righteousness on children’s children;

18 On those who keep his covenant ♦
and remember his commandments to do them. R

19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven, ♦
and his kingdom has dominion over all.

20 Bless the Lord, you angels of his, ♦
you mighty ones who do his bidding
and hearken to the voice of his word.

21 Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, ♦
you ministers of his who do his will.

22 Bless the Lord, all you works of his,
in all places of his dominion; ♦
bless the Lord, O my soul.

Refrain: The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Merciful Lord,
as we come from dust and return to dust,
show us the face of our Redeemer,
that in our frailty we may bless your name
and praise you all our days;
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.

Ecclesiasticus 38.1-14

Honour physicians for their services,
   for the Lord created them;
for their gift of healing comes from the Most High,
   and they are rewarded by the king.
The skill of physicians makes them distinguished,
   and in the presence of the great they are admired.
The Lord created medicines out of the earth,
   and the sensible will not despise them.
Was not water made sweet with a tree
   in order that its power might be known?
And he gave skill to human beings
   that he might be glorified in his marvellous works.
By them the physician heals and takes away pain;
   the pharmacist makes a mixture from them.
God’s works will never be finished;
   and from him health spreads over all the earth.

My child, when you are ill, do not delay,
   but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you.
Give up your faults and direct your hands rightly,
   and cleanse your heart from all sin.
Offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice, and a memorial portion of choice flour,
   and pour oil on your offering, as much as you can afford.
Then give the physician his place, for the Lord created him;
   do not let him leave you, for you need him.
There may come a time when recovery lies in the hands of physicians,
   for they too pray to the Lord
that he will grant them success in diagnosis
   and in healing, for the sake of preserving life.

or Isaiah 61.1-6

Canticle

The following, or another suitable canticle, may be said or sung

Refrain:

AllChrist was believed in throughout the world
and taken up in glory. Alleluia.

1Christ Jesus was revealed in the flesh ♦
and vindicated in the spirit.

2He was seen by angels ♦
and proclaimed among the nations.

3Believed in throughout the world, ♦
he was taken up in glory.

4This will be made manifest at the proper time ♦
by the blessed and only Sovereign,

5Who alone has immortality, ♦
and dwells in unapproachable light.

1 Timothy 3.16; 6.15, 16

AllTo the King of kings and Lord of lords ♦
be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.

AllChrist was believed in throughout the world
and taken up in glory. Alleluia.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

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

Colossians 4.7-18

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow-servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts; he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him. And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills. For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, ‘See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.’

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

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

Fear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
AllFear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned.
AllI have called you by name; you are mine.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllFear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.

from Isaiah 43

Gospel Canticle

The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is normally said,
or A Song of Christ’s Appearing (page 621) may be said

Refrain:

AllOn the foundation stones of the heavenly city
are written the names of the apostles of the Lamb. Alleluia.

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:

AllOn the foundation stones of the heavenly city
are written the names of the apostles of the Lamb. Alleluia.

Prayers

Thanksgiving may be made for the day.

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

Prayers may include the following concerns from the cycle on pages 362–363

¶ Local government, community leaders
¶ All who provide local services
¶ Those who work with young or elderly people
¶ Schools, colleges and universities
¶ Emergency and rescue organizations

One of the forms of prayer found on pages 362–371 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,
you called Luke the physician,
whose praise is in the gospel,
to be an evangelist and physician of the soul:
by the grace of the Spirit
and through the wholesome medicine of the gospel,
give your Church the same love and power to heal;
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. Alleluia, alleluia.
AllThanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2005
Official Common Worship apps, books and eBooks 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.

Implemented by Simon Kershaw at Crucix.
Implementation copyright © Simon Kershaw, 2002-2018.