Evening Prayer (Evensong) in Contemporary Language

¶ Evening Prayer on Monday
Monday, 12 October 2026
Wilfrid of Ripon, Bishop, Missionary, 709 [Lesser Festival]
Elizabeth Fry, Prison Reformer, 1845 [Commemoration]
Edith Cavell, Nurse, 1915 [Commemoration]

Preparation

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

The Blessing of Light (page 110) may replace the Preparation at Evening Prayer on any occasion.

One or more of the following is said or sung:

A prayer of thanksgiving (page 110),

Blessed are you, Lord God, creator of day and night:
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As darkness falls you renew your promise
to reveal among us the light of your presence.
By the light of Christ, your living Word,
dispel the darkness of our hearts
that we may walk as children of light
and sing your praise throughout the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
AllBlessed be God for ever.

or a suitable hymn,

or A Song of God’s Greatness

1Bless the Lord, O my soul. ♦
O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness!

2You are clothed with majesty and honour, ♦
wrapped in light as in a garment.

3The sun knows the time for its setting. ♦
You make darkness that it may be night.

4O Lord, how manifold are your works! ♦
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

5When you send forth your spirit, they are created, ♦
and you renew the face of the earth.

6May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; ♦
may the Lord rejoice in his works;

7I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; ♦
I will make music to my God while I have my being.

Psalm 104.1, 2, 21b ,22a, 26, 32, 33, 35

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 105*

Refrain: Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

1 O give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name; ♦
make known his deeds among the peoples.

2 Sing to him, sing praises, ♦
and tell of all his marvellous works.

3 Rejoice in the praise of his holy name; ♦
let the hearts of them rejoice who seek the Lord.

4 Seek the Lord and his strength; ♦
seek his face continually.

5 Remember the marvels he has done, ♦
his wonders and the judgements of his mouth,

6 O seed of Abraham his servant, ♦
O children of Jacob his chosen. R

7 He is the Lord our God; ♦
his judgements are in all the earth.

8 He has always been mindful of his covenant, ♦
the promise that he made for a thousand generations:

9 The covenant he made with Abraham, ♦
the oath that he swore to Isaac,

10 Which he established as a statute for Jacob, ♦
an everlasting covenant for Israel,

11 Saying, ‘To you will I give the land of Canaan ♦
to be the portion of your inheritance.’ R

12 When they were but few in number, ♦
of little account, and sojourners in the land,

13 Wandering from nation to nation, ♦
from one kingdom to another people,

14 He suffered no one to do them wrong ♦
and rebuked even kings for their sake,

15 Saying, ‘Touch not my anointed ♦
and do my prophets no harm.’ R

16 Then he called down famine over the land ♦
and broke every staff of bread.

17 But he had sent a man before them, ♦
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

18 They shackled his feet with fetters; ♦
his neck was ringed with iron.

19 Until all he foretold came to pass, ♦
the word of the Lord tested him.

20 The king sent and released him; ♦
the ruler of peoples set him free.

21 He appointed him lord of his household ♦
and ruler of all he possessed,

22 To instruct his princes as he willed ♦
and to teach his counsellors wisdom. R

23 Then Israel came into Egypt; ♦
Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.

24 And the Lord made his people exceedingly fruitful; ♦
he made them too many for their adversaries,

25 Whose heart he turned, so that they hated his people ♦
and dealt craftily with his servants. R

26 Then sent he Moses his servant ♦
and Aaron whom he had chosen.

27 He showed his signs through their word ♦
and his wonders in the land of Ham.

28 He sent darkness and it grew dark; ♦
yet they did not heed his words.

29 He turned their waters into blood ♦
and slew all their fish.

30 Their land swarmed with frogs, ♦
even in their kings’ chambers.

31 He spoke the word, and there came clouds of flies, ♦
swarms of gnats within all their borders.

32 He gave them hailstones for rain ♦
and flames of lightning in their land.

33 He blasted their vines and their fig trees ♦
and shattered trees across their country.

34 He spoke the word, and the grasshoppers came ♦
and young locusts without number;

35 They ate every plant in their land ♦
and devoured the fruit of their soil.

36 He smote all the firstborn in their land, ♦
the first fruits of all their strength. R

37 Then he brought them out with silver and gold; ♦
there was not one among their tribes that stumbled.

38 Egypt was glad at their departing, ♦
for a dread of them had fallen upon them.

39 He spread out a cloud for a covering ♦
and a fire to light up the night.

40 They asked and he brought them quails; ♦
he satisfied them with the bread of heaven. R

41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out ♦
and ran in the dry places like a river.

42 For he remembered his holy word ♦
and Abraham, his servant.

43 So he brought forth his people with joy, ♦
his chosen ones with singing.

44 He gave them the lands of the nations ♦
and they took possession of the fruit of their toil,

45 That they might keep his statutes ♦
and faithfully observe his laws.
Alleluia.

Refrain: Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

God of our earthly pilgrimage,
feed your Easter people with the bread of heaven,
that we may hunger and thirst for righteousness
until we reach our promised land;
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 22.6-22

Like music in time of mourning is ill-timed conversation,
   but a thrashing and discipline are at all times wisdom.

Whoever teaches a fool is like one who glues potsherds together,
   or who rouses a sleeper from deep slumber.
Whoever tells a story to a fool tells it to a drowsy man;
   and at the end he will say, ‘What is it?’
Weep for the dead, for he has left the light behind;
   and weep for the fool, for he has left intelligence behind.
Weep less bitterly for the dead, for he is at rest;
   but the life of the fool is worse than death.
Mourning for the dead lasts seven days,
   but for the foolish or the ungodly it lasts all the days of their lives.

Do not talk much with a senseless person
   or visit an unintelligent person.
Stay clear of him, or you may have trouble,
   and be spattered when he shakes himself.
Avoid him and you will find rest,
   and you will never be wearied by his lack of sense.
What is heavier than lead?
   And what is its name except ‘Fool’?
Sand, salt, and a piece of iron
   are easier to bear than a stupid person.

A wooden beam firmly bonded into a building
   is not loosened by an earthquake;
so the mind firmly resolved after due reflection
   will not be afraid in a crisis.
A mind settled on an intelligent thought
   is like stucco decoration that makes a wall smooth.
Fences set on a high place
   will not stand firm against the wind;
so a timid mind with a fool’s resolve
   will not stand firm against any fear.

One who pricks the eye brings tears,
   and one who pricks the heart makes clear its feelings.
One who throws a stone at birds scares them away,
   and one who reviles a friend destroys a friendship.
Even if you draw your sword against a friend,
   do not despair, for there is a way back.
If you open your mouth against your friend,
   do not worry, for reconciliation is possible.
But as for reviling, arrogance, disclosure of secrets, or a treacherous blow—
   in these cases any friend will take to flight.

or Ezekiel 28.1-19

Canticle

A Song of God’s Grace, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 58 (page 615), may be said

Refrain:

AllThe glorious grace of God
is freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Alleluia.

1Blessed are you,
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ♦
for you have blest us in Christ Jesus
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

2You chose us to be yours in Christ
before the foundation of the world, ♦
that we should be holy and blameless before you.

3In love you destined us for adoption as your children,
through Jesus Christ, ♦
according to the purpose of your will,

4To the praise of your glorious grace, ♦
which you freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

5In you, we have redemption
through the blood of Christ, ♦
the forgiveness of our sins,

6According to the riches of your grace, ♦
which you have lavished upon us.

7You have made known to us, in all wisdom and insight, ♦
the mystery of your will,

8According to your purpose
which you set forth in Christ, ♦
as a plan for the fullness of time,

9To unite all things in Christ, ♦
things in heaven and things on earth.

Ephesians 1.3-10

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.

AllThe glorious grace of God
is freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Alleluia.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

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

John 13.1-11

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’

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

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
and be not wise in your own sight.
AllTrust in the Lord with all your heart;
and be not wise in your own sight.
In all your ways acknowledge him
and he will make straight your paths.
AllTrust in the Lord with all your heart.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
AllTrust in the Lord with all your heart;
and be not wise in your own sight.

from Proverbs 3

Gospel Canticle

The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is normally said,
or A Song of the Blessed (page 606) may be said

Refrain:

AllHow beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news and proclaim
the gospel of peace. 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:

AllHow beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news and proclaim
the gospel of peace. 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

¶ The media and the arts
¶ Farming and fishing
¶ Commerce and industry
¶ Those whose work is unfulfilling, stressful or fraught with danger
¶ All who are unemployed

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,
who called our forebears to the light of the gospel
      by the preaching of your servant Wilfrid:
help us, who keep his life and labour in remembrance,
to glorify your name by following the example
      of his zeal and perseverance;
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.