Evening Prayer (Evensong) in Contemporary Language

¶ Evening Prayer
from the day after Ascension Day
until the Day of Pentecost
Monday, 2 June 2025

Preparation

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

Send your Holy Spirit upon us,
Alland clothe us with power from on high. Alleluia.

One or more of the following is said or sung:

this or another prayer of thanksgiving

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
to you be glory and praise for ever.
Raised to your right hand on high
the ascended Christ shows the prints of love
and bestows on us the gifts of grace.
As your Spirit renews the face of the earth,
may we bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
and reveal your glory in all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
AllBlessed be God for ever.

A Song of God’s Greatness (page 565), the following or another suitable hymn

Creator Spirit, Lord of grace,
come, make in us your dwelling place;
O purest Light, in darkness shine;
fill loveless hearts, O Love Divine.

Consoler, hear your people’s cry;
come down, O Gift of God, Most High.
Descend in peace, O heav’nly Dove;
come Fount of Life; come Flame of Love.

As once on Christ the Servant’s head
the oil of sevenfold grace you shed,
so now anoint from love’s deep springs
your chosen prophets, priests and kings.

Of ev’ry gift the living source,
of mighty deeds the unseen force,
the Father sends his promised One
to speak for all who serve his Son.

Keep far all those who wish us ill,
O Dove of Peace, be with us still,
in ev’ry danger at our side
O Friend, befriend us; be our guide.

Reveal to us the Father’s love,
reveal his Son, who reigns above.
To truth, O Truth, make us all true;
in love, O Love, make all things new.

James Quinn S J, based on Veni, Creator Spiritus
(Tune: LM)

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 18

Refrain: The Lord my God shall make my darkness to be bright.

1 I love you, O Lord my strength. ♦
The Lord is my crag, my fortress and my deliverer,

2 My God, my rock in whom I take refuge, ♦
my shield, the horn of my salvation and my stronghold.

3 I cried to the Lord in my anguish ♦
and I was saved from my enemies. R

4 The cords of death entwined me ♦
and the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

5 The cords of the Pit fastened about me ♦
and the snares of death entangled me.

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord ♦
and cried out to my God for help.

7 He heard my voice in his temple ♦
and my cry came to his ears. R

8 The earth trembled and quaked; ♦
the foundations of the mountains shook;
they reeled because he was angry.

9 Smoke rose from his nostrils
and a consuming fire went out of his mouth; ♦
burning coals blazed forth from him.

10 He parted the heavens and came down ♦
and thick darkness was under his feet.

11 He rode upon the cherubim and flew; ♦
he came flying on the wings of the wind.

12 He made darkness his covering round about him, ♦
dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion. R

13 From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds ♦
burst hailstones and coals of fire.

14 The Lord also thundered out of heaven; ♦
the Most High uttered his voice
with hailstones and coals of fire.

15 He sent out his arrows and scattered them; ♦
he hurled down lightnings and put them to flight.

16 The springs of the ocean were seen,
and the foundations of the world uncovered ♦
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your displeasure. R

17 He reached down from on high and took me; ♦
he drew me out of the mighty waters.

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, ♦
from foes that were too mighty for me.

19 They came upon me in the day of my trouble; ♦
but the Lord was my upholder.

20 He brought me out into a place of liberty; ♦
he rescued me because he delighted in me. R

21 The Lord rewarded me after my righteous dealing; ♦
according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me,

22 Because I had kept the ways of the Lord ♦
and had not gone wickedly away from my God,

23 For I had an eye to all his laws, ♦
and did not cast out his commandments from me.

24 I was also wholehearted before him ♦
and kept myself from iniquity;

25 Therefore the Lord rewarded me
after my righteous dealing, ♦
and according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. R

26 With the faithful you show yourself faithful; ♦
with the true you show yourself true;

27 With the pure you show yourself pure, ♦
but with the crooked you show yourself perverse.

28 For you will save a lowly people ♦
and bring down the high looks of the proud.

29 You also shall light my candle; ♦
the Lord my God shall make my darkness to be bright.

30 By your help I shall run at an enemy host; ♦
with the help of my God I can leap over a wall. R

31 As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord is tried in the fire; ♦
he is a shield to all who trust in him.

32 For who is God but the Lord, ♦
and who is the rock except our God?

33 It is God who girds me about with strength ♦
and makes my way perfect.

34 He makes my feet like hinds’ feet ♦
so that I tread surely on the heights.

35 He teaches my hands to fight ♦
and my arms to bend a bow of bronze. R

36 You have given me the shield of your salvation; ♦
your right hand upholds me
and your grace has made me great.

37 You enlarge my strides beneath me, ♦
yet my feet do not slide.

38 I will pursue my enemies and overtake them, ♦
nor turn again until I have destroyed them.

39 I will smite them down so they cannot rise; ♦
they shall fall beneath my feet.

40 You have girded me with strength for the battle; ♦
you will cast down my enemies under me;

41 You will make my foes turn their backs upon me ♦
and I shall destroy them that hate me. R

42 They will cry out, but there shall be none to help them; ♦
they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer.

43 I shall beat them as small as the dust on the wind; ♦
I will cast them out as the mire in the streets.

44 You will deliver me from the strife of the peoples; ♦
you will make me the head of the nations.

45 A people I have not known shall serve me;
as soon as they hear me, they shall obey me; ♦
strangers will humble themselves before me.

46 The foreign peoples will lose heart ♦
and come trembling out of their strongholds. R

47 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock! ♦
Praised be the God of my salvation,

48 Even the God who vindicates me ♦
and subdues the peoples under me!

49 You that deliver me from my enemies,
you will set me up above my foes; ♦
from the violent you will deliver me;

50 Therefore will I give you thanks, O Lord, among the nations ♦
and sing praises to your name,

51 To the one who gives great victory to his king ♦
and shows faithful love to his anointed,
to David and his seed for ever.

Refrain: The Lord my God shall make my darkness to be bright.

From your royal throne, O God,
you sent your living Word
to pierce the gloom of oppression;
so, in our souls’ night,
come with your saving help
and penetrate our darkness with the
rays of your glory
in 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.

Numbers 22.1-35

The Israelites set out, and camped in the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho. Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were so numerous; Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. And Moab said to the elders of Midian, ‘This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.’ Now Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is on the Euphrates, in the land of Amaw, to summon him, saying, ‘A people has come out of Egypt; they have spread over the face of the earth, and they have settled next to me. Come now, curse this people for me, since they are stronger than I; perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land; for I know that whomsoever you bless is blessed, and whomsoever you curse is cursed.’

So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and gave him Balak’s message. He said to them, ‘Stay here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, just as the Lord speaks to me’; so the officials of Moab stayed with Balaam. God came to Balaam and said, ‘Who are these men with you?’ Balaam said to God, ‘King Balak son of Zippor of Moab has sent me this message: “A people has come out of Egypt and has spread over the face of the earth; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.” ’ God said to Balaam, ‘You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.’ So Balaam rose in the morning, and said to the officials of Balak, ‘Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.’ So the officials of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, ‘Balaam refuses to come with us.’

Once again Balak sent officials, more numerous and more distinguished than these. They came to Balaam and said to him, ‘Thus says Balak son of Zippor: “Do not let anything hinder you from coming to me; for I will surely do you great honour, and whatever you say to me I will do; come, curse this people for me.” ’ But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, ‘Although Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God, to do less or more. You remain here, as the others did, so that I may learn what more the Lord may say to me.’ That night God came to Balaam and said to him, ‘If the men have come to summon you, get up and go with them; but do only what I tell you to do.’ So Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the officials of Moab.

God’s anger was kindled because he was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the road as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand; so the donkey turned off the road, and went into the field; and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn it back on to the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it scraped against the wall, and scraped Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck it again. Then the angel of the Lord went ahead, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam; and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?’ Balaam said to the donkey, ‘Because you have made a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!’ But the donkey said to Balaam, ‘Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I been in the habit of treating you in this way?’ And he said, ‘No.’

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed down, falling on his face. The angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Why have you struck your donkey these three times? I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me. The donkey saw me, and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away from me, surely I would by now have killed you and let it live.’ Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, ‘I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now therefore, if it is displeasing to you, I will return home.’ The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, ‘Go with the men; but speak only what I tell you to speak.’ So Balaam went on with the officials of Balak.

Canticle

A Song of God’s Children, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 60 or number 63, may be said

Refrain:

AllThe Spirit of the Father,
who raised Christ Jesus from the dead,
gives life to the people of God. Alleluia.

1The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus ♦
has set us free from the law of sin and death.

2All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God; ♦
for we have received the Spirit that enables us to cry, ‘Abba, Father’.

3The Spirit himself bears witness that we are children of God ♦
and if God’s children, then heirs of God;

4If heirs of God, then fellow-heirs with Christ; ♦
since we suffer with him now, that we may be glorified with him.

5These sufferings that we now endure ♦
are not worth comparing to the glory that shall be revealed.

6For the creation waits with eager longing ♦
for the revealing of the children of God.

Romans 8.2, 14, 15b-19

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 Spirit of the Father,
who raised Christ Jesus from the dead,
gives life to the people of God. Alleluia.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

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

Luke 7.36-end

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.’ Jesus spoke up and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Teacher,’ he replied, ‘speak.’ ‘A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’ Then turning towards the woman, he said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’

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

When you send forth your Spirit, we are created;
you renew the face of the earth.
AllWhen you send forth your Spirit, we are created;
you renew the face of the earth.
O Lord, how manifold are your works;
in wisdom you have made them all.
AllYou renew the face of the earth.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllWhen you send forth your Spirit, we are created;
you renew the face of the earth.
from Psalm 104

Gospel Canticle

The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is normally said, or Great and Wonderful may be said

Refrain:

AllHow excellent is your name in all the world,
you have set your glory above the heavens. 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 excellent is your name in all the world,
you have set your glory above the heavens. 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 364–365

¶ God’s royal priesthood, for empowerment by the Spirit
¶ Those who wait on God, that they may find renewal
¶ All people, that they may acknowledge the kingdom of the ascended Christ
¶ The earth, for productivity and for fruitful harvests
¶ All who are struggling with broken relationships

A form of prayer found on page 383 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

O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
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

Being made one by the power of the Spirit,
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)

Being made one by the power of the Spirit,
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

May the Spirit kindle in us the fire of God’s love.
AllAmen.

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
AllThanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.