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8.28am on Saturday 14 March 2026

Evening Prayer (Evensong) in Traditional Language

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    Evening Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Saturday, 14 March 2026
  The introduction to the service is used on Sundays, and may be used on any occasion. If the Introduction is not used, the service begins with the opening responses.
  Introduction
   
  The minister may use a seasonal sentence before using one or more of the penitential sentences.
   
  The minister introduces the service
     
    Dearly beloved [brethren],
    the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge
       and confess our manifold sins and wickedness;
     
    [and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before
       the face of almighty God our heavenly Father;
    but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent and
       obedient heart;
    to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same
       by his infinite goodness and mercy.
    And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge
       our sins before God;
    yet ought we most chiefly so to do,
    when we assemble and meet together
    to render thanks for the great benefits that we have
       received at his hands,
    to set forth his most worthy praise,
    to hear his most holy word,
    and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary,
    as well for the body as the soul.]
     
    Wherefore I pray and beseech you,
    as many as are here present,
    to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice,
    unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying [after me]:
     
    (or)
     
    Beloved, we are come together in the presence of almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and shew forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all men such things as their well-being doth require.
     
    Wherefore let us kneel in silence, and remember God's presence with us now.
   
All
   Almighty and most merciful Father,
    we have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.
    We have followed too much the devices and desires
       of our own hearts.
    We have offended against thy holy laws.
    We have left undone those things
       which we ought to have done;
    and we have done those things
         which we ought not to have done;
    and there is no health in us.
    But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.
    Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults.
    Restore thou them that are penitent;
    according to thy promises declared unto mankind
       in Christ Jesu our Lord.
    And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
    that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
    to the glory of thy holy name.
  Amen.
   
  A priest says
     
    Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    who desireth not the death of a sinner,
    but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live;
    and hath given power, and commandment, to his ministers
    to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent,
    the absolution and remission of their sins:
    he pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent
       and unfeignedly believe his holy gospel.
    Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance,
       and his Holy Spirit,
    that those things may please him which we do at this present;
    and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy;
    so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
   
  or other ministers may say
     
    Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord,
    to thy faithful people pardon and peace,
    that they may be cleansed from all their sins,
    and serve thee with a quiet mind;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
   
All
   Our Father, which art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy name;
    thy kingdom come;
    thy will be done,
    in earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our trespasses,
  as we forgive them that 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.
  Evening Prayer
     
    The introduction to the service is used on Sundays, and may be used on any occasion. If the Introduction is not used, the service begins with the opening responses.
     
    These responses are used
     
    O Lord, open thou our lips
All
   and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
     
    O God, make speed to save us.
All
   O Lord, make haste to help us.
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
    and to the Holy Ghost;
All
   as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
    world without end. Amen.
     
    Praise ye the Lord.
All
   The Lord's name be praised.
     
  Psalmody  
   

Psalm 73

  
 

  
1
 Truly God is loving unto Israel *
 even unto such as are of a clean heart.
  
 
  
2
 Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone *
 my treadings had well-nigh slipt.
  
 
  
3
 And why? I was grieved at the wicked *
 I do also see the ungodly in such prosperity.
  
 
  
4
 For they are in no peril of death *
 but are lusty and strong.
  
 
  
5
 They come in no misfortune like other folk *
 neither are they plagued like other men.
  
 
  
6
 And this is the cause that they are so holden with pride *
 and overwhelmed with cruelty.
  
 
  
7
 Their eyes swell with fatness *
 and they do even what they lust.
  
 
  
8
 They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy *
 their talking is against the most High.
  
 
  
9
 For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven *
 and their tongue goeth through the world.
  
 
  
10
 Therefore fall the people unto them *
 and thereout suck they no small advantage.
  
 
  
11
 Tush, say they, how should God perceive it *
 is there knowledge in the most High?
  
 
  
12
 Lo, these are the ungodly, these prosper in the world, and these have riches in possession *
 and I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, and washed mine hands in innocency.
  
 
  
13
 All the day long have I been punished *
 and chastened every morning.
  
 
  
14
 Yea, and I had almost said even as they *
 but lo, then I should have condemned the generation of thy children.
  
 
  
15
 Then thought I to understand this *
 but it was too hard for me,
  
 
  
16
 Until I went into the sanctuary of God *
 then understood I the end of these men;
  
 
  
17
 Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery places *
 and castest them down, and destroyest them.
  
 
  
18
 O how suddenly do they consume *
 perish, and come to a fearful end!
  
 
  
19
 Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh *
 so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.
  
 
  
20
 Thus my heart was grieved *
 and it went even through my reins.
  
 
  
21
 So foolish was I, and ignorant *
 even as it were a beast before thee.
  
 
  
22
 Nevertheless, I am alway by thee *
 for thou hast holden me by my right hand.
  
 
  
23
 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel *
 and after that receive me with glory.
  
 
  
24
 Whom have I in heaven but thee *
 and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee.
  
 
  
25
 My flesh and my heart faileth *
 but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
  
 
  
26
 For lo, they that forsake thee shall perish *
 thou hast destroyed all them that commit fornication against thee.
  
 
  
27
 But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord God *
 and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
  
 

Psalm 74

  
 

  
1
 O God, wherefore art thou absent from us so long *
 why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?
  
 
  
2
 O think upon thy congregation *
 whom thou hast purchased, and redeemed of old.
  
 
  
3
 Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance *
 and mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
  
 
  
4
 Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy *
 which hath done evil in thy sanctuary.
  
 
  
5
 Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregations *
 and set up their banners for tokens.
  
 
  
6
 He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees *
 was known to bring it to an excellent work.
  
 
  
7
 But now they break down all the carved work thereof *
 with axes and hammers.
  
 
  
8
 They have set fire upon thy holy places *
 and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground.
  
 
  
9
 Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havock of them altogether *
 thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the land.
  
 
  
10
 We see not our tokens, there is not one prophet more *
 no, not one is there among us, that understandeth any more.
  
 
  
11
 O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour *
 how long shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name, for ever?
  
 
  
12
 Why withdrawest thou thy hand *
 why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom to consume the enemy?
  
 
  
13
 For God is my King of old *
 the help that is done upon earth he doeth it himself.
  
 
  
14
 Thou didst divide the sea through thy power *
 thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
  
 
  
15
 Thou smotest the heads of Leviathan in pieces *
 and gavest him to be meat for the people in the wilderness.
  
 
  
16
 Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hard rocks *
 thou driedst up mighty waters.
  
 
  
17
 The day is thine, and the night is thine *
 thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
  
 
  
18
 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth *
 thou hast made summer and winter.
  
 
  
19
 Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy hath rebuked *
 and how the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.
  
 
  
20
 O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the enemies *
 and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever.
  
 
  
21
 Look upon the covenant *
 for all the earth is full of darkness, and cruel habitations.
  
 
  
22
 O let not the simple go away ashamed *
 but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy Name.
  
 
  
23
 Arise, O God, maintain thine own cause *
 remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily.
  
 
  
24
 Forget not the voice of thine enemies *
 the presumption of them that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.
  
 
     
    At the end of each psalm these words are said or sung
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
    and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
    world without end. Amen.
     
    Old Testament Reading  
 
   

First Reading: Jeremiah 16.10 - 17.4

And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the Lord pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the Lord our God?
 Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the Lord, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;
 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:
 Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.
 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
 But, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.
 Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.
 For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.
 And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.
 O Lord, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.
 Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?
 Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The Lord.

 

The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.
 O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders.
 And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.

       
  Magnificat  
     
    Either the Magnificat (as follows) or Cantate Domino (Psalm 98) is said or sung.
     
1
   My soul doth magnify the Lord :
    and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
     
2
   For he hath regarded :
    the lowliness of his handmaiden.
     
3
   For behold, from henceforth :
    all generations shall call me blessed.
     
4
   For he that is mighty hath magnified me :
    and holy is his Name.
     
5
   And his mercy is on them that fear him :
    throughout all generations.
     
6
   He hath shewed strength with his arm :
    he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
     
7
   He hath put down the mighty from their seat :
    and hath exalted the humble and meek.
     
8
   He hath filled the hungry with good things :
    and the rich he hath sent empty away.
     
9
   He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel :
    as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
   
Luke 1.46-55
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
    and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
    world without end. Amen.
     
  New Testament Reading  
 
   

Second Reading: John 9.1-17

 

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

     
  Nunc dimittis  
     
    Either the Nunc dimittis (as follows) or Deus misereatur (Psalm 67) is said or sung.
     
1
   Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace :
    according to thy word.
     
2
   For mine eyes have seen :
    thy salvation;
     
3
   Which thou hast prepared :
    before the face of all people;
     
4
   To be a light to lighten the Gentiles :
    and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
   
Luke 2.29-32
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
    and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
    world without end. Amen.
     
  The Apostles' Creed  
     
All
   I believe in God the Father almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth:
    and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
    who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
    born of the Virgin Mary,
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, dead, and buried.
    He descended into hell;
    the third day he rose again from the dead;
    he ascended into heaven,
    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty;
    from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
    I believe in the Holy Ghost;
    the holy catholic Church;
    the communion of saints;
    the forgiveness of sins;
    the resurrection of the body,
    and the life everlasting.
    Amen.
     
  Prayers  
     
    The Lord be with you.
All
   And with thy spirit.
     
    Let us pray.
     
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
All
   Christ, have mercy upon us.
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
     
All
   Our Father, which art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy name;
    thy kingdom come;
    thy will be done,
    in earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our trespasses,
    as we forgive them that trespass against us.
    And lead us not into temptation;
    but deliver us from evil. Amen.
     
    O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us.
All
   And grant us thy salvation.
     
    O Lord, save the King.
All
   And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
     
    Endue thy ministers with righteousness.
All
   And make thy chosen people joyful.
     
    O Lord, save thy people.
All
   And bless thine inheritance.
     
    Give peace in our time, O Lord.
All
   Because there is none other that fighteth for us,
    but only thou, O God.
     
    O God, make clean our hearts within us.
All
   And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
     
    Three Collects are said.
     
  The Collect of the Day  
     
    Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
     
     
  The Collect for Peace  
     
    O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels,
         and all just works do proceed;
    give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give;
    that both, our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments,
    and also that, by thee,
    we being defended from the fear of our enemies
    may pass our time in rest and quietness;
    through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
All
   Amen.
     
  The Collect for Aid against all Perils  
     
    Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord;
    and by thy great mercy defend us
         from all perils and dangers of this night;
    for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
All
   Amen.
     
    The order for the end of the service may include:
     
    hymns or anthems
       a sermon
    further prayers (which may include prayers from here)
     
    This prayer may be used to conclude the service
     
    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    and the love of God,
    and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost,
    be with us all evermore.
All
   Amen.
     
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